The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-01-27
AMENDMENT 70 THE TREE Law.


Our member, Mr.. Dunnell, is as alert
and busy as ever i'll attending to the in
terests of the frontier. lie has intro
duced the following bill for the relief of
those whose trees on tree claims have
been destroyed by grasshoppers. No
doubt the bill will pass, and the chief
danger to those who have planted trees
will be avoided.
But the provisions of the bill are still
not broad enough. Trees are often de-
strOyed by drouth, or other causes, as
unavoidable rs grasshoppers, and in
such cases there should he no forfeiture
of rights in case of contest. Most of
our people are wholly inexperienced in
tree planting, and they meet at the out
set number OF difficulties, first, the
risk of getting bad seeds, cuttings or
trees, and then the difficulties arising
from a new soil and a climate new to
them.
The tree law, it seems to us, needs
amending so as to-secure the following:
l. That seeds, cuttings or trees may
lie planted, the object of the law plainly
being to secure trees, no matter how
grown.
2. That where parties have complied
with tile law i'll planting the required
number of acres III a given time, their
rights shall not he forfeited, in case the
trees are destroyed by drouth, grass
hoppers or other unavoidable cause.
The following is the bill introduced
by Mr.. Dunnell:
That whenever a party holding 4
whenever making final proof under the
same, shall prove by two good and
credible witnesses that the trees planted
and growing on said claim were de-
stroyed by grassh0ppers during amy one
or more years while holding said claim.
said year or years shall not work any
forfeiture Of any of the rights or priv
lleges conferred by this act; and the
time allowed by this act III which to
plant the trees and make fi:ial proof
shall lie extended the same number of
years as the trees planted OH the said
claim were destroyed in the manner
specified i'll this section.
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA RA1LRoAD
ITEMS.
It is said that arrangements have been
made to sell finally the Southern Mime
sofa Railroad under the decree of for
closure us soon rs the legal notice can
De given. The object is TO clear the
road of all its embarrassments and re-
organize the company, so that work on
the extension of this road can be begun
In the spring, before the land grant ex-
:: pires.
Tie Jackson Republic says that a
bonus Of ten per cent on the real estate
Of that county will amount to about
1877 600. 1t is strongly in. favor of
bonus.
A meeting was held ut Fairmont on
the 18th to consider the question of
voting aid to the Southern Minnesota.
The following resolution was adopted:
Resolced, That the township of Fair
mont vote to the Southern Minnesota
Railroad Company 10 per cent. of the
assessed valuation OF said town in 90
year bonds, dra wing 7per cent. interest
-b0n(ls to be deposited with three trus-
tees to be elected at town meeting.
. CoNDlr1oNED, That the said Southern
Minnesota Railroad shall he completed
TO- the village Of Fairmont, depot build
1ngS to he erected and cars running to
. said village by January list, 1877-depot
grounds to be located within One-llalf
mile from Court House; said road to he
4 u continuous line from La Crosse to
Fairm0nt. When conditions are COM
!. l,]ied with, the bonds to lie delivered by
! said trustees to Railroad Company. In
case Of failure to comply with any of
tile foregoing conditions, the bonds to
+ lie null and void and returned Ivy the
trustees to the officers Of the town.