The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-09-05
HIGGINS AVENUE LINE
WILL Be BUILT
TEMPORARY ROUTE WILL BE
ALONG PATTEE STREET
TO WEST FRONT.

\ report which gained some pub
LEFTY yesterday was To the effect that
tie electric railway management had
decided not to build on Higgins avenue
and that the principal business street
of the city will be without car line
accommodations This report had Just
enough of truth I'm IL tn make it's circu-
fatina without the necessary qualfi-
cations an injustice to the Missuula
Electric Railway company. 1t is true
that the company has decided to build
its first line from the eastern limit
of the city To the Higgins avenue
bridge without striking Higgins ave
nue. until Front street is reached. but
that the decision has been reached not
to build Oh Higgins avenue is not true
The material for the Higgins avenue
line has been ordered and the line will
be built. The reason for the post
ponement of the construction OF this
line IL best explained by the statement
made last night tn a Mssoulian man
by s. r. Inch. the local executive of
the company.
1T is not true" said Mr.. Inch. that
the company has decided not to build
line on Higgins avenue. | nave
heard this report several tines during
the afternoon. and | see 1t has been
published iE the Missouia Herald this
evening. The statement in the evening
paper was not authorized by any Off
rcr of the company, and it Is so en-
tircly misleading that | feel that ii
does the company IA gross injustice.
When Mr. Wethey was I'm town,
yesterday. he authorized me To pro-
coed with the construction of our line
from the eastern limits of the city by
way OF Pine street to Madison, Madi-
son to Cedar Cedar tn Pattee. Pattce
to Front, Front to Higgins avenue and
thence to the bridge. This route was
my suggestion, and | believe YOU will
agree with me that it is wise, under
present conditions to build our first
line this way.
In the present condition of Higgins
avenue, it is impossible Ia build our
line as 1t should be built. There is
talk of paving the avenue. Ii ii is
paved. We must use one form of CON
struction; If it is decided not to pave,
another system must be used. In
paved street. we shall have to hay
slab of concrete under our line its
entire length. This will not be done
il the street is not paved.
Until we know whether the street
is to be paved or not. We shall not
know how to construct our line. and IL
is certain that. In case il is dcCiu~',
In pave. the work cannot be done this
fall. We are, therefore. compelled to
make some temporary provision To get
across the city.
Before the avenue can be paved.
the sewer must be reconstructed, the
wire conduits and gas mains must he
laid. the water pipes and the steam
pipes from our heating plant must be
made permanently secure. All OF this
will require time. In the meantime
we have tn get line: if NE aere I" build
down the avenue ROW, it would ho
necessary to move our tracks while
the sewer is being laid and there
would be other difficulties - great
as To render the operation Of the road
under such conditions practically i'm
possible.
ON this account. Mr.. Wethey agreed
with me that the temporary route
which | have outlined. would he the
hest one to build at first. II is on
this account only. The statement made
tonight places us in the attitude OF