USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 57
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The date of the organization of most of the distriets, especially the earlier ones, will be pre- sented heer.
District No. 1 was organized on the 6th of April, 1857, on the petition of R. K. Creem and others, and embraced thirty-three, thirty-four, thirty-five, twenty-eight, and the southwest quar- ter of section twenty-seven in township 103, range 19, which is the present town of Moscow. This was in Mr. Frisbie's district, on whose motion the prayer of the petitioners was granted. This was the initial district.
Distriet No. 2. The sceond district to see it- self in form, was organized on the 8th of April, the same year, and was in answer to a petition of George Watson and others, and comprised sec- tions nineteen, twenty, twenty-nine, thirty, thirty- one, and thirty-two in the same township.
District No. 3. The boundaries of this district are elaborately described in the records, but the township is omitted, so that if anyone knows where it is it is all right, and to those who don't know, it does not perhaps matter where it was. This was on the same date as the last one. The petitioner was David M. Farr.
Distriet No. 4 was on the petition of Watson H. Brown, and was constituted a district at that first session of the board. It was at Shell Rock. It is evident that a reiteration of the sectional boundaries of all the districts would be burden- some, as well in the preparation as in the reading so it will be sufficient that the date and the town- ship be indicated.
District No. 5 was formed on the 8th of April on
the petition of H. Bartlett, and was in Shell Rock and Hayward.
District No. 6. George P. Hoops asked to have this district set apart. and it embraced some see- tions in Hayward and in Albert Lea.
District No. 7. A. P. Swineford petitioned for a school district in Bancroft, which was favor- ably acted upon. These embraced the school dis- triets projected at the first meeting of the county board.
Distriet No. 8. The petition of Isaac Vander- maker and others was favorably considered on the 6th of July. It was located in Newry and Moscow.
District No. 9. On the 7th of Septemer this came into existence, in response to a request from D. Prescott, and was in Bancroft.
District No. 15. This is the next on the list; what became of the missing numbers is among the problems, such as the lost tribes of Israel, but it is quite certain that enough others will turn up before we get through with them, to compensate for their absence. C. C. Colby was the petitioner in this case, with others, and included Albert Lea, Bancroft, and Manchester, each in part. This was on the 9th of September, 1857.
District No. 16 was also brought into existence on the 9th of September. E. C. Dunn headed the petition, and it took in sections of Carlston and Freeborn.
Distriet No. 10. On the 5th of October this district comes in view like a lost child, and was located in Moscow. J. M. Stage was the appli- cant, with others.
Distriet No. 11 was in Bath and Geneva, with Isaac P. Lynde as the head petitioner.
District No. 12. On the 7th of October this was instituted, and its habitation was in Moscow.
District No. 13. John W. Ayers and others asked for a new school in Freeborn and the pray- er was granted.
Distriet No. 14. Daniel Ingraham respectfully requested the honorable body to organize a new district in Oakland, and it was done on the 16th of November, 1857.
District No. 17. Having gathered up the straggling districts the regular sequence will be taken up. David Blakely and others wanted a district in Bancroft, embracing nearly two thirds of the township, and the fiat thus went forth on the 1st of February, 1858.
319
EDUCATIONAL.
It appears that during the year 1857 there were sixteen districts formed in the county, some of the townships having several, and others none. But in almost every settlement there were schools sus- tained in a private way. In April, 1858, school districts from No. 18 to 25 inclusive, were author- ized, and they were located as follows: No. 18 in Manchester and Carlston; No. 19 in Pickerel Lake and Nunda; No. 20 in Nunda and Freeman; No. 21 in Nunda. No. 22 in Bancroft; No. 23 in south half of Shell Rock; No. 24 in Riceland and Ban- croft: No. 25 in Piekerel Lake.
District No. 26. This was set apart in Septem- ber, 1858, in the town of Hartland, and included the whole township. Additions were made to district No. 3 in the same month.
District No. 27 was organized in October, and was in Freeborn.
District No. 28 was organized at the same ses- sion, and was in Hartland.
District No. 29 was instituted on the same date in Hayward.
District No. 30 started with a like date in Lon- don.
District No. 31 was organized at the same time in Geneva.
The School fund available in October, 1858, was as follows:
Front the county, $391.43
From fines,
7.53
Total $398.96
To each pupil.
$1.70
District No. 32. This was organized in the fall of 1858, in the towns then called Liberty and Springfield.
District No. 33 was organized with others up to and including No. 37, on the 5th of January, 1859, and their locations were in Freeman, Manchester, Carlston, Bancroft ,and Geneva. In September the districts were organized up to 45, which in- cludes the whole number at that time in the county.
An act of the legislature about this time under- took to revolutionize the county school system by making each town a school district to be sub- divided according to the requirements of each case. So then each town would begin No. 1, No. 2, and so on. But this was soon repealed and the county schools placed under a superintendent, and the system as it is now firmly established. A new numbering also took place, so that the districts |
cannot now be identified by their original num- bers, but the order in which the schools were started can be seen.
To furnish a complete idea of the schools in this county at this time, it has been concluded that a full copy of the admirable report of Super- intendent Levens should be transcribed. That this includes various suggestions as to what ought to be done does not mitigate against its value in a historical work, and it gives the personnel of the teachers of the last session of each school, as well as the names of the clerks of the school districts.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOLS OF FREEBORN COUNTY, FOR THE WINTER TERM OF 1881-82 .- The follow- ing facts, relating chiefly to the important matter of attendance, are compiled from teachers' reports of the winter schools.
Six Districts-29, 58, 69, 85, 86, and 111, had no winter term.
Six Districts-25. 50, 66, 95, 105, and 108, re- port no tardiness.
Fourteen schools made no report as to tardiness -whether, I ecause, they thought it of no im- portance, or too much trouble, or because they had too many cases, or had none, is not certain. It is a fact, however, that should be recognized by teachers, that punctuality and regular attendance go together, and that the habit of promptness and punctuality acquired and practiced in school is an important element of future success in life.
No. of District.
NAME OF TEACHER.
No. Days School.
! Whole No. Enrolled
1
Angus McGinnis
98
36
Ellen A. O'Leary
60
17
3
Mrs. J. M. Tracy
60
17
1 John L. Gibbs. . 70
54
5
Betsey C. Thompson
70
45
6
James McClure.
60
25
Sarah C. Burke
80
53
8 Ellen M. MeClelland. 80
26
9 Oluf Hofland
80
40
10 Rillia Drake
60
30
11
Jennie E. Harrison
60
8
12
S. J. Fuller 60
28
13
Geo. P. Latin
79
50
14 O. H. Smeby
60
18
15 Maggie E. Purdie
60
20
16 Geo. M. Miller
65
26
17 Z. A. Ransom.
60
28
18
H. R. Fossum
60
35
19
L. J. Aga. . 60
31
20 . Eva B. Loomis
80
32
320
HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
No. of District.
NAME OF TEACHER.
No. days School.
Whole No. Enrolled
No of District.
NAME OF TEACHER.
No. days School.
46 Et j Whole No, Enrolled
21 H. R. Fossum.
33
83
Gordon Mayland.
60
20
22
Charles Horning
31
8-4
Emil Hanson.
60
23
Elmer C. Webster.
80
44
85
No Winter Term
24
Annie English
60
34
No Winter Term.
25
Graee Slater
80
53
87
Olive S. Austin.
80
23
26
Arthur Trow
60
43
R. E. English.
60
27
O. K. Fiskerback
60
45
89
Orpha J. Skinner
60
29
28
Mary Jordon. .
60
15
90
Clara Pierce.
80
43
29
No Winter School
60
39
31
John J. Morrison
60
B7
93
L. W. Bassett .
120
57
32
Win. A. Norris ..
54
17
94
Ellen Meadowcroft
80
23
33
Charles N. Hatch
79
95
Rose Harris.
60)
15
34
Chas. E. Budlong.
60
43
Lora Vaughn
60
17
35
John W. Gillard
60
26
97
Jolın M. Tracy
80
21
36
Viota N. Palmer
60
12
98
Maggie J. Davis
80
37
38
Albert Lea Reports Annually
100
Charles Young.
60
15
39
Emma Ruble.
8
101
Netta E. Scott.
60
16
40
Lennie Patrick
60
24
102
Jolın K. Richards
60
20
41
Mary A. Quinn
37
104
Franeis Murphy
80
26
Rosa Sutton
80
26
105
Ashley Narvey
40
19
44
John Siverson
26
100
Lydia Purcell.
57
13
45
Leda M. Hewitt
48
107
Ella Slater .
50
20
46
Frank H. Palmer
60
23
108
John J. Quam
60
23
47
Lizzie Wadsworth
70
109
R. F. Challis.
79
50
48
L. T. Lawrence
31
110
Lettie P. English
40
111
No Winter Term
. .
. .
50
Mary Fisk.
80
46
51
Belle Cheadle
80
38
52
D. S. Palmer.
80
53
Eva E. Gibson
60
17
54
J. E. Nelson
80
31
55
Cora A. Norton.
60
18
56
M. P. Howe ..
70
22
57
Hannah Daniels
39
15
58
No Winter Term
60
60
Ellen Hare .
60
23
61
S. E. Walker
29
62
Frank E. Phipps
40
63
Ida M. Taylor
50
18
64
Emily Wood.
80
37
65
John D. Herman
60
22
66
John J. Quam
37
67
Emma Allen.
20
68
Martha Palmer
80
18
71
John D). Murphy
80
32
72
Emma A. Ames.
19
73
Mary O'Leary
74
Viola A. Marvin
60
24
75
John W. Booen
59
-15
76
Arthur Budlong
60
38
77
Betsie Miller . .
80
24
78
Robert H. Graham
32
79
'T. K. Haugen
80
44
80 .J H. Ransom
59
17
81 Henry A. Davis
80
33
82 Mettic Ostrander
60 ,37
99
Olive Skinner
80
18
George Hurd.
CA
32
13
103
| James St. John.
60
16
49
Glenville, Reports Annually
. .
Averages
29
The average number of visitors to each school -- 26-so far as it has any significance, would seem to indicate a fair amount of interest on the part of parents, though two schools report only one visitor.
The actual attendance is shown to be only 62 per cent. of the total enrollment. This means that all the scholars eurolled were absent on an aver- age, over one day out of every three, during the term. The figures show a direct loss of 38 per cent. of school. But the real loss was much greater. No scholar absent one day and present two, can get any thing like the full value of these two. Irregular attendance retards the whole work of the school. Hence this 38 per cent of absenee greatly lessons the value of the remaining 62 per eent. of attendance. If we also consider the num- ber not enrolled at all, but who might and should have been, there was an actual loss, at the lowest estimate, of more than one-half of the cost of the schools in the matter of attendance alone, to say nothing of the quality of teachers' work or of any
No Winter Term
Dora E. Chamberlain
65
17
92
Annie Fitzgerald.
100
26
30 Mary Brown
122
91
O. H Smeby
. .
Charles J. Dudley
59
E. E. Geesey
60
321
EDUCATIONAL.
other deficiencies. Good attendance is absolutely essential to a good school. Many parents do not appreciate this fact. Teachers who do, and are thoroughly in earnest about it, can make their in- finence felt among parents as well as scholars. Last week I visited two schools, in each of which only three scholars were present. The most of the absent ones were probably planting corn. Though often convenient, it is not profitable in the end, to interrupt a child's attendance at school for a little work at home, if it can possibly be avoided.
TO TEACHERS.
I respectfully submit to your consideration the following simple outline of a "Course of Study," and "Program of Recitations," in the hope that they may aid in securing more systematic and efficient work in our schools.
Any course of study for country schools must, of necessity, ignore the element of time; hence, only the studies themselves and the proper order in which they should be taken up by the different grades are here given.
For convenience and simplicity the grades are made and named to correspond to the different numbers of the series of readers: 1st Reader, or Ist Grade; 2d Reader or 2d Grade, up to and in- cinding the 5th Reader, making five grades.
The studies of the different grades should be as follows:
Ist GRADE-Ist Reader and Spelling, Writing, Oral Number Lessons.
2d GRADE-Second Reader and Spelling, Writ- ing, Oral Arithmetic, Oral Geography.
3d GRADE-3d Reader, Spelling, Writing, Pri- mary Arithmetic, Primary Geography.
4th GRADE-4th Reader, Spelling, Writing, Practical Arithmetic, Language Lessons, Interme- diate Geography.
4th GRADE-5th Reader or History, Spelling, Writing, Practical Arithmetic, Grammar, Physiol- ogy.
(a). 1st and 2d Grades spell in connection with each reading exercise the words of the lesson, and and write reading lessons on slates.
(b.) "Oral Number Lessons" includes the de- velopment of the idea of numbers and their com- binations by the nse of objects, counting and such simple exercises in notation, numeration, and such
elementary operations as are adapted to the capac- ity of pupils of the first Grade,
(c) "Oral Arithmetic" means such oral instruc- tion and practice in slate work as will enable pu- pils of the 2d Grade completing the 2d Reader, to perform promptly and correctly, simple examples in Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Divi- sion, and the knowledge of the tables requisite therefor.
({. ) Much extra slate work should be given the 3rd Grade, in connection with the Primary Arithmetic, to prepare them to take the Practical Arithmetic when they take the 4th Reader.
(e.) "Language Lessons" for the 4th Grade, means the State text book, so named. Bnt the greatest attention should be given from the first, through all grades, and in connection with all school exercises, to give practical instruction and drill in language. To teach correctly the elements of reading, talking, and writing the English lan- guage, is the most important business of a school.
While it is desirable that all the pupils of each grade be together in all the studies of that grade, yet, owing to irregularity of classification in the past, and to various other causes, this will not in all cases be possible. A 5th Grade pupil in other branches, but who has never studied Geography, will have to be in the 3rd Grade in that branch. Similar cases will occur in other branches, But no effort should be spared to secure regular grading when possible, always using common sense and judgment in regard to exceptional cases.
The following "Program of Daily Exercises" is presented, not as the best that can be made for all schools, but as one which, with slight changes, can be used to advantage in all schools, and especially in those attempting to conform to this plan of grading:
FORENOON.
Hour Grade
Exercises
Time
9:00
All .. .
Opening exercises
05
9:05
1
Oral Number Lesson
10
9:15
2
2d Reader and Spelling
15
9:30
3
3d Reader.
15
9:45
1
4th Reader.
20
10:05
5
"A" Practical Arithmetic
25
10:30
RECESS.
15
10:45
1
Ist Reader and Spelling
10
10:55
2
Oral Geography .
10
11:05
3
Primary Arithmetic.
15
11:20
"B" Practical Arithmetic.
20
11:40
5
"A" Grammar
220
21
322
HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
AFTERNOON.
Hour Grade !
Exercises.
Time
1:00
1
Ist Reader and Spelling
10
1:10
2
2d Reader and Spelling
15
1:25
4
"A" (teography,
15
1:40
5
History.
20
2:00
3×4
"B" Spelling
10
2:10
All. .
Writing
2:30
RECESS.
15
2:45
1
Ist Reader and Spelling
10
2:55
2
Oral Arithmetic.
15
3:10
4
Language Lessons.
20
3:30
3
Primary Geography
15
3:45
4&5
"A" Spelling
This program is intended to be the best pos- sible arrangement of the greatest possible num- ber of daily exercises-22. The number should not and can not be increased. If it is absolutely neccessary to introduce additional recitations in other branches, they must take the place of some of these, on alternate days, as Algebra one day and A Arithmetic the next; or the 5th Reader alternate with the 4th Reader ; or Physiology with History or A Geography. In many schools, especially during the summer term, all the classes found on this program will not be formed. The time thus gained can be divided among the other classes most needing it.
Thy 3rd grade and the poorest in the 4th can form the "B" spelling class; the 5th grade and the best in the 4th, the "A" spelling elass. In some cases doubtless the 4th and 5th grades can belong to the same class, as in Physiology-a study that should be introduced whenever possi- blo -- always in preference to Algebra or the 5th Reader. If history is substituted for the 5th Reader, as a reading exercise, it should be studied as well as read.
In changing this program to adopt it to the circumstances of your school, remember that the objects to be secured arc :(1.) The distribution of the recitations of each pupil throughout the en- tire day, with time for study between-thus mak- ing it also a study program. (2.) A proper amount of time to each recitation, taking into ac- count the subject, the number in the class, and their age. (3.) Plenty of time for the little ones the oldest ones can learn without any teacher. (4.) A just division of the time among the different brunches-Reading, 95 minutes; Writ ing, 20; Arithmetic, 85; Grammar, 40: Geogra phy, 40; History, 20; Spelling, 25. (5.) As few as 18 daily recitations, if possible.
If, by the approval of school officers and parents and the co-operation of teachers, this attempt at partial grading proves reasonably successful, blauks will be provided in which to record the elassification of the school at the elose of the term, and showing the progress of each elass and pupil. Such a record, left with the register in the care of the clerk of the district, will be of great use to the next teacher in organizing the next term of school.
Teachers should preserve this circular for refer- ence and further use.
C. W.LEVENS. Co. Supt. of Schools.
SCHOOL DISTRICT CLERKS.
Below is a list of the names of the school dis- trict clerks of the 110 districts of Freeborn county, together with the Post-office address of cach clerk, as appears on the records in the County Auditor's office :
No. Dis. Clerk.
P. O. Address.
1 Ben Benson,
Blooming Prairie.
2 Garrett Barry,
Blooming Prairie.
Geneva.
4 W. H. Twiford,
Geneva.
5 E. C. Johnson,
Albert Lea.
6 John Lightly,
Oakland.
7 R. Fitzgerald,
Albert Lea.
8 F. E. P'hipps,
Hartland.
9 'T'hos. Donovan,
Hartland.
10 John Ingebrigston, Hartland .
11 C. C. Ayers,
'T'renton.
12 S. J. Fuller,
Freeborn.
13 Wilbur Fisk,
Freeborn.
14 C. G. Johnsrud,
Albert Lea.
15 L. W. Gilmore,
Alden.
16
Josiah Jones,
Alden.
17
L. C. Larken,
Alden.
18 Bennett Asleson,
Manchester.
19
Panl J. Spilde,
Manchester.
20 Wm. H. Long,
Albert Lea.
21 H. Christopherson,
Hartland.
22
R. Kelly,
Albert Lea.
23
H. S. Olson,
Clark's Grove.
24
August C. Arneson, Albert Lea.
25 Ole Henry,
Albert Lea.
26 W. H. Baker,
Albert Lea.
27 Ole A. Lce,
Hayward.
28 Asa Rowley,
Oakland.
29 V. P. Lewis, Moscow.
30
J. E. Johnson, Austin.
3 Wm. Lehy,
20
15
323
No. Dist. Clerk.
P. O. Address.
No. Dist. Clerk.
P. O. Address.
31
S. N. Frisbie,
Oakland.
81
A. H. Stevens,
Alden.
32
J. M. Purcell,
Austin.
83
O. R. Johnson,
Hayward.
34
A. P. Hanson,
Hayward.
85
Wm. Beede,
Hartland.
35
Thos. Wiley,
Glenville.
86
Nels N. Loftus,
Norman, Iowa.
36
A. L. Jackson,
Hay ward.
87
Henry Tunell,
Mansfield.
37
Jolın Murphy,
Albert Lea.
88
Ole Jenson,
Clark's Grove.
38
W. C. McAdam,
Albert Lea.
89
H. Babbitt,
Alden.
39
W. C. Norton,
Albert Lea.
90
John Sheehan,
Hartland.
40
J. W. Peck,
Alden.
91
H. O. Fodness,
Hayward.
41
George LaValley,
Alden.
92
Albert Mattick,
Mansfield.
42
R. A. White,
Nunda.
93
Thos. W. Wilson,
Alden.
43
Alfred Emery,
Nunda.
94
Edward Thomas,
Austin.
44
L. H. Emmons,
Norman, Iowa.
95
A. F. Myatt,
Moscow.
45
P. Kelly,
Nunda.
96
Michael Murphy,
Anstin.
46
Erick Lee,
Albert Lea.
97
Michael Fenton,
Geneva.
47
E. K. Flaskerud,
Albert Lea-
98
R. D. Burdick,
New Richland.
48
O. O. Opdahl,
Albert Lea.
90
Loren Fessenden,
Alden.
49
F. F. Carter,
Glenville.
100
P. H. Nelson,
Glenville.
50
J. W. Abbott,
Gordonsville.
101
H. J. Pickard,
Freeborn.
51
J. W. Manning,
London.
102
George Widman,
Albert Lea.
52
Wm. Flatt,
Glenville.
103
John Sullivan,
Hartland.
53
E. K. Pickett,
Albert Lea.
104
W. H. Stewart,
Gordonsville.
54
John Murtaughı,
Albert Lea.
105
Ole N. Greshen,
Norman, Iowa.
55
O. J. Taylor,
Albert Lea.
106
Andrew O'Leary, Ole A. Hammer,
Albert Lea.
57
Wm. Schneider,
Albert Lea.
108
J. A. Larson,
Norman, lowa.
58
A. Bottleson,
Albert Lea.
109
E. A. Wicks,
Hartland.
59
C. A. Conklin,
Gordonsville.
110
Ole I. Ellingson.
Albert Lea.
60
H. C. Nelson,
Hayward.
61
J. L. Garlock,
Alden.
62
H. H. Hanson,
Hartland.
63 64
Andrew Jenson,
Bath.
65
L. J. Hagen,
Glenville.
66 67
J. E. N. Backus,
Alden.
68
J. C. Ross,
Albert Lea.
69
Lewis Yost,
Armstrong.
70
E. A. Skiff,
Alden.
71
H. N. Lane,
Glenville.
72
Ole G. Anderson,
Lansing.
73
Pat Jordan,
Moscow.
74
John Kraushaar,
Mansfield.
75
R. W. Hatch,
Oakland.
76
John Donahue,
Nunda.
Gordonsville.
77 78 79
G. Ryan,
Moscow.
Blooming Prairie.
80
N. R. Norton,
Alden.
82
N. P. Peterson,
Bath.
33 Abram Young,
Oakland.
84
Stener O. Lee,
Norman, Iowa.
THE PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
This is a fraternal order, instituted in the inter- est of the farmer, with a ritual in some of its par- ticulars bordering on the mythological.
Its origin was in Washington, D. C., in the year 1867, so that it does not, like Masonry, ante- date the Christian era by four thousand years, or like the Knights of Carthage, go back nine thousand years before the Christian era. It claimed to be what it was, a modern institution, and it had a rapid growth and swept through the country attaining its growth and maturity in per- haps less than ten years.
In obedience to the great law of growth, ma- turity, old age, and death, which prevails in all living animated creation, it has already passed into a condition of senility, and while at this point its vitahty may be equal to that in any other locality, it must at no distant day reach the final stage depicted by the great English poet:
Blooming Prairie.
56
Robert Hanf,
Armstrong.
107
H. C. Randall,
Freeborn.
Elling Isaackson,
Albert Lea.
D. S. Hoyt,
O. C. Johnson,
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
.
324
HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
"To-day he puts forth the tender leaves of hope. to-morrow bears his blishing honors thick upon him, the next day comes a frost, and when he thinks his greatness still aspiring, he falls like autumn leaves to enrieb our mother earth."
A man who lives a few brief years on this earth and then passes away, may be of the great- est nse if all opportunities are improved. and the world in each case should be the better for any- one's having lived in it. So with the Grange, for while no one could be made over by joining it, the teachings and tendency of the order was in the direction of an enlargement of ideas and an elevation of purposes among those who came under its benign influence. The Grange will be remembered for the good it has done.
FREEBORN COUNTY GRANGE .- This institution was organized on the 1st of February, 1876, the Centennial year, with the following list of officers :
J. F. Hall, Master; George R. Prescott, Over- seer; E. K. Pickett. Lecturer; N. I. Laflin, St >w- ard; C. E. Budlong, Assistant: Loren Marlett, Treasurer; William Morin, Secretary; A. J. Lu- ther, Gate-Keeper: Mrs. A. H. Bartlett, Ceres; Mrs. David Gibson, Pomona; Mrs. O. G. Taylor, Flores; Mrs. D. Colman, Lady Assistant Stew- ard.
As a matter of fact there are few counties where the grange has seenred a more permanent foothold than in Freeborn county, for here it has not been permitted to lapse.
As revealing the aims;and'objects of the patrons of husbandry, the following papers are printed :
SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON REORGANIZATION APPOINTED BY THE FREEBORN COUNTY GRANGE. In addition to those sugges- tions which relate solely to the reorganization of the Grange, your committee would recommend the establishment of local citizen's associations, whose members shall be pledged to vote only for men who can be relied upon to use the powers confer- red upon them in proenring such legislation as will secure to individual shippers of produce. fuel, lumber, or merchandise, the same rates for freight and equal facilities for transportation from rail- road companies with those accorded to associa- tions, corporations, and rings, whose present exclusive privileges are detrimental to and often destructive of individual enterprise and healthy competition, and wherevor these are destroyed the community is at the merey of monopolists. This
favoritism shown to these corporations and associ- ations by some of the railway companies of the State, in granting them reduction on freights, or special facilities for shipping the commodities in which they deal, is too pernicious in its resuits to be permitted to go on unchecked: it is rapidly seeuring to capitalists and monopolists the busi- ness of the country, and enables them at their will to depress or inflate prices which should be left only to the natural gradations resulting from the laws of supply and demand.
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