The Sidney herald., 1957-09-19

the early stages of highway con-
struction in Montana. In fact,
a section of the Great Falls
Belt road was one of the first
projects built with the aid of
Federal finances made possible
by the passing of the Federal
Aid Road Act of 1919. That e C
ton was built in 1920 under the
jurisdiction of the highway de-
partment in conjunction with the
county authorities.
1t was a small beginning, but
a step In the right direction. In
1921, the Federal Aid Road Act
was amended and the 7 percent
system, now in effect, was Gre
ated. This act set up a system of
major highways equal to z per-
cent of the then county roads.
In Montana's case, this was 7
percent of 67,1O0 miles or 1897
miles. Our small beginning be-
tween Great Falls and Belt could
have been one of the deciding
factors in placing the Great
Falls to Circle road on the 2
percent network. This is true be-
cause in 1922 Washington APP
proved this section which, was
later to become a part of the ex-
listing Central Montana Highway.
Under the regulations of the
1921 Act, the Federal Govern
ment would provide approxi-
mately 81 percent of the costs in
volved in construction. The State
would provide the remaining 43
percent. In order to meet this OBJ
obligation, our legislature did
from time to time-set up small
amounts with which to match this
Federal money. However, the
amounts small and entirely
inadequate to meet our traffic
demands for better roads. This
more or less "hand-to-mouth"
construction program actually was
the determinate factor in prompt
ing the 1925 state legislature to
pass the 3 cent gasoline tax mea-
sure. This measure was to pro-
vide funds to match Federal aid.
Our highway program was at
last launched, and the section be-
tween Great Falls and Circle re-
ceived its just share of improve
ment. The original Great Falls
Belt section was heightened to
include the Great Falls = Bonner
Road that same year. In 1880. the
Sldney-North Dakota State Line
section was added. In 1850, the
last gap-Circle to Sidney-was
included in the Primary or z per-
cent system.
The total length of the Central
Montana Highway from Missoula
to the Montana-North Dakota line
is 539 miles. Through the con-
tinued efforts of our legislators
and incidental prodding by civic
groups and other interested high
way-minded organizations, funds
nave been provided. Because of
the constant and increasing de-
mands of the travelling public, the
Central Montana Highway has
advanced, with small exception.
from muddy trails which either
were not maintained at all or, at
best, by inadequately equipped
county forces, to a system of all
weather, orderly maintained
highway. The exception to
this, of course, is the Circle
Sidney section which is presently
receiving considerable attention.
AS well as being a drain of
and effort on the part of all
those concerned, construction to
the ultimate completion of the
Central Montana Highway will
involved a great sum of
money. The financial situation,
being what it is, has made it i'm
possible to construct this high
way In its entirety at an earlier
The Financial Districting
Law prohibits the transfer of
funds from one district to an
other. Therefore, the funds used
On this vital stretch of highway
been those allocated to the
financial districts through which
highway passes.
Concentrated construction ac-
.lvlty has been in progress on
section between Great Falls
and Bonner. This construction
area lies in Financial Districts ?
and 8. The Financial Districting
law does not take into consider
ltion the type of terrain nor
'ther factors involved in the
'ost of construction. as you
lnow, both Financial Districts
and 8 are traversed by the
Rocky Mountain ranges max
ng construction in those areas
'ery costly. 1t has been nee
'ssary to spread the finances
n these two financial districts
'ver several of our major high
ways. The planning, therefore,
been a very delicate one.
However, during the past five
ear period, the highway depart
nent has either completed the
in this area or has
immediate plans of completion.
The total investment to date
or the Central Montana Hiob-