The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-05-16
YOUNG GIANT b
BINGHAM TOWN
Great Possibilities in
Firth, Between Idaho
Falls and Blackfoot
A BIG TWO YEARS

The population of Firth is not set
tied. There are about 200 persons
in business in the city and not near
enough houses to 60 around, so many
of them still live in Blackfoot and
Idaho Falls.
Marcus Farmer, the bank cashier,
is doing the best thing any man could
do to help this situation, he is build
ing four small homes.
The town existed as cross roads
store stopping place for q long time,
and then about two years ago, or
less, when surrounding country filled
up, and especially during the last
year, when leasing companies took
hold of large land holdings in the
Goshen territory, employing hun
dreds of men, the need for business
houses drew firms from Blackfoot,
Basalt and Idaho Falls. The study
of Firth would make fine founda-
tion for a knowledge of true econm-
les.
First there were two or three
stores, carrying everything. AS the
neighborhood grew it demanded
more and more service; meat mar
ket, a barber shop, hardware store,
a restaurant, a mill, lumber yards.
Some day there will be no more such
infant prodigies, and folks will be
interested to know how communities
first take root.
But the population of Firth is self
conscious. 1t knows what it is doing
and what it want to do, and it does
these things by concerted effort
thru a lively commercial club of
twenty-five members. atl
president; Wardell Ginger, secre-
tary; Jack Foster, treasurer.
One of the first improvements, in
the mind of the community, to be
gone after without delay, is a water
and light system to be installed by
the Delco people. This plant fur
nished electric light for the town,
and water at pressure of fifty
pounds.
Firth needs a hotel and a drug
store. A number of the inhabitants
live in Idaho Falls and Blackfoot.
A fertile belt of land between
Firth and the hills to the east is be-
ing developed by large leasers. The
beet seed company of Idaho Falls
take areas and cut them into
divisions, each division having a
manager. They are working about
500 Mexican laborers out there now.
They use a car load of provisions
every week, that comes thru Firth.
Taps New Rich Region
"A new railroad that will make con-
nectiOn between Firth and the Will
low creek country is alomst COM
pleted Were it not for some farm
ers who held the railroad company
up on the price of their land it would
have been done long ago. BY this
road the Willow creek communities
are brought fifteen miles closer to
Firth, and their business will be
most likely to turn Firthward rather
than continue on toward Idaho Falls.
This line cuts straight as an ar
row thru some of the richest farm
ing country in Idaho, the fiat, black,
sandy loan of the old Snake river
valley
Fast Growing Bank
The First National bank of Firth,
was founded June rs, 1918. Its
total resources now something over
$113,399.O0. OF this amount $685.
900 is in deposits.
The bank is handled by cashier,
Marcus Farmer and Port Arthur, as
sistant cashier. 1t is rOomy, has
clean, wide front plate glass and
looks like bank.
| Alex Younie is the president of
this bank and e. M. Kennedy vice
president. The remaining directors
are l.. c. Collins, Neil F. Boyle, j. E.
Estensen, G.. Sundquist, Joseph H.
Dye and Marcus Farmer
The bank has 700 checking &C
counts, deriving it's business from
Blackfoot, route one; Shelley route
one and two, Basalt, Tradition and
| Goshen.
| Pioneers and Boosters
| w. J. Ramsey and son have had
their general store in Firth for three
and half years. They have pros
pered with the community and are
now building an addition of twenty
| lCCC Ou lHS rear VI LuCll SIOIc.
They have recently bought out
Ben Muir, general merchandiser of
Wapello, six miles south, along the
railroad, and are operating the start
Of chain of stores.
w. j. Ramsey is a leader in the
commercial club, a typical westerner
who believes that competition makes
a community grow. Where one
store has all it can do there is room
for another store is his firm belief.
Next to the Ramsey store is a new
store building built by the Basalt
Cooperative company, and will
cover space of 80 by 80 feet.
Modern Hardware Store
The Boyle-Slayton Hardware store
is large and we'll lighted by two sky
lights. 1t has just been remodeled
to the extent of new balcony run
ming full length of the store on one
side, and has an elevator to carry
goods up and down between cellar
and floor. The store was built last
year, and is a branch of the Neil F. |