Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-12-16

HE advent of the Old Utah &
Northern railroad on the siti
occupied by the city OF
| pocatello. marks the beginning
ti,tory OF the town. This event
Oh ~" in 1879. The place was insis-
O ,eaont until 1852, when the Oregon
n' line reached here. During the
gu" i've years only a few buildings
h'N' ,rec,ed on the townslte, and all OF
' Ns,v we're on the east side OF the track.
' w. tQ,7 the railroad shops were re-
.I from Eagle Rock, now Idaho
n.y. % pocateilo, and IN consequences
tter in few months, became u
,awn OF considerable importance from
i,e 70 time the railroad shops We're
I'D and the Importance Of the
,s railroad point was increased,
.,,,,rc In rapid growth of popua-
,'or Within three years after the To-
Sor Of the railroad shops here Po-
uo had become the second largest
-, IN Idaho, in point OF population,
.,aoe Il still holds. Its Inhabitants
lumber fully $500. Boise, the state cap
,,ol IS the only city in the state which
voeeds Pocatello in population, ana
tbe rivalry is close
Tic Railroad Shops.
AS the railway shops were originally
.,, king of Pocatelo. they continued
70 be ITS most important feature The
.,r,ber of men employed in them av-
o,oess sbout $50. The main building
=, ,he shops covers an immense area,
hing $50 by $50 feet in size. These
mans contain the largest and most
,o,oplets plant of the kind west Of the
Missouri river, and are equipped with
,hs most modern machinery and appl-
,rces For example. there are cranes
that will life u big Mogul engine as II
It were toy
Heavy Payrolls.
An army Of railroad employees, divided
between different departments, make
pocatello their headquarters, and re-
ceiye their pay here. The total number
who are paid OFF here each month aver
ages about 1900, and the amount of
money disbursed on the several pay
rolls each month is about $4,000 This
vast sum. disbursed each month in
town the size of Pocatello, cannot fail
10 make It exceedingly prosperous.
IL Is no more than the simple truth
10 say that there is more money per
capita IN circulation In Pocatello than
in any other town OF us size in the en-
tire intermountain region. The only
possible exception might be some small
and rich mining camp
Streets, Buildings, Etc.
The town Is neatly and regularly laid
of. the streets running diagOnally with
the points of the compass, The rail-
road buildings and yards occupy cou-
siderable area in the center of the town.
and the track divides 1t into the east
side and west side The buildings
IN the business district are, as a rule,
neat ana substantial, and many of them
are costly and imposing. The business
streets present handsome appear
ance.
A surprisingly large proportion Of the
residences are fine buildings, and there
are many elegant homes. The number
Of handsome and costly church edltices.
scattered throughout the city, Is one "
the most pleasing and surprising fea-
lures of the town.
The town Is supplied with cheap cleo
trio light and power by the mammoth
plant Of the American Falls Light,
Power q Water company, which is de-
scrbed In another column and 1t owns
It's own water system, a very fine one,
which Is supplied by reservoirs located
in the mountains some miles east OF
the city,
Educational.
There are two fine and large public
school buildings, but owing 10 the rap
ID influx of population these are not
fully adequate TO the existing require
ments. and others will soon be added.
The state academy Is located here, Its
buildings and equipment cost over $780,
900, and II is surrounded by beautiful
grounds. At present 1t contains nearly
200 pupils. There are dormtories for
the boys and girls, respectively. This
institution Is one of recent origin, but
II promises TO become a great credit
TO the state.
Farming Lands.
A large portion Of the Fort Hall In
dian reservation, having the town Of
Pocatello. near it's center, was thrown
open 10 public entry I'm June, 1902, and
an area Of farming lands, fan-sAspel,
aud extending about five miles north of
the town, has been covered with filings.
1t is only waiting for water for irrlga-
ton to be transformed into "A garden.
About IS miles east of the town Is
a magnificent natural site for reser-
yoir ana it has been withdrawn for this
purpose by the government. At com.
paratiycly small expense a lake 10 miles
across can here be created. IL would be
fed by the upper waters of the Little
Blackfoot river. The construction OF
This reservoir, and Of a canal to con-
duct its waters to the lands surround
Ing Pocatello, would add immensely TO
the prosperity, population and impor-
lance OF the town. IL Is only ques-
ton OF time when these public i'm
proyements win be made
Just over SAlke river and about Is
miles from Pocatello, is II very large
body Of farming land which VIII soon
be under canals. a bridge will be built
connecting this rich farming district
with the town. In time the rest OF the
Indian reservation will be opened. so
that Pocatello will have extensive farm
Ing districts surrounding 1t.
Important Railroad Point.
outside OF Salt Lake and ogden Po-
catello Is the most important railroad