The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1896-03-28
IMMIGRATION CONVENTION.
A. Interesting Communication on The Subiec
-NiaIng Net Changes Wrought
by Time.


says: "There may be some good things
in store for the state to grow out of
such an organization, but at the pres
ent time we cannot conceive just what
they are" and says: ain the strict
sense of the word immigration immi-
grafton is not what we want. It is the
advent of capital to invest in mines.
With the mining counties prosperous
all the immigration that will be wanted
will flow in without any regularly or
ganized means of inducement. at the
present time we have no alluring in
ducements to offer immigrants to set.
lie on our as rieultural lands
If the immigration bureau turns all its
energies into the mining channel it will
accomplish much good, but if it sim
ply determines to try to induce immi-
grants to come and settle down under
irrigation canals to raise prunes, spuds
and pumpkins, and turn all the profits
of the sale of the products over to the
canal corporation, the good it will ac-
complish, either for the state or the i'm
migrants, will not be visible to the
naked eye"
If the editor of the World was not a
Populist, l would be astonished at
such utterances, but l have ceased to
be astonished at anything a Populist
may say or write. Let us consider his
assertion that "with the mining coun-
ties prosperous, all the immigration
that will be wanted will Gow in with,
out any regularly organized means of
indictment" Is this true? Is it not
fact that Boise county was at one
time as prosperous as any community
of its size on the face of the globe?
Did the fact that it poured into the
channels of commerce untold millions
of wealth promote the settlement of
the state of Idaho? Is it true that at
the time when busy thousands were
delving in Boise Basin for the precious
metals, that at that period of the his
tory of the then territory of Idaho the
sound or the hammer and the saw was
heard abroad in our land in the cree
tion of homes, schools and churches
In the construction of factories, or
other permanent improvements such
as mark the advance of civilization?
What is the condition of that mining
district tOday2 What is the condition
OF the city In which the editor of the
World sits and pens such articles as
the one to which / refer? Stand with
me for a moment on any one of the
elevations which overlook Idaho City;
if you wero there in the days of the
prosperity which successful mining
brings, you will remem Der its busy
streets, its hundreds of cabins on Beuna
Vista bar and Moore's Creek, and the
other gulches in its immediate vicinity.
Then stand with me as / request today,
and look upon that city and mark the
contrast; then let your memory revert
to the scattering ranches with their
primitive dwellings as seen in Boise,
Payette and other valleys of this then
territory as seen in the days when such
fabulous wealth was being taken from
the mines of Boise county and then
look at them as they are today, and
draw your own comparisons as to the
correctness of the theories of the editor
of the World. During the prosperous
days of 90 and '63 and thereafter so
long as the mines of Florence, Warrens
and Pierce City were attracting the en-
terprise and energy of the people, what
was the result in building up the then
territory? Was it a period of home
building, of substantial business enter
prise, or was it period of adventure?
a comparison of the conditions in Nez
Perce and Latah counties then with |
those which exist now will be a suni- |
Client refutation of those who claim |
that mining is the greatest desiderat.
nm. The Immigration Convention
which is to convene on the I'd of
April will be composed of representa-
tives from not only the agricultural.
but the mining districts of the state,
and the citizens of each county have
been asked to name some one or more
delegates who will prepare a paper or
papers to be read, setting forth the ad.
vantages their respective counties pre-.
sent for the investment of capital in
mining as we'll as in agricultural or
other pursuit. While the permanent
welfare of any state depends largely
upon those who follow the lOwly occu.
patton of raising "prunes, spuds and
pumpkins, yet everyone recognizes the
Importance of the mining industry as
n means of supplying markets for the
products of the farm and range. No
state In the union has better induce
lnents to offer in either agriculture,
horticulture, or stock. raising than the
state Of Idaho, and it certainly can do
no harm 20 have all its resources thor.
Oughly advertised. A.B,C.
TIE WRIT REFUSED.