Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-03-16
/, N. HE|GA0
CONTINUED from Page Eight,

ScnSCs
.vrha owuers of the road supported
lme In a broad and generous attitude
| toward the commonwealth. They nave
| not, as vet, received any return upon
| their heavy investment; but on tne
other hand 1t may fairly be stated that
the public has profited enormously as
result of their enterprise. The tax
rolls show that the entire district was
assessed at little over two million dol
4 lars in 1899. the year in which the first |
spike was driven, and that in 1918 the
| a assessment was over seventeen million
dollars. The major part Of this In
crease Of approximately fifteen million
dollars in the public wealth is directly
attributable to the operation and ex-
tension of the railway.
/ In 1905 the road was only 60 miles
1 lang, ending at Council. have built
/ three extensions; to Glendale. to
Evergreen and finally to New Mea-
dows thus opening up and making
accessible all of Washington and
| Adams counties. 1t was expected that
this would put the railway on it's feet.
and branch from New Meadows to
Van Wyck in Long valley was sur
/ veyed, and the surveys filed. Exten-
sive improvements were made at New
/ Meadows with that in view and 1t was
planned to make greater Weiser the
gateway and enterport for the vast
and rich territory lying between the
Snake river on the south and west,
| the Salmon river on the north and the
i Thunder Mountain country on the
east; but the purchase of the Dewey
line by the Oregon Short Line, and it's
extension to Payette lake, coupled
| with the building of the branch down
Snake river effectually nullified these
plans.
II have taken an active and unset
! fish part in every move for the public
good; actively helped in promoting
the building Of the North and South
highway because it was public bene-
fit; well knowing that its first effect
would be detrimental to my interests,
and my wife and myself have given
time, money and effort without stint
for the public welfare.
Il have been a loyal and enthusiastic
citizen of Idaho confident of Its In
comparable resources and of the i'm
mensity of it's potential possibilities,
and eager to do my part in making
these actualities; and have tried in
every way to be one of you and to
identify my interests with yours.
GIVES CREDIT TO MRS. HEiGHO.
In November 1917 while at work
in my office on plan for the reor-
ganization of the railway, l suffered
a severe stroke of paralysis which for
two months all but destroyed my
} sight, made my right arm and leg use
less and seriously affected my vocal
organs but through this l kept in
close and intimate touch with my
work, and against the positive or
ders of my physician shortly resumed
all of my many active duties because
of the scarcity of help and the ex-
! igencies of the war situation, until
, In September 1919 this eliminated in
my complete physical breakdown and
resigned the position of general
manager but retained the presidency
which I am now resigning in order to
J enjoy an absolute rest for a time. 1t
: is needless to say that it is with deep
grief and infinite regret that L dis
associate myself from what has been
: almost literally my life work. abandon
nv home and hearth in one of the
, loveliest valleys on earth, and leave
. the locality in which my children
were born and where we mad hopeo
to end our days surrounded by a
, PROSPEROUS commonwealth, happy IN
, having achieved the maximum or pos
sible DEVELOPMENT in which l might
feel that l had part
, Il believe that the prosperity or a
common carrier should be the re-
Elected prosperity Of the territory
, which serves; and all Of my official
acts and policies have been predicated
upon that theory.
"And here I may say that for any
| good that I have done, for Whatever
> have achieved, most OF the credit
) is due the noblest and sweetest OF
3 women, whose loyalty, unselfish~ love,
3 steadfast courage and sympathy have
frightened the dark days, sustained
< me through periods of discourage
v ment, inspired me to greater efforts
and finally led me safely through the
;, valley of the shadow-my wife.
INV plans for the future are not
s defined but whatever ] may be
shall look back with satisfaction and
a pleasure upon the years spent VIII
v Won in the golden heart of Idaho and
J. nv interest in your welfare VIII never
fail.
.For courteous, CO. cooperation, sym
pathy and goodwill expressed In
many ways / am indebted to SO many
people that this is the only means ps
g which l can hope to reach them an
II I have helped you l am glad; the
knowledge is sufficient reward. III
injured you I am sorry. nave
failed in my duty in any way l re.
greet it. My errors have been OF heae
:. and not of heart, and have VIII
- clean hands and a consciousness ina
I have given the best that was IN M
= to my work, to you, and to Idaho.
= And now, wishing you every bless
!. ing, all good things and the happi
. ness. prosperity and peace wnici
:. should crown all honest endeavor;
- say goodbye
~ EDGAR M. HEIHGO"