Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-01-08
FAIREST IDAHO.
A Picturesque Land.-Her Resource.
and Limitless Possibilities.

and Limitless Possibilities.
Between the Rocky mountains and
the Pacific lie group of States that
beyond doubt, the richest
and grandest region upon the earth.
OF these Idaho is the youngest, yet in
some respects she is the first of all. Her
valleys are not file by olive groves,
nor will her hillsides ever be clothed by
vineyards. Southern California Is the
home of the olive and vine, and to her,
too, must be given the ideal climate Of
the world. Idaho lacks, moreover, the
advantages that spring from contiguity
to the ocean, and commercial marts
like those that will arise along the
shores of Puget sound can never find
resting place there. Her destiny Is not
nor shall her boundaries
ever shelter a population like to that
which dwells along the sunny slopes of
Calabria or Tuscany.
Her topography, resources and cli-
mate fit her for far better destiny,
but not less glorious one than that in
store for Washington, Oregon and CAL
ifornia. A happy chance gave to Idaho
a name which signifies "Gem of the
Mountains" and we'll does she deserve
that name. Idaho is the Switzerland
of America, land of lakes and noun
tains, Of woods and forests, of valleys as
fruitful as Eden, and possessing cline
and mineral wealth the like of which
its European prototype has never
known. Surprising in extent the
whole New England States, 1t covers
an area nearly as large as the present
kingdom of Italy.
With this vast territory, capable of
supporting millions, Idaho may look
forward to career of great prosperity.
Her lumber, agricultural and mineral
resources surpass those of the most fa-
vored countries of the old world, and
will for ages to come employ hundreds
of hardy sons of toll In their develop
ment.
Extending from Utah and Nevada
on the south to the British possessions
on the north and bounded on the east
by Wyoming and Montana and on the
west by Oregon and Washington, Ida
ho occupies the crest and western slopes
of the Rocky mountain chain.
Southern Idaho is an immense pla-
teau, girt, like Bohemia, with ranges
of rugged mountains, and drained by a
river larger than the Tagus or the
Rhine. This immense valley. watered
by the Snake, is as level as lawn, but
a blade of grass has not grown upon 1t
for 1000 years, and 1t is treeless and ap-
parently as barren as the Sahara. Here
and there barren rock rises from
out the plain, adding to the desolation
of the scene, but save the sedge growth
along the sluggish streams or the for
hidden looking sage brush, not sign
of vegetation can he seen along hum
dreds Of miles of this valley. The soil
Is, indeed, magnifiyently rich, but
heaven refused to bless 1t with dew and
rain and the Indian and white man
saw it a vivid picture of desolation.
Yet this seeming desert is region of
boundless possibility. There is not
hardly square inch of that plateau
that will not yield the choicest cereals,
fruit and vegetables when fed by the
cultivating hand of man.
Along the Payette, Boise, Wood and
other tributary streams of the Snake
are already thousands Of happy homes
where cattle Craze in rich pastures
where flower and fruit trees blossom in
the spring, and where golden harvests
are gathered in the fall.
The city of Boise is in the center of 9
grand oasis. In one generation it hai
been built up in the desert, and when
the stranger walks those streets lined
with grateful shade trees and views thu
comfortable homes and elegant villal
Of its citizens, when he drives along be
side rich pastures and orchards OF mel
low fruit, and gazes on the waving gol
den grain in the fields waiting for tn,
reaper's hand, and is told by the OLE
pioneers that the transformation fren
desert to garden has been effected In ,
few years by allowing the Boise rive
to flow over the thirsty soil Of the des
ert, he doubts no more Of the future O
Southern Idaho. Every day is adding
in to the acreage reclaimed from tn
desert and before many generation
have passed the valley will be the hom
Of q million people, who will dwell UP
on soil as productive as any ever oul
tivated by the sons Of men.
To be sure, great schemes Of irrigat;o1
must be effected before this result Is q
complished, but as the opportunitie
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