Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-09-28
where the same statement can be
truthfully made.
THE MISSOURI RIVER ROAD

THERE are several quite com.
= pelling reasons that urge the
construction Of the proposed Mis-
souri, River Canyon road from Cas-.
cade to Wolf Creek, in accord with
the plans that are being put for.
ward jointly by the commissioners
Of Lewis and Clark and Cascade
counties. M
This thoroughfare is one that can
be reckoned upon the basis of in.
vestment and saving to the people
who use it. It is the most impor.
tant road running north and south
in the whole state, because it car
ries the travel emanating from the
three large cities of Great Falls,
Helena and Butte. The investmen,
feature is further emphasized by
the fact that very low bids can be
secured on this work at any time
during the next few months. The
cost as given in the estimates Of
the state highway commission is
three hundred and twenty-five thou
sand dollars. The officials of the
commission are able to say that
bids could probably be secured at
the present time for this heavy
work at further saving of forty
or fifty thousand dollars. The road
can therefore probably be con-
structed at a cost of three hundred
thousand dollars. The federal gov
eminent will at least pay fifty per
cent of this amount, leaving the ex-
penditure by each county at seven
ty-five thousand dollars.
There is a further contingency
that may cut the cost down so far
as the two counties are concerned.
At the present time, a statute has
passed the lower house Of congress
and the senate and is now in con-
ference which, if finally enacted,
will make it possible for the gov
eminent to pay sixty-five per cent
of the three hundred thousand dol
lars required for this road instead
of fifty per cent. This of course
would correspondingly cut down the
county investment in each case.
Furthermore, there is federal aid
money now available for road con-
struction in Montana to the amount
of one million and nine hundred
thousand dollars. The state high
way commission is really seeking
for places to expend this money be-
fore the time limit expires on June
first, next. When therefore feder-
al funds are easily available and
construction costs are exceedingly
low and employment is badly need
ed, is surely a suitable time for car
rying forward such an enterprise.
At first, the Cascade county COM
missioners thought that they might
possibly arrange for their part Of
this highway out of the two hundred
thousand Of road bonds that have
been authorized by this county but
have not been sold. A canvass Of
the situation however convinced
the commissioners that, morally it
not technically, this money had been
pledged for other definite work,
viz, for the construction of a
gravel road from Great Falls to
Portage; of another gravel road
from Great Falls to Cascade; of
another from Sun River to Simms !;
of another upon two miles of thor
oughfare east of the city connect
ing up with the Belt road; on a
new highway from Arlington to
Monarch, probably by the way of
Riceville. Our commissioners felt
that the building of all these roads
was required to keep good faith
with the people who voted these
bonds. Such a conclusion seems
proper and honest and businesslike.
Incidentally, this road will won
derfully supplement the gravel
thoroughfare that will be built from
Great Falls to Cascade. The peo-
pie of the city of Cascade and all
of the Cascade section will be
largely benefited by the proposed
highway. Now automobile travel
from Great Falls to Helena does
not go into Cascade at all unless
indeed the driver has trouble be-
fore he reaches the turmoil this
side of that city.
The actual saving in gasoline and
tires and trouble by cutting off
twelve miles of distance and long
stretch of gumbo road would in a
very few years cover the entire
cost Of this highway SO far as Cas-
cade county is concerned.
It can therefore be said in all