The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-01-23
Road Patrol
Effective In
Saving Lives
Member Of State Highway
Commission Talks to
Libby Audience.
TROY DELEGATION
ATTENDS MEETING

L. n. Croonenberghs of Missoul
member OF The Montana state hiahwa
commission, and H, c. Tilzey, divisio
engineer, visited Libby last Thursda
to inspect the work being done sout
OF the city. While here they were homo
guests at dinner given at Turner CAT,
under the censorship of w. F. KENT:
chairman of the highway committee q
the Lions club, and at which Their
were dozen or more other Libb.
men present.
W.T. Croonenberghs was asked for
few remarks at the conclusion of Il
dinner and responded briefly. He ex
pressed his pleasure at meeting with
the Libby men but did not nave mucl
to offer in highway matters except tt
say that everything would be done &c
speed construction of No. 2 hiphwa,
through this section. Mr.. Tilzey ex-
pressed his pleasure at meeting with
extended but said everyone knew engi-
neers could not talk about highway
matters.
Describes State Patrol Work.
Following the dinner the two hirh-
way men and other members of tile
group adjourned to the regular month
ly meeting of the Libby Commercial
club to be held that evening in the citv
hail. There the president, A. M. Hoff-
man, presided and announced that as
a number of visitors were present. the
regular order of business would be
dispensed with There was present 0
delegation of Troy men, including p.
A. Peterson, Chas Smith, Glen Thorn.
A. A. Brooks and DR.. T. Walcott.
President Hoffman called on Mr..
Croonenberghs, who spoke at some
length on the work that is being done
by the state highway patrol The law
creating the patrol placed its manage
ment IN the state highway commission
and Mr.. Croonenberghs has been
named chairman of that work. He spoke
Of the S25,00O00O that had been spent
last year by tourists visiting Montana
and compared that income with the
s66, 900 900 spent in highway construc-
ion. The speaker said one big task
confronting the patrol is a campaign to
reduce deaths on the highways. He
'aid that with better highways and with
modern, highpowered cars, deaths are
certain to increase unless every pre-
caution is taken to lessen the fatalities.
-roonenberghs said the new highway
% the Fort Peck dam was good ex-
ample of this tendency, With the com
oletion Of that highway speeding cars
md drunken drivers resulted in Is
leaths within very short time, said
-roonenberghs That resulted in the
placing of patrolnan there, in strict
of the law and stiff penal
les. As consequence there has been
'nly one death on that highway in the
,ast six months, he said.
Brakes. Lights Tested
Mr. Croonenberghs stated he is now
on plan whereby all cars in
he state will be forced to have lights
md brakes tested at least once every
TX months When this is done, a
ticker will be issued to the owner
living the date when the examination
vas made. Anyone thereafter driving
car without sticker, or with de-
ective brakes or lights, will be ordered
IF the highways and fined The de-
ais of this plan have not yet been
wholly worked out, said the speaker,
,ut it is expected. that they will be
hortly.
The meeting was then thrown open
0 round-table discussion, when a
lumber Of questions were asked Com
missioner Croonenberghs. r. A. Peter
on of Troy went into considerable
highway history and of the promises
hat had been made. He thought gas
ak money ought to be spent on high
ways in forest lands Walter Neils read
etters from Major Kelley of the forest
ervice, in which Major Kelley objected
0 maintaining the four miles Of un-
completed highway west of Libby.
sroonenberghs said no one need worry
bout the maintenance provided the
crest service will build the road.
R. w. Snithberger told an incident
II two in which people who had wanted
0 visit this section. had been kept from
Icing SO because of the bad roads, and
hat some who had come said they
would not return until better highways
ire built A. A. Brooks Of Troy stated
lie had recently visited DR.. Harry Nc
iregor, the highway chairman in Great
Falls, that DR.. McGregor pledged him.
elf to work for the early completion
# highway No. 2 and asked Croonen-
oerghs to join the highway chairman
n that pledge.
Glen Thorn of Troy asked if the four
niles near Kootenai falls had been
raded in deal between the highway
commission ard the forest service. Mr..
-roonenberghs replied that such