The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1916-10-20

go INTO aclual fOau cOllStIUcllou.
All contracts must be advertised as
provided by law in the various states,
and must be let to the lowest respon-
sible bidder.
1t is not the intention of the de-
partment to require the construction
of unnecessarily expensive roads, as
the law itself limits the amounts to
be expended in the sum of $4,000 per
mile. However roads must be con-
structed of standard width, with linn
ting grades and correct drainage.
Only Hard Surfacing.
Many miles of roads in Montana
are already we'll located and fairly
we'll drained and graded, which fact
will enable a greater mileage to be
finished with some approved form OF
wearing surface than would be pos
sible it new road was to be con-
structed throughout, with the amount
of money available each year, and a
more permanent class of construction
will be undertaken.
It is the belief of the State De-
partment that several of our through
tonnage roads can be constructed or
improved in permanent manner with
permanent structures that will re-
quire minimum amount Of up-keep
within the period allotted for the APP
preparation.
The counties through which federal
aid roads are built will be required to
enter into an agreement to maintain
the roads so constructed under the
supervision of the State and Federal
authorities and unless such agree
ments are entered into no expendi-
lures will be made.
Should the county authorities at
any time fail to maintain the roads so
constructed in proper condition no
more roads will be constructed in ac-
cordance with the act in such coun-
ties.
The principal reasons for govern
ment aid in the state construction of
improved highways are that interstate
travel is increasing to great extent
and that an undue and improper bur-
den has been placed upon the various
states over which the through roads
pass by reason Of the traffic from
other states. 1t is possible under such
conditions that road of slight i'm
portance to the state is of vast i'm
portance as an interstate means of
communication, and the state has lit
tie inducement to improve it, and yet
if such road is not improved it would
work a hardship on intercourse be-
tween other states.
Of Military Importance.
Another very important feature is
the construction Of adequate high
ways for the transportation of troops
and military equipment, which roads
might be of small import to the state
locally vet Of supreme Importance to
the country at large.
The federal government has sources
of revenue independent of the states,
portion of which should justly be
contributed to the development of in
terstate and post highways.
The advantage of federal aid, if
properly administered, should far
outweigh any disadvantage due to
seemingly trivial traffic requirements
and departmental regulations which
are necessary to guard against ex-
pensive and wasteful methods of con
struction And the states should not
expect to do work of an inferior OF
temporary nature with federal aid
but should construct roads of as sub
tantial and endurable character as is
consistent with the traffic require
ments to be encountered.
In the location Of these projects
one of the first things to consider is
the amount of money it is wise to ex-
pend for the amount Of traffic to be
accommodated. The first step should
be to find out roughly how much
money can be devoted to road work
with profit to the particular section
in which the roads will be built, add
ing to this the sum to be obtained
through federal aid to take care of
interstate and county business over
such roads which are of no conse-
! quence 1ocdlly DuL must NC pIo''ucu
for.
Highways Projected.
The amount of tonnage served, to-
gether with the relation the particu'
lar section will bear to the whole sys-
tenn proposed will be the determining
factors in deciding the amount PEI
mile necessary.
It is proposed as tentative pro
gram tLat the roads to be improved
be the east and west highways along
the line of the NoEthern Pacific anc
Great Northern railroads, connecting
with similar roads at both east anC
| west entrances; three north and soutl
lines known as the Glendive-S Sidney
40 -11R~AY vvYA AY~rN