The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1948-09-02
.HighwdyCorn.
Discusses How
To Raise Funds

The tourist business is the sec
ond largest one in Montana, and
every care should be taken to de-
velop and encourage that business, -
stated one of the speakers at the
highway meeting in Helena last Sat
urday. II IS estimated that visiting
tourists left Sl00,000,0 900 in Montana
| during the 1947 season. Every in
dication is that that large sum will
be exceeded this year as present
tourist travel is very heavy.
That was only one of the many
highway problems that faced the
statewide committee that was called
together by Governor Sam c. Ford
to study ways and means of pro-
ducing more money for the build
ing and maintenance of highways m
this state, said Charles D. Rowe
while talking over what had been
done at the meeting with a West
.ern News reporter The governor
had appointed six men from each
of the IL highway districts of the.
state to study those problems and
make recommendations for neces-
sary legislation TO be placed before
the next Legislature Mr.. Rowe was
one of that group and attended the.
meeting in Helena.
A Fine Attendance
Fifty-one men from all parts OF
the state took time out from their
own affairs to attend the meeting,
which was considered a very good
attendance out of possible seventy
two Governor Ford called the
meeting to order and stated briefly
why he had named the committee
and called the men together He
said the problem of properly fl
nancing construction and mainte-
nance Of Montana highways is one
of the largest and most difficult in
the state at this time He pointed
out that more funds must be raised
If Montana is to continue TO develop
and maintain a modern system OF
highways, and if the state is TO be
able to match federal funds that
are and will be available The gov
ernor said the state is growing in
agriculture is develop
ing new industries are coming, re-
creational facilities must be de-
veloped The highway department
needs more money to keep the high
ways in step with this overall state
wide development.
Governor Ford discussed the pres
ent financial status of the highway
as did also Scott Hart,
chief engineer of the highway de-
partment. said Mr.. Rowe They
both pointed out that the state will
have sufficient funds to match fed
eral money that had been allocated
10 the state by the 1914 federal act.
This would be for a period of two
additional years AT the end Of
hat time Montana funds would be
insufficient to match additional fed
rial funds that would become avail
lble under a federal act of this year.
The state Will need an additional
0 million dollars to match Is mil
ion dollars Of federal money. This,
aid Hart. would provide funds for
highway development program for
hat are still available, for a pro-
aise the states additional $4,000,
90 IS what will be asked of the
ext legislature, said Rowe.
Committee Organizes
The committee chose H. 0. Bell
I MlSSOula as permanent chairman.
was then decided to name an
Executive committee composed Of
ne member from each of the IL
nancial districts of the state, the
from each district
} name their member for the ex-
cutive committee The members
rom District No composed of
lincoln, Flathead and Lake coun-
es, named J. NJ Carey of Kalis-
ell to represent this district on
le executive committee Members
resent from this district were Mr..
arey of Kalispell, Roy Arnold Of
'hitefish, Homer Mccullough Of
ureka Harold Gwynn of Poison,