The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1928-05-11
REMOVING A STONE WALL
(Great Falls Tribune)

In its anxiety to block the construction of the Missouri river bridge
near Wolf Point, because of it's fear that it might divert business from
Glendive, the chamber of Commerce of the latter city has circulated
the rumor that, if the bridge is built, the Central Montana highway ex
tending from Glendive to Great Falls by way of Circle, Jordan ant
Lewistown will be endangered. This rumor apparently is based o the
assumption that federal aid secured for the Wolf Point project must OF
necessity be taken from federal aid already pledged to 7percent high
way system across the center of the state.
The faHacy of this assumption has been pointed out by the Wolf
Point Herald, which says:
The 7percent system Tin Montana) includes 1897 miles
with 1865 designated and 80 miles remaining and not desig-
mated. From this 80 miles, 6 miles ire taken to connect the
bridge site with the Roosevelt highway o 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 proposed
to the highway commission by those in charge of the cam
paign that the mileage between Circle and Jordan be borrowed
for the time to use in putting the bridge o the system. The
state highway commissioners emphaticaly said NO, it could
not be done. Later it was found that this was unnecessary
because the federal officials saw the great need of the bridge
and approved the idea of a spur connection which could be
made out of the mileage available.
Glendve, in all probability, expected to get Lewitowns assistance
in blocking the Wolf Point bridge, but in this she is to be disappointed
A recent issue of the Lewistown DemocratNews contains a statement
by Dave salyerds, chairman of the roads committee OF the Central Mon.
tana Chamber OF Commerce at Lewlstown' IN wmcn te ecessry OIL
the Wolf Point bridge is emphasized and the possibility of its construc
ton distributing the Central Montana highway questioned. Mr.. Sally
The Missouri river, through Montana from Fort Benton
to the Dakota line, has not a single highway bridge Because
of rough land bordering the river, and the danger and incon-
venience of reaching the few available ferries. the state has
been divided as by a stone wall Those with the best interests
of the state in mind, have long looked forward to the time
when bridges could be built.
The Missouri being a navigable stream under the jumsdc-
ton of the federal government the construction of bridges is
the more difficult It remained for Wolf Point to take the
lead. and by consolidation of various interests to be benefited,
to finally win the assurance of a bridge. This consolidation
of interests naturally included the federal bureau Of public
roads. as the construction of the Wolf Point bridge will afford
an immense territory to the south of the Missouri river a de-
pendable crossing, and antheyear access to that portion of
the federal aid highways built, o to be built, north of the
river.
A valuable transcontnental. railway system, the Great Nor
thern railway. is made available to the territory south of the
river
Also of Importance to the federal government, the Indian
lands adjacent to Wolf Point are given a new outlet to the
south
The counties adjacent to the bridge feel themselves bene-
fitted and. by this cooperation of interests, the state of Mon
tana finds itself called upon to contribute only in the amount
of some $4,000.
If Montanas contribution to this bridge project 1--WE hope
the first of many) were TO be based on its future value, it
would be worth the whole 100000 to Lewistown alone. How
ever the states share of the Wolf Point bridge construction
will come from adjacent highway districts. We are confident
these districts can find no more worthy project for the eN
penditure of this relatively small amount of money.
To make the assertion that the Central Montana highway,
o. n portion of it, can be effaced to provide for a southerly
approach to the bridge, is to set aside the prdpal reason for
the bridge.