Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1898-11-18
Our White Pine Heritage.

EDITOR TELLER: The state of Idaho
is rich in latent resources. The future
greatness of Idaho Is assured II a con-
seryative public policy is pursued.
Our resources however are largely of
the unavailable order. AS state we
are like the improvident husbandman.
We are barely able to keep house with
out mort tgaging our birth rights.
Our state institutions are struggling
lot an existence. The state approp'ia-
tons are doled out grudg'ngly for our
schools and asylums. These are politl-
cal bones of contention over which the
lawmakers snarl every two wears.
These institutions are like annual
plants ID rich soil, but subject to polit!-
cal premature frosts every two years.
Our schools are especially subject to
spasmodic blights Of political stingy-
ness peddled under the trade mark OF
economy.
Wonld it not he business sense to
draw upon our future estate for funds
to provide the necessities Of life 80 that
our schools especially would not be
subject to biennial political blight.
The state university and normal
school timber lands are an available
asset. The pine lands are sought by
investors. The timber upon these
lands is not growing. 1t is dying.
The white pine belt is the border of
geological division of the earth's sur
face which is: passing with the changes
of time. The natural insect enemies
of this grand species of forest monarchs
is reaping its last harvest from the
mountains of Idaho. Acres and acres
of white pine forests have vanished
from the slopes of the Bitter Roots and
only bleaching snags aud stump'
stand in memory of vanished grea
forests, today.
} Would it not he a conservative busi
, ness policy to sell the state pine land
to waiting inventors? The ready casf
would place our schools on the higt
road to prosperity and relieve an over
taxed people at time when the pro
, cess of development requires all tn
. vlgor of young statehood. The sale o
the timber would foster important bus
iuess enterprises and hasten us toward
the climax of our splendor when W
will be independent of family pi
> money. The sale of our timber at thi
. time would establish vast manufactuI
|. ing interests in our midst. Ihe.
would give the ire of life to other laten
resources aud establish other industries
? We are now like the poor man who's
!. energies are hampered by poverty vi
til their force is exhausted in the s'rus
gle for bread for his family. Whe
= once launched on the broad sea {
!: prosperity our energies would eXpan
= till every need was satisfied. In VI
s interior tributary to the smiling valley
!: of Idaho are the resources that wi
s build great cities and increase the va
:. ue of farms fourfold. 1t IS sting
): state financial policy that would will
: hold these resources from idle labore
ana the deserving citizens. But II
s 4tatr has not been asked to give II
. pine forests free. The investors offer
n million dollars to the funds of I'll
= needy educational institutions f
. these forests and it will promote II
= expenditure of ten millions to f10f
2 the sluggish channels of our commer'
to sell this timber for its real val'i
= 1t is miserly policy to withhold IN
z wealth from the educational fund
%Itisa crime to stay the hand Of pr
Z gress in the state by smothering ente
Z prise. 1t is crime to permit q
. waste of decay to proceed another yea
= The great commercial need of ldal
Z as common W ealth is ali iniatory IL
= petus to the DEVELOPMENT Of her |
. sources. The state institutions are ,
{ most perishing, perhaps beyond RI
direction, for the want of nourishil
= income. Both of these crying nee
Z can be met by the sale OF the sta
= white pine timber. The immedia
= use of this public asset is the on
4 reasonable present business pollt
= This subject Is one TO be considered
. the Legislators elect and by the st;
4 administration.
.