The Sidney herald., 1956-07-12
Canada-U.S. Mexico Annual Highway
Meeting Held at Wbaux June q

Highway Commission planning
for an early completion of tht
road from Ekalaka to the Wyo-
ming line. Neither will it inter.
fere with the plans of the loca
counties of Wibaux and Richlanc
on their early construction of the
road from Wibaux to Sidney.
/ want to call your attention
to the fact that Wibaux county
did quite a lot of secondary roac
work on No. 7 south. Sena-
tor Hammond and myself appear
ed before the Bureau of Roads
and argued that this highway
connected two county seats, ano
two major highways, namely
Highways No. IL and No. 10. We
were granted this request. We
have a similar situation today.
In closing / want to thank al
of the men of Saskatchewan and
those on the United States side
Of the line for their sincere eff
forts and planning on this prof.
ect. 1t has been a real pleasure
to work with you.
Let us keep in mind that this
is the longest highway in the
world, and the only highway
serving 3 nations, from Hud-
son Bay to the country of Pana-
ma. -
Following is the address of
Fred Quinnell, Jr., Administra-
tive Engineer of the Montana
State Highway Commission, at the
annual convention of the Cana
dian-U. S.-Mexican Highway as
ISOLATION at Wibaux June %:
BY Fred Quinnell, Jr.
The problem of developing a
system of highways in Mon
tana has been an exceedingly
difficult one - not only because
of the vast area we must nee
essarily serve, but also because
Of the sparse population, result
ing in limited finances. Montana
is the third largest State in the
Union in area, with a little over
one-half million in population -
which is comparable to the popu-
lation of Seattle, Wn. To compli-
cate the situation even more, 1t
is traversed by the main range Of
the Rocky Mountains and nu-
merous other stable ranges,
making construction in a large
part of the state very costly.
In spite of all this, the high
way system of Montana has pro-
crossed from d few unimproved
trails in 1925 to a system COM
prising $685. miles of improved
primary and interstate highways
and 4,157 miles of secondary
roads constructed with joint Fed
eral and State funds.
1t has been a tremendous task,
and has been accomplished thru
an untiring and diligent effort
on the part of those who have
been the backbone of the high
way organization throughout all
the years, plus the whole-heart-
ed cooperation of the people of
Montana who, through their con-
slant endeavor to assist those in
The department, and their will
lngness to meet the financial
burden, have made all this pos
;ible.
Montana can be proud of her
-ecord, and should not feel in
'erior to any State in the Union.
It is with pride that l point out
hat we have more actual high
way betterment for each highway
lollar spent than 900 of the
States in the Union. That, in it
is an enviable record.
With reference to the highway
Improvement situation in the
EASTERN part of the state which
= after all - is of primary in
crest to this group, the Highway
Commission has at present APP
,roximately 1873 miles on the
urinary system and 58.2 miles of
he secondary system under con-
ract in the IL eastern counties.
addition to that, we plan on
approximately 200 miles
f the primary system and 225
of the secondary system I'M
.er contract within the next A.
ear period in this area. This, of
curse, does not include the Fed
raj interstate highway %construc-
ion program which - according
D present information will
Don become a reality.
In order to keep our highways
i line with present-day stand
rds, we will place approximately
5 major bridges and traffic sep
structures in service dur
the same 4-year period. These
CURES are - of course, tenta-
We, and subject to whatever adj
Istments or changes become
ecessary to meet our financial
In the state as a whole, it is
III plan to place between $18,-
10000 and $24, 900, 900 under
,ntract per year during the next
year period. This will be ex- ]
ended on the primary and the s
highway systems. The
lterstate program, which is re-
SO much consideration in
'ashington at the present time, {
i'll, in effect - double the pres
lily planned program.
We, of the highway depart 6
ent, are deeply sympathetic S
ward any group or organization 6
Ich as yours, which has as its t
m - Bigger and Better High
avs. You may be assured Of
lr whole-hearted support. 6
Legion lunior Ra.