Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-12-22

now asking the government to sus-
pend construction charges for a per-
iod of five years, and unless they are
given relief in some way or other.
I thousands of farmers on these irri-
cation projects will be forced to leave
! their homes and lose their investments
and many years of hard labor. In the
Southern portion of Idaho. where the
Oregon Short Line has its monopoly.
there are thousands of farmers who
are delinquent in their county and
state taxes.
This serious condition in Idaho is
not brought about by the exhaustion
of the soil or the failure of the crops.
for no state in the Union has richer
soil than Idaho. The average crop
production per acre in Idaho is the
highest of any state in the Union
We have an abundance of water where
irrigation is necessary for the grow
ing Of crops. Surely there is some
thing wrong in a country where the
soil is rich and the failure of crops
unknown, where hardships and priva-
tions become the price that is paid for
thrift and industry. yet that is the
condition found upon many farms in
Idaho at the present time.
There are those In my state who
believe it would be a mistake to go
on with the reclamation of any more
of our arid lands, for it is not an act
of kindness to encourage anyone to
go upon the farm in Idaho, for we
have not only been denied proper
transportation to carry our products
TO market, but the freight rates have
been so high that at times the price
of our farm products would not bear
the cost OF transportation to market
On the 9Th of November of this
year. I attended a railroad meeting
at Idaho Falls. that was called to pro-
test against the excessive freight
rates that the people of Idaho are
forced to pay today 1t is said that
Idaho Falls is the largest shipping
point of any town on the Oregon Short
Line or the Union Pacific. 1t was
stated that a number of farmers would
have to have assistance this winter
to buy coal to keep the home warm
Idaho Falls is located in the center
of the upper Snake River valley, and
there are no richer lands in the state
of Idaho, and with an abundant water
supply failure of crops is unknown;
yet it is freely admitted that the
farmers in many cases have not re-
ceived enough for their crops after
the freight rates are paid to properly
take care of and clothe their families.
No greater crime was ever COM
mitteed than when this government
ordered two horizontal raises on all
freight rates. regardless Of how high
the rates were or how long the haul.
and unless Idaho is given relief from
these excessive freight rates that now
exist. which I am sure are not re-
quired in order to give these roads
that serve Idaho a fair and reason
able return for their investment. the
great State Of Idaho is going 10 80
backward instead Of forward. for the
burden is too great for the people 70
carry.
The length Of the main line Of the
Oregon Short Line through Idaho Is
4s3 miles. The Oregon Short Line
enters the state az Pegram on the
east and ends az Huntington on the
west side q the state. just across the
line into Oregon All of the main
line q the Oregon Short Line IN idaho
is practically a water grade IheFs
are no mountain passes 10 overcome
h runs through the great valley n
ths Snake vhich o. sheltered op fAe
east by tho Rocky mountains and on
the West by fhe Blue mountains.
There ln thaf great valley tRe e's-
menfs noYfg - ~ fkilemef 'ieionff
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