The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1957-12-12

When asked why the Meriwea.
Their road. which has been pro.
grammed for over two years.
could not be surveyed in its en-.
tirety. Brown stated that the con
struction funds must be in sight
and Immediately available as the
state already had completed too
many surveys on roads on which
the lack of funds made construc.
ton impossible.
Shortly after making this state.
ment Brown suggested that a
survey be made on the 400 miles
of Indian Bureau road above the
radar station, even though it has
not been turned over to the
county or programmed.
This suggestion brought about
somewhat heated debate be.
tween the attorneys represent.
ing the two groups in relation to
moral and legal obligations. Mr..
Huppe. representing the Brown.
ing-Meriweather delegation. con.
tending that the 4.0e miles *.
question Is not eligible for con.
sideration until released by the
Indian Bureau and that serious
doubt exists As to whether or
not the Bureau would release
the road until the government
contract had been completed on
the % miles Of road southeast
of the radar station.
At this point Commissioner
johnson admitted that the Meri.
weather road was probably the
worst in the county during bad
weather. and that q probable SO.
luton would be grading and
crawling. The Meriweather dele.
CATION expressed satisfaction to
this proposal.
In connection with the last pro.
posal It was suggested that 10
miles Of the Meriweather road be
constructed. then the 4.O2 miles
above the radar base. after which
another 10 miles Of the Meri.
weather road would be complet.
ed. II was also suggested that the
road should be constructed now
while q greater share Of the right
OF way Is on Indian land. rather
than delay construction because
Of the fact that Indian ownership
Is passing rapidly to the white
man and federal aid diminishes
with the transfer Of the lands.
Brown suggested that the pro.
posal might be . possible solu.
ton to the problem. but objec.
tons were raised contending IL
would only cause prolonged
completion Of the Nieriwcathcr
road. which. to farmers and
ranchers In that area Is q farm.
to.market road serving as their
lifeline.
Following another question and
answer period the airport south
road was brought into the pic.
turc by the Cut Bank group and
they were advised that program.
ming had been started q month
ago and an early survey was OK.
pectcd.
Attorney Frisbcc. representing
the Gu, Bank group. demanded
q stand by the Commissioners on
their priority intention. Commits
Sioncr Zimmerman informed him
tina, he stood as was previously
announced In the resolution
adopted at their last board meet.
in9--Duck Lake and Meriwca
Their roads. priority l and 2. and
that an immediate survey be re-.
quested for the Duck Lake and
airport south roads. Commission
or Woodward agreed. stating hi,
views were concurrent with those
Of II q I, n 9 m q n. Commissioner
johnson expressed his view tina,
top priority should go TO the
Chalk Butte road with the Mcr!
weather road coming In for par
tial construction.
The meeting adjourned with
no change In priority as prev
ously stated and Il was agreed
that the final decision be left
To the County Commissioners.