The Booster's Case: Why Newport Was Betting on Itself

Newport, after undergoing what might be called a premature growth during the building of the Idaho Washington Northern into this city, and its extension down the Pend Oreille Valley, is at present in the process of readjustment — a readjustment which cannot be accomplished in a day, yet is necessary before the town can hit the new pace that will firmly establish it as the business center of one of the richest new countries in the Northwest. A country of diversified resources, the development of which has as yet hardly started.

That the town has before it a future worth striving for must be felt by all who keep in touch with events. Combinations of capital have spent great sums in the town and immediate territory which at present may seem unwarranted by conditions but which in time will be worked out.

The Idaho Washington Northern Railroad spent nearly $200,000 in Newport for the purchase of right-of-way, river front, grounds for track facilities and sites suitable for the location of industries for the working up of the raw materials of this section. While the building of the road has cut off a part of the territory previously tributary to the town, its development work is bringing many more people into the country and its train service provides ready means for bringing the people to town. It is for the town to provide the distributing lines of business to furnish the inducements that will bring the people.

The Northern Idaho Montana Power Co. spent $140,000 the past year to modernize and completely equip the electric lighting and power service of the town. Their representatives, at the time the company first became interested here, predicted that the town would become a center of importance and would reach a population of 6000 to 7000. Their investment at present does not earn a profitable rate of interest, but the plant is installed with the idea of anticipating and being prepared for future growth.

The Great Northern Railroad is recognizing the town and its prospects by the erection of a depot building that will furnish ample facilities for a city of ten thousand people. Work on the depot and additional track facilities will be started in a short time. That the Great Northern has in mind such substantial improvements at this point would indicate that it anticipates the growth of the town.

At the present time another strong combination of capital is desirous of becoming interested here and a deal will likely be closed in a short time. A large manufacturing enterprise is practically assured, and indications are that the season of 1910 will witness a new and permanent development that will mean much to the town.

The trouble with most of us is that we are not large enough to look into the future and recognize the possibilities that are all about us. Few people realize the vast amount of timber and other products tributary to the town and the Pend Oreille river. The big investments that have been made in Newport should be an example to all to have faith and work together for the hastening of the day when the town will come to the full measure of prosperity that is warranted by its location and tributary resources.