Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-04-03
BATTLEsHR IDAHO
Is Formally Turned Over to the Cow
eminent

eFnment.
The battleship Idaho has been for
mally turned over to the government
by the builders and will shortly be
equipped for active service and
placed in commission on the high
seas. ready either for fight or a
frolic."
Our people are Justly proud of
their states mighty namesake and
will watch its career with full con-
fdenee that in every emergency 1t
will bear itself bravely and well. At
all times they will expect to find it
doing its full share to keep spotless
the fair fame of the name IL bears.
Every where on its journeys their
eyes will follow 1t with especial
pride. and in peace or war 1t will be
the object of their especial attention.
The only cause the people of the
Gem state have for regret is that the
Idaho was not in commission in time
to journey around the world with the
splendid feet now at Magdalena bay.
With pleasure they would have re-
fiected that among those mighty pro-
tectors OF the nations honor was one
that bore the name OF Idaho-and
that because of II that name would
be known In every land! How they
would have watched for that particu-
lar name In the dispatches whenever
news was flashed to them OF the
progress of the feet, with full expec-
fancy that nought but honorable
mention would be made Of It!
In connection with the naming of
the battleship for our state 1t Is In
teresting to recall the legend that
the state was originally named after
vessel which piled upon the Column
bia river in the early days OF the
northwest. w. A. Goulder, the vet
eran journalist of Boise. thus dis
cussed the subject In holiday edi-
tion of the Statesman which was is
nMGA JANUARY - row.
The name Idaho Is Of Indian ORR
gin. and from the first time 1t was
heard by white people the definition.
Gem OF the Mountains" has always
accompanied II. This Is about all
that Ii definitely known on the sub
ject. The earliest authentic account
Of the word being spoken or written
or used. was in the spring of 1860,
when It was given as the name of a
vessel 10 a steamboat built during the
preceding winter on the Oregon side
OF the Columbia river. just above the
Cascades. The steamer was built by
the Oregon Navigation company
which then controlled the steamboat
navigation on the lower and upper
Columbia river. At that time the
existence OF gold fields In the Clear
water or Neg Perez country had not
been suspected. The legend invent.
ed long afterward by Joaquin Miller
and the account given him of the or,
igin photography and meaning of tbs
word Is totally without foundation
as the steamer bearing the wore
Idaho" on its pilot house. written
and pronounced just as It is today
had been plying on the great river Of
the west nearly Is months before
the alleged circumstances upon which
the legend was built.
Having received its name from {
vessel II now seems peculiarly ut
ting that Idaho should in turn be
stow the name upon a vessel. ant
that the one to receive II should be 1
battleship OF the first class. worthy Of
such an honor from a great state
when II Is considered that the stats
was but a wilderness when II received
its name FROM the little river steamer
Idaho plying upon the Columbia
Statesman.