Idaho semi-weekly world. (Idaho City, Boise County, Idaho Territory) 1867-1868, 1867-12-25
THE RAILROAD CONVENTION.

importance OF Uho mOFoLucuk Oh lOOC, 70 SECURE
a railroad CONGESTION with the Union Pacifca
Let next SATURDAY. the day suggested in the
/ late call, for the choosing Of delegates to the
Territorial Convention, answer the question
lby ! r6using meeting, and the appointment of
full and suitable delegation, idaho for two
years has been losing population and mining
reputation, simply because of the difficulties OF
travel and transportation. Wealth and enter
prise have been flowing into Nevada in an. un-
broken stream during the past year, while
only year ago that State was depressed be-
yond all prior experience. The explanation of
the change is to be found in the rapid advance
of the railroad across the Sierra Nevada, the
consequent facility of transportation, the
cheapening If supplies, and the influx Of labor.
Investments are made now that would not
have been thought of, and thrift and prosperity
are everywhere to be seen. Nebraska and
Colorado are being imbued with new life, by
the completion of the Union Pacific through
their limits Nebraska doubled her taxable
property, and immensely increased her popu-
- s ! ~ 81
lation within year; and Colorado, which has
been constantly for several years upon the de-
cline, gives evidence of almost equal advance
ment in material prosperity. e.
With these examples showing the influence
which railroad would have upon our own
Territory, no citizen should be lukewarm in
any movement which promises to aid in for
warding it's construction. 81. al aiafg
The merchant needs the road to reduce his
freights, and enable him to keep stock on
hand without purchasing six months in advance.
The miner needs it to cheaper the expense of
machinery, the cost of living. and getting into,
and out Of, the country The country needs it
to bring capital for Investment in our mines
and population to work them; to bring settlers
for our agricultural lands, and to diversity en-
ployment and develop its varied interests
mining, agricultural and manufacturing. A
road passing down through the Snake River
Valley would change the whole aspect of the
country bordering upon it. Our people would
settle down for life; the fever for making a
"raise'' and running of to the States, or down
to the Coast to live, would disappear, and per-
manent homes, for permanent residents, would
bring permanent property and the comforts
that attend it.
Though the people of Boise Basin cannot
have the road running past their own doors,
yet the absolute benefit of road only thirty
or forty miles distant will be almost as great.
We must either secure the road within the next
year OF two or consent to let Idaho go into q
dwindIing, sickly decline, living on "at dying
rate" until after many years our resources
may induce the outside world to do for us
what, BY little effort, we can now accomplish
for ourselves #
Boise county is entitled to twenty-sour dele
gates in the proposed Convention, and she
should select her best and most substantial citi-
zens, who win represent her abiding interest
in the Basin. Congress, when appealed to by
such men in a cause of unquestionable merit,
win be likely to pay some heed. We say let
Boise-the foremost county in the Territory in
point Of population, wealth, enterprise, and
tho wisdom which snatches prosperity from
the generous hand Of passing Fortune show
that she is not neglected. Of her interest in
this. the greatest scheme yet devised to insure
the future grandeur of our Territory. Let us
make the holidays of the season merry with
business as well as with pleasure.
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