The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-01-15

were paid in the aggregate. on account of
agricultural statistics in 1884, the sum of
$17, 900. For vital statistics for the same
year, town clerks received about SIC, 600;
county clerks, about 81 ,24O. This aggre-
gate saving by suspending the collection of
| these Statistics under the present laws for
one year ($b32, OOO). added to the federal con-
| tlngent, would certainly exceed the increased
same would be true of the cost of printing:
1he towns pay the assessors, and the
| counties the clerks for the services here
spoken of, and it is easily feasible, if de-
| slrable, to leave the same burdens upon
the counties, by charging them with the
payment of the compensation of the
enumerators for filling up the second and
fifth schedules, which embrace the agricul-
| tural and vital STATISTICS and properly pro-
Forthcoming the rates OF compensation for all
the schedules change in the manner of
collecting vital statistics is elsewhere re-
! terred to. Some change seems necessary in
| regard to the agricultural statistics to OBJ
tain more accurate results A good many
county auditors agree that, for various rea-
sons, the assessors in their counties give lit
| tie care to this part of their work INSULT
| Gent pay for their time does the mischief
in some towns. Prejudice against the pub
LEGATION of such facts affects some. The
| changes which have sometimes been made
before publication, in the most carefully
| made returns have contributed to the same
end 1t is due to the officers and people Of
many towns TO say that in some counties tho
case appears to be different 1t is worth
your while to consider how to procure the
making of returns which shall CORRECTLY rep
resent the facts they are intended to make
known.
IMPROVEMENTS OF WESTERN RIVERS AND HAIR
BORIS
transmit herewith report of the state
commissioners for the improvement of the
Mississippi river" in which the interests of
wit fho
lures by the general government for the
improvement of Western rivers and harbors,
are practically considered. It is of great
interest to Minnesota and the Northwest
| that the system under which work bias been
prosecuted since 1878. for the improvement
OF navigation on the upper Mississippi from
st Paul to the Des Moines rapids should be
developed as rapidly as possible. until its
full benefits are realized Results already
accomplished assure the certainty of chan
mel of sufficient depth to accommodate the
largest upper river steamers during all sea-
sons of an open river. The competition Of
water routes everywhere is the great
and always a check and restraint
upon combinations that seek to maintain a
monopoly in the carrying trade. With such
assurances and protection to navigation as
the complete development of this system
contemplates, the certain channel for the
export OF our surplus products woud be the
Mississippi river via the gulf, and at cost,
for transportation of but fraction now paid
under prevailing railroad tariffs In their land
carriage to the seabOard A moderate ex-
penditure, as shown by estimates of govern
ment engineers, upon the Red River of the
North. would greatly improve its navigable
character and thereby confer 1nestimable
benefit upon the large and rapidly increasing
population occupying the fertile valley Of
that stream.
The growing importance Of the trade of
Duluth, the principal lake port of the
state should command such govern
it's harbor the fullest possible facili-
ties required by its rapidly increasing COM
merce. The development Also of our min
eral resources in the territory on the north
shore OF Lake Superior, which have assumed
ing OF railroads to accommodate the mining
Industries OF that region, justly claims such
appropriations as may be required to pro-
vide harbor facilities at ports from whence
the ores are shipped abroad Such express
s1ons from your body. addressed to congress
as may best command its attention in these
interests, are among the duties devoving
upon you. The Sriver commission" to whose
report reference is here made, has been of
much service to the state in this behalf, and
l recommend q continuance of the annual
appropriation of 81 600 for its USE
ADMISSION OF DAKOTA
The rapidity of the later growth of the
territory on our west has carried it. since its
fret application for admission into the Union.
far beyond what has hitherto been recog-
n!zed as the requisite in population to be-
come a state. As the area is more than twice
the average In existing states, there IS reason
in the demand for division. But however,
it mi ght be divided, one part at least, and
probably both, would have more than the
population required for a member of con-
gresS No territorial population has ever
been. on the average, better fitted by their
intelligence, their experience or their cir
cumstances, to assume the duties of statehood
than that of Dakota The interest of Mime
sofa in her neighbours elevation in dignity
and Importance is SO clear, that it is not to
be doubted that our senators and men,
bers OF congress will earnestly support
her admission into the Union without incite-
ment from us; but as it is feared that there
may develop, in a certain direction, an oppo-
sitiOn thereto. motived chiefly in PARTISAN
ship. perhaps, if the legislature of this state,
unanimously by the votes of its members Of
both parties We're to memorabilia congress
in behalf OF such action for admission as
Dakota desires. not inconsistent with former
presidents in regard to new states, it might
tend to secure for the question consideration
above that Of party gain, from the stand
point OF the public good
The prohibition by the constitution of Ger
tain kinds of special legislation imposes upon
you the duty which should no longer be de-
laved of completing the provision for such
cases by the enactment of general laws
Inc pOpuIACiOn OF Lake county, almost en-
tlrely clustered about the port and railway
station, Two Harbors, need such law to
bring to them the county seat from Beaver
Bay, thirty miles distant.
The encouragement of timber culture has
been for years the policy of the state 1t
will be equally wise to preserve by the best
means our existing forests against wan
ton or needless destruction. Fires on lands
from which the timber has been mostly
cleared, are among the greatest disasters
Some anxiety is felt among those who ap-
preclate the influence of abundant forests
as to the effects of the submerson of timber
lands by the reservoirs about the sources o.
the Mississippi An interesting inquiry was
begun in that regard by committee of the
American Forestry association whose chair
man visited the region last summer accom-
panied by the state land agent. Mr.. W.P.
Jewett A copy of their report is trans
mitted herewith
STATE INSPECTION OF GRAIN.
Venture to repeat the recommendation
made to the legislature of 1S43, regarding 4
system of state inspection of grain In NV
communication to that body, remarked
that:
The grtevous complaints of the agricultural
class IN some sections OF the state In regard to
warehousing and grading Of grain. is a subject
OF are of character that cannot he ignored,
though they may not be fully sustained by tho
facts In all cases. 1t Is equally the interest OF
the buyer rs well - the seller of grain, that
some system be devised by which the differences
settled through agencies entirely dtsinterested.
The farmer now complains that he has no option
or appeal in the transaction involving the dispo-
SltlOn OF his product, but must perforce accept
the 1udgment Of the buyer o 70 il quality %"