Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1902-03-07
POSSIBILITIES.

4 representative Ut the colorado
Springs Gazette made a tour OF Idaho
last summer and the sum Of his obser-
yatlons appeared in that newspaper.
Vhe article in question was compre-
hcnsive in scope, and is IA very credit
ole pen picture Of conditions existing
throughout Idaho. Portions OF the
article vii! prove interesting to the
Republican readers, because they are
pf a local nature. In referring 10
The altitude at different points in the
state the writer says:
''Thc altitude Of Boise on the Boise
river Is 2G00 feet: OF Wciser on the
Snake, 22Ml; of Lewiston at the juno
tion Of the Snake and Clearwater,
100, Of Lake Occur d'Alene. about
al0O; Of Lake Pend d'Orcille, way up
in the very north, 2O2l."
The writer continues by referring to
the mildness Of the-elimate, together
with the adaptability Of the soil, or
that section Of country contiguous to
Lake Pend d'Oreille, and in support
pf his contention cites an illustration
which fell under his observation.
This Is what he writes:
'sThat Lake Pend d'Oreillc region
has climate very like our Arkansas
valley. | was up there last july and
saw peach trees bending beneath their
weight Of fruit. That tells the story
IT the climate up there; peach trees
will not stand rigorous winters"
Perhaps 1t may be surprising to
many Of our readers to read the fore-
going, but it shouldn't. While for
this section Of the state 1t has never
been claimed that its soil and climate
nre particularly adapted for fruit
raising, the fact remains, nevertheless,
that Northern Idaho can produce al
most every variety common TO a north
ern cline, excellent as to size, flavor
and preserving qualities.
Just now there are other Industries
claiming the attention OF Northern
ldahoans, but it serves TO illustrate
what, eventually, Is certain to receive
no small amount Of consideration
when the proper time arrives, or,
il you please, when the energies Of
our people are forced to expand so as
to embrace all those diversified indus
tries which nature has equipped us
for.
Experiments IN almost every line Of
industry which depend upon the soil
and climate for their perpetuiiy, have
demonstrated beyond a doubt that the
possibilities OF North Idaho are prac-
tically limitless. 1t would be sheer
nonsense for any one to become
alarmed at, or contemplate with the
slightest degree Of suspicion, the flu
ture condition OF Northern Idaho as
compared With Northern Michigan,
Minnesota and Wisconsin. True, we
have not the area OF land, which may
in time be utilized for the pursuit OF
diversified farming, as have those
states, but there will be enough OF it
. sustain Il population far in excess
~ what we now have. Then again,
we might find after Il close investiga-
ton that there are other advantages,
which viii accrue to more than offset
that disadvantage, which are denied
those localities. However, we need
borrow no trouble as TO what position
Idaho will occupy when compared tC
other states Ia the Union. Our FL.
tnre growth and development will
eventually place us ON an equal foot
ing With the best OF them, and To the
full contribution to the glory and re-
noSn ot oar commonwealth.