The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-07-23
Entered at the postoffice at Black
foot, Idaho. as second class matter.
HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF

The history of new states is the
history of individual conquests. This
has been equally true of all the states
from the time the colonists began to
cross over the Allegheny mountains |
down to the present time, and this
locality with its dry farms and it's
Powell tract and Mackay dam Is no
exception
Among the earliest recollections Of |
the writer are stamped the pictures
of prairie schooners going westward
in the early spring, miles and miles
of covered wagons on the great trek
to Kansas and Nebraska. In the fall |
there would always be few going
back, but never so many as went
west. If they had good crop many
of them would go back to Illinois or
Indiana or Ohio to enjoy their success
at the old home, and if they had
bad year well, that was different
they went back sooner and in greater
numbers, to see their relations and
to accept their help. When the hot
winds came and ruined their crops,
or when the grasshoppers whitfield
things to pieces and left desolation
in their wake, when the whole popu-
lation was ruined over night, there
would begin trek across the prairie
states. made memorable by the long
lines of jaded horses, gaunt hallow-
eyed men and sunburnt women with
drawn features. They we're mostly
young people who went out filled with
ambition and the spirit Of adventure.
They went back crushed with the
blow of defeat. The first defeat al
ways falls as a complete Knockout
to young people. The child instinct
seizes them and they seek the shelter
Of the old home. Once there they
receive consolation and rest, they see
the sun still rises and sets, the world
moves on as usual, and finally cour-
age returns and builds the greater
ambition and lays the foundation of
the greater and more determined con-
quest. Most of those people went
west again within a year or two and
of such men and women were the
states on the great plains formed
from Dakota to Oklahoma.
AS we have said, this locality has
had its Powell tract and its Mackay
dam, there have been breaks in the
big canals across the river, and the
settlers have mended them and tried
again. Now the river threatens to go
dry, and the dry farmers are heavy
losers, but all these things will not
stop development. There will be in
dividual losses but most of the set
tiers will stand their ground and
combat the difficulties and adapt
themselves to surroundings.
Last Tuesday settlers wagon
stopped. in the shade of some trees in
front of our office. The outfit con-
sisted of two old people, two cyuses,
two cows, wagon, a few cedar posts,
two rolls of poultry netting or rabbit
fencing, a roll of bedding, a soap box
or two, and the harness on the ponies.
The little old man went about on
vacant lots and gathered up some
waste hay that had been left where
others had fed their teams, and on
this the ponies made their MONDAY
feed. The old people sat in the
wagon and waited. They had bucked
the game of dry farming on the edge
of the Snake River plains for five
years, and were going back to the
little tract they had left beside the
home of their daughter. They were
not downcast; they had four daught-
ers living in America and son and a
daughter in Holland, all fine child
rem. life was not so bad; they would
be home In time for supper and then
things would go little better. It |
was not very far to Wapello, thank
you
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