Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1905-12-22
BROTHER SMITH


Potlatch Lumber Company. Editor
Smith says: The upward tendency Of
real estate within a district four OF five
miles on either side of the new rail-
road is astonishing. Farm lands have
about doubled, and still there are those
who are continually bowling about the
Potlatch Lumber Company, and would
like to drive them beyond the borders
of our county"
Editor Smith would like to have his
readers believe that because some have
censured the corrupt, disreprtable and
dirty work OF a great big corporation
that is doing its level best TO freeze
out all competition, that these critics
are nothing short of public nuisance,
hindering industry and hurting pros
perity. The editor of the Minor
would probably be just as much op-
posed to any one who would say a
mean thing about one of the big
thieving life insurance companies if it
should happen that Mr.. Mccall, or Mr..
McCurdy OF the other big robbers hap
pened to be spending their cash in
Latah county. Editor Smith would
probably rush TO the assistance Of the
Standard Oil Company If that gang Of
criminals should see fit 10 open up a
refinery at Princeton or Potlatch. If
hank boodlers, train robbers, OF any
other disreputable gang would only pull
the Minors latch string and operate
even one horse saw mill in this coun-
ty we suppose Bro. Smith would call it
a mean" shame if anyone should at
tempt to tell the truth about these fel-
lows. No one is trying TO hinder the
Potlatch Lumber Company in its le-
gitimafe operations in Latah county.
On the other hand the Troy News only
voices the sentiments of the people OF
the county when it says that the COM
ing Of railroads and mills and factories
with pay rolls, and new industries, is
universally pleasing, For years men
have struggled to build bones in the
forests Of eastern Latah county, and
that their property has, with the open
Ing up Of this great section, become
suddeDly valuable, is q question Of
much interest TO Us who Lave been
their neighbors long before Editor
Smith ever dreamed Of palming him
self off onto the people OF Latah county
as great editor and greater politician.
But let US suggest one fact which our
friend Smith has evidently overlooked
in his enthusiasm lest someone should
say something mean" about his friends.
For a thousand years before even the
Potlatch Lumber company began their
efforts 10 corrupt men, bribe Legislators,
and corner the market, our great forest
was here. And we insist that it was
not specially created for the specific
purpose of enriching the Weyerhausers
or any other syndicate OF trust. And
now that the time has come when the
east demands our lumber, making a
ready cash market therefor, we are not
prepared to look upon those who have,
through the most questionable methods
secured monopoly, as great public
benefactors OF philanthropists. Do
you, Bro. Smith, pretend that this
company has acted honestly with the
people7 II SO why did they begin
their operations by an attempt to steal
a hundred thousand dollars in taxes3
Why did they attempt to extend their
time twenty years to still greater det-
riment TO the people7 Why did they
make an effort to monopolize every
logging stream in the state7 Why did
they come here, treating the public as
OF no concern, and why their utter dis
regard of every duty they owe the peo-
pie and the state7 Do you, Mr.. Smith,
pretend TO say that you think iheii
wealth places them above just criticism2
II so, we do not hesitate to say that
you deserve to lose what little good
opinion the pesple may yet have fol
you. Do you think the people of Ida
no can be bought for a saw mill, OF
will condone crime for logging road7
If so, you know less than you are now
credited with and the Lord knows how
little that is.
Had the Potlatch company nevei
been heard Of the present demand TO
lumber would have found plenty o
capital ready to build mills and rail
roads, and instead Of the present mon
opoly several smaller companies woulC
now be doing all and more than tn,
Potlatch lumber company can ever do
The county would have been develop
ed no less rapidly, farm lands woulC