Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-08-26
BUILD TOURIST
TRADE, IS PLEA
INCREASE IN TRAVEL is NECES-
SARY TO EXPAND HIGHWAY
SYSTEM, SAYS ENGINEER
Only Source Remaining for Boosting
Revenue Necessary for Building
Roads State Needs, Commission Rep
resentative Says in Butte Address.

If Montana is to continue to ex-
pand its highway system and to
maintain its roads after building
them it must stimulate its tourist
patronage, D. A. McKinnon, chief
engineer of the state highway
commission, told the members of
the Butte Rotary club in a recent
address. McKinnon, who was the
chief speaker, said that additional
revenue must be obtained if more
roads are to be built because the main
tenance demands increase with the
mileage.
To Increase the gas tax, he said was
out of the question. The only source
of revenue that can be levied on is
tourist travel. He recommended the
establishment of tourist agency de-
attractions for the promotion OF IN
creased travel and a longer stay in
the state by the travelling public.
Some 10 years ago there were only
10 miles Of improved highway in Mon
tana, McKinnon said. Today there are
4,700 miles which cost 500 100000. Hav-
ing been built, the next step is main
JClld4CC. II Ol1C o1l0 d highway
be rebuilt every 10 years ne would not
be far from the truth, the speaker
said. But, assuming that the road must
be rebuilt every 80 years, 1t means
that 1I30th of the highway will have
to be built each year. In the past 10
years the commission has been re-
building only so miles year.
Many Highways Needed
IF we keep on building highways
and there are many parts of the
state where highways are needed" he
said, "our repair bill viii grow also
and unless additional revenue Is OBJ
tanned our highway system will be-
come obsolete. The only source Of rev.
enue is the increase in tourist travel
and in the longer stay of the tourists |
within the borders of Montana. If pop |
llation increases as the highway sys-
tenn expanded there might be remedy |
n that; but it does not"
The highway system has followed
'pay-as- you-go" system, he said. The |
only debt outstanding is the $4,000, 900 |
bond issue voted at the last election |
Very little of this money has been
spent, he said. Montana 1t must be
he said, is the third larg-
EST state in the Union, in point Of
and the 35th In point Of pop
llation. Montana Is more tourist con-
he least to promote tourist travel, he
iaid, notwithstanding the fact that it
s shown beyond question that the
jourists bring from SOS. 900 900 to $780,
100000 to the tills Of this state each
year.
The state highway system gets one
bird of the gas tax collected, he said,
rom tourists. Chambers of commerce
advertise and make appeals to tourist
rayel: Montanans, Inc, sends out
much advertising. The dude ranch as
makes it appeal but it is not
.nough. The communities must help.
IN agency for the promotion of tour
st travel must be put to work. We have
many appeals to the tourist sightseers
cenery- glaciers, geySers,
oreSts, nower-decked prairies, water
unmatched In any other
art of the world; hunting, fishing and
numerous other attractions. "But Mon
anans are the last to be sold on their
WIN state" he declared.
With tourists bringing In revenue
4 $50 900 900, he said, during three
lay visit, the sum could be raised to
40 100000 If they were sufficiently at
racted to spend four days within the
tate, he said. McKinnon said that
Ehile Montana had established a state
highway commission many years ago,
accomplished nothing until the gas
ak was voted.