Idaho County free press., 1923-05-31

political divisions maintain public
schools. Instead, religious denomina.
tions have charge Of schools in proper
tion to their membership, and funds are
furnished to these schools by the gov.
ernment. Practically the only unity
ing activities Of the government are in
the laying out of studies and In the
giving Of examinations at stated
periods.
Development Of lts Towns.
The development OF towns In New
foundland has been dictated first by
economics and geography. and later by
engineering In more striking way
perhaps than any other large region
In North America. Newfoundland ex-
listed for centuries after its discovery
merely as a place to dry fish. There
was no settlement, only temporary use
of the beaches and rocks near the coast.
When settlements did develop, they
were naturally along the coast and ex-
listed primarily to afford supplies for
and otherwise to facilitate the fishing
industry. Back of the coast the land
was unknown or known to consist In
considerable part of bare areas of rock
and scrub-covered "barrens." Man
confined his operations TO the fringe
of the island, and less than forty years
ago, nearly 400 years after its discov-
cry, it is said there was not dwelling
five miles inland. The map of the
country was almost like that of Ara
bia: narrow rim of carefully mapped
coast, with the entire central portion
Of the island practically blank.
But this situation was materially al
tered by the construction few decades
ago of a railroad, mans chief modern
weapon in subduing the wilderness
The road was flung in an arc through
the heart of the island connecting st.
Johns chief port near the southeast
ern extremity, with Port-aux-B -Basques,
In the southwest, closest town to the
ST. Lawrence ports Of Canada. Along
this railroad have sprung up the only
non-coastal towns in New Foundland.
Fine Place for sportsmen.
Newfoundland is sportsman's para
disc: In numerous streams near the
coast salmon fishing is unexcelled.
These fish average ten pounds in
weighing %, 80 and even up to 40
pounds. Hotels are numerous In the
fishing country close to the railroad
Back from the salmon country, the
interior streams and ponds swarm with
trout. In the woodlands and on the
"barrens" are large herds Of caribou
or wild reindeer. Prowess In caribou
hunting is measured by the psnss on
the stag bagged. "a thirty" or "a
forty" is good but the hanter who
bays "a fifey" has aeetnpaisGed some
thing as distinctive as the sslfsr who
heles cut IN one.
So little is known La detail Of large
parts Of interior Newfoundland that
the exact regions to which the caribou /
migrate In winter and summer have net /
been definitely ascertained.
To a considerable extent since its
Newfoundland has meant
st. Johns. Affording an excellent
harbor, close to the cod banks, st. Il
Johns waters early became a much
frequented anchorage for fishing yes
sells and naval watchdogs, and itS
shores a convenient place for drying
stages. Soon 1t was as well the CEN
rial outfitting point and banking center
'er Britain's part Of the great fishing
industry of the banks.
The harbor tells its story unmis
to the voyager today. Whal
ng. and fishing craft dot its waters
IN the outskirts of the city are plants
or the rendering OF seal oil and near
he wharves establishments engaged In
packing the cured cod.
Sailing into st. Johns one .gets. too,
he story Of Newfoundland's geographic
nd geologic features. Two buttresses
'ors mouth, typifying the numerous
inlets Of the islands much
ndented coasts. The city has grown
ID another steep and largely bare Hill
I the harbor's head. The principal
Is along the waterfront
/. Johns, might in fact, be called q
one street town" All other thorough
ares are subordinate to the street
arallel with the harbor's edge, and
,any Of them that strike up the HILL
Ide are so steep that they can be
egotiated only with difficulty. AS an
bserver has put 1t. the town Is "a
sformed fishing village. dignifed BY
overnment buiIdings." Near the top Of
he hill. too, stands forth an Anglican
its towers high above the
sst Of the city.