The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1917-05-01


are an enterprising lot and miss
no opportunity to attract trade to
their town. Their latest move
along this line, according to word
brought to this office by Bene-
wah creek farmer is the financing
of a stage route to Tekoa by the
way of Benewah and LOlO pass.
According to the story told
here the business men of that
town are behind the movement to
put on a daily auto stage on that
route. 1t would leave Pummer
by what is known as the Coon
Greek road, which connects with
the st. Manifestation road about
a mile above the bridge across
Benewah creek. The distance be-
tween Plummer and TekOa by this
route is nearly the same as be-
tween st. Maries AMI TekOa.
There is a much shorter route
to Tekoa but the idea is that by
having a good comfortable auto
stage making daily trips each
way it will be possible to divert
the greater part of the Benewah
Greek trade to Plummer, especi-
ally as the st. Maries-TekO stage
only makes three trips a week.
According to our informant,
their pans are even more far
reaching than the mere establish
ing of the stage route. They are
planning on getting the govern
il mnt to make a change in the
star mail route by which the peO-
pie of the valley get their mail
and have it come by way of Pum-
mer instead of by this city. They
expect to secure this change by
making a showing that more
people would be accommodated by
the Plummer route and that a
daily service could be secured at
no greater expense.
By this promise of a daily SER
vice they hope to secure the CO.
operation of the people along the
route in securing the change in
the route. IL is their idea that if
the mail route can be changed it
will not only help materially in
maintaining their route but the
loss of the contract will force the
giving up of the st. Maries- TekOa
stage route and in the end the
greater part Of the trade of that
section will be diverted to Plum
mer.
1t behooves the business men
of this city to wake up. They are
taking too much for granted.
The idea that because this is the
county seat the farmers trade
will all come here as matter of
course is wrong. We do not
doubt but what, other things be-
ing equal, the farmers the Bene
wah valley would prefer to du
their trading here where there
are larger and better stores. But
if they can senl or go to town by
stage and get their orlers filled
and returned the same day they
will do it.
Why can not the mercants as
sist in promoting the stage line
from here so that it could make
daily trips? 1t would seem as
though the matter could be work
ed out so as to prove of much
benefit to all concerned. Nearly
all of the farmers along the line
have phone connections with the
city. Would it not be possible
for the merchants to make some
arrangements whereby the stage
could afford to run daily and th'
farmers could telephone their or.
lers in and have the goods deli
vered by the stage.
Some method of this kind NOl!.
be of much benefit to the farme
and would be appreciated by him
It would seem that if the stag
driver was assured of a sufficien
amount of this business he coLl
make the charges reasonable an
it Night be possible to arrange 70
the1merc5ant and farmer to shar
this expes
These are only suggetiOns. w
do not pretend any knowledge o
the business but it would eem tha
there must be some way in whic
all concerned could get tOgethe
and hit upon some plan tna
would prove of mutual benefit