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Idaho's
Stimuli: Railroads, Water, Agriculture, and Timber
The
construction of railroads in Idaho helped facilitate
the recruitment of more settlers and helped miners
and farmers reach better markets. The first opportunity
for Idaho farmers to connect to larger markets came
with the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad
in 1869 and its connecting branch between Utah and
Montana. The first railroad line in Idaho, the Utah
Northern, linked Ogden and Franklin in 1877. In
the late 1870s and 1880s, the Oregon Short Line
and the Northern Pacific Railroads built lines in
Idaho, resulting in a settlement boom that doubled
the population.(11) Railroad companies
running lines into Idaho found that it was in their
best interest to promote settlement because it developed
more traffic. Railroad-funded promotions proved
successful in encouraging settlement throughout
southern Idaho near the railroad lines. Many of
the Mormons who migrated from northern Utah to southern
Idaho had worked on the railroad and were aware
of the Snake River Valley's fertile land. By 1884,
there were 1,400 Mormons in the area.(12)
Settlement along the Oregon Short Line brought many
farmers, miners, and businessmen from the Midwest.
Soda Springs and Pocatello were settled soon after.
The railroads were successful in stimulating settlement
near railroad lines, but lack of water in the arid
portions of southern Idaho stunted the growth.
Irrigation
was the key to unlocking Idaho's agricultural potential.
The Carey Act and the Newlands Act offered federal
funding for reclamation and dam projects that would
make water available throughout Idaho. With the
coming of the railroads and the initiation of water
projects, agricultural output increased dramatically
between 1890 and 1914. New opportunities brought
new settlers. The population of Idaho increased
from 88,548 in 1890 to 325,594 in 1910. The Palouse
region of northern Idaho became one of the nation's
leading wheat producers, and southern Idaho became
known for its beet sugar, fruit, and potatoes. The
lumber industry in northern Idaho grew during this
time as well, becoming the state's third largest
industry after agriculture and minerals.
One
of the primary reasons Idaho's agricultural economy
did so well during this time was due to the success
of the potato. Potatoes were first grown in Idaho
by Henry Harmon Spalding, the missionary that came
to Lapwai in 1837. Idaho's first permanent settlers
in Franklin began to grow them in 1860, and by 1882,
over 2,000 acres were dedicated to the root. These
settlers from Utah introduced the Burbank Russet
Potato from California, which grew exceptionally
well. By 1915 over 33,000 acres of spuds were grown
and shipped east via the Oregon Short Line. The
Burbank Russet of Idaho was unique because of its
resistance to blight, large size, and their slightly
rough skin. Perfect growing conditions created the
superior potatoes that made Idaho famous.
Idahoans Fight Back: Populism
and Progressivism in the Gem State
The
late 19th century and early 20th was plagued by
corruption in local and state governments and corporations.
The backlash against the ties between big business
and government culminated into the Populist and
Progressive movements. The Populists were concerned
with regulating railroad prices, public utilities,
and other labor/farmer-friendly legislation. The
progressive movement was more concerned with reforming
the governments, ridding them of corruption, and
establishing social and labor laws. Both movements
would have an impact on the politics of Idaho.
Farmers
wanting to regulate the high shipping rates charged
by the railroads banded together in the late 19th
century to form the Farmers' Alliance and the National
Grange. In Idaho, Alliance groups, Grangers, labor
unions, single-tax clubs, and Nationalist clubs
all united to form the People's Party. The party,
which started in Kansas, was appealing to the large
number of farmers in the west who depended on the
railroads. The platform, which included support
for a sound national currency, government regulated
utilities, the recognition of the right to organize
labor, the eight hour workday, and the direct election
of senators, was appealing not only to farmers,
but to labor unions, reformers, and socialists.
The Idaho Populist Party first met in 1892, and
lasted until 1904. They united in their demand for
lower steamship rates on the Columbia, higher wages
and better medical benefits for miners, and the
recognition of labor unions. Populists won ten seats
in the legislature in 1892, but were unable to enact
any reforms. In the presidential election of 1896,
Idaho's Populists supported the Democratic candidate
William Jennings Bryan. Unfortunately for the Populists,
Bryan was defeated severely weakening the party.
Although unable to enact legislation, the Populists
started a reformist trend that was carried into
the first decade of the 20th century with the progressive
movement.
Throughout
the country, citizens demanded political and moral
reforms. Bossism, big business, and the corrupt
bond between the government and large corporations
upset Americans in every state. In Idaho, this movement
was somewhat delayed due to a resurgence of anti-Mormon
sentiment between 1902 and 1908. Idaho's progressives
were able to pass a number of reforms, such as a
local option on prohibition and a direct primary
law. The State Board of Education, the State Public
Utilities Commission, and a highway commission were
all organized during this time to regulate their
respective industries. Social reforms were enacted
as well, such as a number of children and women's
labor laws and mine safety regulations. Although
the progressive movement made a difference in politics
and social reform, it would be cut short by the
demands and conservativism of the First World War.
Idaho During World War I
When
America entered the war on April 6, 1917, the country's
focus on political and social reform made a dramatic
switch to wartime efforts. Idaho contributed to
the war effort in a number of ways, including agricultural
production, conservation, and manpower. The state's
Council of Defense was organized by May of 1917
and quickly began promoting patriotism. The Idaho
National Guard, Second Regiment, which had been
sent to the Mexican border to guard against Francisco
(Pancho) Villa and his raiders, was recalled and
sent to war. A total of 19,279 Idahoans were active
in the armed forces; 782 were killed.(13)
Idaho
produced more than soldiers for the war effort.
Production of agricultural products increased dramatically,
as did prices, resulting in a boom for farmers.
This increased demand for agricultural goods and
soldiers caused a labor shortage in the state. Courts
postponed trials to allow jury members to work in
the fields, schools gave fall and spring vacations
so students could help out, and even local businessmen
lent a hand. The demand of the war called for conservation
as well as increased production. Idaho families,
like most American families, had wheatless and meatless
days to conserve food. They also produced as much
of their own food as possible by planting victory
gardens and canning goods.
Not
all of the effects of war in Idaho were positive;
anti-German sentiment became common. In 1917, Idaho
was home to 4,000 German-born citizens and 1,000
Austro-Hungarian citizens who lived in fear of discrimination
and vigilantism. Idahoans held German-language book
burnings, and German language was dropped from school
curriculums. Another unfortunate side-effect of
the war was the world-wide outbreak of Spanish Influenza.
The flu reached Idaho in October of 1918. Public
events were cancelled, and theaters, churches, dancehalls,
and schools were closed. Entire communities were
quarantined. World War I brought an era of prosperity
for local farmers and businessmen, but the decrease
in demand during the following decade caused a recession
that would damage Idaho's economy.
The Great Depression in Idaho
The
decade of the 1920s is often referred to as the
"Roaring Twenties" in many American history books,
but that wasn't the case for many in Idaho. Industry
in Idaho was sluggish after war demands ceased.
Inflation hurt farmers who were plagued with over
production and lack of demand. The lumber industry
witnessed a state of decline as well. The state
was also experiencing a period of population loss
that began with the end of the gold rush in 1890.
Beginning in 1890, over 50,000 people had left Idaho,
mostly for California. The poor economy in Idaho
foreshadowed the great depression that was to hit
the country in the following decade.
Despite
the fact that Idaho's economy had been struggling
throughout the 1920s, this did not prepare them
in any way to deal with the devastation of the Great
Depression that would follow. Farmers suffered the
most; wheat prices dropped to $0.26 per bushel,
and cattle dropped to $20 per head, which was the
lowest price since 1890. Idaho farmers' total cash
income fell from $116 million in 1929 to $41 million
in 1932.(14) The value of gold rose
during the depression, causing a small gold mining
boom, but most industries were in distress.
Relief
came from the government through the plethora of
"alphabet soup" agencies, such as the CCC, CWA,
and the WPA. The Federal Emergency Relief Administration
(FERA) gave direct grants to local and state governments.
For every three dollars spent by the local government
for relief, the federal government gave one dollar.
This program provided $16 million in relief for
Idahoans between 1933 and 1935.(15)
The Civil Works Administration (CWA) hired many
Idahoans during the winter of 1933-1934. These workers
built roads, streets, bridges, hospitals, and airports.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), The Works
Progress Administration (WPA), and the National
Youth Administration (NYA) also created employment
for many Idahoans during the depression. The government
provided aid for farmers in need through the Agricultural
Adjustment Act, the Farm Credit Administration,
and the Farm Security Administration. These programs
helped the people of Idaho survive the Great Depression,
but it took another world war to totally revive
the economy.
Next
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(11) Arrington, 313.
(12) Arrington, 329.
(13) Leonard J. Arrington, History
of Idaho, Volume 2, (Moscow: University of Idaho
Press, 1994), 7.
(14) Arrington, Volume 2, 43.
(15) Arrington, Volume 2, 55.
By
Rickie Lazzerini
Historian
BA History
University of California, Santa Barbara
Index
of Historical Reviews
© 2006 Rickie Lazzerini,
All Rights Reserved
This page may be freely linked to but may not
be reproduced
in any form without prior written consent from
the author.
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