The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-03-28

thing in their power to make this in
stltution not only financial success
but credit to the city and county
wherein it is located.
One Of the citys principal lumber
dealers states that more than so per
cent of the building in this county
this year will be in Blackfoot and
will be residences. However, it is
believed that this year will see the
construction Of another school build
ing which is badly needed due to the
congested conditions of the Central
school building.
Lower priced materials, cheaper
labor and general prospects for bet
ter conditions promise to make the
year 1921 the starting of building
era. The lumber dealers are putting
in extensive stocks of building ma
terials, one yard advertising to be
able to supply materials from one
foot to million feet in any kind of
lumber. Other yards are we'll
stocked and will keep well stocked
thruout the building season of
spring, summer and fall. The failure
of the farmers to realize as much as
was anticipated from their crops and
the short beet crop will no doubt
materially retard building operations
on the farms, but with a good crop
year in 1921 it will mean that 1922
will again see the farmers start
building operations. Many of the
farmers in this section are new
corners and have been experimenting
with their opportunities here to
prove the possibility of success before
erecting large homes. The country
now has passed the experimental
stages and it is but question of con-
ditions until every farm in Bingham
county will be improved in the high
est possible manner and in keeping
with the older developed agricultural
states of the west and the middle
west.
Railroad Facilities of BlackfOot
There is probably not a county in
the state or many of the western
states that can boast of better rail-
road facilities than can Bingham
county. There are 1T miles of
main, branch and beet lines in the
county with a valuation of more than
100000. Two thru freight trains
are operated daily with two local
freight trains each day with one
freight every day to Mackay on the
branch line and one mixed freight
and passenger train daily to Aber-
deem. Five passenger trains are run
on the main line daily with three
passenger trains turnout the night
time, giving four passenger trains
each way each day. One passenger
train is operated daily to Mackay and
as many extra freight trains, COM
monty known as the RED Ball" are
operated over the main line to care
for the freight business which is
heavy and light in seasons as much
trade territory is supplied over the
line of the railroad operating thru
Blackfoot.
The month of November was the
largest month in the history Of the
Oregon Short Line railroad in Black
foot. The tonnage handled thru this
station amounted to 94,610.057. The
principal products handled being
beets and potatoes. The records
show that 166 car loads of potatoes
and 40 car loads of beets were ship
ped from this station in that one
month alone. On an average 600
car loads Of potatoes are handled
thru this station annually. There
are 4195 freight cars handled annu-
ally by this station and from January
1, 1920 to December /, 1920 there
was approximately 322,873,3O3 tons
of freight handled thru this station
which was an increase over the year
1919 of 433,771 tons.
There are seven persons employed
in the ticket office of the o. S. L. in
Blackfoot. A ticket clerk, three op-
erators,, and day and one night bag
gageman and two janitors. At the
freight office there are eight en-
ployes including the agent, chief
clerk, three other clerks in the office,
one warehouse foreman and two
truckers. The approximate payroll
Of the railroad in Blackfoot for per-
manent help is in the neighborhood
Of $4,000 per month.
The passenger travel is heavy thru