Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1882-06-30
FRIDAY, JUNE 80, 1882.
HALEY AND THE RAILWAY.

River towns generally appreciate
fully the Importance Of railway CO.
operation when applied to the max
ing orFbreaking Of business centers.
In old and settled communities,
where by many the commerce has
been supposed fixed and unchange-
able, where situation and resources
seemed thoroughly favorable, and
where the public spirit was above
the average, railways have within a
year shrinked values and business to
a shadow, and transferred the sub
stance to previously unthought-of
localities in the vicinity, there build
ing up in a few months what required
lifetime in the unfortunate centers
passed by. This has not occurred
because Of any love upon the part Of
railway managers to destroy, but
usually because some vastly greater
interest was at stake than that in
volved in the destruction Of some
two or three points on the route.
If this experience is SO oft-repcated
in districts where energy and capital
have for years been fortifying them
selves until they are deemed impreg
nable, what may we not look for up
on the advent Of the iron horse into
regions like ours? Here in this un-
settled west where all great con-
quests of money and muscle are yet
to be made, even the slightest intlu-
ences disturb US. The discovery Of
one good mine, whose yield for a
year will not equal the value Of the
agricultural productions OF an Illinois
township, will found what we call a
city; the opening through rugged
mountains of wagon-road often tells
the story of supremacy as between
rival camps; the building of bridge
or ferry over one of our unfordable
torrents ends the prospects Of the
village on the wrong side, and even
the settlement of such an apparently
small question as the location Of the
county seat has been known to wreck
the hopes of mountain metropolis
forever.
What pigmies are these interests or
influences as compared to the intiu-
ence of that greatest Of all civilizers,
the railway; it makes way stations
of our towns, however we'll situated,
and blossoms to magnificent cities
our unnamed hamlets. To distant
points it often finds it necessary to
make such rates as would strangle the
industries of points easier reached
1t establishes its shops and other inn
proyements where the necessities Of
the case require, or where its owl
mining, lunbeing, landed or Other
interests best justify. At such point.
it disburses money enough to alon,
sustain bright little cities.
As HALEY has finally been selected
us the Wood River terminus Of tn,
Oregon Short Line, our own people
and those OF other interested point
not yet out Of their swaddling clothes
may well begin to figure in cool
'slead earnest on the inevitable re
suits. The company has accepted
large body Of land here as one of tn
conditions of coming, und is directl
interested in making that land YER
valuable. To create such value
must do all in its power to make her
a city. To do that, means til
masslng OF all lhe prodlSlous strengt
outlined above. To the strengt
Of the railway is added that gran
concentration of capital and energ,
the Idaho d Oregon Land Improv,
mcnt Company. 1t has staked fol
tune on US, and must do its ntmos
to insure speedy return on the il
vestment. These two great corpor.
tions are working hand in hand
for what? Not TO buill city
a desert almost devoid of local l.
sources, as has been done clsewhel
by much smaller asgregations
Drawn and brain, but in building
utilize the greatest combination
natural helps surrounding any &C
ter between Salt Lake City and I'll
Pacific Ocean. We cannot here
into detail concerning these bles
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