The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1947-05-01
Highway Head
Spoke Thurs
Eve in Libby
Federal Funds are being
Cut in Half for Highway
Construction This Year
MONTANA HAS FUNDS
READY FOR u. S. NO. 2

AGFAO OAs ~ - W.
Libby citizens who are interested
in Lincoln county highways, learned
much Thursday evening OF last
week, when Fred Theme, regional
forestry highway director, and Al
Winkler, chairman of the Montana
Highway Commission, addressed the
local Chamber members and others
including visitors from Troy. Bon
ners Ferry and KalispeIl
The road meeting was held by the
roads committee of the Chamber.
consisting of Walter Neils, chair
man; w. G. Guernsey, Chas. D.
Rowe, George Wood, r. w. Smith
berger, and r. R. Veldman. Fol
lowing a fine dinner, served by the
Presbyterian ladies in the High
School gymnasium, the l25 mem
bers and guests adjourned to the
New Central School building where
the program of the evening was
held.
President Paul Church, after call
ing the assembly to order, an
nounced that the Forestry COM
mittee will hold its meeting in May.
The meeting was then turned over
to Mr.. Neils, who introduced the
first speaker of the evening, Fred
Theme, who stated that 1916 was
the first postwar year for forest
road construction. It has proved a
disappointment on account of re-
ceiving far less federal funds than
had been anticipated. This present
year, Mr.. Theme added, will see
less than one-half of the funds
forthcoming that have been prom
lsed and are sorely needed.
Theme also told the group that
The highway work west from Troy,
including building and oiling to-
~ ithin-t4Ga- miles of the Idaho boz
der, has been programmed, and os
soon as federal money is available
will be pushed to completion. Tne
highway may follow a new routing
through Idaho to Boomers Ferry. A
proposed routing which may be
used, follows along the river from
Leonia, crossing the Moyie River
below the present bridge, near the
rivers mouth. Cost of constructing
this new route is estimated at ST.,
100000 If this location is used, Il
will cut off and save motorists five
miles from the present routing.
Next year work is expected to be-
gin on this new route and viii
progress to within couple of miles
from the new Moyie Bridge. How
ever, it will take three or four
years to complete the highway I'M
less Idaho gets behind it with state
aid and federal project.
Following Mr.. Themes talk,
questions were asked, and Mr. Ny
strom of Bonner Ferry was called
upon for remarks. The gentleman |
from Idaho stated that people in
Boomers Ferry are highly interested |
in the welfare and future of U. S. 2; |
that they will do everything in their |
power to push the highway and help !
it in obtaining its just dues. Mr.. |
Nystrom also stated it is a regret
table fact that tourists coming west !
through Kalispell, are urged to 81
south and take Alternate 10 wesT.
rather than to come On over U ).
through Libby, Troy and Bon
ners Ferry.
j AL Winkler, chairman of the
Montana Highway Board, was then
called upon. He stated that last
December 20, u. S. 2 which in the
past, after travelling from the New
England states west, and losing its
identity on merging with u. S. 30
near Boomers Ferry, was designated
as u. S. No. 2 clear on west to
Everett, Wash, Alternate 10 now
out at Sand Point. He also
stated that there is fund of $780,
600 waiting to complete the last
two niles west to the Idaho State
Line as soon as Idaho can see its
way to begin construction on west
from the Border.
The Highway Head criticised
Congress for falling down in fed
eral allotments for highway con-
struction, and added that the pres
ent season will see the smallest ap-
preparations fer highway constr &c
ton in Is years. He ADDED that the
federal government receives an
nually from gasoline taxes, and
taxes on autos and automobile &C
cessories, $3.50, 100000. but is only
putting about $150,000,000 back in
to highway work. Montsna has a
So, 500, 900 maintenance fund this
year, bat it also has 1900 miles Of
primary highways that ere in pJOr
condition.
The federal government is ail0c 4
tihg 10000 ln,ies of inter-regio AL
(n1ilitary) highways, ana will prob
ably insist hat great share Of Its
funds be earmarked for these roa Is.
u S. 2 has rot been designated rs
ar inter-regional high way.
The state department is not at
II mpting to let many contracts at
the present sine on account of the
scarcity of matching funds, and also
on account of the. high cost of labor
and construction. The new Rexford
bridge over the Kootenai is tenn
porarily out Of the picture on ac-
count Of the lack of steel, and the
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