The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1900-05-26


last week, Caldwell people have
passed that stage of excltaDlilty
which drive them wild over rail-
road propositions, This, however,
is not to be construed as indicating
a lack of genuine interest in leglt1-
mate enterprises. Therefore when
the Midland railroad project was
presented to them the first thought
in their minds was, Is this a FEAST
bic and promising enterprise; IN
other words, will a north and south
railroad from this locality to Butte
be profitable undertaking for those
who put up the money to build the
road? A careful study of the coun-
try through which, it is proposed to
build the road disclosed facts OF
astonishing significance - facts,
though known of in a vague and
general way, which when examined
in detail and proper weight given
to each establish to certainty that
no better railroad proposition was
ever considered. In the first place
the road would start from one OF
the greatest stock raising, agricul-
tural and horticultural sections in
the west. It would traverse almost
inexhaustible forests of fine mer-
charitable timber and tap one of the
greatest and most varied mineral
storehouses in the world. It would
form a connecting link to four great
transcontinental railroads; it would
open for all the fruits, vegetables
and cereals of Southwestern Idaho
the best market on earth; it would
be the highway over which the
products and manufactures of two
mighty industrial armies would for
ever pass-the mineral stores of the
mountains flowing down into the
valleys and the rich products of the
valleys flowing back into the mount
aims. After Caldwell people be-
came convinced that the Midland
proposition was sound from the
viewpoint of an investment, they
felt that they would like to encour-
age it, and they felt that they ought
to take some steps to, if possible,
induce the promoters to build into
or out of this town, provided the
road be built. Probably the most
considerable direct inducement Of
fered was by Mr.. Howard Sebree,
President Of the First National
Bank. He proposed giving out
right half interest of his holdings
in the Caldwell townsight, consist
ing of some 1900 or 1900 lots. At
a very low estimate this amounts to-
a clear gift of between $40, 900 and
$50, 900, calculated at present val
ues. In addition to this, the peo-
pie Of Caldwell, simply to show
that they have full faith in the ul-
innate financial success of the en-
terprise, have agreed to subscribe
for bonds of the road to the extent
OF SO or 70 thousand dollars. The
Caldwell people do not subscribe
for those bonds on the theory that
they are making donation to the
company, but with a view to show
ing their faith in the enterprise. It
is an earnest of their belief that if
the Midland road is built, its secur-
tiles. will be first class investment.
They would subscribe as many
millions as they have thousands if
they were financially able. This is
the general proposition. Every
body in this locality knows how
the conclusions were reached. If
the road shall not be built, no harm
has been done, nobody has suffered
the loss of nickel because of what
has been done. There has been
no attempt to create excitement, no
idea Of trying to work up boom.
This has been nobody's scheme and
nobody has sought to deceive any
body, Messrs. Watson and Bates,
the promoters of the Midland, say
that the road will be built; that
they have the capital at command