The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-09-07
REPORT OF THE CHRISTOPHER CON
AITTEE

REPORT OF THE CHRISTOPHER COM
The Committee met, pursuant to
agreement, at the county office on Mon
day, Sept. 4, 1876, and, on motion, Capt.
j. W. Miller was called to the Chair,
and II. B. Plots appointed Secretary.
. After considerable discussion COW
ering all the ground presented to tue
view of tile committee, they adopted
the following preamble and resolutions:
WHEREAS, The condition of the
county finances are such as to render
any considerable outlay of money for
fire breaks impracticable; and
WHEREAS, The Committee are of the
opinion that the season is too far adj
vanced to succeed in making them
efficient for this year by such agency;
and
WHEREAS, We are of the opinion
that the making of such fire breaks
may be done more efficiently by the sew
eral organized townships by the town
officers, it is
liesotretl, That we do hereby recon-
mend the Township Boards of the sew
eral townships to give immediate at
tention to making such breaks as far as
practicable.
1fesolred, That we urge upon all che
settlers within the county of Mobiles to
use their best efforts to Immediately
protect their respective farms from fires
that they may fire the prairie ut suit
able time i'll the following spring to de-
StrOy the young grasShOpperS.
Resolved, That, III the opinion of this
committee, it is not advisable to resort
to local bounties for the destruction of
grasshoppers; but they would recon-
mend that a District or State Grass
hopper Convention that may hereafter
be called adopt a memorial like, OF SIM
liar to, the one recommended by the
Missouri State Agricultural Society,
and take means to have said memorial
properly presented to the next Congress
of the United States for it's action; and
also THAT a bounty proviso Ike attached
to said memorial.
After some further discussion the
following was adopted:
WHEREAS, In the opinion of this
committee tAsre axe many settlers upon
government land that, on account of
the long continued destruction of crops
by the grasshoppers, will be obliged to
abandon said land; and
WHEREAS, We believe that action
upon the part of the General Govern
ment that will give to said settlers a
title to said lands, will give them an
opportunity to provide for their present
emergencies and thereby save the loss
of a considerable portion of our popu-
lation; therefore
Resolved, That we recommend that
our Member of Congress he petitiOned
to try and secure the passage of an act
allowing settlers upon government land
who have been actual residents upon
hOmesteads and prescriptions and who
have lost their crops 10y grassh0ppers
for teC0 consecutive years to make final
proof upon their claims subjec: to such
restrictions as the Interior Department
may consider necessary.
WHEREAS, Many persons in the coun-
ty have been rendered almost entirely
destitute by destruction of their crops
the present wear; therefore
Resolued. That the County Commits
sioners shall be authorized by vote of
the people of the county to procure
from the next Legislature al enabling
act to issue county bonds for such
amounts as may in their judgment be
required to provide subsistence for the
dcstitute; also to furnish seed grain to
such persons as have ground prepared
Tor it in the proper season, and who are
unable to provide seed or subsistence
for themselves.
That this proposed relief shall he fur
nished as a loan to the different persons
above mentioned, taking their obliga-
tions to repay at 4 future time.
That the County Commissioners be
requested to fix the amount and to r.
range details and to order a special
election for this purpose, fixing the
time on general election day. And be
it further
Resolred, That the Secretary of this
Committee is hereby authorized to COM
municate to the authorities of the
counties of Rock, Murray, Jackson,
Cottonwood, Martin and Watonwan
that a mass meeting for the cOnsidera-
ton of the grassllopper question will
be held in the town Of Worthington Oh
Wednesday, Sept. 20, 1876.
j. w. MILLER,
r. B. PLorTs, Chairman.
Secretary.
SHELLEY GAZETTE ITEMS
Is. r. kOuerlck, of WOrtllingtOn,
made flying trip to Sibley, Tuesday.
Mr.. Borland of Ransom, Mobiles
County, has fenced in \ twenty-acre
sheep pasture. lie has l85 sheep and
his wool clip is u pounds per fleece.
The second match game of ball be-
tween the ''Okabenas," of Worthing-
ton, and the Prairie Boys" was played
on the grounds of the latter club last
Saturday. A number of Worthington