Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-05-23

~ UGGED trails which now pro-
vide natural roller coaster will
~ be plowed under OF barricaded
II u to make way for what promises
to be one of Montana's most
scenic drives over the hardrock roof of
the precipitous rimrocks protecting the
north side Of Billings.
Enclosed by gaping Beartooth noun
tains to the west and crestfallen Pry-
ors to the south, colorful view OF the
capital Of the Midland Empire with
the treacherous Yellowstone river wind
ing its way In the background will
present itself to motorists travelling
the scenic drive skimming the outer
edge Of the tan-colored rimrocks.
More than $50 works progress adj
ministration employees under the gen.
eral supervision of Art Lever. Yellow
stone county road supervisor, are labor
ing five days each week on the road
project which is expected to be open
for travel by the first Of June pro-
yiding that progress made so far con-
tinueS.
The scenic drive will extend from
the Billings Rod and Gun clubhouse
to Billings municipal airport. a dis
lance Of one and a half miles, and is
routed over or near such historic points
as Boothiu cemetery, where lie colorful
figures of the old west, directly over
Kelly mountain where hundreds Of In
dams with small poX were once buried
past the monument of Cowboy-Actor
William Bill" Hart In addition to
continuous view Of the broad expanSe
of the rich Yellowstone valley.
A 6O-foot right Of way has been OBJ
tanned for construction Of the highway
Little construction will be necessary in |
some stretches as the Wind-blOwn tops
OF the rimrocks provide natural road !
bed. Gravel and oil viii be applied to !
the surfaces.
highway on the mile and q half area. |
The road will be fool-proof and give |
reckless motorists no opportunity to
hurdle the guard rail and crash down !
the steep sides of the hard sandstone /
hills, 1t was said.
Three tons of dynamite viii be used
to remove hazardous rocks and other
possible distractions. In the major
stretch the road will be cut from hard
rock which will form a unique siding
at many points.
Fortunately, the sandstone formation
Is IN precise strata form and workmen
are able to break most of the layers
with pick and ak. After the layers are
looSened, the pieces are placed at the !
outer side Of the road to build up the
All hand labor, no machines what
soever, is being used to construct the
drive. 1t is one of the few WPA prof.
ectS which afford such opportunity Of
employment of the greatest number
with no outlay for mechanical costs.
The project is part of the $345,000 all
county road program recently approved
by federal, state and local district WPA
officials.
A six percent grade will be the steep
est incline on any part of the highway
With the greater portion to be con-
;tructed on almost level ground, even
1ownhin in some points, while travel
ng toward the airport.
The new drive will be far from the
course of the old airport road which
vas impossible on several occasions
before the new Twenty Seventh street
airport drive was constructed. The new
highway win swing around in front of
he Billings Rod and Gun club, past
he historic Boothiu cemetery where
everal western raScalS and heroes"
we're buried with their boots on. After
)assing the cemetery the road will take
wide swing and then start the ascent
lp TO the top of the rims. A wide area
will be improved at the start of the
scent so that there will be sufficient
DOM to turn around in case the driver
Mould desire TO return to the airport 1
" the new road.
First historic point after the ceme-
cry win be Kelly mountain. On the top i
4 the mountain is monument mark
ng the grave of Capt. Luther S. Vel
owstoneb Kelly who for many years
7as scout along the Yellowstone river.
When in Billings shortly before his
cath, he selected what was then Skele-
on mountain as his final resting place.
In addition to the Kelly monument, 1
he mountain holds an interest beyond
be scope of one individual For legend
as it, In the early SOS, scores of In
ianS suffering from smallpox were
uried nondescriptly at the top of the
noI.
From Kelly mountain, one may look
cross the Yellowstone valley and see !