The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-01-07
MONTANA AND HER HVGHwAYS---A BRIEF
DISCUSSION OF THE FEDERAL AID SYSTEM

By o. s. WARDEN, Member State
Highway COmmisisOn).
ONTANA has rendered a decis-
M ion that supports a progressive
Ava and continuous highway pol
icy for the state.
BY a majority that reached nearly
to $4,000 votes the electors gave
their approval to initiated bill No. 81,
which contemplates an eleven-year
program and the completion of the
state federal highway system.
This, 1 believe, is the most emphatic
mandate that the people have ever dellV-
cred from the polling places OF Montana. I
1t was an overwhelming majority. And,
the favorable vote would have been larger
il there had been a little more time in GER
tain portions of the state to explain the
clear cut provisions of the bill and the
possible accomplishment under its prOVls-
ions.
The Interpretation Of this election result
may be quite readily stated-the motor We
hicle owners have now fully
that the time has come to provide more
comfortable and cheaper primary trans
pOrtatiOn for their own use, and for the ac-
cOmmOdatiOn of the traveller who comes
The highway decision is a milestone in
observation-disclosures no state is now reck-
Oned progressive if traffic sticks in the
mud. 1t is now safe to believe that him
ORANGES Gf there shall be any to the OPP
Grafton of bill No. 81 will soon be pushed
aside. The voters, having fully decided
what to do, will have their way about it.
What then, may Montana expect to ac-
cOmpliSh if this initiated measure shall be
allowed to operate with careful alrectlon
and economical expenditures OF funds
through the proposed eleven-year periOut
am of the opinion that the estimates
have been cOnservatively made. think
the consumption of gasoline in the state
will so increase that at the end of the time,
we will not only have finished the federal
system, through cooperation with gov
eminent funds, but i'm addition, it will be
possible to build a considerable mileage up
on the state system, with state funds alone
over and above what is specifically desig-
mated for such construction in initiated
DILL No. 81. Such building can be, IN all
fairness. undertaken as soon as there shall
Oe an excess of gasoline tax revenue over
and above what is required to match the
federal aid funds allotted year by year to
Montana. 1t is entirely reasonable to hope
chat certain mileage can be taken care or
in this way which perhaps cannot be made
a part of the federal or z per cent system.
Engineering and administration are Sc
cuTely held within a reasonable percentage
Before and after the election there were
ODiniOns expressed and suspicious intimate
here and there that the state would not ex-
pend it's own and the government funds in
an equitable manner, or according to the
law which says that construction is to go
forward year by year in the various sec
lions of the state, so far as is reasonably
possible, in proportion to the uncOnstructed
mileage in that section. l feel sure that
there never was good and sufficient reason
for this lack Of confidence in the proposed
law and the purposes of those who sup
ported this highway measure. And l know
what the intentions of the present state
highway commission are.
Plan of Operation
There, of course. should be an entirely
equitable distribution of all Of the funds
that become available under the stated
provisions of the law. The highway com.
mission at its December meeting, gave as
surance that the provisions Of the new
statute are to be consistently observed. 4
plan was developed which divides the stat
into u districts for operation in c~Onstruc
ton and maintenance. In the designation
Of these districts, convenience and ecOnOm.
in carrying forward the work have fiXeC
the boundaries of these established divi
SiOnS.
The plan, then. is to expend in each dis
trict, year by year, a percentage of tn
available funds based upon the uncOn
structed mileage in that district. After
time there will have to be some d~eviatiO,