The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-01-17

sister State, hail from Eastern Oregon
and their presence here emphasizes the
Of interests that exists be-
tween Eastern Oregon and our own
State. Oregon, east of the Cascade
is an arid country, like
Southern Idaho. 1t is rich in grazing
and mineral resources, and has in the
Blue mountains valuable tracts of tim
Der. The Malheur Lakes offer an ex-
cellent opportunity for storage reser-
voirs and consequent reclamation of
large tracts of valuable land. A rail-
road from Caldwell westward on the
lire of the old Oregon Pacific survey or
further south, would open up an i'm
mense country, and tie it directly to
Southern Idaho. On the other hand
there is absolutely no community of
interest between Eastern Oregon and
that portion of the State lying west of
the Cascade mountains.
Now suppose that all that portion of
Oregon, lying east of the Cascade
mountains were added to the State Of
Idaho, it would form with Southern
Idaho vast tract of arid country,
with almost limitless possibilities of
development, through irrigation by the
natural streams and by storage works.
To supplement and encourage this ag-
ricultura. development, there are i'm
mense mineral deposits in the mount
aims, natural grazing grounds for count
less herds and tiocks, an0 timber lands,
both in the Blue mountains and South
ern Idaho
The geographical and commercial
center of this inland empire is in the
Boise Valley.
Similarly, the State of Washington
east of the Cascade mountains is arid
or seni-arid in character, is remote
from the State Capital at Olympia
and has little in common with the
western part of the State. Spokane is
Washington, as we'll as of Northern
Idaho; but Northern Idaho is remote
from the southern part of tnis State,
and faces different problems. as a rule.
We have left those portions of the
States of Washington and Oregon, ly-
ing west CT the Cascade mountains. In
these sections there are no irrig alton
problems to be confronted, and COM
mercial interests are the dominating
ones.
Now suppose that all those portions
Of Washington and Oregon, west of
the Cascade mountains he formrd d into
one State, to be known as the State of
Oregon. the result would be a commun-
ity of "wet fOots," state having a
community of interests, and having all
portions easily resemble. The natural
center of this new State would be
Portland, and the Capitol buildings in
the swell towns of Olympia and Salem,
could be converted into quarters fol
public institutions of some kind.
Pursuing this plan, Washington
east of the summit of the Cascade
mountains and the pan handle OF
Northern Idaho would form the State
of Washington, of which Spokane
would naturally be the Capital. The
State University at Moscow and the
and the State Normal School at Lewis
ton, would fall to this State, while thu
insane asylum at BlacKfoot, the Stat'
Academy at POcatelIo, the Albion Mo-
NAL School and the Penitentary ant
Capitol building at Boise, would re
main in the original State of Idaho.
There wonld remain all of Southern
Idaho and of Oregon, east of the Cas-
cades, to form new and united Idaho
grand in its possibilities, with unex
plored fields for the prospector, opel
ranges for the lumbe: man, nmiUles
water power for manufacturing puI
poses and more Important than al
homes for the homeseeker.
Why nOc?