The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1921-03-03
THOSE lMPASSABLE MOUNTAINS
AND THE NEW STATE.

one of the stock arguments of tn
agitators for a new state composed 0
the ten northern counties of Idah,
alone or in combination with eastern
Washington is that the mountains OF
central Idaho constitute an impass-
able and insurmountable barrier
which will forever prevent the north
ern and southern parts of the state
from cultiyating close business, polit-
ical or social relations The same ar
gument has been used in support of
the division of other states, and it is
no more applicable to Idaho than it
was to them. Take the state of Colo
RADIO for an example Old timers in
that state will recall that the people
ON the west side found themselves
mere conveniently situated with ref
erence to Utah than they We're to the
capital and populous sections of Colo
raoo. The DISTANCE between the west
ern part of the state and Denver the
capital, situated on the plains east of
the great mountain range that ira
verses the state north and south, was
greater than that between north Ida
no and Boise by rail, while the noun
tain barrier was even higher and more
inaccessible than that of central Ida
no. As in north Idaho today, there
were then advocates of forming a new
state out of western Colorado or of
joining that section of the state to
Utah for the Identical reason that we
now hear urged in favor of making
north Idaho a part of eastern Wash
ington.
!, is instructive at this time to see
what happened in Colorado and pos
sibb we may find in it a parallel of |
what may happen in Idaho when the |
people both north and south get to-
gether in determined and continu-
Gus effort to build up this great state
rather than to tear it down. for the
physical conditions which are now
used as an argument for dividing Ida
no are analogous to those that prevail
in the state of Colorado and the occu-
pations of the people of eastern and
western Colorado correspond to those
Of southern and northern Idaho. Cen
trail Colorado. with its vast reaches of
high mountains. presented no more Il
attractive field for mineral develop a
ment than central Idaho. In fact. it {
was not as attractive, time consider 3
ed, for at the time of the great min u
ng booms in Colorado. mining and ID
milling methods were decidedly crude d.
compared with present-day methods. b.
ina prospectors did not have the ben "
.ht of geological reports such as are Vt
low available for central Idaho Min p
raj discoveries in Colorado were re
iuicl<ly followed by the construction "'
II railroads Of the narrow guage va ''
ietN involving engineering feats that let
tai rank as little less than marvel 10
MS. The building of these railroads ''
D the early-day mining camps Of '9
olorado. some Of them at great ele- OH
auons. and the certainty that they co
ould be extended to new districts. TO
BON placed Colorado I'm the front rank
mong mining states But the build Ol
ig of these railroads did more than
.omote the mining industry They
ought the scenic wonders of that
ate to the attention of the world. bet
Il narrow guage railroads to the the
ming camps were extended across scr
gh mountain passes to the west and fai
on a new transcontinental road was an'
ened; the tracks We're changed to tio
andard guage. and today the thous- pos
DIS of people who annually cross OF
dorado on this scenic railroad and con
,p for a few days or a few weeks at too
mountain resorts and pleasure thr
Dunds. have made this mountain wh
rrier between the eastern and west res
4 parts of the state one of its big ON
st assets. The
IDAHO has the mountain barrier be ton
cen the north and south and it has CON
mineral resources to be developed. rep
that is needed to duplicate in this and
K what was done IL Colorado IS &c fan