The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1929-05-10
REASONABLE WHEN
CONSIDERED FAIRLY

CONSIDERED FAIRLY
ANY wide awake town looks at
ter it's own interests so far as it
honorably and l~egitimately can.
Wolf Point wanted a free traffic
bridge across the Missouri and
went to work to get it, using as
the chief argument that this part
of the state needed it to facilitate
north and south travel at all sea
sons and afford sure and safe
communication between the towns
and territory south of the river
with the towns and territory
north of the river. And that was
the argument that won the day.
Being human the citizens of
Wolf Point wanted the bridge at
Wolf Point. Any other town in
the county making such a cam
paign including over two years
continuous effort and considerable
xpens would want the same
thing. When the Wolf Point site
was rejected Wolf Point did not
cease it's efforts. If it had there
would have been no bridge. More
than 80 per cent of the cost OF
this bridge is borne by the fed
eral government, so having grant
ed the petition for a bridge the
federal highway authorities. CO.
operating with the state authorl-
ties, became possessed of full
privilege and assumed full respon-
sibility for selecting the bridge
site and the routes of the connect
ing federal highways. 1t could
not be otherwise since the bridge
and the highways became part OF
the federal seven per cent system
in Montana.
In planning the highway system
in Montana it is a fixed policy 10
connect county seats as directly
as possible. Another policy is to
avoid as many grade crossings as
possible. To so connect the bridge
M the north that all traffic COM
inc from Glasgow and Wolf Point
would be compelled to cross the
tracks two or three times was not
considered for a moment. A fed
eral road that takes all trafhc
from the west and north across
the bridge with nj or no cross
ing of the railroad and by the
shortest routes, and a county road
that takes all the traffic from the
east and northeast across the
bridge with one crossing OF the
,i1road and by a short route is
tie best plan possible.
Roads from the bridge to the
,ountv seats and farming commu-
n;tias on the Southside are or Will
be as direct as they can be made
Safety and economy are two OF
the watch words of all competent
highway engineers. Safety for hu-
man life, economOy in distance
for the general public. Grade
crossings near loss of human lie
in direct ratio to their NUMBER.
4 few thousand dollars saved by
two or three miles less road con
struction will be wasted over n
over and over again in the time OIL
busy people, and wear and tear on
vehicles through travelling extra
miles year after year.
The location of the bridge is
ideal and site the best to be found
anywhere in this part of the state
When the bridge is completed the
great objective will have been ac-
complished-a free traffic bridge
over the dangerous Missouri con-
Meeting Terry. Glendive, Sidney
and Circle on the south with Scob-
ey. Plentywood, Glasgow and Wolf
Point on the north. Roosevelt
county is the biggest gamer of all
the counties. 1t has a half inter-
est in the splendid bridge, and is
out only the cost of a few miles
or Ou1Ir fOdu
The federal and state road
authorities should be given credit
for knowing their business. Talk
of undue influence being brought
to bear on them is childish chat
ter. Visualize the spectacle OF a
few citizens of Wolf Point, or
any other small town, wagging
the federal and state govern
ments. The greatest good of the
greatest number has CONTROLLED
throughout the history of this
great project, whether or not the
whims and personal interests OF
tbe few have been satisfied.