The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-05-21
THE BOOSTER SPIRIT.

MEMBER Easterm l0anO Freas LIND.
THE BOOSTER SPIRIT.
Down on the Twin Falls tract is
where the booster spirit lives and
grows. They boost by actions as well
as by words. A great tract was put
under cultivation on the original
Twin Falls tract on the south side
of the river and 1t succeeded SO we'll
that far greater undertaking was
attempted on the north side. Some
of the great boosters who were re-
sponsible for the success of the first
attempt are wheel horses In making
the greater empire on the north side.
1t is financed by about twenty five
great banks or corporations, and the
bonds were sold in twenty nine states
of the union. Railroad and telephone
lines were established through the
sage brush before the advent of the
settlers, and new towns were laid
out In the sage plains and were ligh-
ted by electricity before the land
seekers arrived. Men loaded cars
with goods in eastern states and I'M
loaded them on or near their claims.
The long tedious haul by wagon was
avoided by building the railroad first,
instead of following the old custom Of
waiting until the farmers had crops
to ship away to market.
The development company keeps a
corps Of expert irrigators to help any
one who needs help or instruction. If
man gets into trouble and Is unable
~ rrn Ian - &. Lot L. Lo
die the water to good effect he tele-
phones to the nearest Office, and an ir-
rigator is Immediately sent out to ad-
wise and help him until the trouble
is overcome. They consider that the
man out on the claim is the man be-
hind the gun, and II he fails the
whole project must fail. Ii he sue
ceeds the development company suc-
ceeds and the towns succeed.
They also cOnducl hospitals to take
care of the sick or unfortunate, for
they have seven thousand men on
their payroll, and men get sick and
men get hurt, and are cared for by
surgeons and nurses right at hand.
There is also means of relieving dis
tress such as comes to humanity in
many ways, and many settler has
been unexpectedly placed upon his
feet when MISFORTUNE overlook him
and he thought he was down and out.
The result of these things is far
reaching and effective. A mans cour-
age and fortitude are greatly increas-
ed when he knows that il he does
his very best and then fails, the
great father-hand of the enterprise
will reach out from Pittsburg and
save him from distress and ruin.
Every town six months old has its
commercial club, Its big hotel finish
ed or in course Of construction, and
every man is booster. 1t is case of
organized capital joining with labor
and home seekers to make great
things possible, and the success of
each one depends on the success of
the whole enterprise. Without cap
ital the laborers could not accom-
plish anything. Without the settlers
capital could not reduce the great ex-
panse OF sage and make it productive.
IL the settlers fail, capital loses itself
and its reward. Therefore they look
into the individual case that looks
discouraging, and ii it deserves aid
they render 1t to save the settlers and
through him save themselves. 1t is
great and grand undertaking, and
promises to change great desert
plain into rich, prosperous irrigated
empire.
1t has been said thai capitalists will |
reap tremendous fortunes from this
venture, and they ought to. Men who |
will stake vast fortunes to make it |
possible for men of small means to |
get out OF the crowded cities or off of |
small farms where conditions are
against them, and build homes
thousands Of men at once--in the
best of climate, where they can be
their own sovereigns in things moral
and political and be close partners to
The Infinite in governing the ele-
ments of growth, holding the keys to
the moisture stored about the snow
capped peaks and waters in crystal
lakes at their base, which, when
mingled with the thirsty soil that has
been dry for a thousand years, cause
life and beauty to spring into ex-
preston everywhere: these men who
pan SO organize human energy and /
lirect the stimulus Of capital as to /
conquer mighty river and marry it (
70 plains SO vast and somber as to y
save been menace to all operations
iefore, deserve the rewards that come {
II good investments and great I
.chieyenents.
Nor are the capitalists alone de- a
CRYING rewards and credit; the men i
Tho conceived the plans, who induced
apital to engage, who stand at the