The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-11-10
BY @. e. ARNEY.
pecial to The Tribune.

special 10 Inc IrlDGnes
BOISE, Idaho. Nov g. 1909.-Na-
ture did a great deal for the Boise
valley, but some energetic men were
required to embellish It's crude attri-
butes. The new blood OF the state is
prone to refer to such old timers in this
valley as Uncle John HALEY, Frank Cof-
fin and Lon Richardson in a jocular
vein, as the builders of the Boise river.
The real test Of these old timers in
Gotse proper-accordIng TO early pio-
neers-was based on his relationship If
he was pioneer In the true sense cf
| the word he had an uncle in the Boise
basin and an aunt on the Payette.
This valley was settled in the early
sixties. II is the home OF the early
sturdy pioneer of this state. More
perfect climate conditions are difficult
of Imagination
But for long years the growth of the
country about the city was at stand
still, The land, for the most part. was
owned In large tracts by these early
settlers who had cattle which grazed
on the adjacent free range, which was
covered with nutritious growth of
buffalo grass, In consequence, but
slight attention was given to the valley
and but little of the acreage held by
these settlers was put into cultivation
Based upon this condition the Boise
valley. fen years ago. was anything
but pleasant TO look upon The general
N Of ba lor I,
appearance.
But here and there throughout the
valley. some orchards had been planted
and with the impetus given to hortl,
culture, by example of what these few
orchards produced, and the sudden mar
velous demand for acreage in Idaho,
based on the new faith in irrigated
land, Boise valley soon come into its
own.
One afternoon Walter Z. Pierce, the
man whose name is synonymous with
doing things dropped into the law
office OF Edgar Wilson and proposed the
congregation Of twenty Boise men who
would subscribe modest sum each, for
the purpose of interesting capital in
the construction Of au electric line of
railroad through this rich valley, from
Boise 10 Caldwell. Wilson, always
conservative man, but one possessed Of
due appreciation of the plans of his
/ friend w. j. Pierce, Joined him in the
suggestion and they reached out for
and got an audience with Is other men.
true TO the ideas suggested, and quick
4 IT,. r.. H..
F.! ed to Join III the effort and with such
other business men as r. Eoff, Monte
! i5, Gwinn, ", III. RideDbaugh, James +.
! Clinton aud l.. \. Coates: the initiative
! plan OF raising fund to begiu with,
! was realized.
J a preliminary survey was made a
. representative was seut through the
| valley TO make a systematic calcula-
| tion Of the resources OF the valley and
". e. Pierce was sent east with this
data, carefully bound IN u handsome
! volume, and the promotion of the plan
was begun.
AS IN all great enterprises, obstacles
arose of sufficient character to thwart
the efforts Of timid man. But Pierce
was none such! He had aD abiding
| faith in his plan, lie visited Cleveland
experience with men Of money in these
! two places had resulted n bringing
! from the east high grade engineer
who knew how 10 figure on the sur
rounding attributes, essential 10 the
success Of electric roads. and his re-
port had been more favorable than
that Of the original locul engineer
! This man was one whose uamc-at.
tached TO 4 rpposs.-wouid carry con.
viction to apy informed possible in
| weston in such IN enterprise
Updauntcd by his previous attempt,
Mr.. Pierce carried his data 30 Pitts.
burg and there succeeded in piacing
the bonds for tic ncw electric road.
This was the dawn of a new day for
this dilapidatcd Boise valley. Tho
electric car was soon 10 appear on the
dismal scene. It's screcch would awaken
the valley from its letharglc state. and
make it q vcritablc garden spot; IDEAL
in It's native richness, for multipi-
CITY of happy homes. where thc modern
convenicnccs Of a new civilization could
be amply enjoyed,
This initial effort was made nut
three wears since. ON inc seventh day
i Of August, in 1907. no happier man
ever took ride over an electric lime
than w T.. Pierce, wneu-as president
nf the new venturc-he rode on the
firsf passenger ;rain through this fer.
| tilc valley, from Caldwell 10 Boise.
TIN, ncw steamboat whistle cf The car
was y welcome sound 10 the settlers
in the valley lnl to the citizens Of
caldwell and t5oiSc. \ new Jay was
nj hand for the country surrounding
the cities, ard the first intcrarban ven,