Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-09-25
BOND ISSUES FOR CUTOFF
PLANNED IN TWO COUNTIES
Joint Meeting of Commissioners and State
Highway Officials Decides to Put
Petitions for Elections Out.

Bond elections in Cascade and Lew
is and Clark counties for the author
ization Of funds for their share of the
cost of constructing the proposed Mid.
canyon cutoff, between Hardy and
Craig on the Helena road, were hello
to be the most feasible means OF
financing the work at a meeting in
Great Falls Saturday Of the boards OF
both counties, state highway officials
and Great Falls and Cascade citizens
Petitions for the elections will be cir
culated forthwith and it is the inten-
ton to submit the proposal to the .vot-
ers in each county on the same date,
probably early in January.
Both Boards Favor New Road.
The members Of both boards con-
Cured unanimously in the move for the
cutoff and stated their willingness to
launch the project upon approval OF
the bond issues The estimated cost
will be $3.50. 1921 which includes the
percentage allowed for engineering and
contingencies. Under the present fed
eral aid law one fourth of this amount
would be paid by each of the counties
and one-half by the federal govern
ment, but there has already passed the
United States senate bill permitting
the government to pay 60 per cent OF
the cost of federal aid highway prof.
octs. Concurrence by the house is an
ticipated. It was stated at the meeting.
and if the bill becomes law the cost
of the cutoff to each county would be
correspondingly reduced.
nd N
county will probably call for the sale
of 100000 in securities, which would
be ample to meet the counties share of
the outlay and to construct stretches of
highway necessary to connect either
end Of the cutoff proper with roads
now established. Cascade county would
connect the cutoff with the road at
Cascade and Lewis and Clark would
build the stretch between Craig and
Wolf Greek.
To Divide Expense Equally.
Equal division of the expense to the
two counties was agreed upon by the
two boards. On which side of the line
the greater amount of construction, If
any, lies has not been determined. but
of the whole stretch the portion in
Cascade county is. one mile greater in
length. Equal participation by two
counties in the cost Of construction as
obtaining in this case is authorized by
law. "z. -...=.
The present road connecting Great
Falls and Helena is 112 miles in length
and the cutoff would not only reduce
the distance to % miles. but would
eliminate Sullivan hill. The change of
route would cause the main road to
cross the Missouri river at Cascade
and following on the south side of the
stream the entire distance to Wolf
Creek, where it would tie into the pres
ent road. The cutoff proper would be
gin one mile north Of Sheep creek and
continue to Craig. Much rock work
would be encountered and three steel
bridges and two tunnels would be nee
essary. The tunnels would aggregate
100 feet in length.
Route Considered Important.
There is no question that this work
would be on the most important north
and south road across the state" said
Chairman w. NJ. Biggs Of the Lewis
and Clark board to the meeting. with
this Improvement completed. the Great
Falls-Helena road would be open vir-
tually the year round. The Importance
OF the highway has never been doubted
and we believe that it is the most vital
work in which the good roads forces Of
the two counties can now interest
themselves"
Federal aid would be obtained by
the counties in connecting the cutoff
with roads now in use. but the cost
of this construction would be compare
lively very small. it was stated. The
greater portion of it would be straight
cross-country road construction. OF
the federal aid originally allotted to
Montana, S1,9OO,OOO now remains I'M
used and unless the counties of the
state provide for its application by
the government.
To Circulate Election Petitions.
Arrangements were made at the
meeting for circulating election petit
tons Immediately in Cascade county
and similar action will be taken in
Lewis & Clark. Twenty per cent Of
the registered electors at the last
general election who are also taxpny-
ers must sign the petition in each coun-
ty to authorize the commissioners to
act. Only taxpayers may sign the pc
tition or vote at the bond election, the
law in this regard having been changed
by the last legislature. The Great
Falls Commercial club has interested
itself in the Mid-canyon cutoff from
the first and will give assistance in
the petitions. Other or
in the city and county are
expected to help.
Saturdays meeting was held in the
rooms at the court
house and was attended by Commits
sioncrs B. c. Johnston, l.. II. Kom-
mers and J. R. Bennett and County
Ii. G. Bennett Of Cascade
county; Commissioners w. NJ Biggs,
W. 4. Moore and G. b. Christian and
County Clerk A. ]. Duncan Of Lewis
and Clark county; Chairman G. w.
Lanstrum of the state highway COM
mission, Chief Engineer John Edy, |
Resident Engineer r. r. Harlow,
Secretary l.. e. Jones of the Great |
Falls Commercial club and J. r. Hob
bins. o. s. Warden and w. III. George |
IF this city, and e. +. Lyman of Cas- |
,ade.
Says Cascade Favors Cutoff.
Mr.. Lyman stated that virtually all |
If the people in the west end of the !
county favor the cutoff. A section of |
he route would cross Mr. Lymans
and and he assured the commissioners |
hat the right ofway crossing his