Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-09-10
Forest, FederalIy-BuiIt Roads
Are Important Part of System
Says Engineer McKinnon

I tage Of each type now IN need OF q
undermining reconstruction, the neces-
sity for which win be demonstrated IN
later article.
we have in Montana. Glacier nation
al park entirely within the state, and
also a portion Of Yellowstone national
park, the roads Of both being entirely
under the Jurisdiction Of the national
government. Financing Of both con-
struction and maintenance OF these
roads is provided in annual appropr1-
ations by the congress, expended under
the primary authority Of the secretary
Of the interior through his bureau. the
national park service. BY cooperative
inter-bureau agreement, the engineer
ing and administration Of construction
is delegated TO the bureau Of public
roads, while the maintenance Is ma
tional park service function Roads
wholly within national park boundaries
are no concern Of the highway commits
sion although they are Of immense
value to the state. There are, however,
some roads outside the park boundaries
where cooperation exists in some de-
gree.
The Red Lodge-Cooke City entrance
to Yellowstone park consists of federal
aid and forest highway projects from
Red Lodge to a point close below
Richel Lodge, and this portion is now
a responsibility Of the state. From this
point on, over the plateau, through
Wyoming and back through Montana
to the northeast entrance TO the park, |
the road was constructed and is now
being maintained through special ap-
preparation administered by the bureau
of public roads.
East Of Glacier national park and
49,
the south to the Canadian boundary,
including also a stub from Kennedy
creek junction to the park line, we
have the Blackfeet and the Chief
mountain highways. The original con-
struction of this mileage was accom-
plished by the state under federal aid
but due to its particular importance
as an approach TO the park, cooper
alton has been established which re-
ieves the state of the responsibility
'or maintenance and places that func-
ion under the supervision and financ-
ng Of the national park service. AS
constructions become necessary, their
financing will undoubtedly become sub
ect TO cooperative action.
Since the appropriation for the fiscal
'ear 1888, the congress has provided
mall sums for Indian reservation high
Ways to be administered by the secre-
airy Of the interior under his bureau
4 Indian affairs. Some improvements
lave been effected and more are con-
emplated. These funds are spent en-
rely within Indian reservation boun-
laries and are designed to be Of SER
ice principally to the Indian popula-
ion. Up to this writing, owing to the
united funds and the short period over
yhich they have been available, there
as been little effect on the state road
ystem. It is believed, however, that i,
his type Of construction viii tend to l
slieve the highway commission Of the I
for some Of the secondary Z
pad construction in counties having 1
lrge areas Of Indian reservation lands, =
nus acting for the benefit Of the 5
,ate as a whole.
This and previous articles have treat
1 mainly on the general organization 7
I the primary highway systems. Our :
ext will deal with the how and why !
the present road conditions. h