Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1930-08-21

and Plains put on the seven per cent
system. Kalispell was not particularly
Interested in this road but its neigh
bors wanted it and Kalispell en-
dorsed IL.
Within the last three days a meeting
was held at Bigfork to ask that the
east shore road be put on the seven
per cent system Most of this road is |
in Lake county. If constructed it will
give a direct and short line from Mis-
soula to the western entrance OF Gla-
cier National Park, meaning that a !
large part of the north and south travel
will not get within 10 miles of kalis-
pel. whereas if that road were not
modernized the travel would be on the
west shore of Flathead Lake and every
north and south car would be COM
PEELED to travel through Kalispell. Not
withstanding this situation and this
disadvantage to the business interests
of Kalispell, that town, knowing that
the road would be great benefit to
its neighbors in Lake county and on
the east shore of Flathead Lake, has
heartily endorsed the movement.
When the movement started to have
the section of road between Libby and
| Rexford put on the seven per cent
system. not one word of protest or OBJ
lection came from Kalispell. We were
glad to see our neighbors get all they
could, and we were glad to know that
more and better roads would be built
| in Lincoln county.
It has been said that the movement
to put the Manicke-Trout Creek Sec
ton on the seven per cent system orig
/ mated in Kalispell. This statement is
absolutely and unqualifiedly false. The
plan originated with the bureau of
public roads or some other source, and
! as to its endorsement the highway
committee Of Kalispells Chamber Of
Commerce was dvided-some favoring
it and some being opposed As to this
road neither the opposition or sup
port of Kalispel would cut the slightest
figure. It is q part of the national pro-
gram of road building, having in view
distant terminals such as Spokane and
St. Paul, and as to this policy local
| considerations have little weight and
. this is as it should be- Federal aid
money is derived from taxes paid by
the tax payers of the United States
. at large, and they have and should
: have something to say about the main
, transcontinental roads,
: Our neighbors in western Lincoln
5 county have this assurance however
. from the present road committee Of
Kalispells Chamber of Commerce, that
it will not actively or otherwise ask
for or endorse any plan or movement
; that will call for the construction Of
! the Manicke-Trout Creek road until
t the road from Libby to Troy has beer
/ finisheded in its entirety. Whether oul
7 endorsement or lack of endorsement
7 will cut any figure or not, we do no
. know, but for what 1t is worth west
/ ern Lincoln County may rely on thu
: above assurance.
Lately it has been charged that Kali
9 ispell is directing traffic away IRON
t Libby. This charge is made out o
r whole cloth so far as this communit,
: is concerned. It maybe that here ant
n there some garage employee has made
S the statement that the Thompson
J, Falls road is in better condition, bu
S this does not In any sense reflect III
Il attitude Of Kalispell. Kalispell, NOR
: than anyother town in the district
a has advocated and boosted the Kal
ispell- Libby road by way OF Happy
: Inn. II has fought for that road wheI
! other towns were in active opposition
: or indifferent It will continue to figh
g for that road until it is completed
VI The news constantly drifts into Kal
e ispell that the people in Libby are di
e recting traffic around through tn
a Kootenai canyon. To this we have pal
" no attentioh-we have made no com
h plant II Libby thinks tbs canyon rna
y is the best road, that is its affair, an
le we know that while there may be som
d people in Libby who are antagonist
,r to Kalispell, we do believe the Libb
people as a whole do not entertain an
l. such sentiment and are not to be hel
ID responsible for the acts of individu;
N members Of the community
N This statement was prepared at som
> pains. It is probably the last word thu
to Kalispell will have to say in its ow
If defense on this question OF roads.
as If after reading this statement ar
as travelling over the roads in and OF
Of Of Kalispell, any Individual believe
ne that this town has been selfish in Il
e. matter of road construction, then u
re case OF that individual is hopeless ar
we will be utterly Indifferent as to h
he views his friendship, his prejudice, h
ok support or his antagonism. II you hal
g. pen to be one of these critics, we az
st wise you to familiarize yourself Wi
We the road situation and road history
lie this section of the country.
at You can get unpreiudiced testimo'
tv from men whose business its has be-
to be familiar with the road histo
ms ~ Northwestern Montana, such as
o. 3. Brink of Libby and Frank z. Gar