The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1928-11-01
ENGINEER HOLMES
EXPLAINS WHY HE
RESIGNED POSITION


Montana's good roads program,
made possible by an overwhelming
vote of the people in 1926 and ratified
by unanimous vote of the legislature
that followed, has not been administ
cred in the manner prescribed by law,
and the wishes of the people who
voted the gasoline tax have not been
carried out, according to the purport
of the initiative under the state high
way commission under the administra-
ton of Gov. John E. Erickson, ac-
cording to a sweeping statement made
Saturday by Howard W. Holmes,
former chief engineer of the state
highway commission. Mr.. Holmes,
one of the best known highway engi-
neers in the northwest, resigned in
October after being offered sub
stantial increase in salary because of
the fact that he insisted in carrying
out the precepts of the initiative
rather than the whims of certain of
the commissioners.
In prefacing his signed interview,
Engineer Holmes said in part;
My resignation as state highway
engineer last October was accepted
only after my refusal to reconsider
my action in consideration of sub
stantial increase in salary. I had on
many an occasion endeavored to over
come action of the commission which
in my opinion violated the spirit of
initiative No. 81, but without success,
inasmuch as I was without a legal
vote and without authority to register
an objection in the official minutes
Of the commissions proceedings, In
the second place it should be said that
| am thoroughly convinced of the
wisdom of my withdrawal from state
employ. Therefore it must be accept
ed that have nothing to gain as the
outcome Of the election on Nov. 6.
Mr.. Holmes has been intimately as
ISOLATED with highway construction
activity in Montana under the admin
istrations Of three governors-Stew-
art, Dixon and Erickson. His criticism
Of activities Of the Erickson highway
commission is based on years Of ex-
perience which have elevated him to
enviable pedestals of merited esteem
among engineers of the west. When
Montana began to realize the true
worth of good roads and started to
correct blunders of Legislature that
saw fit to spurn federal aid, Howard
Holmes was thrown into the thick of
the fight He it was who provided
good roads workers with the data, the
diagrams, the plans for pulling Mon
tana out of the mud. Plans submit
ted by Howard Holmes to correct the
situation were adopted as basic fun
damentals of the program.
Sixteen years ago Portland sought
the services Of Howard Holmes to map
it's bridge construction program. In
| 1917 Engineer Holmes offered his en-
cheering ability to the service of his
country. In 1919 he was associated
with the Kibbe Construction company
of Portland as plant manager and
engineer in paving operations on the
Columbia river highway. In Deem
Der, 1919, Montana gained the benefit
of the services of the engineer who
was in demand in cities of the Pacific
coast. Hence, the criticisms of How
ard Holmes carry weight.
"The development of our highway
system is an enterprise upon which
statewide prosperity is largely de-
pendant and it is unfortunate that SO
important a phase of our economic
development has been made political
ISSUE" said Mr.. Holmes. Governor
Erickson has challenged the state
ments of Wellington D. Rankin, re-
publican candidate for governor, and
this challenge requires an answer"
"What position did Governor Erick-
son take with respect to the gasoline
tax in his message to the legislature
in 1922" Mr.. Holmes was asked. "He
reflected an entire lack of sympathy
with the plan of allowing state con-
troll of the road program" answered
Engineer Holmes.
"Then what position did Governor
Erickson take with respect to the
gasoline tax revenue measure during
the campaign in it's behalf in 1922"
he was asked.
Gle never uttered one word from
any platform in Montana for the
initiative" answered the engineer.
"Who appointed 0. S. Warden OF
Great Falls as chairman of the state
highway commission"
Governor Erickson"
"What position was taken by Chair
man Warden of the highway commits
sion with respect for the district law
passed by the Legislature, which in
sured uniform construction activity in
each of the IL districts and further