Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-07-27
LOOKING US OVER
and
LOOKING OURSELVES OVER
BY GUY FLBNNER

The latest visit to Idaho of Presi-
| dent Carl Gray of the Union Pacific
Is more significant than may appear
on the surface. Mr.. Gray is one of
the busiest and biggest rail execu-
tives in the United States. He has
done lot for us at his desk in New
York. Now he has come out, not
only to scoot through our country
in a private car but to stop at var
ious communities and, moreover, to
so into the fields and talk with our
farmers, get their ideas on produc-
tion methods, come into closer re-
lationship with their problems and
give them the best advice as to mark
citing and transportation within his
experience and knowledge.
The writer knows that President
Gray is not the only man OF promi- |
nence in the financial and conner
cial world who has been looking us |
over, although most of the Others |
have a different mission and do not |
attract the same public attention |
as is associated with the visit of the |
operating head of the transportation |
system serving our territory.
Their visits may mean a lot. A |
great deal depends upon ourselves; /
and because of that fact it is we'll |
for us to look ourselves over, to |
count ourselves. to take stock Of our
activities and determine whether OF
not we are doing the things we
should do to encourage further in
yestment, which also means more OF
that much needed additional popula-
tion, in our state.
The Union Pacific has done a lot
Tor us in opening up far away mar
kets. We are at the end of the trail
leading TO the desirable markets. To
reach them profitably is a problem.
We ship produce we should compress
into other forms, but whatever we
have to ship. our railroad system
helps us market TO the best adyant-
age. In that sense we are partners.
The question Is, Shall we be har-
monious, profit-making partners or
shall we be quarrelsome, profit-kill-
ing partners?
Other public utilities in the state
are also doing a lot for us. Take
the Mountain States Telephone com {
pany. In addition to giving us serv-
ice we ought to be proud Of, 1t has s
made careful inquiries as to our pro- I
duction, our climate, our scenic at
fractions and 50 on, and has herald :
ed our advantages and outdoor life /
possibilities to the nation. It is G
building on our future, and going /
into debt. It's business in this state {
does not pay, and has not; but the '
men behind the company have CON
1dence in our future.
The Idaho Power company has 0
built plants and transmission lines \
nto Improbable territory and helped
nplnnd nc - uerI. 4
aids our dairying and other indus /
.ries through special departments.
{ hasn't made for its fundamental
packers in the east any real money
lere; but it is building for the fu-
ure-for our future, too. And its .
ates are among the lowest in the Z
United States.
We might as well call these in q
trumentalities by name. We do so n
When we get peeyed and begin to Z
ear down by aiding organized ac- y
iYities against them by men who =
re apt to be interested in making g
ecords for themselves .
These are all vital forces in our ~
eyelopment; and they all contribute .
eavlly in taxes. The O. S. L. pays ~
lore than one-twelfth of all the ~
axes in Idaho. Recent figures show II
he amount paid by it in taxes is ls
hree times as much now in Idaho -
lone as 1t was on the system in all c1
ne state in 1910. The others are ~
milar tax payers. So are all of US, 'i
ut 1t seems we are all in the same er
Dat. ca
In Oregon and other states, public .l'
1dies in their literature call atten- Ds
on to the splendid service and the
g payrolls of the states public util- ia
les to attract investors and home e1
ekers. Why not look ourselves over IN
Idaho and find out If we are not OF
bet and if we are not ne
aking a mistake in trying to raise TX
I'll instead of helping TO make prof ri
5 for our state? an
When we want more capital we IN
e much more apt to get it If the IN
en- who now have investments here IN
n truthfully say to their eastern ice
lends, Idaho is all right, her peo-
e are all right. We are all with rj
EN-, playing the future, building "i1
r the future. It is easy to get
ound the table with those people
d adjust any differences. Go out
ere and invest. It is safe. The col
tlook is good. You will be treated he,
Irly and be protected if Won fraaf -.