The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-01-06
LETTER FROM REV: H. n CleEVER.
MIFFLINyILLE, PA.

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LETTER FROM REV H. n CIcEVER.
MIFFLINy1LLE, PA.
In the keystone State the Frost King
holds undisputed sway. Our. glorious
river, the Susquellanna, is ALTERNATING,
going into winter quarters Until
within :. few days, however, the winter
has been open, the streams free, and
the ground but slightly frozen. How
sincerely do wish it we're possible to
confer on my friends i'll the West the
advantages we enjoy here i'll respect to
fuel. While you are paying it may be
seven or eight dollars for soft coal or
hard wood, [ have had the best nnthra-
cite put into my coal house for $40.
/ can scarcely realize 1t. The fact is,
of course, due to our proximity to the
mines. During the past season the
North Branch canal has been devoted
exclusively to. the transportation of
coal, the canal itself rs we'll us the coal
being the property Of the Pennsylvania
Company. Another of the vast mOnOp-
olies of the anthracite region is the
Reading Railroad and Coal Company.
The mining capacity of these colossal
companies is almost incredible, and
gives them, we'll nigh if not quite, the
absolute control Of the market. And
it were we'll for the country if the con-
troll of these and similar organizations
extended no further. I greatly fear If
we sleep over this subject 4 few years
longer we shall wake to find ourselves
poWerless. We may discover, when it
is too late, that rs real Il despotism may
he established under ourpolitical insti-
tutions us though we lived under al
absolute monarchy. A few days since
the Reading Company suspended work
i'll the Iehigh valley, and in conse-
quence II, 600 men are idle for the win
ter. 1t is possible the suspension may
become general in the mining region.
This arises, it is said, from the glut of
the market-sc vast is the mining Ca
pacity and SO serious the arrest of the
great industries Of the country on
which the demand for coal depends.
do not think, taking all the fact:;
into consideration, that the settlers OH
your prairies have sufficient reason to
desire Il return to their eastern homes.
II few successful seasons will put the
majority Of them in il far better situa-
ton than they could possibly realize
here. When your people can build
comfortable houses which fully meet
the conditions Of the climate AID store
up in the fall an ample winter supply of
fuel they will have attained, in my
Judgment, to an enviable condition.
Farming is said>not to be remunerative
here, even in this wonderful Susque-
hanna valley, beautiful and productive
us it is, with the mighty coal fields at
it's back (swarming with population) rs
i home market, there is continual com.
plaint among farmers, which / believe
to be we'll founded. While this is the
case with those who own the soil they
cultivate, it may we'll he imagined how
1Uependent must he the condition Of
those who are without property. There
are thousands of youth, of both sexes,
growing up, both in the country and in
the towns, who have the most discour'
aging prospect before them; and while
have no particular disposition to say
to them, with Mr.. Greeley, go West,
[ do say to similar classes who are j,
the West, and especially to those il thu
grand commonwealth of Minnesota
stand your ground against all odds
plant yourselves sQuarely before your
difficulties with 4 determined purpose
in the bounds Of the National Colon,
will believe me when say that feel :
deep personal interest in their happi
> ness, and since my return to my native
State am more than ever persuaded
that they have, :1nder their control, TIL
elements of success. l have Il supreme
desire to witness, at some future day
the evidences Of your prosperity.
What about the Centennial? Viii
Minnesota be represented? Iowa, Wis
consin, l believe. and other States from
the Mississippi Valley, have made lib
eral appropriations to procure exhibit
ing space for their products and re
sources; it cannot be, surely, that
Minnesota will be 50 blind to her ow,
interests as to fail on so n,Omentous Ill
occasion. 1t is already estimated thai
on the 500 acres set apart for the expo
Sition between two and three hundred
distinct edifices will be erected. n.
such opportunity will propably eve
again he afforded for frontier States tt
put themselves Oh exhibition before tin
world. Congress certainly cannot hes
itate to make the small appropriation
asked; but, with or without al, appro
priation, the enterprise is destined tt
transcend the most extravagant idea!
of it's projectors. 1t promises to he
verit;lbly, I, world in miniature, and il
every important respect will far ECLIPSE
similar undertakings i'll other lands.
IL my former letter. after specifying
certain things in which the friends o
temperance agree, intended to shy
beyond this there is evidently III
unity" The types made me sd,
''necessity." Presenting to the editor
and his many readers the compliment:
of the season, remain faithfully yours
i. II. CREvER.