The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-04-04
The Idaho Republican
a Factor in Bingham
County's Development
Continued from page one


Continued from page one
| to both causes. Let him take q
stand on one slice or the other and he
+! is subjected to the attacks of the op.
posing forces. So 1t is very apple,
F, able to say that the editor of a news
paper who Is really an editor and
tries to make his publication factor
in the community is between the
devil and the deep sea-"
Byrd Trego is a naturally born
newspaper man. He didn't know II
for some time, but he possessed the
first requisite from the time he was
able to toddle viz, a determination
to win any fight he started out to
win. And here it might be stated
that there are many classes of news
paper men, good newspaper men in
all classes. There is the writer who
imbued with the esthetic or philo-
sophy of taste, who wears his hair
long, and can see the beautiful in
even a tea-bone steak" Then there
is the writer that can be classed with
scandal mongers of society,"" whose
only desire Is to publish scandal and
be the first to get it into the hands
of the ravaging public. Then there
is the newspaper man with ambi-
tions who will sacrifice his code of
honor to accomplish his purpose and
last the newspaper man who wishes
to live, work while he lives, he a
power in his community and champ
ion the cause he believes is right.
Byrd Trego is Of this latter class and
his success in Blackfoot and the
state Of Idaho is In itself indicative
that he is a naturally born news
paper man OF the type most valua BILE
to any community. 1T
Along in 1884 back in Iowa Byrd
Trego, then but sixteen years old,
with keen perception Of the future,
a meager education, and a desire to
broaden out, yet the typical country
boy with visions of the future, hazy
but still there, decided to come west.
He was the pathfinder for his fam
lily. At the age of seventeen he came
to this section of Idaho. He realized
the advantages for the future in the
vast miles of unbroken prairie and
mountainous country. He won his
first battle when he induced his en-
tire family to follow him here. Then
followed years of hardships and per-
iods of adversely. His sister, who
was then of age was induced to
take up all the land she could
enter, with the understanding that
the family would assist in proving
up on it eventually that it would be
divided up. This land lay just
across the Snake river in Bingham
county.
In those days no one could make
a success farming and after working
year after year, living from hand to
mouth, and more frequently than not
the hand failed to get to the mouth,
and just at a time when farming be-
gan to pay, the family gave up in
some disgust. Not so Byrd Trego.
He had started the affair and he in
tended to stay by it. The result is
that today he still holds 100 acres
OF that land, as good land and as
productive as can be found any place
in the great northwest.
, Here is one little instance of how
he accomplished this. Along in De-
in fact. during the holiday
week of 1920, Byrd Trego looked out
The window of his pretentious office,
and being in a reminicent mood re-
marked. "Thirty-four years ago to-
day it was drizzling and raining with |
cold wind blowing and l was out !
On the lava beds, with a little box
Of chuck, none too many blankets,
,hopping wood for 81 cord. had |
no tent or shelter. l found a ledge |
of rock which would just let my body
Under it lying fiat l spread my
blankets under this ledge of rock,
cached my grub by cedar tree
Ind worked two weeks there alone
making perhaps 50 day. My school
mates were attending dances and
enjoying the holiday season. l knew
What was going on, but needed the
money and had to have it,"
cannot take up the space to
chronicle many such times, but my
Investigations have uncovered the
act that this was but one of the
many instances where Mr.. Trego con-
Iuered adversely because of neces-
ity and his determination to win.
here is not a pioneer in this Sec
ion of Idaho, but who will substan-
late my statements that the periods
t adversely were numerous and Mr..
'rego was not lonesome in his fight
s he was working shoulder to
boulder with dozens OF others who
7ere in the same boat as himself.
He advanced year by year and the
uture always looked bright to him,
ut more frequently than not he had
0 look to the future to see these
right spots. Whether by circum-
lance or what not at any rate he
1as on the ground floor when the
lackay railroad was constructed and
he city of Mackay was building. He
ave his assistance, 100 per cent, to
ne building Of that city. Young
nd imbued with the enthusiasm ac-
uired by all westerners he was a
actor in that development. Then
anne his long desired opportunity to
inter- the newspaper field.
Is there q reader who cannot re-
Ill childhood days when a railroad