The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1923-08-16

People in Butte county may feel
that their officials have done more
than their share in making a good
road to Blackfoot, and if they do.
there is q good opportunity for US to
relieve that feeling by doing our
share to match it.
The Arco Advertiser of last week
carried the following comments:
No Criticism Justified
The county commissioners are be-
ing criticised In some parts of the
county for authorizing the building
of the new road from the Arco-H0we
highway to the Bingham county line,
across the desert. The amount being
spent on the road is so small and the
benefits to be derived SO large that
the commissioners are being unduly
censured.
The Lost River country is sixty
miles from the Snake river valley.
To reach that valley, from which is
easily accessible any part of the In
termountain country, it is necessary
to cross this wide expanse of desert
waste. When the trail across the
desert was originally laid out, no
effort was made to make a good road
bed or to make a straight road.
More than forty years ago, the road
was laid out and used by freighters
and others who found 1t necessary to
make the trip to the Outside world"
Ever since the road was first used by
freighters it has been nothing more
or less than trail, and on account
of the slow methods of travelling be-
fore the advent of the automobile, a
few lava rocks, high centers and
curves did not particularly retard
travel.
The universal use of automobiles
in recent years has compelled
counties and other political sub
divisions to give much thought to
their roads. Counties with poor
are given a wide berth"
by tourists, and residents have been
seriously Inconvenience.
The new road across the desert is !
going to be road well worth the
price. 1t is going to be great con-
venience to citizens of all central
Idaho. Very often it becomes neces-
,ary for residents of this inland en-
)ire to make trip to outside points
and heretofore the trip has been
anything but pleasure.
Automobiles have shortened dig
.ances between the centers of popu- |
alton and the most remote sections.
Pleasure seekers by the thousands
PASS thru Idaho every year enroute
o the park. A few years ago twice
Is many tourists passed over the
IDAHO central highway thru Arco and
N to the park as come this route
low. 1t is obvious that the fine
highways of southeastern Idaho
to the poor roads of some
'arts of central Idaho has diverted
ravel. The most direct route to
Yellowstone park goes thru this Sec
ion of the country, but, central Idaho
5 going to be sadly neglected by
ourist travel unless we do some
hing to attract them, and we believe
he commissioners of Butte county
hould be commended for the step !
hey have taken.
Disregarding the benefits of the !
Dad from the standpoint of the I
ourist, the need for a better thoro- [
are across the desert for the use of /
)cal people, was so urgent that the /,
u0cQCu IuC CdI. IL
, true that the tax rate is high, ]
hat roads have cost the people a ,
arge sum, but, the twenty-four miles -.
road now being built is going to !
ost less than $1,000 and that, small
UNI distributed among the taxpay s
RS is not going to make any ma I
srial change in the tax rate. The {
utomobile has changed conditions F.,
D such an extent that people every I
ear are demanding more and better
Dads. Demanding these things, we ]
re compelled to pay the price. i
Bingham county has agreed to I
uild their part of the road up to the {
anne standard as Butte county 6
county will soon realize t
ne Importance of a good road to /
onnect with the Butte county road,
nd before long it will be pleasure
} drive to the Snake river country.
ommend the commissioners for
leir forward step.