The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1905-03-10
THE ARTICLE BY G|V|S.
Rathdrum Should Not De-
pend on County Seat Alone.
DEVELOP THE RESOURCES.
The Future Holds Many Good
Things in Store.

| Although the question Of count,
division cannot be finally settled this
side Of the Supreme Court, the good
people of Rathdrum arc already in
dulging in the most woeful jeremiades.
From the expressions one hears on
the streets and in the stores and
houses and beholds on the faces of
the people one would think Rath-.
drums only excuse for existence was
to support a county seat. l never
witnessed so much needless distress.
Whether or not our lusty rivals on
the North or South succeed now in
taking the county seat from US, Rath-
drum will keep up its steady growth
and enjoy its full share of prosperity.
Our town is not dependent upon the
prestige Of a county seat for its vel
fare. While that distinction is a
desirable attribute 1t is not thing
sine qua non. We will get along
without the county scat and If our
people do not deprecatc their own
holdings there will be no appreciable
fall in property values. We must
not lose heart and proclaim that we
are dying. The loss OF the county
seat, assuming that to be the case,
! will mean very little. There are
both advantages and dsad dvantages.
Far more important to Rathdrum
than the county seat are the i'm
measurable resources back OF the
town. We are now and always have
been entirely too Indifferent to the
value OF the thousands OF unculti-
waited acres surrounding us. the great
stretches of timber in our vicinity
and our geographical availability for
! lcommercial enterprise. There are
| few more fertile spots than the Rath.
/, drum prairie, and when scientifically
cultivated there is destined to be an
| immensely increased productivity.
There is no reason why great part
OF our timber should not be handled
and manufactured right here at home.
| We have stream Of water full of
industrial possibilities for nearly
every month in the year.
AT this present moment there is
serious consideration by railroad pro-
moters uf erecting machine shops
! and roundhouse at Rathdrum. An
other railroad is practically underway
and will have reached here next sum
ner. A responsible and wealthy
! concern is engaged in building irri-
eating bitches over our lightly wat
cred lands.
And yet these various and varied
enterprises have no regard whatever
to our retention of the county seat.
Better a hundred fold that the county
| oSAo NC eoh'u away ludu Jul dCits
lose their frulttnlBess or our noun
tains their great growth Of commer-
cial timber.
Is it not quite possible that we
have been too complacent because oi
our holding the county seat? Fol
ten or twelve years valuable time and
much money has been spent in re-
tanning it. II the same thought and
substance had been used in the eX.
ploration OF the surrounding bills foI
mineral and for the further develop
ment Of the prospects already un-
earthed, would not the result; appeal
in the shape of neater town, better
streets and greater business activity
today? While that county seat ques-
tion goes undecided Rathdrum will
lag. There will tie apathy Ia the
building line, hesitancy ia farm de.
velopment and sleepiness in every
branch Of business. Is that no,
right?
We have attributes for a most
| prosperous town which no legislation
can take from us. We have lovely
townsite--though marred and neg.
lected. We have unsurpassed climate,
beautiful scenery. Our location in,
sures glorious health and the clea,
water that leaps and dashcs through
Joe Porier's Ieaden tubes is tonil
that few towns enjoy.
There is no occasion for dispair
roh't indulge the foolish notion lha