The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-06-12
THE OLD HISTORIC
OREGON TRAIL
Importance of This Highway

Why did the indians, the trappers
the freighters and the emigrants Sc.
lect this particular route across Ida.
no? Because it presented the east.
est grades, because it followed the
lowest attitudes and was consequently
freest from snow in the winter sea.
son; and because there were fewest
long stretches without water.
This has always been, and always
will be the great highway across
Idaho. For the reasons given above
and for the further reason that the
Development of irrigation has distrib
uteC the greatest population alons
this historic highway, it will always
continue to be the most important Of
all of Idaho's public roads.
With hard surfacing, this road will
be passable at all times of the year
1t was no accident that this particu
lar route was selected by the earliest
travellers. The floor of the great val
LEY rises rapidly from the river to.
ward the mountains on each side. TIC
60 back from the river would near
higher elevations, sleeper grades anG
more of them, more snow, fewer peo
pie to be served and greater cost Of
construction and maintenance.
This was recognized by the state
highway commission when that body
selected this line for one of the pri-
mary state roads.
1t will be recognized by the rail,
roads of the future for without doubt
the great freight-carrying railroads
of South Idaho will eventually par.
allel the Snake river. The modern
tendency of railroad construction has
been toward the elimination of
grades. The North Bank" road from
Portland to Umatilla is said to have a
maximum grade of small fraction
of one per cent. From Umatilla to
Lewiston two railroads are already
in operation over water grades. From
Lewiston on up the Snake river into
south Idaho, thousands of dollars
have been spent in railroad surveys,
indicating the plan to eventually
cross this state on a water grade.
Made State Highway
The selection of the Oregon Trail
for a state highway was happy ac-
complishment. 1t may lead to it's
adoption by the federal government
as national highway. 1t is the
shortest and most practical route
from Omaha, Denver and Salt Lake
to the northwest. 1t would fit ad-
mirably into the scheme of connect
ing state capitals and principal cities
and national parks.
1t would serve locally the best and
most populous districts in Idaho. II
would advertise the Gem state ire
mendously by enabling tourists to see
Idaho at it's best. Unfortunately the
Oregon Short Line does just the op,
posite. The Oregon Trail a national
Highly would be worth almost if not
quite as much as another rail road
Whereas, the richness and extent OF
our alfalfa and clover fields our pas
lures and orchards, and the beauty
and impressiveness of ShoshOne and
Twin Falls, Blue Lakes, Niagara
Springs, Clear Lakes and the canyons
are now little known; they would
be the wonder and admiration OF
thousands who would travel this
route.
National Highways
National highways have been agi-
tated for years. The writer believes
the time for action is near. That a
plan will be worked out whereby the
federal government will construct and
maintain system of roads to con-
meet state capitals and national parks.
These roads to serve both local and
interstate travel and to be an OBJ
ject lesson and an inspiration to the
various states and communities. Pub
lie roads may be broadly divided in
to four classes, viz: national, state,
county and community. These CLASH
fications indicate the proper distribu-
ton of the cost of construction and
maintenance. They would insure a
continuity and a comprehensiveness
which could never be accomplished
without government participation.
Let us unite and presist in the eff
fort to have the Oregon Trail made a
national highway.-Buhl Herald.
FRUIT AND POTATO GROWERS
ELECT