The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-08-19
JUSTIFIED CRITICISM

been printing some criticisms that to us seem to
hit the nail on the head.
After declaring that every community in the
state is keenly interested in Montana's good road
program, the Silver State continues:
Undoubtedly when the citizens of Montana de-
clared by their votes that they wanted and now
want good roads, they meant just that, and the
building of good roads does not mean the letting
of a contract for the construction Of five-eighths
of a mile of highway III one remote section of the
state and one and five-sixteenths of a mile in
another corner, and so on, just to please some
politician or politicians who want to make good
promises to constituents and thus have built in
certain localities a few feet Of improved highway.
"A real highway program means the building
of a TRUNK LIN OF REAL HIGHWAY across
the state from east to west. We say from east
to west because that is the general direction OF
by far the greatest amount of travel.
"The commission, therefore, should lay plans
and give attention first to the construction OF
ONE MAIN ARTERY across Montana-from one
end to the other. FINISH THAT JOB, and then
build another, and not fritter' away money in the
building of fragments of roads in all parts of the
state, many of which start nowhere and end at a
similar place, and do no real good"
In another editorial the Silver State expresses
grave doubt as to whether "the state highway
commission has a well defined road building pro-
gram-one calculated to be of value when put
into effect. If so, we must confess our ignorance
of what it is.
Gas far as we are able to determine at present,
the plans of the highway commission contemplate
the building of some lateral roads, the patching
I'D of a few short stretches of arterial highways,
all of which should be rebuilt virtually in their
entirety, and the construction of a number of COM
paratively short-length projects scattered over a
wide range of territory.
Meanwhile" the Silver State continues, "the
building of the Jefferson canyon road, which
would form a most important link in the great
highway most used by people travelling across thu
state-the Yellowstone trails being sidetracked
Before the election of 1926, at which the peopl
declared themselves in favor of good roads, > >
the highway commission appropriated $4,000 70
the construction of the Jefferson canyon roaC
Following the election the commission got a ne7
bunch, as a result of which 100000 of this apprC
~priation was diverted to the Elk Park road
lateral-and another 100000 was diverted to tn
Helena-Townsend road-another lateral-leavin
$4,000 for the jefferson canyon road, a part
a main artery which passes through some of tt
most magnificent scenery III liz eHCuS WSSC'
ct is reported that the commission claims Il
expense of building the Jefferson canyon road
almost prohibitive. When Frank Conley w
chairman of the state highway commission,
survey was made and it was estimated that Il
canyon road could be built for $4,000. N
Conley stands out as one of the best, if not t
very best, authority on road building in Montar
The present highway commission has had no 81
vey made, no estimates compiled; therefore it
in no position to say what the cost will be, becar
it doesn't know. - NJ
Zone reason why those who wish to see
construction of the canyon road is that the H
rison hill would be eliminated. That is proba
the worst stretch on the Yellowstone trail. II
understood that the commission began a SUR
of a c~ireuitous route through these hills and alC
Antelope creek, following the Jefferson roaC
short distance. This is a project that would
clude many heavy grades, be 10 miles longer Il
the jefferson canyon road, and would not elm
ate the Harrison hill. 1t is also believed that
cost of this project would be nearly twice as m
as for the canyon highway, and none of the see
features would be included.
Maybe some people can figure out that
is a plan of common sense, but we are not inclu
in that number"
The Silver State is sarcastic, and we bell
justifiably so. The present highway con1miss
apparently is demonstrating both inefficiency
undue responsiveness to political pressure
unexcusable traits that will, if not correc