The Teton peak-chronicle., 1904-12-08
WILL WRITE HISTORY OF IDAHO.
State Historical Society Organized
at Boise for That Purpose.

"A historical society has been or
ganized at Boise and it is announc-
ed that the members are arranging
to write and publish the history
OF Idaho. The project is a timely
and necessary addition to the insti-
tutions of Idaho. All the history
we now have is fragmentarv.
superficial and inveracious. It is
invaracious in that the records are
made UP of the scandals, failures
and turbulence of the early public
othcials and of the outlawry and
violence of primative country.
These must necessarily have place
IN authentic annals, but there must
also be another side to it. Who
were heroes of those days who, be-
sides subduing the savage passions
of men also brought order out of
social chaos and dug aud planted
and built whereby the splendid
civilization of today was made pos
sible? 1t should be high purpose
4
and patriotic duty to rescue the
early name of Idaho from obscurity
and ignominy and in such a mem
orial confer honor where honor is
due.
We know that Lewis and Clark
were the first white discoveries Of
our state and that our history be.
gins with them. The first known
settlement was by MissionarySpald-
ing at Lapwai, who came with
Whitman in 1886, accompanied
only by their wives. A son was
born to Spalding al Lapwai, in
1886, and in 1910, VIM Craig, the
interpreter, joined the mission.
The date of the settlement of the
Jesuits and French Canadians in
the Occur d'Alenes is not known
and may have even anti-dated the
Spalding colony. The Mormons
came in 1854, settling on the Sal
mon river and erecting fort called
Lemhi, where they were visited by
Brigham Young in 1857. They
were driven out by the Indians.
There are some references to Fort
Hall and Fort Boise as early as
1855, but no narrative of their es-
tablishment or the events connected
with them. So it all is-a virgin
field, rich in material and produc-
tiveness but without a single hand
as yet to bring forth its treasures.
Then comes the golden era, with
its wealth of fable and of fact, the
state capital contest between Lew
lston and Boise, the civil war, the
vigilantes and the establishment OF
order and permanency. But it is
all white page now, upon which
someone must write the story and
dissipate the myths. 1t should be
special study to clarity and clas-
sify the gold production of the bo-
nanza days, not only in the interest
of verify but to prevent the ridicu-
lous claims frequently made and
sometimes soberly, by which Idaho
has been made to produce, accord
ing to these figures, probably more
gold than all the world contains.
Idaho should not be SO poor III
worthy deeds and mighty men that
they are not worth preserving, nor
so rich in them but every renoWn-
ed service and great name should
be fttingly honored. Being re-
public. where titles and decorations
are forbidden, there is no other way
of handing down for the possession
of other generations a great or com
nanding uame and its works than
through our written annals. Pa
triotic men, women and youth are
entitled to some other source OF
pride and loyalty to the state and
of veneration for the makers OF Its
history and for the history they
have made than a mere daily in
terest in bread-winning, IN politics
or in office. e.-Lewiston Tribune.
John Nicholson, recorder OF the
Temple, was served Monday even
ing by appointment, at 6 o'c' c'ock'
His subpoena directs him to bring
to Washington with him ''all OF the
tTemnle records in his possession,
or under his control, or of which,
he is custodian or over which ne
has any authority, pertaining to OF
in any manner relating to marriass
ceremonies performed in the En-
dowment House and in the Temple
of the Church of Jesus Christ Of
Latter dav Saints in the city Of
Salt Lake City, Utah. -Desere'