The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-07-17
POCATELL0AN FOR
PROPOSED CHANGE
IN NAME OF SNAKE
Writer Gives Historical
Sketch of Territory
lraversed

ing the name of the Snake river
many communications and articles
for and against the proposal have
appeared in newspapers throughout
the territory affected. A number OF
communications have been received
by this paper for publication. Be-
lieving that the matter is one which
possesses an element of news inter
est to the average reader, whether
concerned with the proposition to
change the name of the river or not,
subject will result In wider under
standing of the historical events as
ISOLATED with the territory traversed
by the Snake river, the Idaho Re-
publican has adopted the policy of
publishing all such communications
and articles that have appeared, re-
CARELESS of whether they were in
support of or opposed to the pro-
posal. It's own viewpoint on the
matter has been and will be express
ed from time to time editorially, but
it will endeavor to give equal pub
licity to both sides of the question.
1t is to be hoped, however, that
neither the advocates nor opponents
of the change will permit their zeal
to lead them into any distortion of
facts or misstatement in an effort
to influence the judgment of those
to whom the appeal is made. We are
publishing below an article written
by a Pocatello advocate of the pro-
posal to change the name of the
Snake, but in publishing it, we feel
impelled in the interest of fairness
to call attention to misstatement
occurring in two or more instances
in the article, wherein it is said that
the present movement had its be-
ginning in a federation of CONNER
cfal clubs of towns in eastern Idaho
recently held in Blackfoot, and in
another place it is stated that COM
mittees from the federation are
working on the matter with view
to making recommendations. Neither
statement has foundation in fact.
The federation referred to has not,
in fact, as yet perfected an organ
ization and no committees of any
kind whatsoever have been appointed
nor Is there at this time any author
ity within the federation for the ap-
pointment Of any committee of any
kind.
The following article, however,
contains much historical interest
The thousands along the great riv
Or that courses in half moon thru
southern Idaho will be interested to
know that concerted agitation has
been started to give the stream a
new name Snake, the name by
which 1t has been known ever since
The covered wagons trekked west
ward over the Oregon Trail no longer
IS deemed appropriate. One is
sought that will suggest the pictur-
ssque beauty that lies in the land
by the river, that will have
/ stronger commercial appeal and
will have silent, hidden attraction
or the new hOmeseeker. In other
words, name is sought that will do +
the opponents of Snake"
ISS6IL IudL WOIu uOCo llOt W. "A
Jtopian term is the goal.
ANY movement that affects the
mighty Snake river naturally touch
IS directly one-half the entire pop
llation of Idaho and indirectly the
ther half. At least half of Idaho's
so, 900 people live in the lands for
which the Snake river is the drain ]
re stream and another quarter live !
n the country from which come the
|almon and Clearwater, the streams
which join the Snake just before it
caves Idaho. The Snake has been
nseparably linked with Idaho his
DRY since the white man first topped
he crest that breaks the broad
lains through which 1t flows from
Wyoming. Outside of the, Columbia, |
( which the Snake is the biggest
tributary, there is perhaps no other
iver that has played such COM
handing part in the building of the
rest. All exploring, mining, farm
ny. transportation has gravitated
oward the Snake.
Z Name too Indefinite. II
This newest action to change the
lver's name had its beginning in
,deration of commercial clubs and
hambers of commerce of towns be-
ween Pocatello and Ashton. These
,wns, in addition to the two already
AIMED are: Blackfoot, Idaho Falls,
igby, Shelley, Rexburg and st. An |
Tony. This region always has been
nown as the upper Snake river
alley" a name which, because of !
8 Indebtedness, the region does
IT like. Ever since the valley from i
ellowstone park south to Pocatelld
,came thickly populated and of suf- t
cient importance agriculturally to s
attention as a separate r
lit it has, in the absence OF any
her terms, been called the upper 8
lake river valley" The geography n
the country made that term, the g
st one to come into the minds of a
e early settlers, applicable. Lately 9
has ranked the residents. They n