The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-06-30

lighted travellers to and fro, and it
would be a benefit of nationwide i'm
portance. Doubtless, the nation will
yet construct a New York to San
Francisco highway when the laws will
be so framed as to properly divide
the burden of expense between the
states and the national government
and when this dream is realized the
most pleasant side trip of all shall
be the highway leading through your
own Gate City What more pleasant
outing can be contemplated than a
trip by team or automobile from the
various intermountain states through
the beautiful valleys of Utah and
Idaho, among the chief of which is
the great Upper Snake river valley,
through which, like a silver thread,
flows the Snake River itself, mid
lofty mountains filled with winters
treasured snow, down from whose
fountains crystal streamlets flow"
Where, also, may be witnessed a null
titude of streams diverted by mans
untiring energy upon the parched and
thirsty desert land, which under the
life-giving influence of irrigation, re-
wards the thrifty husbandman richly
for his toll.
Country and City
Having spent 25 years of my life
in this intermountain frontier, | find
it difficult to divert myself of the in
fuence of such surroundings, and the
convictions engendered during the
formative period of my life, and look
ing backward over the time I find
the memories of it's hardships and
limitations touch every chord of my
sympathy for those who are engaged
in an occupation that still suffers
from some of the same hardships and
Limitations. | am compelled to admit
that carry certain degree of preju-
dice in favor of my early companions,
and of all who labor upon the soil,
whether through inclination or be-
cause controlling conditions have
bound them to it. | have firm con-
viction that during my experience,
in fact | may say that never since
cities were known, has the tiller of
the soil lived on a plane of equality
measured by comfort, luxury or OPP
portunities with the dweller of the
city, and that the wealth and grand
eur of the cities of today represent
a tribute eXacted in measure from
the tillers of the soil In our mod
ern city society of today it is unfor-
tunately true that the earnings of a
certain class of spectators above that
which insures comfort and reasonable
recreation leads to excuses and fool
ish show and rivalry that destroys
the fiber of sturdy manhood, whereas,
on the others hand, the tiller of the
soil, contending with the serious OBJ
stacles of bad roads and his conse-
lquent meagre earnings, the denial OF
proper comforts, rests and recreation
and unhygienic conditions that he is,
though willing, unable to overcome;
all these things cannot fail to be det-
rimental to his highest welfare, and
good roads, when studied from their
highest economical standpoint, will
bring about more fair and equitable
balance between the producer and the
consumer, the city and the farm.
For lack of time to prepare myself,
may be pardoned from repeating a
thought l expressed upon this sub
ject upon former occasion.
City VS.. Rural Roads
1t is generally believed that the
country, speaking of the rural dis
tricts, are most in need of the good
roads, but this is also true concerning
the city, and the city, wherever it is,
is just as vitality interested in good
highways leading from it as the rural
/ districts to which they lead can pos
sibly be.
Country life, as the term is gener-
Tally understood, is by all means the
most wholesome. From the country.
in most instances, come the men who
have combatted every obstacle and
arisen to be equal to every emergency.
Deep down in the heart of almost ev-
cry man is the earnest hope and de-
sire that at some time in life he will
be able to own piece of land and
erect upon it home for himself and
his loved ones. This is pre-eminently
true so far as this American nation
is concerned. Nothing will do SO
much for the accomplishment of this