The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1947-02-27
Lions Discuss
Streets, And
Hi-Wdy Work
Expect Completion of New
Highway Section West of
Troy During 1947
LIBBY HAS 20 MILES
STREET MAINTENANCE

Discussion at the Monday even
ing meeting of the Libby Lions wa
largely devoted to highway an,
street conditions and finances
Ihrty-three members and thre,
guests were present when Lior
PRESIDENT Barkee, introduced Pan
church as chairman of the meet
ing. Preceding the introduction 81
the program chairman, Lion Hi
Stearns, chairman of the Bow Scoui
Board, and Lion Clark Hanor. Lib.
by Scoutmaster made interesting re-
ports on local Scouting conditions
Lion Church reported that a re-
cent meeting had been called by
". !. M Cairns to discuss the pro-
posed new hospital for Libby and
community. 1t was the consensus
OF the meeting that it might prove
feasible for the new hospital to be
sponsored as a community institu-
uon, supported to a considerable
extent by popular subscription from
individuals and community organi-
cations as well as by large bust
ness firms in the community. The
speaker added that as a community
hospital, it would be open for tha
use OF al. physicians in the com
munity.
Libby and South Lincoln County
now have the lowest percentages If
hospital beds per capita of anv com
Inunlty of similar population in
Montana, the hospital beds here
totaling 2.3 to each thousand ponu-
!atlon. The proposed new hospital
IS to have 35 beds, and the insti-
tuition will cost about $4,000 ner
room, making an overall cost of
approximately $125,OOO to $3.50 600
Tor the construction of the plant
There are about 5000 people in the
Libby-Troy locality.
It was proposed that the Ijbbv
Lions sponsor the project. taking
charge of the financial drive and
other preliminary plans. Following
Lion Church's report the mattsT
was discussed, and the Lions de-
cided to take further time for COR
SHERATON of the plan, which will
again be brought before the club /
At meeting IN the near future.
Lion Smithberger of the Roads
committee was asked for a report 1
regarding possible road work in t
Lincoln county during l947. The I
has interviewed members l
II the Montana Highway Commits u
lon during the past few weeks. S
ND learned that plans are in the L
topper for the completion of u. S. a
70. on west from Troy, either 10
he Idaho State line or to within Z
wo miles of that point, pending r.
possible relocation of No. 2 across II
boundary county, Ida. It is the IN m
erstanding of the committee that al
he work will include oiling of the
ew road Prospects are not ia II
orable for receiving much work OF
uring the current year on Mon M
lna-37 running from Libby to Rex u
)rd, where 1t connects with "black- %
,p" extending to u S. SO just north 70
Eureka. The Rexford bridge IN
cross the Kootenai is however, a IN
disability for this year. ma
Dexter Shauretteg who was pres :.
1t last week at the annual meet sc
g of the Montana State Chamber a a
Commerce formerly Montanans -
lc.) in Butte stated that repre- -
from the State Highway -'''
Irr,
am, expressed the opinion there e.
ouId be no new highway projects ~,
ldertaken during the present year, ~ 80
ID that the department lacks two ~
lllion dollars of having sufficient to-
nds in sight for the completion c.
present projects and needed main ~
nance of the existing 5000 miles
primary and 1000 miles of sec HA
dairy highways in the state. PL
Lion Church in conversation with
embers of the Highway Commits :,
n, was informed it would re- WI
ire an approximate $4,000 to re- 20
lid and resurface California Ave. Idi
I'M the viaduct, south to its in ocI
section with u S. 2 on 9th St. Tea
; work to include storm sewers :.
ich should be included in such IN Una
project. Church also stated that o ~
city has an approximate total of any
miles of streets to maintain with iaIl
gross income from the present hdI
Y road levy, which raises a total 70
Sc, 900 for street improvement and oIH
intenance. Highway authorities t4Il
i'm their cost per mile for main pa.
ance is $500, plus snow removal A
t. The speaker called attention to {
the fact that applying this same by
t rate to maintaining the city's be
miles of street, many of which big
Give far heavier traffic than you
hway use, leaves little for new
let projects and Improvements. V.
the discussion on streets y
highways the club instructed Vet
secretary to request the city thei
neil to ask the State Highway mgr
1artment to take over the re- aeee
structiop of Montana 81 along zati
routing on California Avenue will
vas announced at the conclusion IL
the meeting that r,nr,r rnnr,nhrr.- -