Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1907-01-31
WHAT A BOSTONIAN
THINKS OF IDAHO
Eastern Educator Grows Eloquent in De-
sCribing the Many Advantages of
the Gem State.

The last issue of the Journal of !,
Education, published at Boston and
edited by D. A. E. Winship, VINO
was present at the recent meeting
of the State Teachers Association
in Boise, contains the following
article on Idaho.
mountain empire. In moral senti-
ment, in loyalty to convcntionality |
and conscience, in uniformity of
earnest purpose Idaho rivals Iowa,
and no higher tribute is possible.
Idaho has never been a boom
state, but developed and develop
ing state. The slowness of her
unfolding has contributed to her
elasticity, to her well-tempered
condition.
Idaho is in two entirely distinct
natural, industrial, commercial dis
tricts. The panhandle is in the
inland-empire, while the body of
the state is in the inter mountain
empire. The inland empire sec
tion, is mining, cereal, and for
estry region, while the inter-
mountain empire district is the
garden spot of the nation in fruit
and vegetables.
The inland empire section is rich
beyond expression in forests, the
= xf
tense wealth, and in cereal yield it
is only equalled in the rest of the
Palouse country across the line in
Washington.
Moscow, seat OF the state univer-
sity, and Lewiston, seat of the state
normal school of the north, are in
the Pa1ouse country, which dis
tances every other portion of the
union in the yield of wheat. l dare
not give figures, which are really
so marvellous as to read like bit of
romance. Suffice it to say that the
Idaho of the north is a bit of the
worlds area whose glory will never
be over-stated. The day is not far
distant when this entire district
will be a network of electric rail-
road radiating from Spokane.
The chief area of Idaho, however,
is south of the inland empire in the
inter mountain empire, which has
been the heart of the sagebrush des.
ert. Such sight as it has been
For the first time l am allowing m,
pen to praise this desert region, TO
the first time l appreciate its pos
sibilities.
One instance samples the condi
tions which have but begun to ap
pear. Twelve years ago friend o
mine for many years, a woman
teacher, married telegraph oper
ator, and, pooling their moderat
savings, went to the sagebrusl
country where there was water fo
irrigation. They bought AZ acre
of sagcbrsuh, including waite
rights, for $40 an acre, total c
$780, They proceeded to build
small, comfortable home, and pr
five acres into vegetables upo
which to live. The next year the
planted 5000 apple trees. With
three years two little ones can,
to their home. In five years the
began to sell apples, more an
more each year, until this yes
they sold II, 600 bushels of apple
and 5000 gallons of cider. The
have been offered $500 an acre fc
a part of their orchard and have d.
clined it because they know the
will get more. The increase
the value of their place has bee
more than $40, 900, while the al
nual profit has come to be luxur
This is an actual experience
ore family. 1t is typical of VIII
many have experienced. A lit
capital, ability to wait five or S
years, a love of hard work and
pupose to take care of ones c
ch srd are essential to success.
Now, for the first time, there
to be abundant water for the reel
nation of the vast area of sag
brush. Near Boise, the quiet n
tropolis and capital of the sta
there is to be huge national rest
voir, costing ultimately $l1, 600, 0C
and when this is ready and kindr
} irrigation schemes are perfect
there need not be an acre of
great sagebrush desert that is I