Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-05-06
Montana Feeder Air Lines
Sought by State Chamber

Recommendations for establish
ment of a $150,000 corporation to
finance feeder air lines in Montana
and a $10,500 tourist advertising
budget were adopted at the annual
meeting of Montanans, Inc, the
state Chamber of Commerce held
recently at Helena. Other commit
tee recommendations adopte d
pledged continued support and CO.
! operation with the national recla-
nation association; continued activity
IN protecting and safeguarding Mon
tana water rights; education of the
! people Of Montana regarding the states
I recreational, industrial and similar adj
4 yantages, and additional field effort
4 to increase the membership Of the
state chamber and its motor division,
the Montana Automobile association.
Secretary Ferguson reported the
state chamber will continue to work
for adequate appropriations for grass
hopper and Mormon cricket control
campaigns. He said Montana suffered
a $6,OOO,OOO loss from insect damage
last year.
Advertising Is Productive
His report said national advertising
has proven most productive" in bring
ing tourists to the state.
President Rowe, IN his annual report.
said the organizations financial con-
dition had improved during the past
year and Montanans, Inc, Is now vir-
tually out Of debt He called attention /
70 10 percent increase in member /
ship during 1888
The Importance Of Montana's learn
ing to live upon her own resources (
without depending upon outside help
was emphasized by three speakers, D.
p. Fabrick, Choteau, q member of the
Montana Water Conservation board:
Fred Bennion, Helena, executive secre-
tary Of the Montana Taxpayers asso-
citation, and Don A. McKinnon, chief
state highway engineer.
Sounding warning on the develop
ment Of water conservation, Febrick
declared this state must guard against
downstream" monopolization Of Mon
tana's water rights.
Development Of dams downstream
on the Missouri river may lead to
jurisdictional claims" he said, adding
this Is a. very serious and very i'm
mediate danger.
Must Fight for Rights
Montana must fight for her water
tights"
He said Montana's future taxation
init rests largely upon the develop !
nent Of new land through irrigation
md reclamation, and declared Mon
anas greatest need at the present Is {
he correlation Of her land develop I
nent and water use problems. {
Bennion said "the time Is coming I
Vhen we must get along on our own b
esources," and pointed out that pro- {
ram Of federal spending could not
sustain business in this
r any other state.
Montanas big tax problem, he said, {
enters around the fact that while =
opulation and tax valuations have Y
1runk administrative costs Of govern
lent have increased. =
To Illustrate this point he said taxes
n Montana business have increased
10000, 900 during the past 10 years. fl
q 1920, he said, taxes ON Montana OF
1siness totaled $40 400 900, but by n
,38. had increased 10 &29. 100000 Ct
Reconstruction Of Roads v
Mcktnnon told the delegates this u
ate must pay more attention to re- al
'nstructing roads. -
"A reconstruction program Is never -
,pular," he said, "for there are al IN
avs demands upon the highway COM
iSsion to build new roads. However,
liess we take care Of our present high
avs on the heaviest traffic sections.
U only source Of revenue viii be cut
I and It win be impossible to build
her routes for public service" III
James III. Rowe Of Butte was reflect
llliarn c.. Ferguson of Helena was
ain named secretary-manager
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