Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-02-25
AS TO THE SOUTH FORK ROAD.

the South Fork wagon road, some brand
new and interesting arguments are be-
ing injected into the debate by the an
tagonists of that measure. AS an eX-
ample, friend of the measure in a
letter to the Tribune last week, gave
out the statement to the effect that he
had travelled over the entire route of
the proposed road, and from the full
ness of his experience, declared that
the undertaking was absurdly simple as
well as necessary. No proof is offered
either as to his standing as a truthful
man or as a road builder. None is re-
quired, as he is an honorable man.
Now comes an antagonist of the meas
ure in a communication to the same
journal in which he argues against the
construction of the aforesaid highway.
under the three following heads, to-wit:
First, that the writer or writer's of the
afore mentioned letter. or letters advo-
eating the afore mentioned highway,
are, all and sundry, generally speaking,
liars. Second, a gentleman interested
in townsight which is off the main
travelled roads, but which presumably
no fIo . II.
but in modified degree. Third, another
gentleman, friend of the proposed
road, in his enthusiasm for the success
of that measure, gave voice to his opin-
ion that the present road is practically
impossible four months of each year.
with the result that this chapi branded
as liar, pure and simple.
Now, anyone would naturally suppose
that such sweeping charge of inverac-
ity would be accompanied by proofs of
the strongest possible nature, nor would
one be disappointed.
We take the liberty to quote.thi Judge
of other mems truthfulness: 81 have
been along the entire length of the
Clearwater river and am quite familiar
with wagon road construction and rock
work, and can positively say that the
proposed wagon road cannot be built
for the amount of proposed state and
individual appropriation, to-wit: $40, OOO
If the people who are irving to
peddle hot air and falsehoods would
try to have one-fourth of the proposed
appropriation spent on the present road
we would have better road than could
possibly be built up the river for $780,
OOO."
If further proof is necessary that
those benighted individuals were not
familiar with conditions as thew exist
here lis; we quote: 81 am safe in stat
ing that these parties who contend that
wagon road can be built up the South
Fork for $40, 900 have never been over
the proposed route and simply know
nothing OF the conditions as they actu-
ally exist.
Like the first offenders, this gentle
man offers no proof other than his own
unsupported word as to his own truth
fitness or his standing as a road builder
None is needed, as he no doubt honestly
believes what he says, but we submit
that 1t does not necessarily follow that
man or group of men lie, simply be
cause they have the misfortune of being
unable to see a proposition from DIR
view point. 1t is also true that a per-
sons Judgment may be quite as badly
warped through the influence of preiu-
dice as through enthusiasm.
In this discussion, as in all others
where progress is pitted against reac-
tionary forces, governed as they are bv
wholly selfish considerations, are apt to
loose sight of the far reaching good to
come from measure of this kind in
the contemplation of the possible dam