The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-01-07

1t remains for the state commission to
complete its tentative program by the Sc
lection of the actual projects that it will en-
deavOr to put under construction in 1927.
This detail will be given attention at the
January meeting. Considerable information
and study is required. Manifestly a pro-
ject, economic in size, cannot be built in
each of the 56 counties every year. 1t is
hoped that rather more than 80 projects
can be under way next year. A number of
small ones will be built in the earlier part
Of the program where an important con-
nectiOn or especially bad mileage can be
covered. One hundred thousand dollar and
larger projects can be held more strictly
within cOnOmy than those of smaller cost.
This much can be said Of the highway
situation in Montana, and the outlook, If
the initiated bill that has been approved
shall operate without legal hindrance Of
modification through legislative act or 9th
erwise.
Looking forward as far as 1897, the en-
gineers estimate that the consumption of
gas for y months will be 92,00O,000 gal
lOns-yielding a revenue of So 900. At
that time, if the government shall have
continued its present appropriations, the
yearly construction program will reach 3d.
100000 and the yearly maintenance cost to
the state will be around $1,000, 900.
If Montana shall thus improve its prim-
airy transportation, then we have started
upon the most important development since
the coming of the railroad.
When this state has good roads, as they
are now reckoning in the United States,
there will be no eastern and western Mon
tana. There will be no southern and north
ern Montana. Motor vehicles will nose
through the passes of the Rocky noun
tains over easy grades by the Roosevelt
Pas at the north, at Lewis and Clark be-
yOnd the big Gibson dam and Mcdonald
Pass at the north, at Lewis and Clark be-
souri, there will be bridges.
When the BeltOn-G Glacier highway is fin
ished, when there is a direct and complete
thOrOughfare from Great Falls to MissOula
when the mud and the grades have been
subjugated west from Helena, there viii
be good cause for celebration. A consist
ent effort will soon hang a welcome sign
for the traveller at the Dakota boundaries
at the Canadian gateways, at the entrances
en- the west from Spokane and at the Mon
t tana boundary coming up from Salt Lake
and Wyoming.
There will be a tremendous saving, a:
we do the business Of the state, in time
, and tires and temper. The traveller viii
come to US with a blessing instead Of &
curse. Agriculture will draw nearer anC
nearer to the initial markets.. The rura
D school problem will find an easier sOlu
0 ton. The fields will take on new values
There will be neighbOrs where there werv
unbrOken plains. There will be a new at
traction in the abundant verdure Of tn,
foothills, and a new majesty in the noun
tains as we reach them over well cOndi
toned thOrOughfares. There will be NOR,
settlers coming to till the land and new
people to build the cities larger. All o.
these things we will have for ourselves anC
our children shall no longer remembe
the gumbO that clogs the progress Of thi
day and generation.
If these things be so, 1t is a part OF tn
wisdom that cOmeth within good under
standing to build the roads.