The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-08-21

yOnS ana passes OF the occur q Alene
range. The Oregon Trail and the
Mullan road along which travel toll.
| ed at ten or twelve miles a day were
vital factors In the conquest Of the
wilderness of the Columbia Basin q
short SO years ago-now they are
hardly more than memories. They
have been replaced by splendid high
ways on which autos speed at TWEEN
ty, thirty. fifty mics an hour, and
their courses are paralleled by trans
continental railways. Greater yet,
what the hardy and optimistic Dio-
neers of that early day deemed an
impossibility has been accomplished
and today witnesses the official OPP
ening of a magnificent thoroughfare,
the Idaho North and South road,
which connects the two primitive
routes that were used before Idaho
was.
The immediate local development
along the lines of the two first roads
was as different as the purposes for
which ~those ways were originally
viewed out Agriculture with its
attendant stock raising soon became
dominant in the sun-kissed plains
bordering the Oregon Trail while
where the Mulan road cut its way
through the forests and mineralized
mountains the mining and timber in
dustries lead all others.
Guaged by their native resources
the northern and southern regions
supplement each other to make a
perfect whole. The products of each
are essential to the welfare of the
other; together, they form an eco
nomic unit self-sustaining and indie
pendent. But nature placed be-
tween these interdependent regions
what was long thought to be an i'm
passable barrier, the rugged Salmon
development progressed the tides of
commerce flowed freely east and
west through northern and south
ern channels, but, despite their mu-
tual attractions a confluence of the
currents was prevented by the
mighty dyke of granite that separ-
ated them. Far-seeing men had vi
sions of physical connection OF
these competing trade routes but as
with the dream of joining the waters
of the Atlantic and the Pacific there
was a weary waiting time ere real
ization came. Just as the eastern and
western seaboards of the United
States are brought together now by
the Panama Canal, SO the northern
and southern parts of this state are
linked to each other by the Idaho
North and South road. What the
canal has been to the nation this
road will be to the people of the
state.
Likewise, as the construction of
the great national waterway was de-
layed by many diverse and conflict
ing national and international inter-
ests so the building of the roadway
to facilitate intercourse between the
opposite sections of the state was
impeded. The commercial rivalry |
Of neiehboring states encouraged |
sentiments of arrangements among |
our people; political expediency Oft
en- fomented domestic jealousies that |
we're as useless as they were I'M
worthy of loyal citizenry; compe-
,ition between railways crossing the |
lorthern and southern sections was
also an element to breed discord in
he state; and regrettably, the press
30 1ftf1o l
o the feeling of sectionalism, in the
citations of North and South Idaho,
~ fostering provincialism rather
han state pride. Each locality as
aspects the newspapers has almost
gnored the other except as jibins
might sometimes be in
lulged in. 1t is but right that the
'ress of the state even at this late
lay bring forth fruits meet for re-
entance and through its editorial
association sponsor the event that
witnesses in Idaho the introduction
+ the EZRA of good feeling"
We had no true national union
Until after that artificial barrier,
he Mason and Dixon line, was OBJ
iterated and the north and south
( the United States, permitted to
use. There could never be uni
led Idaho until the natural barrier
( the Salmon river range was over
ONE and opportunity offered for
orth and south Idaho to clasp hands
s they do today. -
1t is well that the Idaho Editorial
ssociation should take the leading
Die on this suspicious occasion and
sal the nuptial rites uniting the ,
ride of the north and the groom of ]
le south with the talismanic motto,
Este Perpetua." II
Before taking up the regular {
usiness of the day the club confer
I'd the title of President Emeritus {
n A. F. Parker. In the selection ]
I the place for the 1925 meeting I
le choice lay between Payette +
axes and Idaho Falls, and Payette {
axes won, much to the gratifica- q
on Of the people OF that place. The q