The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-06-06
Increased Tonnage viii Bring New
Railway Systems Into Greatest
Irrigated Section in World

became connected with Mr.. Hills
syttem.
Sh2 and H. F. Dicke of Boise, made
sheft talks expressing regret that the
party could not pay Boise visit
while here.
James w. Hills Message
Daring his stay here representative
Of The Tribune asked Mr.. Hill for a
rnessage to the people of the commu-
nifty. Instantly alert, Mr.. Hill shot
out the question, "What do you get
for your alfalfa? Five dollars? Here
IL the message; you must feed your
aMalfa-get $500 and 5000. not S..
You cannot make money with alfalfa
d $500. The thing the farmers must
do Is to raise stock that will consume
the product. There is going to be an
immense tonnage for the railroads
here, but If the farmers are to expect
prosperity they must feed their alfal-
From Plough Boy to Millionaire
One of the most interesting charac-
ttrs with the party was w. P. David
son of ST. Paul, probably the fore
most land man, on this continent.
Careless in attitude, Mr.. Davidson
looks like ,shrewd young ranchman
Of about thirty-6ve years. His nose
was peeling from sunburn and in
crowd you'd never think fro a mo-
ment of trying to borrow more than
$27 from him-and yet today his
check is absolutely good for twenty
FIVE million good round dollars-all
made in 10 years, too.
About II years ago Mr.. Davidson's
father died and left small farm
upon which rested heavily mortgage
foK $4,000 For two years Mr.. Dav
idson worked early and late in an en-
deayor to raise the mortgage. At
night he read of the lands being Offer
ed ~ the Great Northern railroad to
settlers for SIPS an acre. One night
he reached decision and said to his
4 Wlley / am going up to Mime
sofa and sell 18n& for that railroad.
Very we'll, was the reply, do as
you think best" He went. In an
interview with the late Mr.. Hill he
became engaged at $500 per month
paying his own expenses. At the end
of the year he wanted more money
and signed Z contract for year al
$4,000 per month. Twelve month:
went by and he had sold so much land
that he said to himself, II am a fool
can make more money selling or
commission" He got a contract or
the commission basis. In the first
season he cleared more than $4,000
Again he said l am 2 fool can
make more money selling land for
myself" Accordingly he bought to
his limit, paying Csc per acre for the
the first year. Through the Swedes
of Minnesota he went selling on a
contract for which they paid him ST. O
per acre for the first year and 81 per
year for 10 years-$20OO per acre
In short time he had sold contracts
to the amount of 81 SOC, 10000. These
he took to . retired capitalist in St
Paul and traded them for the Post.
Dispatch building. From that time
on he has made one successful dea
after another, always building, nevel
tearing down, the community il
which he traded. He and Mr.. Hill
are interested in many immense pro
jects. His operations in Oregon ar
j, Z good example. Here he sella tn
land 1t q reasonable rate-and built
project which while pumping waite
from 50 to 60 feet from the Snake
cost the settlers only $500 an acr
for the water right. These land
were bought from the men who SC
cured immense grants-the old WACO
road grants-for six million dollars
Twelve million dollars worth of lunl
. Der have been taken from the land
and now they are selling the land 70
agricultural purposes-and PERSONAL
: built model irrigation plant at
: cost 50 small as to seem almost ride
. ulous.
u Mr.. Hills bitter denounciation {
the head of the reclamation servic
! rings with the true ring of trutl
! But men like Hill and Davidson d
: not work long for anyone-excel
! themselves-Uncle Sam not excepte,