The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1944-09-07
Road Work
Only Awaits
End Of War
Officials Say Work
To Start on No. 2
When Hostilities Cease.
EVERYTHING READY
FOR CONTRACT LETTING

FOR CONTRACT LETTING
The end of the war is all that
is needed to start much highway ac-
tivity in this part of the state. That
assurance was given a group of
Libby men Tuesday when prorni-
nent highway officials visited this
section on an inspection trip.
Completion of No. 2 from Troy
to the Idaho state line is pro-
grammed and will be started as soon
as the green light is flashed follow
ing the war" said L. F. Martin of
Mlssoula, of the Public Roads Ad-
ministration.
The oiling of No. 81 from Libby
to the Jennings hill is programmed
and will be done Immediately after
the war. Much work on No. 2 is also
programmed and only awaits the
end of the war" said A. F. Wink
Ter of Kalispell, chairman of the
Montana state highway commits
sion.
While | can't say that we have
any work programmed for No. 2,
you can quote me as saying that
completion of No. from the Mon
tana line to the connection cas-. of
Boomers Ferry will have a very
high priority in our construction
plans following the war;" said J. D.
Wood, Director of Highways for
the state of Idaho Some discussion
was had concerning the policy being
followed here of leaving strips of
timber along the highway so as to
retain the natural beauty of the
highways. Mr.. Wood said in that
connection, i should also like to
say that | am heartily in favor OF
that plan and | shall try to sell it
to other Idaho officials. I should Ike
to see it adopted and put into OPP
Grafton along the highways in
Idaho"
Important Men in Party
Mr.. Winkler had previously writ
ten to this newspaper that the pur-
pose of the trip was to convince the
Public Roads Administration Of the
vital necessity of completing the
highway through this part of Mon
tana and Idaho In Chairman Wink
ler's party was L. F. Martin of the
Public Roads Administration; Ma
jor Evan ]. Kelley, regional forester
of the National Forest Service; j
D. Wood, Director of Highways for
the State of Idaho, and Ray Spur
zem of Kalispell, district engineer
Of the Montana State Highway
Commission.
Arrangements had been made by
Walter Neils, chairman of the high
way committee of the Libby Com
mercial club, to entertain the visit
ing officials at luncheon served at
The Caboose. Other local men pl es-
ent at the luncheon were County
Commissioners Klinke, Mahoney
and Hoisington; Merrill Tester
president of the Libby Commercial
club; George Neils, Ray Veldman
and Charles D. Rowe of Libby and
D. F. FeWkes of Troy.
Gives Much Information
Considerable time was spent in an
informal discussion of highway mat
tiers, all Of it contingent on the end
ing of the war. Mr.. Winkler gave a
great deal Of highly interesting in
formation respecting the plans the
highway commission has in mind
These plans provide for a great deal
of construction throughout Mon
tana. Some of it will be new con-
struction; much of it will be recon-
struction of present highways. work
that it has not been able to keep
up during the war. These plans are
intended to dovetail in with ether
activities so as to help provide
work during the slump that is ex-
pected to follow the cessation of war
activity.
Large sums of federal money are
available for matching by the state
said Mr.. Winkler. The state has
some money for the matching OF
those funds but not enough to take
advantage of all the funds that are
now available. There is also i'm
portant legislation now pending in
congress that will have an impress
sive effect on the highway pro-
gram in Montana. The state high
way commission is watching this
legislation very carefully and wher
it is finally enacted, the commission
will take steps to take advantage Of
whatever cooperative plan it sets
up.
Legislation Needed
To do this will require additional
legislation by the Montana legis
lature, stated Mr.. Winkler, and i
will undoubtedly be necessary II
authorize the sale of more highway
bonds in order that federal fund.
may not be lost to the state high
way program. This newspaper cx
poets to 60 into that in more de,
tail as the time for action draw.
nearer.
After their stop in Libby, tn.
highway officials drove on to Tro,
and Boomers Ferry for a furthel
inspection of the route and to NEE
nthot 1rco1 vV,ov, vrybo aro ,t,torocfo<