The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-06-05

oies. About seventy-fiye transpar-
encies of all colors and bearing a
great variety of inscriptions were in
evidence. There was a steady down
pour of rain that continued the rest
of the day.
Over four thousand people who
had gathered for the land opening
were either standing in line or as
sembled in the hotels and business
houses. 1t was reported that Mon
days rain had driven thousand
people away who wanted to drive
out and see the country but got weary
of staying in the rain. All hotels
and lodging houses we're full. and
employees were tired out with work.
ing overtime. At the Hotel Perrine
DR.. McAtee, the dentist. said that
every town in Idaho seemed to be
represented among the boosters who
were there distributing literature,
except Blackfoot, and he had been
wishing some of the real estate men
would just come and stand around
and hand out literature and lecture
about the upper Snake river valley
and its resources. Addressing the
writer, he said Haven't you brought
something with you to let these peo-
pie know that Blackfoot is on the
map?" We drew a fistfull of Idaho.
Republican passes from our over
coat pocket and he said: "Now just
watch and see how hungry these peo-
pie are for printed matter" and he
IN N,rt fo
nearest him. 1t was like showing
red apples to school boys. They
gathered round and reached for one
apiece, and all the time the doctor
was saying, You're welcome sir!
Welcome as the flowers in May. Ev-
erybody likes them; father reads
them, men reach for them, boys grab
them, the ladies ask for them
You're welcome, madam-glad to
supply you-and you, and you, and
YOU, as long as the pack lasts, and
hereSis gentleman with thousand
in his pockets who will take nv
place for I have to go to my Office"
and he laughingly elbowed his way
toward the door, leaving the writer
dealing out advertising matter for
The Idaho Republican. Some other
fellow stood near, handing out liter
ature about Filler. o. H. Barber was
boosting for "Gooding on the main
line" another man was lecturing
about Pavette. and two fellows from
idaho Falls had an audience listen
ing to the praises of "Sunnvland."
7. M. Bennett of Weiser had some
fellows buttonholed on a topic of
his own. General Funston of the U.
s. Army stood between two speakers
listening both WAYS; Editor Hack
nev of The Meadows Eagle was talk
ing Meadows Colonel Manning of
The CAPITAL News was distributing
sample comics, Sam Rich and others
we're standing in line irving to get
into tha dining room. Joel Priest
was taking notes for The Salt Lake
Herald Clark the Novelty Knife
Man. was discussing "the Mormon
with a Chicago man, and
a hundred men came and went every
fifteen minues to change the scene.
IN the hooks and lobbies Of the
men were debating letters
whole rows of clerks were working
on land and water contracts, while
Mormon and Anti-Mormon Demo-
Gratis mireled everevwhere adding to
the crowd and to the general push
and pull of the occasion.
Out on vacant lots about the town
ladies of various churches were serv-
ing luncheon in tents, and custom
ers were packed until standing room
was all taken.
In one tent was sturgeon on ex-
hibit, that had been caught in Snake
river near Hagerman the day before,
and was dragged out on land by the
use of horse attached to the end
of the snag line. The fish measur-
ed 10 feet inches in length and its
weight was estimated at 600 to 700
pounds. They were exhibiting it in
a tank built on wagon gear, and
charging 25 cents admission to see
it. The sturgeon was about dead,
and was one of the big little wonders
of the town.
Merchants we're selling rubbers,
and raincoats as fast as
they could wrap them up, the street
sprinklers we're standing by the road
side, and the printing houses were
rushed to death with orders for
nrintinp