The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-01-20

forty MANNED union soldiers had re-
Gently lost theirplaces about the House.
A discussion followed during which it
was developed that nine union soldiers
had been dismissed from the House
post Office and their places filled by nine
confederate soldiers.
BLAINE.
If ever a bombshell was thrown into
the House, it was when Blaine moved
to except Jeff Davis from the amnesty
bill, not because lie was the leader of
the rebellion, but because he was re-
sponsible for the horrors of Anderson
vile and the other rebel prison pens.
Ills speech has electrified the country,
revived the memories of rebel horrors,
provoked the Democrats to unbounded
wrath, and put himself ahead in the list
Of Presidential candidates. The Dem
ocrats and late rebels would no doubt
he glad to bury Andersonville and all in
general amnesty, but it seems there
are ghosts that, like Banquo:s, will not
down, ard Andcrsonyille is one Of
them. No doubt thousands Of hearts
have cried for years, as Milton cried,
"Avcngc Lord. thy straightforward saints.
Lie scattered on the Alpine mountains DID,"
that Andersonville might he avenged.
And to forgive and forget all, shake
hands across Andersonville, and put
jeff. Davis back into the Senate to
crack the old whip over our heads, is i,
little more than such men us Blaine, at
least, can bear.
TREE PLANTING.
Tie more decisions Commissioner
Burdett makes concerning tree culture,
the more lie seems to put his foot in it.
First, we have Il statement that under
10 circumstances will the planting of
seeds or cuttings lie considered Il COM
pliance with the requirments of the
law. This is so evidently unwise and
unjust, that protest goes up from all
the prairie region interested in tree
planting, and then the Commissioner
decides that the General Land office
Twill not concern itself as to how trees
shall he produced" It will be enough
if trees are actually found on the land
, This is sensible and just, rs every one
sees ut Il glance. But on the 81 Of De-
cember list, the Commissioner address,
ed Il letter to parties III Kansas, i'll
which he says, ''thc planting of seeds
and cuttings within the time required
10y statute will not be accepted as a
compliance with the requirments that
trees be planted.' And so he gets
back OIL to the old ground that the
planting of seeds or cuttings will not
he taken by the General Land Office as
n compliance with the law.
We understand, then, the situation
to be this: If at the time of proof, or
of trial Oh Il contest, trees are found on
the land in good growing condition,
the General Land office will hold that
the Inv has been complied with. But
if seeds or cuttings are planted and,
owing to droutl>, grasshopl,er or some
other calamity the trees are destroyed,
then, in case Of contest, the Office will
hold that the law has not been complied
with, and the claim will he lost
Whether the Commissioner will hold that
the reQuirmentS Of the law have been
met in case trees were planted and de-
~stroyed does not appear, for the Com
missioner says that the 'ot1ice cannot
give i decision unless the cases are &C.
tually before it,
AS we understand it, then, our tree
planters are in this situation: Where
ever they have planted seeds or cuttings,
and cannot show young trees, their
claims will he lost in case of contest
Wherever they can show trees iii good
growing condition, they can hold their
claims, no matter how the trees were
produced. Where trees were planted.
: and destroyed by grasslloppers, droutl,
or other cause, they 1nuy retain their
claims, in case the General Land office
decides in their favor.
RAILROAD VEST.
EDITOR ADVANCE: Permit mo
through the medium Of your very ex-
cellent paper to state to your people
that as u result of visit Of the Mime
ha!a Railroad Committee to st. Paul,
we have the pleasure. to- state that OR
interview with the President and sew
er:ll of the directors of the St. Paul
and Sioux City Railroad was of i hlcll]y
satisfactory character.
Briefly let me say, that as Il result we
bring with lis Il written proposition
bearing the signature of President
Drake, which we regard us entirely
reasonable, and, we may say. liberal.
which. by prompt acceptance and action
OF, the part of Mobiles, Rock and Min.
nels,ha Counties, promises to give us Il
railroadtO LuVerne i'll time to move
the crops Of this year, and final com.
pletiOn to Sioux Falls before the. close
s'lOf the year 1877. When time shall .:.ti.
mit.we hope to avail ourselves OF. you,
columns TO- indicate. to the people OF
tho; several counties through which the
road is proposed to he built some OF the
advantages to result from this enter.
prise. Meantime, please let us assure
the people ofyour town and countythat
*fourcomlnitteeil opGand trust that. Won
ma well aS we feel that tbo tintoroctci ~