The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1914-05-21
THE WEALTHOF
OUR FORESTS
would Increase Revenues by
| Developing Resources With
Convict Labor.

IN with the demand made by the
..rtbwestern governors that the nation
!, government turn over the control of
4. forests and other holdings to the
,.r,ous states within which they lie,
&. advisability of which course he
myely questioned, believing that great
anger attended such a course, this
veek presents a plan for the develop
nent Of our resources, which is not
Snl interesting, tut furnishes food for
srious thought on the part of our
rate government, and possibly would
furpish the solution to our knoty tax
mobem, which has so long vexed us.
n, Parker addresses the article to the
lewiston Tribune, as follows:
"The solution Of the tax problems of
Nhao Is not to be found, in my judg-
nsnt in reopening the national forests.
= advocated in your editorial of yes
iwday As a matter of fact the forest
reserves can easily be made a source
q vast revenue to the state of Idaho.
For instance, the state engineering force
could not be more profitably employed
| than In locating water power sites,
nilroad routes and auto roads through
out the forest reserves and developing
them into commercial use through the
use Of idle convict labor in the state
| pmitentiary. This does not necessarily
imply state ownership or operation
The power site, when ready for the
' installation of the power plant, could
be leased to private capitalists, sub
Jet to state control. So with the
railroad grades. If state ownership is
considered undesirable or impolitic the
grades could be leased to existing cor
porations who would lay the rails and
equip the road for operating purposes,
always subject to strict state control
and regulation. The revenues from
these sources would be perpetual in
come to the state of Idaho. The road
bed and ties can be bonded for equip
ment and operative purposes.
North and South r. r.
There Is no good reason why the
lde labor in the penitentiary should
not be actively employed in construct
ns such a railroad grade from New
Meadows down the Little Salmon and
main Salmon rivers to Lewiston and
ufangeville, thereby giving us a direct
north and south railroad communica-
uon between northern and southern
ioaho dozen railroad corporations
would be bidding against each other
LOT the use of this grade before a
shovel full Of earth was turned, and
tne state would not only be the imme-
olate beneficiary of this revenue, but
We would speedily have in addition the
revenues from taxation of equipment
ana the benefit of new settlements and
anearned increment which always follow
.ne development of a new section of
oie and unproductive area.
Along this route are many water
power sites which could be similarly
paced In shape for the installation of
ne necessary plants, which could be
auvantageously used in operating the
ianroad under private or state own
isnip. and. furnishing light and power
% Individual industries.
well remember the time away back
snen Ben Richardson of New York
oult the Utah Northern line from Po-
@'eiio TO Butte. This line, although
when Idaho was a territor-
g g miant, was then called the Little
-. In railroad circles because of
- enormous dividends. 1t was orig
narrow guage road running
s'ons the summit of the Rocky noun
1nas ior almost the entire distance,
"''n phenomenal grades. Butte was
en only partially developed into the
s'eat mining camp 1t has since be-
ne' and the territory it traversed
practically unsettled and thought
~ ~ pe OF too high an altitude ever to
A. A. available for agriculture. What won
= mas this railroad wrought through
'"e section 1t traverses!
~, "hat the Utah Northern accom-
pushed for the southeastern mart of
10. no VIII be duplicated so times over
~ .ne construction of the north and
.u'n road between northern and south
H.. iuaho. Where could the convict
!. -'or De used to better advantage than
- paving the way for the development
~ unity Of the two diverse sections
me commonwealth of Idaho?
c,,s IS true that this route is not in
the IN any national forest, although
~ .orest lines are quite near so that
tar ties are available within easy dis
~ SO that this feature would cost
hr,s e state nothing for timber for ties.
orioges. etc.
south Fork Wagon Road Great
an Developer.
~. ~. IN the Nez Perce national forest
ao..' is an enterprise awaiting state
H. which. when contaminated, will
! VI vast and far-reaching Importance
a,.s TO the construction of a wagon
a. '0 road from Grangeville to Elk City
csa, which the Nez Perce forest off
s,s.s nave appropriated $4,000. The
M hnce Is SO miles. on grades along
no. south Fork Of the Clearwater river
ana eoeeding one-half Of one per cent.
wa, aversing vast area of country
Incama may properly be termed a terra
~ ai .i which has now proved Itself
NJ. ae as a permanent factor in the
l the state. and which, with the
Of this road win speedily
b,,t,p into n t-great fsxpaying and
ny productive s-resion, not only In