The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-05-24

nay sthses Rllos VI:
HEn1roa AVA eE: >see copsj era.
BdestrifSsg De- oHln Morjhingta be-
tween tie papers ii regard TO the hon.
|'esty and morals OF certain parties re-
siding in Worthington. lam not mucl,
acquainted with either party, but I will
add my testimony as far as it goes as
regards the honesty of the citizens of
your beautiful village as seen by Il
stranger. In Feb. 1876, l made visit
to Southwestern Minnesota. to see some
OF my friends, also to locate If r liked
the country and people. Stopping at
FWorthiEgton and employing q team, I
went out % miles north in the south
part Of Murray county. Here I located,
improved aud remained until the last
of July when I9returned, to this State
after losing my entire crop from grass
hoppers, and seeing no prospect for the
next year. This was to- me "a heavy
loss of time and money. During the
Summer frequently visited Worthihg-
ton, doing business with various mel'-
chants and becoming little acquaillt-
ed with some of the business
men ''1iOf' 7+.' your :: town, in
GLIDING Prof. ,IHumiston, and I must
say l never saw q more honest and gen.
tlemanly set Of merchants and business
men than were those / had dealings
with, and as for the citizens in general,
l will add, left my goods in the streets
over night, loaded Oh sleds, some boxed
up, while many articles were loose and
not thing was disturbed, and L was
informed that there was no night
watch. This made an impression OH
my mind favorable to this town and its
inhabitants. &."''
And now, Mr.. Editor, I wish to say
one word to tile discouraged home
steaders: You talk of leaving next fall
1t the 'hOppers clean you out, do You?
Where will you go, let me ask? 10 H.
linois, Iowa OF some other State east to
get work to support your families?
How this may be next fall I am not
prepared to say, but at this time the
country is over run with men hunting
work, and up to this writing nothing
is done i'll the way Of farming on ac-
count of rain. Should it continue ten
days longer the crops will be Il failure
here and no labor will be required to
harvest it. Then if you rent land and
pay one-half in the crib you will not
make enough to feed and clotlle your
families IN this country. Let us now
see the prices Of provisions in Illinois
and Minnesota. Flour in Ill. 5000 per
hundred; in Mimi, $500 per barrel,
just double. Other things are as cheap
there rs here, though there would he
one advantage III favor Of Illinois, when
crops are good there is plenty of labor
to lie had at good prices. But upon the
whole, would say, if YOU can get f.
nough to live upon in Minnesota re-
main upon your claims, and when tie
curse of the 'hoppers has passed you
will come out victorious and have IL
home that many in the older States will
envy you. know of a great many
tina. will go west as soon us the hop
pers leave there.
I propose ut some future time to write
more about the soil, landscape, health,
ETC., of Southwestern Minnesota, but
for the present will close by saying,
should any one DESTROYS Of knowing the
changes that have taken place in socie-
ty or farming in this country during
the last few years, and will COMMUNE
cate with Inc, will answer in full.
Il. B, II.