The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1928-04-20
CLENDIVE SECRETARY BUSY
KNOCKING FEDERAL BRIDGE
Secretary Taylor Mails his Misleading Anvil Chorus
Through The State-Voices His Vigorous Opposi-
ton And Invites Others To Join-Would Set The
Ideas of High Officials at Naught

At this late date, after the Mis-
souri, River bridge has been plan
ned. located, financed, and pro
posed to the Federal bureau OF
roads and approved, j. l.. Taylor
secretary of the Glendive Cham
her of Commerce is still stubborn
1y opposing the enterprise. Sc
far as he can he keeps his cam
paign under cover-sends a falla
cious statement and argument tC
other secretaries through the
nails urging them to join him in
attempting to block the biggest
highway bargain ever offered the
state of Montana.
Under Cover
While the Wolf Point bridge
was under consideration public
meetings were held by the people
of eastern Montana and the state
highway commission considered II
at numerous sessions. Did Mr.
Taylor appear at any OF these
meetings and argue his object
ions? He did not. He had nc
arguments that would stand up
He was in Wolf Point when a con
ference of the people of eastern
Montana was in session with rep
resentatives from five or six coun-
ties. railroad officials and two
members of the State Highway
commission present. Opinions were
called for from any who had them.
Mr.. Taylor kept away, sleuthed
around town, and only with re-
mctance divulged his name.
SHES at a Shadow
Now. at the eleventh hour, what
does Mr.. Taylor, representative OF
the flourishing city of Glendive,
offer as his heavy objection to
this project, admitted to be of
tremendous developing value to
this whole end of the state?
He affects to believe that it
would endanger the Genital Mon
tana highway, extending from
Glendive to Great Falls by way
of Circle. Jordon and Lewistown.
He foresees that the highway
commission will tear up the fed
eral seven per cent system and
make it over because six miles
of federal highway has been de-
signated to connect the bridge
with the system:
No Siqn of Danger
The seven per cent system In
cludes 4.697 miles with 1865 des-
ignated and 80 miles remaining
and not designated. From this
80 miles. 6 miles are taken to con-
meet the bridge site with the
Roosevelt highway on the north
and the McCone county road on
the south. Anything the matter
with that? In the early part OF
the bridge campaign it WAS pro-
posed by those in charge of the
campaign. to the Highway COM
mission. that the mileage between
Circle and Jordon be borrowed for
the time to use in putting the
bridge on the system. The COM
missioners emphatically said NO,
it could not be done. Later it was
found that this was unnecessary
hecause the federal officials saw
-the great need of the bridge and
approved the idea Of a spur con-
nection which could be made out
Of the mileage available.
Wonderful Opportunity
The State Highway commission
has done or said nothing that in
dicates they would disturbe the
Central Montana highway, even II
they have the authority. The
commission works hard for the in
terests of the whole state, works
intelligently, honestly and above
hoard. They saw a wonderful
opportunity to employ economy
and serve the. people of the east
end and get a S350,O00 gridge a
cross a troublesome barrier to
traffic and development, with the
expenditure of approximately s3o,-
Oo0 of state money. This through
federal aid and the fact of govern
ment owned land on the north
side of the Missouri. A bridge
that would benefit the whole re-
gion, Glendive included.
Selfish
Glendive has an expensive fed
eral bridge across the Yellow
stone. right at its door. Nobody
kicked about that.
But no other part of the state
must have a federal improvement
if Tavlor can get Glendive's feet
in the trough. How far will he
get with his noise and his nerve
with the broad-minded people OF
Montana? His plan is transpar-
ent-he seeks to set up a scare
crow. ficticious bug-a-boo to
serve his selfish purpose.
1t is impossible to see how Mr.
TAYLOR is doing Glendiye, eastern
Montana or the Central highway
anv service with his trusty ham