The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-03-16

we MS'Fs :, going to lay that Old Editor
At this remark, one of the attend
ants, with a forked tail which looked
like 4 split fame, raised 4 shout. The
other attendants took it up, and then
the whole park full of demons joined in
the yell, with such hideous and infer
nal noise that it awakened me, and
heard my wife saying, John, what in
the name Of sense is the matter with
you?" LAW AND ORDER.
PUBLIC HIGHWA vs.
EDITOR ADVANCE: In Il converse
ton with Mobiles County man re-
Gently, he made the following remark:
''What we need ut present more than
anything else is good wagon roads. -
The person making this remark was
speaking against bonus in aid of the
Southern Minnesota Railroad. Bit it
struck me at the time us being exceed
ingly we'll put, especially as far as the
wagon roads are concerned. AS to the
subject of aid to any acknowledging a
non-resident-I have nothing to say;
but upon the subject of public ighways
| beg Il space in your columns, in which,
| hope to impress upon the people liv-
ing in the southeastern portion OF No.
bles County the Importance attached
to the building up and maintaining at
least passable highways. lam particu-
lar to say possable highways, for we do
not expect luxury III the shape OF
roads at this early day-only such roads
rs we can transport our produce over
without risking injury to our teams.
It is a lamentable fact, known alike to
all, that during the entire length Of the
season shortly closed the roads leading
from Round and Indian Lakes tC
Worthington were almost impossible
for loaded teams. That the above is /.
fact, no one presume will deny, and
in consequence of the bad condition of
these roads, people living in Dickinson,
Clay, and the northeastern portion of
Osceola Counties, Iowa, took pretty
much all Of their produce to Sibley,
knowing that the town line road, be-
tween 90 and 100, leading direct to Sib-
ley, was well br,dged and kept in
reasonable repair, whereas OH the road
to Worthington (although Il few miles
nearer) after crossing the State line. Il
bridge at once becomes one of the curl
osities of the road, and none are ell
countered until within a stones throw
of the city of Worth,ngton.
Now, If any of your readers are in
clined to doubt these statements, and
think the condition Of these roads had
but little to do with the tide Of travel
to Sibley, all they have to do to become
convinced is to note the rush OF grain
from Spirit Lake, say since the frost
did for the roads what the people them
selves neglected to do. I call it negli-
gence, from the fact Il very little work
and no expense might have made us =,
p;,ssable road to Worthington. A few
straw bridges, for example, would have
done the work, and rendered efficient
service for time, which might have
been renewed, from time to time, and
in this manner kept i'll reasonable re-
pair. But, instead of this, absolutely
nothing was done that could be said to
benefit the roads during the entire sea-
son. Now, while we are anxious, to see
good roads, we are also very anxious to
get as direct Il road rs pOssible-a thing
necessary if Worthington expects to
control our trade; for, push us around
square angles, and WorthingtoA will,
in all probability, go begging for our
produce. This fact, alone. Will put 4
permanent barrier against her as bid
der for our trade. We must hars q d.
rect road if we make Worthinton our
market. That road we may have, if
the authorities will take tile matter i'll
hand, and, starting at some feasible
point near the southeastern conner of
the county, run, il us direct a hne as
possible, northwest, until it finally ter
inmates in the city Of WortlhingtQn.
Some have told me that there were
doubts as to whether tile railroad com
pany would grant the right of way for
such road; but as to that I have no
doubts. understand that the railroad
company have granted the right Of way
for a similar road in: Mobiles County,
and, ifapproached rightly, I baye no
hesitancy, in believing that they, upor,
seeing tile necessity, would at once
grant the necessary right. Having
now stated our grievances and wants,
Sit remains to be seen whether the citi-
zens Of Worthington will take hold OF
this matter and assist in its accomplish:
ment. z= 5.s. 22}Sz.5%=s =
FA1Rv1Ew, Osceola County, Iowa. .
= 6 E.tsz ss4 s25*.*s.t II SHnAvIsflN. : !