The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1926-09-30
Montana Roads Termed
Destructive; Says Editor


I the worst? Your trip through Mon
tana was, as you say, at time when
there had been very heavy rains and
you struck slippery roads, you struck
gumbo and great many other things
that were inconyenient and terribly
trying. But do you not think it is a
little far fetched to recommend that
The traveller go some place that you
know nothing about whatever?
There is not today completed trans
continental highway across the U. S.
from east to west.
81 am not either apologizing for, or
praising the Montana roads. We re-
alize that we have a problem and
serious one, which we are enGeavor
ing to solve and every year we are
sainging ground. The fact CT the
matter is, however, that the North
ern Transcontinental highway pass.
ing through Montana from Seattle
east, is the nearest to a completed
highway of any of the transcontinen-
tai lines across the United States, so
that even if you do strike some road
which is, at times, not to your lik-
n6arer to
-----1s-@s~ 1l4514,,asy you wUuIu
be by taking any other route.
Destructive Criticism
"There seems to be throughout a
number Of state today great many
people who, not being of a construc-
i've nature themselves, and I am go
ing to class you as one of those who
ind the greatest of pleasure in des-
tructive criticism. We have felt,
heretofore that the people of the
Pacific northwest should endeavor to
stick together and work together in
harmony, to bring people into our
territory to our mutual benefit
= am going 10 suggest one thing to
YOU that may impress upon you the
'nadvisability of being quite so des-
-ructive in your public criticisms.
There is a very fine road from this
lection of the country, west, which
does not touch the Seattle country at
Il and very large percent ( the
people have no particular desire of
goag = Seattle.
"We have, heretofore, always con-
sidered that Seattle and its people
we're very friendly to US and Of the
thousands of cars we route west
every year, great percentage have
through our solicitation, gone to the
western coast and south by way of
Seattle. Even though the Seattle
road is 10 miles longer than to go
by way of Portland, we have felt
that we were doing a favor to both
Seattle and Portland by influencing
people to take the road across Spo-
kane, to Seattle and down the coast
via. Portland.
Asks Seattle A Question
Apparently, Judging by your pub
lication it would probably be equally
TO our advantage, and lot less work,
TO advise people to turn south from
Spokane and go direct to Portland
via Wal1a WalIa and Pendleton,
where they would have as equally as
good road as going by way of Seat
tie and would have the advantage of
over the world famous Col
umbia highway. Heretofore, we have
to travellers a way of see
ing the Columbia highway and yet
visit Portland
1--WE are wondering if Seattle
people would be pleased to have us
forget our particular arguments for
seeing Seattle give them only the
southern Portland routing out of Spo-
Kane via. Pendleton. During the past
summer this would have meant that
he Seattle country would have some
where in the neighb N I'D of 5000
sars less than they rave had win Z
arr aid and assistan.e by way Of in
formation which we have given.
"I am not saying that it is going
o be the future policy of our infor-
nation bureau to do this, I am just
,sking if you would not rather think
t would be possible for us to change
1ur attitude and also whether you do
lot think it would be equally to the
interest and service of the public if
We did rnfs.v