Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-11-21
BY RALPH w. PAGE.

BY RALPH w. PAGE.
BOISE. Idaho. November 2I.-Idaho
isn't one place, it is two Anywhere on
the road you are likely to meet man
In oyeralls and a prodigious hat pilcting
an ancient Ford 1t is loaded with
bright-faced progeny and followed by
wagon or trailer laden with household
goods. And as like as not it is stalled
OF a hillside
Now, ask this man where he is going
and YOU will get a typical Western an
swer He will not say he is going to
Idaho or Washington or Owyhee County
He says he is going over into the snake
River country.
And that is just half OF Idaho. 1t Is
the Idaho of the wheat fields and sheep
herder. the famous Idaho potato and
sugar beet farms, of the States two
beautiful cities, Boise and Pocateilo. ana
the home base of Senator Borah. Incl
oentally, it dispenses the laws and col
lects the taxes from the picturesque
mountain to the north.
Impression Is Deceptive.
Riding from the great Salt Lake into
this region, it appears to be the most
forlorn neighborhod in the world.
Stretches of prairie little better than
deserts support here and there set
Element of barren square frame build
ings. half store and half barn. devoid
OF paint and falling to pieces. The wise
observer will not let this oelude MIN
There is magic in the Snake River
which has not yet touched this nelgn-
pCrhood AS you travel through THIS
amazing country you will always IND
it the same. Wherever the river has
rot spread its influence the Sagebrush
reigns supreme. This is the vanishing
world of the rangers and sheep herd
ers. the ShoShone Indians and COWBOYS.
But up the Jackson Hole country. In
wyoming they've damned up the
river, storing vast amounts OF water
measured in acre feet. This fabulous
snake then crashes the Rocky Noun
tains and finds an incredible route
through plains, canyons. gorges ana
mountain ranges to the Pacific ocean.
1t guided and sustained the great pill
grimage to Oregon, provides some OF
the most gorgeous scenery IN the worid
and now. with the slight assistance OF
United States engineers, it waters the
whole countryside. And no fairy wand
of imagination ever produced more
startling change. Wherever the great
bitches lead appear green fields, great
stacks of hay, AYRSHIRE and Black
Aberdeen cattle, stately rows OF Lom-
hardy poplars and broad, shaded
village streets.
In Boise they have detailed map
of the great systems Of reservoirs and
canals that define precisely the limits
of this farming area. And 1t Is the
farmers of this river basin, and the
sheep and cattle men, with whom the
recovery program is concerned. There
is no city problem. There are only
two towns boasting more than 10000
people, and the capital has only 81 900.
And these, as well as the little villages,
are merely bases for disposing OF the
produce of the countryside and dis
pensing supplies and enlightenment.
Consequently, factory pay rolls and
N r. A. codes and employment propa-
ganda would appear to have little eff
feet. 1t was amazing to see how much
it did have There is no better place
in the United States to judge the eff
feet of renewed hope and willing
spirit upon peoples material welfare as
well as upon their happiness. In one
hamlet to another the answer was al
ways the same, 1T is working fine, this
N. r. A. Yes, things are getting bet
ter"
If you are skeptical and hard about
It, and insist on facts, you soon dis
cover that actually very few have OBJ
tanned employment in the town. But
that makes no difference. They say
that, of course, it is having its princi-
pal effect in the large cities and manu-
featuring centers. You simply cannot
talk the small town people out of the
belief that the N. r. A. is a national
blessing.
Farm Story Less Happy.
But begin to ask about farming, and
the story is not so happy. The cattle
men are completely down and out, and
say so. The price of butter fat is a
source of perpetual complaint. At the
same time the farmers are fair and
judicial in their general statements The
potato growers say they really have no
complaint. There is a good living in
dollar potatoes. and as long as the mort
gagors cease to crack down they can
salute the eagle.
Even q novice can sense the renewed
hope Of the beet growers. Al down the
Inc from Sugar Cly 10 poc2tello can
oe seen heavily iaGel vans pouring tons
o. bcets into goado-&s at the railroad
slaines.
It's all very we'll for the compiler Of
figures to assume that the farmer Is
entirely diSgruntled with the showing
of the Agricultural Administration. But
this assumption overlooks the obvious
fact that not only is the department
with the greatest determination doing
its utmost for him, but if ever people
were served Fundamentally by their own
leaders this is true of Idahoans today.
And the farmers know it. Moreover,
they appreciate.
While figures ere being compiled on
staple commodities and the Affections of
over-production, many items that go to
explain why there is less than 10 per
cent Of this population on the relef
rolls are overlooked. These fertile val
leys grow everything conceivable needed
to feed man and beast. And many a
little farmer gets a good livelihood from
activities seldom listed in programs, for
instance, the honey producers.
copyright. 1893. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance. Inc