The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-03-13
From the st. Paul Daily Globe, March 1.
; SETTLING THE STATE.
What 10 Being Dono Along tho Southern
Minnesota Railway.

Tho present year promises to be lively sea-
on in Southern Minnesota, and especially along
the line of the Southern Minnesota railway.
The last season the road wa. extended from
Winnebago City to jackson, forty-six miles,
though the company was only required by the
land grant act to build but seventeen miles. 1t
has until 1881 to build to the western line of
the State but it is proposed to build the entire
distance, eighty-fve miles, during the present
year-the ties are already purchased, and sur
veys made. When the road reaches the western
boundary of the State in Pipestone county,
there will have been opened in two brief
seasons 13O miles more of our beautiful prairie
to settlement and advanced civilization, and q
portion of our State unsurpassed for fertility
and resources. Not only the distance in our
own State ia destined for grand wheat field
and stock range, but as the road penetrates Da-
kota it strikes one of the finest sections in oil
our boundless West. The road will be prompt
ly pushed through to the Big Sioux river in
Moody county, Dakota, which county already
contains population Of nearly 1900 people.
One reason for the increased settlement of
eastern Dakota is the fact that nearly every
quarter section has q settler upon it and no
odd sections arc taken by railroad companies.
THE soUTuER NM1NNEsoTA POLICY.
The Southern Minnesota Extension company
acquires large tracts Of land as it progresses
and the manner it has opened them to settle
ment is u worthy example for other land grant
companies. 1t puts settlers upon the land and
contracts to allow $3.50 for breaking and so
quently no money is required down. We arc
informed that the sixty miles of the St. Paul
q Sioux City land grant, which this road passes
through, is being held by the Sioux City Co.,
at from seven to ten dollars for wild prairie.
This certainly ia the wrong policy to pursue,
and one that tends to make the country almost
desolate waste. This company owns nearly
all the odd sections in the north half Of Martin
county, and much more in Jackson. Mobiles and
other counties. 1t can but be regarded an un-
wise policy to keep these splendid lands from
settlement by high prices. Homesteaders
are paying the taxes and improving
the roads, and building the bridges and school
houses and supporting local and State govern
ments, while the railroad is holding these broad
acres for high prices. We trust this policy will
not be adhered to.
THE JEssUP, JAMES AND ROOSEVELT LANDS,
being special trust of the Southern Mime
sofa Railway company, and consisting of about
GOO acres in Faribault, Martin, Jackson
Murray, Rock Pipestone, Cottonwood. Lyon,
Redwood and Blue Earth countless are about to
be offered on the same terms rs our State and
school lands are sold. These lands have been
40 thoroughly and carefully examined that
parties desiring to purchase can ascertain of
the general agent. J.. C. Easton, Laneaboro,
Minn., or of local agents near the lands, the
exact character of the different sections or
quarter sections. To make them the more gen.
orally and publicly brought to the notice of
immigrants and settlers, and feeling deep in
terest in settling our prairies. we understand
that Hon. o. P. Whitcomb, State land commits
sioner. has consented to sell these lands after
offering and selling the State lands, if parties
are desirons of purchasing 1t is intended to-,
at least on some plan, to have two public sales
during the year, and in the meantime they can
be purchased on the same terms at private sale
at any time. The policy is to get the lands into
the hands Of actual settlers and under cultiva-
tion.
All these several plans seem so liberal, and a.
q consequence are likely to be the means of
bringing to our State large immigration, that
We deem it our duty to give this extended no.
tice of what our friends in the Southern part
of the State are doing, and can but commend
the course adopted by the Southern Minnesota
railway to other land grant companies holding
large tracts for high prices. 1t certainly does
| seem to be the wrong policy to exact high
prices for lands. Settlers raising wheat and
cattle to transport may prove more profitable
than the extra price received by holding the
lands.