The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-12-30
THE SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.


Southern Minnesota Railroad. That
the road will be pushed to the State line
rs speedily as possible seems now GER
tain. Work will probably begin early
in the Spring. Whatever we can do as
a community to secure the speedy ex-
tension Of this road ought to be done.
We have no intimation yet as to what
bonus will be asked of this place or of
any Of the towns along the line, but
anything in reason ought to be promptly
voted. The advantage yes of a direct east
and west straight cut to the great lakes
are SO manifest that they need hardly
he more than mentioned to carry con-
viction at once. We understand that
wheat buyers at Winnebago City, the
present terminus Of the road, are pay
ing from 10 to Is cents more per busl,ei
than is paid at Window on our road,
and that consequently much of the
wheat raised in Jackson County is 60
ing to Winnebago City. Not only will
the extension of the road give to the
farmers from at least five to ten cents
more per buslel, but the salutary effect
of competition will he felt OIL all
freights. With a railroad to Jackson
we can obtain brick, for instance, at
such rates rs will enable us to build
brick buildings at Worthington, and
when the road is extended to LuVerne
we shall he put in reach of the building
stone Of Rock County. The road will
also put US in communication with an
other source of lumber supply.
Another great advantage will be that
the road will be kept open the year
round, thus avoiding the interruption
to which we are more or less subject,
especially in stormy winters, while we
have only our present outlet.
We repeat that the railroad prospects
of Worthington were never 50 encour-
aging as they are now.
BURDE7'7TS ARBITRARYRULI
We have had good deal to say re-
Gently about the arbitrary ruling of
Commissioner Burdett that under the
timber culture act neither seeds nor cut.
tings can he used, and that transplant.
ing only will lie considered rs q compli.
ance with the law. This, it was seen,
was contrary to the sensible and prac-
tical ruling of Commissioner Drum.
n'ond that cuttings, seeds, or young
trees might be used. We are glad ia
see that this absurd and oppressive rul.
ing is attracting such attention rs will
be likely to secure a reversal of the OBJ.
noxious decision. L. B. Hodges has ad.
dressed letter to our Representatives
in Congress upon the subject in which
lie shows that this ruling will prevent
the cultivation Of the oak, which can.
not be transplanted, and that tho same
IS true, to a great extent, OF the black
walnut and butternut. In fact, most
trees are better propagated, he claims
from cuttings or seeds, than from trees
transplanted.
We repeat what We said in 4 forlne,
issue, that this ruling is neither accord.
ing to the letter nor the spirit of the
law. The 1'ioneer-Press, in calling at.
tention to Mr.. Hodges letter, says:
There is nothing in the language OF
the act Which warrants the ruling of
the Commissioner. It simply requires
the claimant to plant 80 many acres OF
timber on successive years, and tile
Commissioner ignorantly assumes that
the only way to, plant timber is by
transplanting trees in some stage O1
growth. He might rs we'll argue that
planting corn meant transplanting corn
stalks, or that planting pumpkins
meant transplanting pumpkin vines.
RAILROAD OUTLET
A correspondence the Sioux Falls
Independent says:
Starting out last week with 4 load OF
wheat for Sibley, distant some IS miles
from this point, we, more than ever be.
fore, realized the need and necessity OF
railroad to Sioux Falls, and we arr
ready and willing at any time to pledge
ourselves to the Sioux Falls Railroad
Company one hundred bushels Of wheat
toward the construction of a road t.
either Sibley or Worthington. 1t is on,
continuous string of teams between
these two. points loaded with wheat
lumber and coal, and reminds one .
the 1rOv tr.ai1,s u ,vav l,ncl< in tho H., ~