The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-07-31
HIGHWAY


Continued from front page)
additions to the road program was
exposed by the Producers News at
Plentywood at the time of the de-
benture bond election, but was
scoffed at by the debenture sup
pOrters. The Producers News
stated at the time that these
amendments to the road program
had been promised and were the
basis of much support for the bond
issue which could not be justified
on the grounds of merit. 1t accus-
ed Tom Stout, editor of the Lew
istOwn Democrat of supporting the
infamous bond issue because of
personal and local interest, which
he reluctantly admitted and tried
laughingly to justify. The approx
al of the highway commission of
the power plant site bridge, and
the connecting roads is the fulfill
ing of the plan and promises made
when the debenture bond issue idea
was conceived.
Tom Stout acted in the state SEN
ate as an "honary" senator from
Fergus county during the last ses-
sion. 1t is obvious that his chief
business there was looking after
road interests of Lewistown and
the putting over of the debenture
bonds and very little else.
Project Contingent
The power plant road project is
so far as the highway commission
is concerned, contingent on the ap-
preparation of 100000 by -four
counties most directly concerned
The amounts each of the counties
agreed to contribute are: Hill, S10,-
900; Phillips, $4,000; Blaine, $685.
900; and Fergus $4,000. These
contributions, no doubt will have t.
be submitted to the voters in the
four counties for their approval be.
fore the money can be appropriate
ed by the different boards of coun,
ty commissioners, and if the plaI
should fail to carry in any one
county the whole project will fall
However, the good road boosters
will undertake to take care of thai
detail. The money provided b!
each county amounting to $100,00t
from the four counties, will b,
turned over to the highway com
mission to be used in matching fed
eral aid money or about $120,O0O
thus providing 100000 for thi
l work from the counties and tn
, federal government. The state an,
: federal government will provid
! the rest of the money, the amour
of which, or the states share,
;: still a secret between Tom Stou
! and state highway commission. TIL
s money used on this addition to tn
: original road program, and tn
n "scenic central trail" which wi
: be made shortly, will be mono
e that should go to the completion {
e the original program, which it
e now conspired not to build at al
l. :. Rsute of New Road
The road which will utilize til
= new bridge will run from Malt
1, southwest to the river and then
= point to be determined on tt
l. Custer Battlefield highway. Wit
= designation of this road and al
IS thorization of the bridge, SentC
:. Tom Stout of Lewistown told Il
Is commission, commissioners of Fe
re gust, Sweet Grss and Wheatlar
It. counties will construct a standa1
lie highway from Big Timber to Lev
n istown, which will connect Wi
" the new state road. He EXPRESS
Or belief the action would result in {
IN all-year road from Big Timber (
De the Yellowstone Trail to Malta (
TX the Roosevelt highway.
is The highway commissions DEF
sion was reached after a lengtl
:. conference with a dozen represe
is tatives of the counties intereste
at headed by Senator Stout, Senat
all Harry A. Shelver of Livingston a
tn Ben Nelson fromer representa-
it. from Phillips county.
re- -. Numerous Delegations
ok Numerous other delegates, ma
he from the northern and caste
in sections of the state, were befO
IA the highway commission demar
Ter ing the making good" on t
ill promises the highway commissi
had made in the campaign to
over the six million dollar debel
an ure bond issue.
as Tomorrow the commission v
on omen bids on about $1,OOO,OO0
d. road construction projects, to
en-, paid for by the issue of the fl
vii million dollars worth of the
I'D benture bonds authorized at
vii snecial election on May 9Th. Tw
en- tv delegates, majority of tn
his from Madison county, and the 7
he from Jefferson county and But
To- asked the commission 10 amt
nct and add to projected and appro1
OK state-federal highway systems, {
ers section of the Vigilante trail lie
me mo from the Yellowstone Il
an near Butte to Virginia City
all Twin Bridges and Sheridan.
mn Sen. M. M. Duncan of Virgi
or Citv was spokesman for the gro
ae- He related the historical sign
- e Gha troll IN HE hest r