The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1921-04-22
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THE MODERN HIGHWAY is A
VALUABLE COMMERCIAL
AND SOCIAL ASSET.

Lack Of interest in the development
of the Roosevelt highway is attribut-
able as much to not understanding the
general road situation confronting the
country at this time, as it is to ignor-
ance of the the value of this particular
road to the country that it %traverses
through.
Floyd w. Parsons. in writing of the
"Highway Dilemma" in the Saturday
Evening Post, states facts that show
wildly the Importance of the questions
now confronting us. He says an
1916, when we first began to realize
the need for more and better high
ways in this country. our total expen-
diture for roads amounted to a little
more than S270, 1000 900. Last year it
is estimated that we had available for
expenditure for roads more than $780,
10000. = s. * There are 2,25O,OOO
miles of highways in the United
States. A total of more than $4,000
miles of highways is now involved in
projects which have already been APP
proved for construction and improve
ment with Federal aid funds. This
road mileage alone is nearly equal to
ten roads extending from the Allan
tic to the Pacific. A decade ago
there were only 500 1000 automobiles
in the United States while by the end
of the present year the number of
automobiles operating in the country
will likely total 100000. A few
years ago motor trucks were unknown.
Recent investigation shows that about
Is per cent of the total rattle on our
main highways consists of motor
trucks. We have now more than three
motor vehicles for every mile of high
way in the country, and this includes
unimproved highways"
We are confronted with a condi-
ton; the truck has come suddenly
and it has come to stay. 1t follows
that all of the main roads must be
so constructed as to stand up under
truck traffic. The building of this
type of roads is still in its infancy,
so far as the engineering problems
are concerned. The organizing nee
essary to finance the great under
taking, is also only commenced. A
few years ago a small yearly tax was
ample to pay farmers to keep up the
nelghborhood roads. necessary for the
use of horses and wagons. The only
way the roads demanded now can be
financed, is by bond issues in which
the payments are spread over a long
term of years, for the roads of today
demand millions where hundreds
answered formerly.
Valley county is traversed by one
OF the great highways that cross the
continent from east to west, and vet
the people of the county are bare,
awake to the vast possibilities in the
way Ct profit, pleasure ard devc,on-
ment, that this great highway offers
them.
By connecting the relation of the
present to the future, it will bc seen
that at a time not too far distant,
the Roosevelt highway will be more
valuable to Glasgow than is the Great
Northern railroad; II will be herd
surfaced and electric lighted from
coast to coast, maintained for winter
and summer use. Over it will pass a
continual stream of cars, whose oc-
cupants are bent on business or pleas
ure, and trains of motor trucks carrv-
ing most of the lighter commercial
freight, the farmers crops to his mar.
ket, and his supplies from the store t,
his home. All should visualize thi,
condition, that is not far in point
of time.
The financial condition in this par
of Montana is not lost sight of. 1t i
probable that this year little can br
done in the way of construction on tn,
Roosevelt highway, but the educa
tional side must not be neglected o
other localities will supersede north
east Montana, and so much lost in tn
way of organization and promotion
that it will take years to regain thu
splendid position which Glasgow anc