The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-08-05

as patriotic, just as unselfish III theil
desire to serve the public as those in
J other walks of life.
There was never an unjust rail-
J road rate that didn't impose the same
burden upon the railroad man that it
imposes on the rest of humanity; for,
the railroad man must buy where the
rest of you buy and he must pay as
mach. There was never an industrial
depression that did not affect the rail-
road worker, even as other workers
are affected. Indeed, he is very often
affected first of all. Because, when it
Is impossible to secure money in large
amounts railroad construction ceases,
train crews are discharged, shop
forces are cut down and economy is
practiced in hundred different d.
rections. Cut off the consuming pow
er of the railroads for lumber and
steel and iron and supplies of all
sorts; cut off the consuming power of
the railroad employee, and you strike
blow at the keystone of our indus
trial arch. So the theory that the
railroads are not human, that they
are mere machine for the wrestling
, of dollars from unwilling pockets, is
wrong.
THE railroads in Idaho have pros
pered. They have earned fair re-
turn on their investment, the people
who have put money into them, and
they are just as much entitled to a
fair return as the man who has in
vested in a wholesale grocery, a dry
good store, hardware industry, a
patch of potatoes or peanut stand.
The people of Idaho have prospered
also. The country has been developed
much more rapidly than any land on
earth was ever developed before. The
desert has been partitioned into
farms and the wall of the wolf and
the coyote has been supplantel by
the laughter of happy children in
countless comfortable homes No
agency has been as potent in the ac-
complishment of this transition as
the railroad. When, little more
than quarter of century ago, the
last spike in the last tie of the Ore
gon Short Line at Huntington was
driven, the road ran through unpro-
ductive country for practically three
quarters of the distance from Grang-
err.
ut was possible to ride for many
weary miles without seeing a green
field as large as a handkerchief by
day or farmhouse light by night.
From the standpoint of earnings the
territory, save for a few short stretch
es, yielded no more revenue than a
bridge. 1t seems to me that the men
who built that line were endowed
with rare courage, and they We're
possessed of foresight to Z remark
able degree. Even so ths railroad
passed into the hands of receivers
and the greater part of the original
was lost.
1--WE who have followed the rail-
road pioneers have profited by their
their energy and their fore
sight. And the men who are in !
charge of the operation today are do
ng their very best to keep up with
he states progress. Ten years ago 4
here were eight passenger crews on
he Idaho division, including the
branches Today there are 80 such
,rews. Then years ago there was
1850 men employed in the operating
department of the Idaho division and
he total payroll was $1,100,000. To-
lay there are 2750 men employed and
he payroll amounts to .$2,4O0, 900.
ZEN years ago there were 600 men
employed in the mechanical depart
nent of the Idaho division and the
otal payroll was 100000. Today
here are 1915 men employed and the
'ayroll amounts to $SSS,0O0. Today
he total payroll on the Idaho division
lone is $3,2SS, 900.
Passenger, freight and operating
departments are working together to =
,eep up the pace you sons of Idaho,
lative and adopted, have set. New
rains are being put on constantly,
lew branches, sidetracks, extensions
re being constructed AS your pro-
uction increases, making it neces-
airy for you to reach out for far dis
ant markets, the freight department
) kept busy negotiating with connec-
ions for rates that will enable you to
1ove your output and sell it at a
rofit.
ITO make travelling safer for you,
our loved ones and for the general