Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-01-26
THE FREE PRESS.
GRANGEvILLE. IDAHO
FRIDAY, JANUARY Is, 1894
Idaho Connfy's Opportunity

DolSc otdttsindh
1t seems to the statesman"
that Idaho county will miss a
great opportunity if it shall not
make provisions To insure the
building Of the branches of the
state wagon road in which it is in
terested. TO be sure, it will cost
considerable money to effect the
purpose, but the benefit to be
gained is so great that the oppor-
tunity should be seized upon at
once.
The state has appropriated $780,
600 for building needed roads in
that county. The amount is too
small and the construction of the
roads connot be undertaken, unless
the state appropriation be supple
mented with county appropriate
ion. The county would be the
greatest beneficiary from the build
ing of the roads. Ii might well
hesitate about shouldering the
entire expense of such improve
ments. but when the state thus
steps in with an offer of assistance
all hesitation should cease. A
country cannot be satisfactorily
developed without roads, but when
roads are built it opens up rapidly
if it hold out inducements to set
Element. Idaho county is pecul-
iarly favored in natural resources
and attractions; it has made a
start and, by taking an heroic step
now, it can secure for itself such
increased settlement that the ex-
pense will not long be felt as a
burden. 1t might be justified in
waiting if it were necessary for it
to incur the entire cost; but the
state now offers help, while it may
not renew the offer.
An old adage tells us the Lord
helps those who help themselves.
The same is true of governments.
In this case future legislatures
might be disinclined to do any
thing for a county which had
neglected to embrace such an
opportunity; while, if the county
should step manfully to the front
and make up the deficiency, it
would be in a much better position
to appeal to the legislature to re-
lieve it of part or all the burden
than if it should stand still now
and come forward hereafter asking
the state to take the initiative al
every point.
But, taking up another feature
of the subject, the Statesman
wishes to remark that it would
pay Idaho county to do this ever
though it should never receive
return from the state for any par
of the outlay.
The people of that great count.
may not yet have seen any signs o
the interest being taken in Idaho
gold resources, but such interest i
widespread already and is destined
to take wider and yet wider range
Idaho county has gold fields o
vast extent. One branch of tn
proposed road is designed to ope,
up one great district there. If tn
road be built that district will de
veiop rapidly. Unless all authorize
be wrong, that district is capabl
of supporting an immense populat
ion. If means Of communication
should be opened so that promoter
and investors could get to it Will
the search for gold mines is at it
height, it would develop Quickly
and the increased taxes which
would pour into the county's treas
ury would, in a few years, liQuidat
the entire proposed wagon roa
Investment.
Again, Idaho county has an III
equaled undeveloped agriculture
country. For the settlement {
these lands ii needs immigration
AT present, as for years past, mu
titudes of families come into soutl
ern Idaho each year. Some sto
here but large portion push OF
following along the present. road
into Oregon and Washington
There is no section in Oregon nc
no. part of Washington oiierin
such Inducements to settlers VIII
are looking for grain farms, as al
presented by Camas Paairie. Id;
no county might just as well hav
those immigrants, and it can sc
them by providing a road owe
which they can go there. Th
Little Salmon branch of the stat
wagon road, which can be built
the county will assist, would NEE
the requirements Of the situation.
The commissioners of that cour
ty have deferred the entire subjet
until their April session. Th
was mistake, as time is a neces
airy element. 1t is to be hope
they will appreciate the impor
ance of taking action at once, ant
if possible, call an extra session ft
the purpose.
tH