The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-11-28
IDAHO MAN IN
NORTH DAKOTA
Tells of Taxation, Road
Conditions and
Schools
PRAISES IDAHO

j. B. Brokaw, former local man
ager for the Idaho Power company
at Blackfoot, is now holding a sim
liar position at Minot, N. D., for the
Northern States Power company, and
in writing business letter to The
Republican he added the following
comments on conditions as he sees
them at first glance in that state:
Politically, the state is a seething
mass. One has to be here to realize
the bitter feeling that exists between
the different factions.
"The press of the state seems to be
of three sorts, the neutral, which
seeks to avoid the issues and print
the news only, the Kept Press"
which Townley says is Influenced by
big Biz" and the league papers,
which, of course, are unbiased and
print the truth.
"The last named, by the way, are
the official papers of the state, cities
and counties in which they are
printed. I think that in some man
ner the state government designates
the official papers for cities and
counties, but l am not sure of this
Whether or not the public print
ing is done at less than legal rates,
as I have heard of it having been
done elsewhere (no names men,
tioned) l do not know, can only
surmise.
"In an apparent endeavor to shift
the burden of the taxes from the
farmer to big Biz and it's allies,
the last legislature revised the tax
laws. All property is listed at it's full
cash value. Then SO per cent of the
value Of some classes of property is
used for taxation purposes, while
100 per cent of the value of other
classes of property is used. Get the
idea?
with the tremendous increase in
valuations, the rate of taxation for
1919 has been materially lowered,
but alas alas! it is beginning to be-
come apparent that every ones taxes,
including the farmers, will be ma
terially raised over the 1918 figures.
What will the harvest be? None can
tell, but I'm thinking that ere long
the people of North Dakota will need
to lead them out of the wilderness
to lead the mout of the wilderness
and economize in the manner of run
ming the states financial affairs.
This is good town, about the
size of Pocatello, a remarkable town
when you consider that it is largely
dependent upon agriculture for it's
prosperity and the wheat crop has
been practically a failure for three
seasons.
"The people of North Dakota are
progressive. The standard of living
is high and so are educational
standards. The schools in the cities
and towns are excellent. The farms
are large, too large for the ultimate
prosperity Of the county, so one does
not see the type of country school
that is so common in the rural dis
tricts in Snake river valley in Idaho.
"As a matter of fact, the rural
schools in the country tributary to
Blackfoot are in a class by them
selves. The people of dIaho may
we'll be proud of their schools.
Like Idaho, nearly every city of
Importance in the state has some sort
of a state institution. Minot has an
almost new state normal school,
very fine looking plant.
"Good roads agitation is only be-
ginning. There is, however, great
need of good roads. With one or
two bumper wheat crops, the road
improvements will come.
"I am going to like it here, I am
sure. The people have the same
broad vision as those living further
west. Being from the west, myself,
I can better appreciate the commun-
ity than can one who has been born
and brought up in the more conven-
tional east.
"Yours very truly,
JAMES B. BROKAW."
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