The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-09-19

being made in Idaho, 1t Will De neceS-
sary to say something about the ma
terial development and resources.
Manifestly, it is absolutely impossible
to obtain an adequate conception OF
the religious situation in any COM
munity without taking into account
the material development. The mag
nificent growth of our denomination
during the last five years was maze
possible by the development OF our
! natural resources and the construc-
ton of gigantic irrigation projects
which have attracted people from all
parts of the country to come and set
tie upon our fertile lands. The pro-
gress of UNCONVENTIONAL growth ana
achievements for the next ten years
which we shall presently outline Is
anticipated because Of. and is depend
emit upon almost certain continued era
of development. Because ldaho mas
wonderful natural resources IN the
course of development, therefore,
wonder opportunities for religious
growth are afforded We plead guilty.
of being a booster for Idaho. we
would not be qualified for the denom-
national position we hold, II we were
not and yet, we desire to emphasize
that the following facts regarding the
growth and development of the Gem
Of the Mountains states are here CIV
all only for the purpose of bringing
out of the growing Importance OF TINS
great Pacific coast district and the
greatly increasing opportunities and
obligations for aggressive religious
development.
The area of Idaho is as large as
the combined area of the states OF
Pennsylvania and Ohio. Large sec
tions of the state are favored with
such climatic conditions and natural
soil fertility, that fruit growing ana
intensive farming are carried on on
large scale and insure a large and per-
manent population. Among the many
resources contributing to 1daho's rap
i'd development, may be mentioned
scenic beauty, climate, timber, water
power and mining; but the chler
wealth contributing and home build
ing factor will be agriculture. Forty
Carey Act projects and three large
government projects are beginning
the stupendous undertaking OF turn
ing our abundant water supply onto
orr millions of acres of fertile desert
soil. Up to 1912, 1880 miles OF
bitches have been built, and 41,OOO,-
600 of dollars have been expended on
these projects, and by the time they
are completed, $SS,000,OOO will have
been expended. During the last i've
years our population has probably In
creased at the same rate as given by
} the last official census report, which
, was 1O1 per cent, then the third larg
est percentage in the Unitd States
The increase in educational work il
indicated by the fact that our pubic
school property has increased in value
95 per cent and school expenditures
iS7 DR. cent. The development OF pup
lie utilities is very significant. Dur
ing the past five years, the assessed
valuation of railroads has increased
343 per cent. Our electric power has
increased in volume 223 per cent, and
the mileage of telephone and tele'
graph lines has inceased 131 per cent
i Our live stock has increased 81 pei
cent and large increases have been
made in grain, potato, and fruit pro-
ducts.
We have often urged Idaho Bap-
, lists to be sufficiently aggressive tC
insure our UNCONVENTIONAL growth
, keeping pace with the marvellous ma
! terial development. A comparison
regarding this matter reveals the en-
|, couraging fact that although the state
; has been growing so rapidly, yet We
have not only kept pace with this
growth in our UNCONVENTIONAL work
J, but have considerably surpassed 1t
! In presenting our five years OF Baptist
growth we desire to be absolutely fail
and so we have tabulated the facts re-
garding a wide scope of work, and d
large variety of activities. In any
section of the country, and at almost
any time, two or three lines OF work
could be picked out which would show
large increases, but we propose to
show that we have been making sig
nificant gains in Idaho along practic-
ally all lines. The percentage of in
crease in our work in IA aspects will
be given. We will not expect you to
remember such an array of statistics
but If you will Tread them over, you
cannot help being impressed with the
fact that Idaho Baptist work has been
growing within the last five years. The