The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-01-08
IDAHo's RESOURCES.
Excellent Article In New Years
States man, by R. w. Childs, Sec
retary Boise Commercial Club.

When one studeis and talks OF
The natural resources and adyan-
tages that Idaho offers to mankind
or development, one is reminded OF
the predicament OF the little colored
Doy, who, upon being picked out from
hogshead of molasses, exclaimed:
oh, for thousand tongues." How
few of us in this day and age take
time for mediation and study. Here
and there we snatch somebody's
opinion, without hearing the other
side, and proceed to give these opin-
ions as facts.
In regard to conditions in this
state, we treat them the same way,
quoting they say" as the authority,
to find alas, after we have spread the
rumor, that it wasgreatlydistorted
4 1t is true mistakes have been made
in Idaho but when we view the pro-
gress of the past so years, results far
overbalances the mistakes and we
may well be proud OF our record.
In order to realize the great fu-
ture of Idaho let us look into the
past, for not until one studies the
reports issued by our histories, can
we understand what vast area Ida
no covers and how valuable are our
forests, mines and rivers, and how
vast our irrigated lands. A few
facts gathered from these sources
will help su to see our possibilities.
Idaho has an area of $4,000 square
miles, or 54,272,000 acres, about the
same area as the New England
states. OF this vast domain BAL, l,760
acres are covered by lakes and
streams, one of natures great means
of furnishing power and water for
irrigation for centuries to come. 1t
is estimated that about two hundred
thousand horse power is being util-
lied in Idaho. small part OF the
hundreds OF thousands of horse pow
er now going to waste.
Electrical Advantages.
8, The uses of electricity are var
led and numerous, benefiting farmer
and townspeople and giving them
luxuries not to be had in some east
ern communities two hundred years
old. The stranger can scarcely be
made to believe that there are homes
and schools heated and lighted by
electricity and even cooking being
done in towns that 10 years ago were
part of the sagebrush desert. AS
we see the commercial possibilities
of Idaho from this point of view We
| can prophesy great future anc
with cheap electric power will come
more electric railroads, manufactur
| ing plants, mining will be developed
additional lands can be irrigated anc
homes will be made happier. M
early morning ehills will strike tn.
fond parent as he arises to star
| things igong, no ashes to carry out
no fire to coax, for he will press but
ton No. / along side the bed ant
the heaters will begin to warm up
No. and the electric cook stow
begins to cook the breakfast and VIII,
knows, he may press button No.
and Johnnie will be rolled out of be,
saving lots of time and temper TO
his parents.
Our streams are, as stated, one Q
our most valued assets and we shoul
see to it that they are measured an
the power estimated so that Idah
will know what it is giving away Q
selling. For the rast few years tn
state of Idaho and the United State
government has been carrying o
Joint Investigations in regard to flo
of streams and gathering valuabl
date for record. The state none
was appropriated out of the Cary a
fund but as that will not be avail
able next year our legislature shoul
appropriate sufficient money to col
, tinue this most important and il
valuable work in which the Unite
States is willing to assist and wi
have their experts carry on the VOL
as in the past. With this aceura
data it will be impossible to sc
more land on irrigated projects tha
can be watered.
) If you should examine a COVER
, ment map OF Idaho you would S
about one-third OF the area color
green denoting national forest rese
yes. The green area represents
million acres or 81 per cent OF |
aho.. Eighteen millions OF u
a Is under national control and forI
one tenth of the total national fo
: est reserve of the United State
Here is another way that nature b
| blessed us, and with careful al