The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-04-06
THE NARROWGAUG E.

the proposed narrow-gauge road from
Sibley to Fort Dodge, says:
There is little doubt but that the
project outlined above can, if rightly
managed, he carried into execution.
The route proposed is very direct one,
and traverseS u comparatively level
country.
But it seems to us That the most
beautiful line is from Wortlington to
Fort Dodge by way Of Spirit Lake.
That route could he made almost an
air line and the distance would be less
than 1Oo miles. This would give Spirit
Lake railroad communication with the
coming railroad center Of Worthington.
1t would be good joke on us if our
Sibley friends should steal our thunder,
take our narrow-gauge railroad scheme
from us, and put it through right under
cur very noses.
THE BRANcYI ROAD
The facts III the following letter from
Governor Miller are given with a view
to publication, anu We prefer to give
them i'll the Governors own words:
LIE MARS, April 5, 1876.
A. 7. MILLER, Esq, Dear SIR: Up
on condition that we secure the stipu-
lated bonus in Rock County, we have
secured every dollar of the sum re-
quired to complete our branch xoa,l
from your place to LuVerne by or be-
fore the first day OF October next, and
If the bonus be voted it will lie SO COM
plete,l.
Col. Drake, Col. Merriam and IIor-
ace Thompson, Esq, telegraph from
New York that the money is ready so
soon us the bonus is voted; and Gen.
bishop writes that il the vote he favor
able, he will Immediately thereafter
finally locate the road, and will COM
lnence its construction so soon rs the
frost is out Of the ground and will
cheerfully furnish employment for all
the men and their teams in your county
and Rock that arc DESTROYS to labor.
Under these circumstances, and i'll
view of the pleasant relations that have
ever existed between yourself and your
people, and our company, l earnestly
hope that you and the citizens of Nor.
thingtOn will not use their influence
against the bonus upon which land
only wlicl) the consummation of the
enterprise depends.
Very truly yours,
). MILLER, Agent.
The company are unquestionably in
earnest about building the branch, as
they cannot afford to lose the immense
carrying trade which the country will
aafud to the first road which taps the
magnificent wheat region west Of us.
We do act know that any influence is
being cxerted from this county upon
the people of Rock County to induce
them to vote against bonus to the
branch. 1t is plain to lie seen, how.
ever, that Worthington must suffer
considerably in retail trade from the
time the b:anch is opened to LuVcrne
until the Southern Minnesota reaches
us. In the end, we do not know that
it will make much difference. What
We want here, first, last, and all tile
time, Is the Southern Minnesota. Oh
some other direct eastern outlet. We
know that the f:.ir-minded among OH
people, almost to man, feel kindly
toward the St. Paul and Sioux City
comp,ny,<but the benefits of il direct
eastern outlet are SO patent that nearly
a'l men, whether i'll favor of bonus OF
not, admit it.
A rumor has been current for sorae
days tll;t the managers Of the Southern
MiQneso+a say that if Rock County
will give them a bonus they will build
to the State line this year. Such {,
proposition. pat i'll definite shape, could
not fail to make most of our people f;.-
vor the Southern Minnesota westward
rather than the branch, because it
would give Rock County just what
they are asking, viz: a railroad; and ut
the same time save us from the appre.
l'ended loss of trade the coming fill
and winter, and give us competition i,
year sooner than expected.
Tho Farmers Union urges upon its
readers that they xow their wheat as
soon rs possibl e after the frost is out Of
ground sufficiently ito permit the soil
to work in y thorough and efficient man,
ner." by some strange law Of nature
the action Of tho frost on seed wheat
has Il tendency to produce u better crop
say ut least four years out of. five, thai,
II sown after The frost has ceased tc
visit us. We do not know why this is
so, hut experience. has de nonstratcd
that sucl, ~ the fact. But tho rule
does not apply every year. Once in {;
while late sown wheat gives the l,us.
oandman = very good yield, while early
sown wheat hardly ever fails to give a
satisfactory return to the farmer. espec.
jaly II it Is properly cultivated OIL good
SOIL. On the other hand We do not
care, hon. rich the ground is, and how
thoroughly the soil may lie worked. late
wheat; frequently; fails. 1t does mot
make half m average crop. In
order to lie sure of Il goa5d crop, lei
wheat-be put in at the very earliest pos.
s;bl. period. 1t will pay