The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-04-22

file-Major two car lengths ahead
The sidewalks were up and down
stone, plank and mud-a monde
! script collection adjusted to tn,
tastes of the various owners. Ant
no two were agreed on the Sidewalk
question. City planning was an un
known phase in those days. Tht
street, | remember-ah, how wei
| remember-was a sea of mud
Tired horses dragged tired wagons
thru mud holes, and some of the
tired drivers were Indians, theil
swarthy countenances half hidden by
dirty red bandanas.
The Indians were distinct move,
lty to my eastern eyes, so l forgot
Major for few seconds and looked
at the Indians. A little papoose on
its mothers back held me absorbed
l forgot the rain and the mud. In
consequence, when | remembered
Major and started to look for him
again, fell out of the rain into the
mud, splashing over my shoe tops
into Center street, as ! kitty cor
nered" at Clark. There was no bot
tom. at that particular point.
Vending my way laboriously up
the street, passing small buildings
from which the human occupants
looked furtively out, | came at last
to the Bannock hotel an island sur
rounded by a sea of mud. Here
Major was socially engaged in con-
yersation with a town dog, and so
occupied that l seized him by the
neck before he was aware of my
proximity. l hurried back to the
depot with the Major six feet behind,
showing plainly his attachment to
me by the way he chung to the leader
fastened to his neck.
The porter received us with a
, white-toothed grin and a promise to
use clothes brush after had dried
out. Then we left Pocatello behind
and needless to say, l was glad to
do so.
A few years later I returned to
Pocatello and spent several months
there. Then it was l learned to
know many of it's people and appre-
ciate them at their true worth. The
word "Pocatello" sounded unsteady
to my ear, and as l became better
acquainted with the town and sur
rounding country learned of it's pos
sibilities and opportunities. Poca-
tello began to grow five years ago.
Today it is the largest city in Idaho
$50 900 population according to the
optimistic inhabitants, and even 90
900 admitted by the pessimists-a
few of whom still exist.
A few days ago was in Pocatello
again. There was no trace of the
old depot. Its site was covered with
a network of tracks, In another To-
cation stands magnificent depot of
which any city of ordinary size might
we'll be proud. The skyline from
the depot showed high buildings
towering in every direction office
buildings, wholesale and manufac-
turing structures, hotels, apartment
houses-a regular city. The paved
streets with the hurrying automo-
biles and taxicabs, the street sign
at Center and Clark telling me to
Keep to the Right" brought back
to me the memory Of the time when
there was no sign there-which then
would have read: Keep out of the
Mud"
The entrance to the Bannock hotel
has been moved around to face
Arthur street-just where Major
sat and talked to the town dog
and the handsome lobby with it's |
easy chairs, it's mezzanine floor and |
glimpse Of the well-appointed din
ing room beyond, brought to me
more fully realization that here in
deed is "the makin's". of real city.
Pocatello has one daily newspaper.
It is a good, reliable paper. Charlie
Sumner is seated firmly on the edi-
torial tripod and from him and J.
Robb Brady some facts were cleaned,
the most of which are itemized on
another page in the invitation of Po-
catello to Come and dwell with u.s."
To these opportunities and ad-
vantages to which you are hidden, l
might add few more-but all can
not be told in the confines of one
short article. There will be more
later.
Pocatello is not a mining town.
1t is not an oil town. 1t is not an
agricultural town. 1t is none of
yet it is all of them. Po-
catello reminds me of the circus
pictures | used to admire-where
the driver of the chariot stands aloft
and holds dozen reins in his hand
and directing his prancing
steeds. Thus Pocatello stands-the
nerve center of vast surrounding
Thru Pocatello flows the
supplies that keep the mining, oil
and agricultural communities going.
It is the distributing point-the gate
way to the west.-New West Maya
zine.