The Glacier reporter., 1960-08-18
A MINUTE
WITH Kl

week NOuulg OOIllIlllSSlOuCI AAN-
Alpine. so il would appear, is
seeking TO change the county
secondary road priOrities again in
an effort TO push through a go
mile stretch of road in the east
ern end Of the county before the
present road programs on Meri-
wetter ari Duck Like are fin
isheH. CT before the Cut Bank
airport south road is started.
Shifting the blame for failure
Of this new program to be init
ated. he states that il is being
held up because the other two
commissioners. Harold Hanne-
man and Hi Woodward refuse 10
sign the project form which
wouli be forwarded 10 the State
Highway Commission 10 start the
ball rolling.
There has been a tuSsel OF long
duration between the eastern dis
trict and the two western dis
tricts over road priorities until
last year when il was cOmpatibly
agreed that following the com
pletiOn Of the Chalk Butte road
in the eastern district. the Meri-
wether and Duck Lake roads
would be completed. then the
Cut Bank airport south road
would be started At that time
no mention was made. at least
20 the knowledge OF the general
public. that this 60 mile stretch
was even on the planning board.
However. il may be recalled
that the statement was made by
q former commissioner to the
effect that the Sweetgrass road
would be built before the Duck
Lake or Meriwether projects
were finished, and II will be
noted that If this six mile stretch
were TO be built, il would leave
only 10 miles TO connect with the
Sweetgrass-tO-C Canada road.
No mention was made Of the
estimated cost of construction.
which according to the State
Highway Department. would run
anywhere from $4,000 TO 1000
a mile. In view of the fact that
this road would not receive fed
eraI aid. and that our county
share of state secondary road as
sistance amounts TO only in the
neighbOrhood of $4,000 a year.
our state fund would be mort
gagged for the next five or six
years through this Smile con-
struction. costing from S2iO.O 900
20 S252 900 We see no justifi-
cation or logic in the proposal.
nor do we believe the people OF
Cut Bank will either after realiz-
ing their airport south road.
which has already been surveyed,
could not receive state aid for
several years.
IL seems most unjust, and un-
timely. that the other two com
missionerS should be criticized in
the least. They are only carrying
out their agreement TO see the
two projects completed before
anymore secondary prOgramming
is done. In fact, Mr.. McAlpine
stated that his interest is county
wide in road prOgramming. which
could be interpreted to mean
quite the reverse, if one takes.
time TO study the records. II may
be only coincidental, but the pro-
posed six-mile construction lies
within McAlpine's back yard.
II is untimely and in poor judg-
ment. as viewed by many, to start
another roads priority Squabble
al this time. McAlpine, who Is
not up for reelection this fall,
can sit quietly back after for
warding such a proposal and
watch the other candidates who
are seeking office, sweat II out
after being placed In an awk-
ward position.
We understand that a new
guide and pack service is break.
ing trails into the unknown and
untamed mountain country. We
don't have too much information
at this time but We do under
stand that the trails are marked
with silverwear, cups, plates and
any number of other camp items.
There is a deep suspicion Of sabo-
tage. says one Of the head men.
He seems to think that someone
planted a thistle under the pack
of one horse Why else would
he buck the pack off three times
and force the guides TO shoulder
the pack? 10 a lake they
never reached.
As we said, the trail is well
marked with camp items The
fee that varies with the
amount of equipment lost along
the way. Doc King says he is
extremely doubtful as 10 whether
or not the service will be ade-
uuately organized and ready for
this falls hunting season
We are looking forward TO the
State Press Association conven-
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