The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-10-14
IDAHO LAND HAS SPLENDID FU-
TURE
Statesman

McCready sykes mas recently re
turned home from a three months
visit at the east and flying triI
across the water to London. He ~
ports some perturbation in the cas-
anent conditions in the irrigated
states of the west. Mr.. Sykes was one
of the original agitators of the goot
roads movement in Ada county anG
he comes back with renewed interest
in the cause and is delighted to learn
that the subject has been reopened
since last spring.
In speaking yesterday of condi-
lions in general as gained through
his recent trip, Mr.. Sykes said:
There is some feeling in the east
that the western states have been 60
ing little too fast in the way of
land enterprises. The feeling is not
SO much one of distrust of the future
as of caution and disposition to co =
Tract credits somewhat. In finan-
cial way the acPific northwest is con-
sidered about the soundest and health
lest part of the country.
Population must continue to flow
70 the fertile regions of the Pacific
northwest as inevitably as water seeks
its level. During the past ten years
the population OF the United States
has increased Is per cent. while the
production of wheat and corn has
each increased but 20 per cent, Of
cattle 2 per cent, and of many other
staples in similar fashion. Sixty five
per cent of the poplation lives in cities
and the alarming fact is that this
percentage is steadily increasing.
Every "a hours the population of
New York increases over $40; be-
tween the time your paper is printed
and the time it reaches many of it's
readers the population OF New York
will increase four or five hundred,
and the population of Chicago three
or four hundred. This is going on
day after day, week after week and
year after year. The mere increase
in the population Of New York City
in the last 10 years Is greater than
the whole number OF people that now
live or that have ever lived in Wyom-
ing, Montana, Idaho, Washington,
Oregon and several smaller states
thrown in.
Problem of Transportation
This increase OF the urban popu-
lation is the appalling problem of
the twentieth century. How are all
these people to be fed? The great
economic problem of the present day
grows out of these remarkable con-
ditions, for it. is seen to be a problem
OF transportation. There are two
kinds Of highways over which the
great bulk of commodities must pass,
the country road and the steam rail-
road The good roads movement, one
of the most significant and wide
spread movements of the present day,
Is not merely movement for higher
standards of living, but movement
bound up with our Industrial life.
The utterly useless tax that is being
paid every day by the people of the
United States for the needless ex-
,ense of primary transportation due .
o our wretched roads, so far exceeds ,
my possible excessive freight rates
hat 1t seems pathetic that our pub
ic men should be leading the people
n will O. the wisp fight against the
ailroads. 1t would be a blind and
oolish optimism were we to shut our
yes to the sinister menace of certain
yell known politicians further east,
rho in the name of the west are
reaching gospel that il followed
I'LL be ruinous to our industrial life.
What Happened in Texas 2
Texas Is a great state Texas has S
railroad commission. and for years
as been badgering the railroads and !,
making the corporations come to
Ime,' IL may use the language of a
distinguished political agitator. And
exas has So counties where the toot
railway whistle has never been V
card. and in that vast empire, as n
Irge as France. there have been less h
ian 1000 miles of newtrailroad built n
the last 20 years and there Is like q
to be little railway construction for n
ears to come. Politicians having the
lblic ear and terrible gift for fan. n
ing and inflaming the passions of a,
lie mob have been preaching the Cos n
81 of batting and badgering the rail- p
'ads until new construction and the 10
tension of existing facilities are !.
on the horizon. I.
"The men who are so glibly ready IN