The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-01-23
Dr.. mcGrcgor, Commission Chairman,
Says Every Effort Will Be Expended
Toward Accomplishing That Objective
Gives Assurance to Libby Men in Private Conference and
Makes Same Statement Before Public Gathering at
Kalispen Meeting Modern Oiled Highway to Idaho
State Lne-Hopes to Have It Finished by June. 1887

; Libby men prior to the meeting. Dr.
, McGregor made the above promise anc
later stated the same thing at the oper
meeting of the chamber of commerce
. AS chairman of the commission. I viii
leave TO stone unturned for the early
completion of the project stated DR.
McGregor
There is to be joint meeting OF
bureau OF public roads officials, the
forestry department, and the highway
commission in Great Falls, soon" said
Dr. McGregor and we will endeavor
to get the forest service to agree to
complete the sections through the for
ests on Highway No. q In February
am going to Washington and will en-
deavcr to get the money to finish the
uncompleted section of No. 2 to the
Idaho line, and hope to get it under
contract this year As chairman of the
commission | will leave no stone IN
turned for the early completion OF this
project"
In conversation with the Libby men
DR.. McGregor said that conference
would be held with forest service Of
ficials on January g and that he hoped
arrangements would be made whereby
the forest service would assume the
building Of the four miles of uncom-
pleted highway west Of Libby and also
three additional miles at the west end
of the Kootenai Falls project He felt
confident this would be done He also
said to the Libby men he believed it
would be possible to secure sufficient
funds to complete the entire highway
from Kalispell to the Idaho line by
June, 1887, including the building Of
all bridges and the surfacing and oiling
Of the entire distance.
Large Attendance.
Nearly two hundred were In attend
ance at the Kalispell meeting and Lib
by men speak highly of the entertain
ment provided. Guests were present
from Whitefish, Columbia Falls,
Eureka, Libby, Bigfork, and the East
Lake Shore.
After DR.. McGregor had been in
troduced by George Lanstrum, chair
man Of the Kalispell highway COM
mittee, the doctor paid warm tribute
to the late S. M Logan who, he said,
had done more than any other man in
this section of the state in the interest
of highways. DR. McGregor then
continued.
THE members Of the Commission
feel that they should carry out the
promises Of the late Governor Cooncy,
who often stressed the necessity for an
adequate road program in this section
of the state
During the fiscal year ending on
June 80, next, the state will have re-
ceived in federal funds and gas tax
revenue approximately 100000, and
our great task is to get this large sum
placed under contract. After six
months work the highway department
ranks first Of any state in the Union
In the amount of highway money placed
under contract This is under three
divisions--first, federal aid money and
gas tax revenue, which goes on con-
dnually; second, appropriations for
feeder roads, and, third, grade crossing
am particularly in
terested in the latter as it will be a
More people have been killed on the
highways than in all the wars in which
his country ever engaged, and this
slaughter must be reduced to
minimum Last year the commission
spent $4,000 to place the white line
IN the center of the highways, the
purpose being to keep people on the
right side Of the road and reduce
hazards"
To Let Contracts.
DR.. McGregor also said that on jan
lary "a contract would be let for a
project known as Marion West, an
1ther one in the Manicke section, and
t is hoped to finish the uncompleted
sections on to Libby.
DR.. McGregor was accompanied to
he meeting by D. A. McKinnon, engi-
1eer of the highway commission, and
also present were IL l. Croonenberghs,
of the commission, and H. G.
rilzey, division engineer.
Later in the evening John Sherman
If Kalispell also paid tribute to Sidney
NJ. Logan. He said the Anaconda Cop
per company had donated 20 acres
1ear Thompson lakes for memorial
ute and would furnish copper plaque
Tor the memorial monument.
DR.. McGregor gave. very interest
ing and detailed report on highway
matters and there were many other
speakers at the meeting, but the news
the early completion Of
highway No. 2 is thu news Of o,ltstand-