The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-07-30
= Is I: IS e 80; ~ : -T,-7T-- =
RINGS AND SLATER

Ii Elsewhere we publish a communica-
ton on "Onice- Seeking q by a. farmer
and one Of our most substantial men,
who rarely has anything to say on poll
tics. Our correspondent understands
that the estate has already been made
up by "ring," and that the wires are.
being laid and worked to secure the
nominations agreed upon among those
who want Office. We do not know that
this is so, but one thing is sure, that
when the people do not attend to these
things for themselves, the politicians
will attend to it for them . -
We recognize the right of any man to
offer for the nomination, and of his
friends to labor for his success, but we
protest against "rings" and against
any packing or controlling of caucuses
and conventions, without the full
knowledge and participation Of the peo-
pie. - :'s' q ~,
As to our own course, we wish to say
again that the ADVANCE is a Republic
can paper and will support the Repub-
lican ticket if good men are fairly NOM
mated. Weare opposed to any "rings'
designed to keep one set Of men in Of
flee, and we shall only ask that whatev-
er is done shall be done with the full
consent and participation of the people.
Our columns are open, and we ask
the people to Interchange views through
the paper. Who do the people want for
their servants?
THE GIeASsH0PpERs.
The air has been full OF grasshopper
rumors, if not of grasshoppers, during
the past week, and the people have felt
us though the sword of Damocles were
suspended over their crops, ready to
fall at any moment. The facts are that
the pests have invaded Hersey, Graham
Lakes, and Seward Townships in large
numbers, and have been destroying the
crops and depositing their eggs. 1t is
OF course impossible to get reliable esti-
mates as to the extent of the destruc-
ton, but there IS no doubt that some
farmers have lost all, and that the
whole Of the three townships have suf-
fered considerably. That the farmers
of these townships are discouraged, we
need hardly say, nor need we say that
they have the sympathy of the whole
county.
Whether the pests will move south
ward and extend over the county, no
one can say, but we think that they are
seeking the more sandy knobs and rid ges
about the streams and lakes for the pur-
pose of depositing their eggs, and that
this will account for their being along
Jack Creek and about Graham Lakes
in sucl large numbers. This was the
case, it will he remembered, two years
ago, when they deposited their eggs.
AS to the eggs. it is said that the
ground is honey-combed with holes, but
those who have examined the earth
agree pretty generally in saying that
there is not one hole in ten which con-
tains a.y eggs. Others say that the
eggs do not have the healthy appear
ance of the former deposit.
1t is claimed by those familiar with
the nature and habits of the locust that
the second hatch does not have vitality
enough to mature. If this be true, the
next years hatch will not injure us. It
will not do, of course, to rely upon this.
The one thing to do is to prepare for a
vigorous war and fight them as long as
there is Il hopper. For ages fighting
has succeeded along the Mediterranean
and other regions subject to invasion,
and Blue Earth County, in this State,
has shown us what can he done by a
vigorous warfare. The situation is
about as follows:
Grasshopper eggs are being deposited
in Watonwan, Cottonwood, Murray,
and parts of Jackson and Mobiles Coun-
ties. We must, therefore, have some
thing Of a hatch another year. The
first suggestion to every mind is that
the prairie grass must be preserved and
that there must be concert of action in
burning it. Nine-tenths of the hatch
can be killed by simply burning the
prairie grass; and those which remain
on the plowed ground can be caught by
nets and other means and killed.
An association for the invaded coun-
ties is suggested, so that there may he
united action and that the battle may
be fought simultaneously. Some are
favoring the policy of liberal bounties,
but it looks as though every farmer in
the invaded counties ought to be will
ing to devote few days to fighting
grasshoppers, in order to save his own
crops, without asking to be paid for it.
Still, whatever military necessity" may
arise, ought to be promptly adopted.
The latest reports from other coun-
ties are about as follows: The pests are
still in Cottonwood County, and the
crops are suffering greatly. From
Murray County, we hear that the crops
are badly damaged. A portion of Jack
son County is also considerably injured,
though Jackson is only partially invad-
ed. Reports from Rock say that most
of the hoppers have left, and that the
crops are but slightly injured.
We are aware that these statements
aOnnd hH6lu lhr00d on6 klo4 MA =. Ma =.