USA > Idaho > The history of Idaho > Part 35
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There was another large department of this Fair, called the "Merchants' Palace." In this department was a large amount of eastern goods on exhibition which was very attractive. Most of them were brought here from the east for sale, some of which, judging from the great resources of Idaho for producing raw ma- terial, ought to have been manufactured at home, retaining the money here instead of sending it away. But everything was nice and for an old-timer like myself to walk around and gaze upon this fine display of exhibits as I did for two hours, and then let the mind run back forty-six years and think how the country looked then and what it is now, for a moment the thought come up, "Can this great change I see be true or am I only dreaming of what I have longed to see?" Arousing from this reverie, we realize that all we have seen is true. The wild, savage Indian has been tamed
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and subdued; the wild animals that once roamed the sagebrush plains, what is left of them, have gone to the mountains; the once wild sagebrush plains are no more-they have been reclaimed by the hands of the industrious home-builders and are now dotted over with fine fields, orchards, irrigating ditches, towns, churches, school houses and thousands of happy homes occupied by a good, law-abiding, industrious, intelligent and prosperous people. To see and know of these wonderful changes and of this great im- provement that has been brought about in so short a time, makes the old-timer's heart beat with pride.
CHAPTER LXXXIV.
VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL LAW-CAUSES OF -- SOME PROPOSED PREVEN- TATIVES.
The rapid filling up of our jails and State prisons, certainly de- mands some serious consideration at the hands of the people, and the law-making power of each State and Territory of this Union.
This question of the violation of criminal laws, taken in all of its bearings, is far-reaching and affects the whole people in many ways. Believing as I do, that there are but few people born nat- ural criminals, there must be something neglected in our system of government that has tended to increase the number far in excess of nature's normal amount. There should be some human remedy, if properly applied, that would lessen the commission of so much crime.
Our government is supposed to be founded on equal rights and justice to all. Property is taxed to support and pay current ex- penses of State, county and municipal governments including the making of and administering and enforcement of the laws.
There are a number of things that, in my opinion, might be done by legislation that would tend to lessen violations of our crim- inal laws, with but small expense, which would, in the near future, lessen crime and expense, and improve the moral habits of our people. It is often said that ignorance of the law is no excuse for its violation; but is it right, just and fair that ninety-five per cent of the people who are the producers of the staples of life, shall virtually be deprived of knowing what laws we are living under until they are brought up by an officer to answer for the vio- lation of some law that they had never seen or heard of before?
When we take into consideration that our criminal laws are classified under two heads, namely: misdemeanors and felonies, and that there are about 180 different things that may be done that constitute a misdemeanor, for which the person doing or committing any one of the offenses may be punished by fine or imprisonment in the county jail, or in most instances by both, and that there are about 140 different things that any person may or might do that constitutes or makes it a felony under our laws, which would, if convicted of, send him to the State's prison for from one year to life, and when we further take into consideration the fact that our people are taxed to pay the expenses of elections to elect mem- His-25
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THE HISTORY OF IDAHO
bers of the legislature and to pay them to make laws, and are taxed to pay expenses of elections and salary and fees of other officers to administer and enforce the laws, and that the usual cus- tom has been to appropriate enough money to have a few hundred copies of each session's laws published, and to furnish at the ex- pense of the State a copy free to each member of the legislature and one to each State and county officer. I presume the object of fur- nishing the laws to the officers is to enable them to en- force them, and the reason for furnishing the legislators with copies is that they may review their work at their leisure and thereby keep posted and steer clear of violating any law they have made. But how about the poor farmer, miner, mechanic and wage worker? They, each and all, are called upon to put up their share of taxes to help pay the expenses of making and publishing these laws. They are all expected to obey them; they are compelled to help pay the cost of making and publishing them; but they sel- dom see or hear of any law until they are taken with a warrant, in charge of an officer, before some court to answer to a charge of violating some law they never saw or knew was in existence. It seems to me that, to say the least I can, that it is unfair to expect men to obey laws that they know nothing about, except they know they have been taxed to help pay to have laws made and published, but have never seen them. In all the various avocations of business that it takes to make up a well regulated and prosper- ous community of people instructions are always given with accu- racy by employer to employe, that he or they may know what they shall and what they shall not do, without which we would have a very bad state of affairs in business. It certainly is of equal or more importance that every citizen should know what is expected of him in the manner of obedience to our laws, and in order that he may know, he certainly should be furnished with a printed copy of them. The principles upon which our government is founded was that all should have equal rights. When the sovereign people vest their power in the hands of a few men to make laws regulating the duty of citizens, including crimes and punishments, civil and criminal procedure, taxation, expenditure of public moneys, and expect the people to live up to and obey them, they must certainly furnish them at the public expense a sufficient number of printed copies to enable them to inform themselves as to what their duty is. In order that crimes may decrease and both county and State expenses be reduced to the minimum, I respectfully and earnestly recommend the following:
First-That the coming legislature have printed for distribution 100,000 copies of our criminal laws in a separate volume; that one
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VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL LAW
copy be sent to every home in Idaho, and that a sufficient number of copies be sent to the county superintendent of schools in each county in this State to put one copy in the hands of each school pupil over the age of 12 years.
Second-That our school law be so amended as to make it ob- ligatory on each and every teacher within our State to give to all pupils above twelve years of age at least one lesson in our crim- inal law each and every week during each school term and to see to it that these lessons are studied properly and the contents im- pressed on the pupils' mind so that they will not forget them when they get older.
By having the criminal law taught in all of our schools, every child, when they come to the age of maturity, will at least be pos- sessed of sufficient knowledge of our criminal law so that they will understand what would be a violation, and I believe that it would be of more permanent and lasting benefit to the rising generation than any one thing that could be done for them. I am satisfied that it would decrease the number of inmates of the prison and all county jails, and insane asylums, lessen the expenses of the State and counties very much more than the cost of publishing and dis- tribution of the laws, and last but not least, we would have a more orderly, intelligent, law-abiding and prosperous people.
There are a number of other things that might be regulated by law which would doubtless tend to lessen crime, among which is the sale of intoxicating drinks and gambling. I won't say here, to stop both of these evils to mankind altogether, but I do say that the whole community would be far better off if both were abolished. Limit the number of places allowed to sell intoxicating drinks and compel them to be kept in an orderly manner, with open doors- no screens, no back or side doors to rooms for secret business. They should be closed up each day within one hour after usual working hours is over and not be allowed to open until six o'clock the next morning. Gambling should be abolished altogether. The pros- perity, happiness and well-being of the people are not dependent upon drinking and gambling. Intoxicating drinks and gambling are not only the cause of a large percentage of the crimes that are committed, but heavy expenses follow for the people to pay in the way of prosecutions and the care and maintenance after conviction of the criminals, and worst of all, they often cause death, loss of property, destitution and mental suffering to families, relatives and friends. They tend to demoralize, degrade and degenerate society, rather than to improve it. The evils that come from strong drink and gambling are many; the good that comes from them has never been found.
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THE HISTORY OF IDAHO
I am aware that some will say that to restrict drinking and abol- ish gambling by law, would be taking away the liberty of the peo- ple. Why is it that we have laws on our stautes to punish people for crimes committed while under the influence of intoxicating drink and gambling? Would it not be better to enact laws that would restrain them from these vices? History has shown that man, at best, is unruly and selfish. It ever has been and ever will be necessary to have stringent laws to prevent man from injuring himself and others, and to hold him down to the bounds of decency and good morals.
It is clearly within the province of the legislature to legislate upon any subject for the good and well-being of the people.
Another thing that has helped to increase crime is that our United States Government has allowed too many foreigners of the wage working class to come into our country, which has thrown many Americans of the wage-working class out of employment. Idleness begets drink and gambling. The distance is short from there to crime. The wage-workers should be furnished steady em- ployment if possible.
Is it not time that we were trying to do something to stop crime and help the people on to a higher plane of good morals in a human manner, by taking away from them some of the evil temp- tations set before them, and letting each one know what the crimi- nal laws of our State are so that they may understand and obey them? Are we in this advanced age of civilization, going to con- tinue to keep our laws away from the masses of the producers of our country, and from their children, and then expect them to obey them? I submit that it is unfair. All should at least have a chance to learn and know what violations of our criminal laws consist of. If given a chance, if the older people will not learn and obey, I am sure that most of the younger ones will, for what is learned by young people between the ages of twelve and twenty-one years, is seldom forgotten, but carried with them through their whole life.
With the confident hope of improving the morals of our people and with an abiding faith in the lessening of crime and public ex- pense in the near future, I submit the suggestions herein for the candid consideration of the people and of our next legislature.
CHAPTER LXXXV.
ALTITUDE OF COUNTY SEATS IN IDAHO.
COUNTY.
COUNTY SEAT.
ALTITUDE IN FT.
Ada
Boise
. 2800
Boise
Idaho City
4200
Bannock
.Pocatello
4471
Bear Lake
Paris
5496
Bingham
. Blackfoot
4508
Blaine
Hailey
5332
Bonner
.Sandpoint
2100
Canyon
.Caldwell
2377
Cassia
Albion
4400
Custer
Challis
5400
Elmore
.Mountainhome
.3150
Fremont St. Anthony 5300
Twin Falls
.Twin Falls
3500
Idaho
Grangeville
3200
Kootenai
. Coeur d'Alene
2150
Latah
.Moscow
2569
Lemhi
Salmon City
4030
Lincoln
Shoshone
3978
Nez Perce
.Lewiston
647
Oneida
Malad City
4700
Owyhee
Silver City
6680
Shoshone
. Wallace
2500
Washington .Weiser 2128
CHAPTER LXXXVI.
ABOUT MYSELF.
I have said but little about what part different persons or myself took in the stirring times in the early settling of Idaho. Most all who took part are presumed to have done their duty well, accord- ing to the surrounding circumstances. I very much dislike to write about myself for I have nothing great, good or very bad to tell. I am free to confess that I have fallen far short of doing as much good as I should have done. As this little book may fall into the hands of some who wish to know more about its author than has been written, I herein give a very brief sketch of my career, that those who may desire may make further inquiry.
I was born in Smith County, Tennessee, on August 29, 1835. I was put to work on a farm at six years of age and kept at it pretty steadily. My parents moved to Dade County, Missouri, in 1848. I was still kept at work most of my time; went to country school some, learned fast while at school. Left my parents' home April 18, 1853, drove an ox team (five yoke) across the plains to Oregon that year, arriving at Salem, Oregon, October 18, 1853. Served in the volunteer service in the Rogue River Indian War in Southern Oregon in 1855 and 1856; got married soon after the war was over, left Oregon in 1862 for the northern part of Washington Territory (now Idaho) ; went to the southern part of Idaho in 1863, since which time Idaho has been my home.
I knew but little when I started out to do for myself. Have been trying to learn something ever since but find I know but lit- tle now, but remember most all I have seen or learned. This seems to be a fast age. I can hardly keep up with the procession -- am most all the time in the rear.
Have been engaged in a number of different kinds of business- farming, stock raising, packing, saddle train, staging, mining and have taken some part in political affairs. Have made a consider- able amount of money, but have lost most of it.
My wife and I have had born to us eight children, two of whom we lost while infants; six we raised to man and womanhood. One, a noble, good and dear son, was taken from us at the age of forty- two. The other five and my wife are still living.
I feel that I have fallen far short of having filled my mission as well as I should have in this life, but when I come to consider
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ABOUT MYSELF
the many imperfections of man and the very limited foresight we have of the future, I am not in any way inclined to grumble. I feel that the Supreme Being who caused the creation of us all has been kind and generous towards me, and I hope and trust in Him that in the final adjustment of my earthly accounts He may take a liberal and lenient view of my earthly career and decide that I did the best I could, considering the knowledge and light before me. When my time comes to depart, I feel that I shall go in that faith.
CHAPTER LXXXVII.
IDAHO'S FUTURE.
Idaho is blessed with a greater variety of resources than most any other State in the Union. With her large amount of good ag- ricultural and horticultural land, her fine grazing and timber lands, her immense amount of mineral-gold, silver, lead, copper, zinc, coal, asbestos, etc., marble building stone, fine material for brick, her splendid water power for electric plants sufficient to drive railroads, quartz mills and all kinds of machinery, her beautiful lakes, her many hot mineral springs, the pure and bracing atmos- phere, her mild Winters, pleasant Summers and healthful climate- all these things make Idaho a very desirable place for people to settle who are looking for homes.
Idaho in the near future is bound to have a large population and will soon rank as one of the best and most resourceful States in the Union.
CHAPTER LXXXVIII.
SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE-IMPORTATIONS AND HOME PRO- DUCTIONS-MORE HOME MANUFACTORIES-MORE FARMERS AND FEWER TRADERS AND IDLERS TOWNS AND COUNTRY-LAND AND FOREIGN IMMIGRATION.
In offering suggestions for the future, we do not claim that we are possessed of any superior foresight over other people, but we are so constituted that we cannot help giving some thought to the future.
IMPORTATIONS AND HOME PRODUCTIONS.
We import too many things into Idaho and do not produce enough at home, which takes our money away. We have as fine agricultural lands as there are in the United States, and the best grazing lands for live stock of any State in the Union. We have fine water power for driving machinery, or making electric power. We have good gold and silver mines, undeveloped for want of means to work them. Our sheepmen produce wool enough to make blankets and clothing for twice the number of people in Idaho. It is all shipped to and sold in the eastern markets in its raw state, at a low price, fifteen to twenty-five cents per pound. After freight, drayage, storage, insurance, middle-men's commission, interest, etc., is paid, it reaches the manufacturers, and after some delay it is worked up into blankets and clothing and usually passes to the eastern wholesale merchants with all of these extras, such as stor- age, insurance, labor, use of machinery, clerk hire, net profits, etc. There it is held until the Idaho merchant purchases it with all of these former extra commissions, interest, etc., with a large addi- tional amount added for the wholesale man's profits, expenses, etc. The Idaho merchants ship these goods back to the same place in Idaho from which the raw material was shipped two or three years before, and are offered for sale at a price which, if weighed like wool, would amount to from two to five dollars per pound.
Our beef hides and sheep pelts go and come back to us through a like channel. Would it not be better policy to try and have our raw material worked up at home and save this great expense, be- sides give employment to men who would spend the money paid them here, thus keeping the money at home and add permanent prosperity to our towns?
39.4
THE HISTORY OF IDAHO
MORE FARMERS WANTED.
With all of our fine agricultural lands, we are a long way short of supplying our home market with all the necessaries that should come from the farm, and especially is this the case in the southern part of Idaho. We are not raising nearly enough wheat for home consumption. We are short on supplying the home market with milk, cream and butter. We are short on chickens, eggs, turkeys, etc., also bacon, lard, canned fruits and canned meats. A large quantity of these articles just mentioned are imported from other States every year that are not as well adapted by nature to pro- duce them as is Idaho.
There are many other things which are imported here from other States that might be produced or manufactured here, such as wagons, buggies, household furniture, etc. There is a fir tree that grows in the mountain gulches of Idaho that makes better wagon timber than any I ever got from the east. I have tested both while in the stage business for several years.
TOWN AND COUNTRY.
In my opinion the population of each town is too great for that of the country. In other words, there are too many traders, pro- fessionals and idlers around the towns for the number of pro- ducers in the country. We need more producers and less idlers who hang around the town doing little or nothing, but seem to think the town might sink if they left. To this class permit me to say that all we get in this good world comes from two sources and two alone: The first is this earth with all of its timber, water, minerals, etc .; and the second and only remaining source is honest labor brought in intelligent contact with this earth, or some of the god-given fruits, such as timber, water, mineral, etc. These two, the earth and labor, produce all, so let no man or woman who is able be ashamed to work-'tis God-like. He has rdone his part well for us; let us try and do our part well by producing some- thing to sustain life and add to the comforts of ourselves and others. Honest labor performed for an honest purpose in a workmanlike manner in any of the legitimate industries of our country is as high and honorable business as man has or ever can reach in this world. Our very existence depends on labor.
LAND AND FOREIGN IMMIGRATION.
Our population is increasing rapidly from two sources: natural births and foreign immigration. In 1810 the population of the United States, as shown by the census, was 7,240,000. We expect the census for 1910 to show a population of not less than 90,000,-
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SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE
000. This is an increase of more than twelve hundred per cent in one hundred years, or an increase of from 7,240,000 to 82,760,000 in one hundred years over original stock. If this rapid increase goes on from the 90,000,000 at the same ratio of increase for the next one hundred years, we will have more than one billion people in the United States. Where and how will they live? Our land boundaries extend from the Gulf of Mexico on the south to the British possessions on the north, and from the Atlantic Ocean on the east, to the Pacific Ocean on the west and Alaska in the north- west. But all included we have just 3,602,990 square miles, equal to 2,305,913,600 acres. In this area is included mountains, rivers, lakes, lava, townsites, railroads, rights-of-way, wagon roads and hundreds and thousands of small areas of good land used for pub- lic and private purposes, other than for producing purposes. We have no means of knowing just what portion of our land is avail- able for cultivation or is susceptible of cultivation, but am satis- fied that it is less than one-half. If our increase of population con- tinues in the future as it has in the past, it will not be many years until all of the available agricultural land in the United States will have to be cultivated to raise a sufficient quantity of bread, meat, and vegetables to feed the people at home. Would it not be better to stop foreign immigration from coming here to settle and save our land for those who are here and their pos- terity? The great rush of people at the late land openings ought to be enough to satisfy any one that land is getting scarce in proportion to the population.
I respectfully recommend for Idaho less importation of goods and more home manufactures; less traders, less idlers, and more producers; smaller farms and well cultivated; economy in home, State, county and municipal governments. Let us all be up and doing our part while we are here. Our position may be high or low, but let us perform our duty to the best of our ability and when we come to the end of our time here, then we may be able to look back with some degree of satisfaction and truthfully say we have done our duty as best we could, with a confident hope that He who is the final Judge of the rectitude of our earthly career may assign us to a higher and better place in the hereafter.
FINIS.
FROM IDAHO'S MOTHER, OREGON.
Thro' the mist of coming years From this vale of hopes and fears, There's a future bright appears, Rolling on; And thy sons, amid their toil, On this far, far distant soil, Shall be proudly seen to smile, Oregon ! Tho' no more a foreign rod Is extended o'er thy sod, But thy hills and vales are trod By the free; Tho' the children of the North In their might have sallied forth, To assert Columbia's worth Gloriously !
Yet alas! the parent hand That should nurse so bright a land, Doth but faintly, feebly stand For its son; While with anxious eyes we look On the homes we once forsook,
Fierce and savage tribes to brook, Oregon !
But we laugh despair to scorn! Tho' forgotten and forlorn, We predict the coming morn Thro' the gloom; When thy sons and daughters fair, Sweetly reft of grief and care, Shall a Nation's bounty share, And a home!
For the day is drawing nigh When a long-neglected cry Not in vain shall raise on high, "We are One!" And thy sons, amid their toil On this fair though distant soil, Shall in sweet contentment smile, Oregon ! THEO. J. ECKERSON.
NOTE-These prophetic lines were published in the Oregon Spectator in the Spring of 1850. Major Eckerson was at that time a member of the First U. S. Artillery.
A PIONEER DAY SONG. (Tune-"Auld Lang Syne.") We Pioneers are glad today, For though our forms are bent, Our hearts are still as blythe and gay As when in youth we went. We haste our feet, and gladly greet Each friend of long ago; Here, oil and wine of friendship meet; No space have we for woe.
Sweet melody of heart is ours, The song of youth and mirth, While in the gloaming here we sit Around our camp-fire hearth. Should ever we those days forget Or fail to call to mind The pleasures of old friendship yet, Then, fate would be unkind.
Flowers to strew our way they bring, That speak of love and truth; Gay songs of youth once more we sing- Of happy-hearted youth. And were there foe of long ago, All malice now is past, Erstwhile we twine the eglantine
Of memories that last. Then let us dream our dream tonight, Nor wake 'till morning sun Shall bathe in such a flood of light As God's first day begun. When rolls the year, the latch-string here,
Shall then as now hang out In memory of Auld Lang Syne; Though all the world should flout.
(Written by Mrs. Sarah J. Henderson, Portland, a Pioneer of 1845, and daughter of Rev. Ezra Fisher.)
IDAHO (Song).
There's a land whose glory we should tell In love's divinest melody of song; In honest glory let our voices dwell To echo all the hills and vales among; Where crystal streams, in varied beauty fall, Through valleys bright that brighten as we gaze, And mountains lift their minarets of snow, And over all a wealth of summer days.
CHORUS.
It's Idaho, dear Idaho, Gem of the Mountains, Idaho, Where golden sunlight lingers and healthful breezes blow, And heaven bends to kiss dear Idaho.
Here health goes roystering along the grassy slopes, And dreams of wealth may not be all in vain, For fortune loves to dally with our hopes, And he who tries and fails, can try again. Then dig the hills for silver and for gold, While rosy health it keeps our hearths aglow ; Better than gold a thousand, thousand fold, And best of all the boons in Idaho.
Match me, ye bards of southern, sunny lands, And ye who sing the praise of eastern isles ; It's heaven and earth where liberty expands, And man can greet his fellow men with smiles; No king nor creed compels you to obey ; Contagion vexeth not, nor wars alarm, And to the oppressed of every land we say: "Come; Idaho will take you in her arms."
All Hail to ye! Ye hearty Pioneers, Who blazed the trail and fought the dusky foe; Your deeds of valor brighten with the years, We honor you in loving Idaho. For you may time have happiness in store; And while this lovely heritage is ours, We pray that when your pilgrimage is o'er, You will rest in peace beneath the snow and flowers. -Composed by H. C. Thompson.
IDAHO, O, IDAHO! (Song.) Tune-"Maryland, My Maryland." A lovely mountain home is our, Idaho, O Idaho! Of winters mild and springtime showers, Idaho, O Idaho! Her breezes blow from western shore, Where broad Pacific's billows roar; Each year we love her more and more; Idaho, O Idaho!
Her mountains grand are crowned with snow, Idaho, O Idaho! And valleys fertile spread below, Idaho, O Idaho! The towering pines on cliffs so steep, O'er cataracts their vigils keep, Or in the lakes are mirrored deep, Idaho, O Idaho!
A thousand hills where herds may range, Idaho, O Idaho! And lava beds so weird and strange, Idaho, O Idaho! Above our heads are cloudless skies, In gorgeous hues the sunset dies, Then starry diamonds greet our eyes, Idaho, O Idaho!
Such is our wondrous mountain home, Idaho, O Idaho! And far away we ne'er would roam. Idaho, O Idaho! Oh, "Land of Liberty," we tell, Beneath a starry flag to dwell, One star is ours, we love it well, Idaho, O Idaho! -Ernest O. Mills, Idaho Falls, Idaho.
MY COUNTRY.
My country, 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty,- Of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, Land of the Pilgrims' pride, From every mountain side Let freedom ring !
My native country, thee,- Land of the noble, free,- Thy name I love: I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills ; My heart with rapture thrills Like that above.
Our fathers' God, to thee, Author of liberty,- To thee we sing: Long may our land be bright With freedom's holy light; Protect us by thy might, Great God, our King.
1822 .
1865
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