The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-10
Highway Boosters Would
Overcome Opposition by
Territorial Maneuver.
DEER LODGE TO GET
GRANITE TOWNSHIPS
Directing County May Be
Asked to Give Up Route
Of Proposed Road.

The pen is mighticr than dyna :
mite"
With that as their motto hackers of
the proposed Hamilton Anaconda
highway arc going to cvade an appar-
entity insurmountable barrier without
ever lifting n pick.
Instead Of blasting through the OBJ
struction they are going to eliminate
it by changing the map of Montana.
DR.. r. W. Beck of Hamilton. who
spent yesterday in Missoula in confer
cnce with officers of the Missoua
Chamber of Commerce, explained the
pathfinding plan adopted by Anaconda
and Hamilton people. Tho greatest
| obstacle In the way OF their intended
road from Anaconda to the Bitter
! Root valley is the reluctance of Gran
lite county people to contribute money
; toward the construction Of tho road
Arrangements have been made with
the federal government for subsidy of
the highway, and the commissioners
of Ravalli and Deer Lodge counties
have agreed to pay their shares.
| But the road must lie across the
| southern end of Granite county, and
the people in tho northern part Of tho
county don't want to contributc any
thing.
| Therefore backcrs Of the highway
have decided to lend their support to
a bill providing for the annexation by
| Deer Lodge county OF six townships in
the southern end of Granite county.
| This annexation would give the high
way clear route.
Some time ago interested citizens of
Fall three counties made an application
to the government, through the forest
| service, for federal aid in the construc-
tion of a highway to link the towns of
Hamilton and Anaconda. Under tho
| legislation covering the granting Of
federal aid for the building OF public
highways through the national re-
serve. the government appropriates
| funds to cover half the expenses of
construction, while either the state,
",
or the counties through which the
road passes, guarantees to furnish so
per cent of the costs of construction.
At the time the proposition was first
considered 1t was believed that the
state highway commission would be
willing to contribute tho part of the
expenses which must come from the
state. but at tho same time the Ravalli
county commissioners expressed their
Willingness to furnish 50 per cent of
the construction costs funds in Ravalli
county.
As far as the citizens Of Granite
county are concerned, those living in
the southern part. In Philipsburg es-
pecially. are said to be eager that
Granite county should contribute its
share of the expenses, but the people
living in Drnmmond and tho northern
part of Granite county arc fighting the
movement determncdly, and as they
claim that there are no available funds
in the county treasury, it seems prob
able that the road construction work
will be held up until their consent is
secured, unless the county change can
be effected.
DIR. Beck will go to Anaconda today
and will then go to Helena to place his
project before the state legislature.
Upon his return he will ask the Mis-
sonla Chamber of Commerce to sup
port the proposed bill. which is ex-
pectcd to encounter the opposition OF
people in the northern end of Granite
county.