The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1911-07-07
THE PLUM HILL.
RAILROAD
By NJ. QUAD
Copyright. 1910. by Associated Lit
erary Press.
By NJ. QUAD

Hc VIHdSc VI rum k1lu was ana Is
situated fourteen miles from the near.
est railroad. To reach 1t you have to
drive the fourteen miles in a wagon,
You have to drive over three noun.
tains and two rivers, and the ascent
from the outside world Is 900 feet.
On certain day not many years ago
Plum Hill was quiet. 1t was serene,
There was an OK team standing in
front Of the only store in the village.
and there were two mon sitting on the
postofiice steps. Nobody apprehended
a great excitement-one that was to
upset the place and make things bub-
ble 1t was tin peddler who brought
the news. He came from the town Of
Crow Valley, village just about as
big and ten miles away. Grow Valley
was the rival Of Plum Hill. 1t had
two stores to one, but It's altitude was
only 1903 feet.
The news brought by the peddler
was that Crow Valley was moving for
branch line out to the railroad. II
she got it-and she was determined
to have it-then goodby to the prestige
of Plum HILL
There was hurrying to and fro, and
there was public speaking. A branch
railroad had been the dream of Plum
Hill Tor years, and now Crow Valley
was to step in and steal the reality
away.
Squar' Latham, the village justice of
the peace, nominated himself a com.
mittee OF one to investigate and report.
also to head subscription list and
pass 1t around. Money would induce
the railroad company to construct a
branch to Plum Hill, and money II
should have. Every Plum Hitler was
patriot to the core.
The Plum Hill Banner took nm the
matter and printed a double loaded
editorial. An old picture OF q nat car
was used to arouse enthusiasm and
inhame tho public mind. Plum HYl
was called upon to defend the breast
works to the last drop of blood. If
they stood back and played second I'D
die to Crow Valley, then could It be
said OF them that they were no longer
the sons Of Bunker Hill.
The day of the mass meeting came.
There was an outpouring of the pa
triots. Flags waved and men cheered.
Squar' Latham was ready with his
figures. He had spent a week figur-
Ing. He had got things down pat. A
part OF the work and the glory must
be given to the tin peddler. He had
toiled like a hero. In addition they
mad driven over to the railroad and
consulted with the freight agent, two
trackwalkers and boarding house
keeper. The men had given their opin-
ions and estimates on the enterprise
1t had been asserted and generally be-
lieved that branch line to Plum Hill,
owing to the mountains, would be i'm
possible on account Of the cost.
The squar' had started out expect.
Ing to run up against this objection,
but he had some news to communi-
cate-some news to delight. He had
figured and figured and figured, and he |
could not make the cost Of the line
over $1,000 to bring the iron horse
snorting and putting into Plum Hill.
That sum could be raised In fifteen
minutes. 1t could be raised then and |
there-aye, ten times that amount-but |
he would move among the patriots
with subscription paper and give all
chance. In years to come he wanted
every Plum Hitler to have the privi-
lege OF pointing to the snorting. putting
locomotive and rolling palace cars and
be privileged to say:
Look at 'em, gentlemen! helped
to do itv'
The meeting adjourned to meet one
week later to hear the squar's final re-
port. The boom was on almost before
the motion was put and carried. The
merchant began marking up his goods
10 per cent. Various citizens who had
been holding the value Of their houses
and lots at 5000 added on $500 and
walked around with serene counte-
nances. A site for the new depot was
selected. and 1t was generally conceded
that SQuaF Latham would be selected
as boss Of the new line. Butter went