The Bozeman courier., January 07, 1927, Page PAGE TEN, Image 10

About The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
(By O. S. WARDEN, Member State
Highway Commlslson).
ONTANA has rendered a decis
ion that supports a progressive
and continuous highway pol
icy for the state.
By a majority that reached nearly
to 75,000 votes the electors gave
their approval to initiated bill No. 31,
which contemplates an eleven.year
program and the completion of the
state federal highway system.
This, I believe, is the most emphatic
mandate that the people have ever deliv
ered from the polling places of Montana,
it was an overwhelming majority. And,
the favorable vote would have been larger
if there bad been a little more time in cer
tain portions of the state to explain the
clear cut provisions of the bill and the
possible accomplishment under its provis
ions.
The interpretation of this election result
may be quite readily stated—the motor ve
hicle owners have now fully determined
that the time has come to provide more
comfortable and cheaper primary trans
portation for their own use, and for the ac
commodation of the traveler who comes
this way.
The highway decision is a milestone in
development—because no state is now reck
oned progressive if traffic sticks in the
It is now safe to believe that hin
M
rnnd.
»«ranees (if there shall be any) to the op
eration of bill No. 31 will soon be pushed
aside. The voters, having fully decided
what to do. will have their way about it.
What then, may Montana expect to ac
complish if this initiated measure shall be
allowed to operate with careful direction
and economical expenditures of funds
through the proposed eleven-year period?
I am of the opinion that the estimates
have been conservatively made. I think
ihe consumption of gasoline in the state
will so increase that at the end of the time,
we will not only have finished the federal
system, through co-operation with gov
ernment funds, but in addition, it will be
posible to build a considarable mileage up
on the state system, with state funds alone
over and above what is specifically desig
nated for such construction in initiated
«.»111 No. 31. Such building can be, in all
fairness, undertaken as soo.n as there shall
be an excess of gasoline tax revenue over
and above what is required to match the
federal aid funds alioted year by year to
Montana. It is entirely reasonable to hope
that certain mileage can be taken care of
this way which perhaps cannot be made
i part of the federal or 7 per cent system.
Engineering and administration are se
i n
curely held within a reasonable percentage
by law.
'Before and after the election there were
opinions expresed and suspicions intimated
here and there that the state would not ex
pend its own and the government funds in
an equitable manner, or according to the
law which says that construction is to go
forward year by year in the various sec
tions of tiie state, so far as is reasonably
possible, in proportion to the unconstructed
mileage in that section. I feel sure that
there never was good and sufficient reason
for this lack of confidence in the proposed
law and the purposes of those who sup
ported this highway measure. And I know
what the intentions of the present state
highway commission are.
Plan of Operation
There, of course, should be an entirely
equitable distribution of all of the funds
that bceome available under the stated
provisions of the law. The highway com
mission at its December meeting, gave as
surante that the provisions of the new
statute are to bo consistently observed. A
plan was developed which divides the state
into 12 districts for operation in construc
tion and maintenance. In the designation
of these «listriets, convenience and economy
in carrying forward the work have fixed
the boundaries of these established divi
sions.
The plan, then, is to expend in each dis
trict. year by year, a percentage of the
available funds based upon the uncon
structed mileage in that district. After a
time there will have to be some deviation
Overdoing?
Hurry, Worry and Ovcrtoork Bring
Heavy Strain.
M ODERN life throws a heavy
burden on our bodily ma
chinery. The eliminative organs, es
pecially the kidneys, are apt to be
come sluggish. Retention of excess
uric acid and other poisonous waste
often gives rise to a dull, languid
feeling and, sometimes, toxic back
aches and headaches. That the kid
neys are not functioning perfectly is
often shown by burning or scanty
passage of secretions. More and
more people are learning to assist
their kidneys by the occasional use
of Doan's Pills —a stimulant diu
retic. Ask your neighbor!
DOAN'S
PILLS
60 c
Stimulant Diuretic to the Kidneys
Foster-Miibum Co..Mfg. Chem., Buffalo, N. Y.
If You Live, You have the opportunity to be success -
ful and to die rich.
Whether or not you live, are successful or become
rich, your family will have the comforts of life if you
invest in a Montana Life policy.
MONTAKA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Enduring a* the Mountains
A. C. JOHNSON
President
U. R. CUNNINGHAM
Flee President and Manage*
HELENA
MONTANA
— —a— .
Hello Folks!
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Don't Miss Getting
YOUR COPY
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If Interested, Write for
CATALOG "B"
A POSTCARD BRINGS IT
State Nursery and
Seed Co.
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Here's One of Our Customers
Harvesting His Crop
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Montana
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O. 8. WARDEN, one of Montana's foremost newspapermen, and a member of
the Montana State Highway Commission.
from this procedure in order to come out
with a completed system at the end of the
period, because it costs more per mile for
construction in the mountainous sections
than in the open country.
After the establishment of these opera
tion subdivisions, the next step is naturally
a calculation of funds to be used in 1927.
And in this connection it must fc'i remem
bered that the gasoline tax money for the
first quarter of the year will not come into
the highway fund, until May 1, unless the
legislature shall authorize anticipatory
warrants to he paid by the gas tax reve
nue of the year as it comes to band.
Folowing are the twelve districts of the
state for operation and the percentage of
expenditure for each in 1927 :
District No. 1—Lincoln, Flathead and
Lake, percentage, 8.07.
District No. 2—Glacier, Toole, Liberty,
Hill and Blaine, percentage, 5.65.
District No. 3—Phillips, Valley, Daniels,
Sheridan and Roosevelt, percentage, 7.68.
District No. 4—McCone, Richland, Daw
son. Prairie and Wibaux, percentage, 6.38.
District No. 5—Garfield, Petroleum and
Fergus, percentage, 7.07.
District No. 6—Pondera, Chouteau, Teton,
Cascade and Judith Basin, percentage, 8.36.
and Broad
water, and Jefferson, percentage, 11.44.
District No. 8—Sanders, Mineral, Mis
soula, Ravalli, Granite, and Powell, per
centage, 10.08.
District No. 9—Deer Lodge, Silver Bow,
Beaverhead and Madison, percentage, 8.18.
District No. 10—Meagher, Wheatland,
Sweet Grass, Gallatin, and Park, percent
age, 7.77.
District No. 11—Golden Valley, Mussel
shell, reasure, Yellowstone, Stillwater,
Carbon, and Big Horn, percentage, 8.63.
District No. 12—Rosebud, Custer, Powder
River. Fallon and Carter, percentage. 10.69.
The people of each district are further
interested in a translation of these per
centages into concrete figures. It is es
timated that the gas consumption of the
state for 1927 will be 46,000.000 gallons,
yielding a gross revenue of $1,380,000. It
will require $275,000 or $300,000 for main
tenance of the federal aid mileage already
built. This work is now to be done by
the state. Considerable equipment will be
required to carry on this maintenance. Then
there will be the smaller items of admin
istration surveys and plans. Perhaps the
net amount of state construction money for
the first year that can be used in co-opera
tion with federal aid will be $845.000. This
sum will match up against $1,075,000 of
government funds and will give a total am
ount available for construction in 1927 of
$1,920,000. The mileage of construction
that can be done next year will then be
some figure between 200 and 250 miles. The
building program can become larger each
year as the revenues Increase, enabling, it
is hoped, the construction of the whole
3,100 miles of the federal system within the
eleven-year period.
Upon this basis of suggested computation'
the state and government construction mon
ey for 1927 will be as follows:
District No. 1_
District No. 2.
District No. 3
.$ 155,000
_ 108,500
_ 147,500
— 12-.500
— 136,000
— 160,500
.... 219,000
— 194,000
— 157,000
. 149,000
- 166,000
- 205,000
- »1,920,000
It remains for the state commisison to
complete its tentative program by the se
lection of the actual projects that it will en
District No. 4....
District No. 5.„
District No. 6.„
District No. 7...
District No. 8....
District No 9...
District No. 10..
District No. 1L
District No .12..
Total.
. J .
deavor to put under construction in 1927.
This detail will be given attention at the
January meeting. Considerable information
and study is required. Manifestly a pro
ject, economic in size, caruot be built in
each of the 56 counties every year. It is
hoped that rather more than 30 projects
can be under way next year. A number of
small ones will be built in the earlier part
of the program where an important con-1
nection or especially bad mileage can be
covered. One hundred thousand dollar and
larger projects can be held more strictly
within economy than those of smaller cost,
This much can be said of the highway
situation in Montana, and the outlook,
the initiated bill that has been approved
shall operate without legal hindrance of
modification through legislative act or oth
erwise.
Looking forward as far as 1937, the en
gineers estimate that the consumption of
gas for 12 months will be 92,000,000 gal
ions—yielding a revenue of $2,760,000. At
that time, if the government shall have
continued its present appropriations, the |
yearly construction program will reach $3,
500,000 and the yearly maintenance cost to
the state will be around $1,000,000.
If Montana shall thus improve its prim
ary transportation, then we have started
upon the most important development since
the coming of the railroad.
When this state has good roads, as they
are now reckoning in the United States,
there will be no eastern and western Mon
tana. There will be no southern and north
ern Montana. Motor vehicles will nose
through the passes of the Rocky moun
tains over easy grades by the Roosevelt
Pas at the north, at Lewis and Clark be
yond the big Gibson dam and McDonald
Pass at the north, at Lewis and Clark be
sourl there will be bridges.
When the Belton-Glacier highway Is fin
ished, when there is a direct and complete
thoroughfare from Great Falls to Missoula,
when the mud and the grades have been
subjugated west from Helena, there will
be good cause for celebration. A consist
ent effort will soon hang a welcome sign
for the traveler at the Dakota boundaries,
at the Canadian gateways, at the entrances
an the west from Spokane and at the Mon
tana boundary coming up from Salt Lake
and Wyoming.
There will be a tremendous saving, as
we do the business of the state, in time
and tires and temper. The traveler will
come to us with a blessing instead of a
curse. Agriculture will draw nearer and
nearer to the initial markets. The rural
school problem will find an easier solu
tion. The fields will take on new values. I
There will be neighbors where there were
unbroken plains. There will be a new at
traction in the abundant verdure of the
foothills, and a new majesty in the moun
tains as we reach them over well condi
tioned thoroughfares. There will be more
settlers coming to till the land and new
people to build the cities larger. All of
these things we will have for ourselves and
our children shall no longer remember
the gumbo that clogs the progress of this
day and generation.
If these things be so, it is a part of the
wisdom that cometh within good under
standing to build the roads.
«-«ii ™
Kills Five Cougars ,
Five cougars have been killed by Lloyd
Thompson in the Gird s creek territory
cast of Hamilton, since the first of Novem
ber. One was killed in November and the
four others during the present month. Two
were old lions and three spring kittens
and it is the belief of Mr. Thompson that
they were of the same family.
<$>
OU LEGISLATION
UP TO ASSEMBLY
GAS TAX AND OIL LAWS WILL
CONFRONT MONTANA
LEGISLATURE
Five Commissions Created in 1025
Will Report, to State Body Now in
Session at Helena; Liquor Laws
May Receive Attention
(By Our Helena Correspondent)
With oil and gasoline legislation prom
ising, at this time, the greatest general
Interest, a long list of subjects for legis
lation action confronts the 20th Montana
assembly, which convened this week.
Several administrative codes, taxes, ap
propriations, together with the various
phases of legislation affecting the oil
industry promise to lead the session's cal
endar with an unusual grist of important
matters.
The usual legislative calendar is about
1,000 bills, of which two-thirds originate
in the house; Possibly 900 of these are
given the consideration of printing and
somewhere near 20 per cent are enacted
into law.
The trend of this session's activities un
doubtedly is indicated by Governor Erick
son's message. The message was of consid
erable length and dealt with a variety of
subjects, treated as legislative material
from the standpoint of the governor's two
years as the state's chief executive.
Five Commissions Report
Five commissions created by the 1925
legislature will present their reports to
the coming session. Each report forecasts
considerable discussion. They have to do
with revision of banking laws, establish
ment of a state accounting system, crea
tion of a new state normal school at Bil
lings, utilization of the Fort Assiniboine
property at Havre and erection of a mem
orial to the explorers. Lewis and Clark.
Liquor legislation
in some phases un
doubtedly will he sought, following the
repeal of the state's prohibition laws by
an initiative act last November. It may be
assumed that the provision relative to dis
posal of liquor to minors, now considered
shaky because of repeal of correlating
statutes, will be strengthened and there
have been generally circulated reports that
the dry forces will attempt to put through
a new prohibition code.
Land, bank, game and industrial acci
dent codes are in prospect as meat for
consideration the governor, with the assist
ance of Attorney General L. A. Foot and
I. M. Brandjord, register of state lands,
has been considering modernization of the
state's land laws for some months and
probably will have a complete new code to
submit.
While the banking code commission de
clared that a new' code was not necessary
and has recommended two amendatory
measures for passage, there seems a prob
ability that the banking committee of one
house or the other may take matters into
its own hands and formulate a complete
new code. The bank deposit guarantee law
undoubtedly will again be offered.
New Game Code
While a new game code was enacted by
the last legislature, the state sportsmen's
—association has in preparation a bill which
will offer extensive amendments to the
code and the game warden has some ad
ministrative changes to propose,
, A long list of changes in the industrial
accident and inspection codes are suggested
in the report of the board's chairman. The
industrial insurance act also was revised
h as t session after an extended and exten
Uive discussion but is a freauent subiect
for legislative action. ^ J
The oil industry comes in for attention
from numerous angles. The rapid growth
of the industry in Montana has caused
much puzzlement among officials who have
had, thus far, to adapt old statutes passed
for the regulation of other Industries,
the requirements of the oil business. Con
serration, taxation and regulation sugges
tions come from many administrative de
If partments and the oil men themselves are
reported a complete
they hope to have passed,
Educational matters, including an at
tempt to relieve the heavily taxed smaller
districts, will have consideration. The gov
ernor has recommended that the legislature
submit to the voters a measure re-enact
ing the mill and a half educational levy
from which the four units of the University
of Montana now draw their incomes,
With surveyors, right of way agents.
engine«™ and traveling freight agents for
the Northern Pacific and Great Northern
railways making daily calls in Circle
with their official duties and activities,
there is no doubt left in the mind of the
average cltizea about the intentions of
these two roads building to that territory
during the next year,
Very little activity was expected from
the Great Northern this winter, but a few
days ago a crow of surveyors arrived in
Paxton and proceeded to finish checking
the survey In that neighborhood. Paxton is
about 20 miles from Circle and 15 miles
(from Richey.
Tlie greatest handicap of this great roll
ing prairie con«try has been lack of rail
„»ad transportation. Old residents and
farmers tell of only two crop failures here
since farming was begun and of wonderful
yields of small grain, flax and corn, but the
I other great resources of the county include
vast deposits of high-grade Beulte coal
ranging in depth from within a foot or two
0 f the surface to 50 and 60 feet, with veins
[from four to 12 feet thick.
A continued hard winter may prove a
blessing in disguise by thinning the ranks
of the great numbers of worthless and de
serted range horses which have made It
necessary for the small and large stockmen
to lease grazing tracts for their protection.
Many of the best horses were shipped to
eastern markets during the late summer
and early fall months and horsemen predict
that when another spring comes the range
will be free of Its harden. A shortage of
feed this winter will probably be the cause
of the sacrifice of many good work horses
which are needed, but If It were possible
for the work horse to exist on the open
range, the range horse would thrive. f
Inquiries from farmers and business men
all parts of the country have been pour
ing :>Bto Circle since the announcement by
the railroads of their Intention to build.
Opportunities
and business men, and there is roam here
for thousands of farmers who are "dirt"
farmers, but the day of the dentist, engi
neer, clerk, printer and boilermaker has
passed.
Eastern loan companies and individuals
holding mortages on land in this county
who a ahoH time ago were willing to take
a hugs loss to be released of their respon
sibility for taxes, have revived a keen Inter
est in their holdings here and It is thought
that several thousand dollars* delinquent
laxes will be paid before the steel reaches
far Into the territory.
Circle, the county seat of McCone county
i and the largest town on the route of both
railroads, is not experiencing a great boom,
although several business institutions here
are planning for expansion when spring
brings actual construction work.
Corporation Fees
License fees from domestic corporations
with non par value stock and irrigation
district regulations aro to be considered.
Public finances will be the subject of
several measures. Provision whereby the
state treasurer will be empowered to pur
chase all general fund warrants for invest
ment in other state funds, will be sought
and probably some means for funding the
state's floating debt will be considered.
The cities, towns, counties and school dis
trict budget laws are assumed to be on the
docket again.
SURVEYORS BUSY
IN CIRCLE AREA
MC CONE COUNTY RESIDENTS
BELIEVE RAILWAY NOW
ALMOST CERTAINTY
Inquiries from Farmers and Business
Men Who Would Locate in Section
About to be Developed Are Al
ready Pouring into Countyseat
Of
are here, both for farmers
f
I
TATE BRIEFS
Malta — The Phillips County News has
purchased The Saco Independent, owned
by W. D. Miller, and assumed possession
at once.
Malta—Mary Survant, wife of Senator
John Survant of Phillips county, died a
few days ago at their home in Malta fol
lowing an illness of several months.
Nashua— J. B. Williams of Bertbold, N.
., has assumed control of the Royal
Hotel, having purchased same of the Kelle
brothers. He was accompanied here by bis
wife.
Sunburst—Mrs. Gene Sartell of the Ohio
camp was badly burned by boiling water.
She attempted to remove a container from
the range and, in doing* so slipped and
spilled the water.
Helena—LeRoy Eugene Nlchwander, age
two and a half years, died from burns
the other day. Playing in the kitchen of
his home, be pulled a kettle of boiling
water from the stove.
Chinook—County Agent Max Legge hopes
to obtain a Pullman sleeping car from
Blaine county to the Woolgrowers* meet
ings at Butte January 19 to 21 to accom
modate the sheepmen of this section.
Eureka—Word has been received of the
promotion of Leo L. O'Connell, station
agent for the Great Northern at this place,
to the position of traveling freight agent
for the Montana division, with headquarters
at Helena.
D
Martlnsdale—At a meeting of directors
of the Delphine Telephone company, at
the home of Chris Orness, the following
were continued in office: Sanford Holli
day, president; William Frisbie, secretary
treasurer; Charles Holliday and J. P. Bon
ham, directors.
Great Falls—John C. Templeton, secre
tary of the Northwestern Grain Dealers
association for the last five years, lied
the other evening at the Columbus hoapt
tal at the age of 66. Death was can^^d by
a heart ailment from which he hat.' sui
fered for a long period.
Butte—Thomas McGuire, aged 70, pio
neer Montana railway worker, was found;
frozen to death outside his cabin at Silver,
Bow. Mr. McGuire came to Montana in
1883 and was one of the first employes of
the old Montana Union railway. For the
last 30 years he had worked for the Oregon
Short Line company at Silver Bow.
At a special meeting of the
county commissioners here, it was de
cided to use the new' classified assessment
list next year. The contract for the classi
fication of the county was let over a year
ago to W. Q. Dickinson and Clyde Young
of Helena and is just being completed.
Wolf Point—That Roosevelt county is in
a better financial condition than a year
ago is evidenced by the fact that many
people are paying taxes for the entire year
instead of only the required one-half, says
Neil McFarlan, county treasurer, who has
Just completed some interesting figures on
tax returns for the year.
Hamilton—A countywide tuberculin test
for cattle will begin in Ravalli shortly
after the first of the year as a result of
a conference between the board of county
commissioners and Dr. W. L. Murdock of
the state livestock sanitary board. The
test will include beef and dairy stock of
which it is estimated there are 21,000 or
better.
Boudei
Helena—Christmas brought to the su
preme court a photograph of Judge and
Mrs. Henry J. Blake of Boston. Judge
Blake was the first reporter of the terri
torial court, e became chief Justice of that
court in later years and, when Montana
. j _ 1 A
attained statehood, was the first chief
Jngtice of the 8apreme court G f the state,
He is now in his ** th y ear -
to
Libby—Judge C. W. Pomeroy of Kalis
pell has announced the appointment of B.
P. Callow of Troy to the office of county
commissioner. Appointment to the office
became necessary when W. A. Wallace of
Troy, duly nominated and elected republi
can candidate, failed to qualify within the
rpescribed time because of unacquaintance
with the provisions of the law.
New Mine Located
A new mine has been located about four
miles from Barker, at the foot of Blanken
sbip bill on the old trail, by the Monarch
Silver & Lead Mining company, which has
done considerable development work and
has some machinery already on the ground
and is now building a bridge over Dry fork
to get in the heavier machinery, which
must await the completion of the new
bridge. County Engineer W. F. Kruckle
her of Stanford has just returned from an
inspection trip for the county with a view
to locating a new road, ar well as rebuild
ing the old trail. This work will be done
as early in the spring as weather condi
tions will permit. Because of the easier
grade, most of the ore will be transported
to Monarch.
]□[
EM
5buy ahead of the drill
n
We expect to start drilling on our l,000_acre lease
as weather permits. You can invest now at par.
as soon
KEVIN-FLATHEAD OIL COMPANY,
Shelby, Montana.
.mi
Date_
I hereby anbaerlbe for_
Kevin-Flathead Oil Co., the par value of $1.00 per share, and encloee
_shares of the capital stock of the
In full payment therefor. This snhscrip
the sum of 9—
tlon Is made on the understanding that I am to reeeive a certificate for
the number of shares 1 have paid for, which certificate shall carry an
option to purchase an equal number o> shares at the same price within
80 days after the first well is completed.
Name ..—,
Address
Subscriptions are coming in from everywhere every day. If
there's anything more yon want to know, write us at once.
KEVIN-FLATHEAD OIL COMPANY
J
SHELBY, MONTANA
IIEH
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Buy Montana Products n
WASHOE
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BEAR CREEK
OAL
' (Montana's Best Cool)
SOLD BY ALL DEALERS
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Gas Pressure lamp
IVES 20 times more light
than the old-style oil lamp.
Plenty of pure - white steady
brilliance for every lighting
need in : r our home.
No */' • ks to trim,no chimneys
io « h q , : o daily fillings. Can't
if tipped over;
* ; le lighted.
. As own gas
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£ iia .t av
per gallon of fuel. J?' ' a in i«.
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O «er 35,000 dealers bell Co'ennn
Quid.-LiteLamps and Lanterns. If cct
carried by adealer inyour vicinity, write
und we will Bend you descriptive lit
erature and see that you are taker care
of promptly. Address Dept. MR63
TJè COLEMAN LAMP & STOVE CO.
t'actont and General Offic**:
Wichita, Kansas
Rrwto PmLADBcrHiA. Chicago. Lo» Angus
Canadian tdetory: ionotrro. Onrt juo
US
Phone System Installed
Establishment of an independent city
telephone system in Kevin Is now in pro
gress. More than 50 telephones alraady have
been installed in business boises and
homes and it is expected that full? 75 lines
will be connected with the centrai switch
board before the end of the year In the
past there has been only one telephone in
Kevin. The new exchange, although es
tablished by an independent concern, will
have connections with the Bell system and
communication from Kevin to the oil field
camps, through the Mountain States Tele
phone & Telegraph exchange at Shelby, will
be possible.
Lake County Automobiles
Lake county has 1,790 automobiles In use
at the present time, according to A. J.
Brower. Ronan banker, who addressed the
Kiwanls club at Poison on economic condi
tions in the county. Estimating the cost
of operation and upkeep on these cars as
80 cents a day, in one year, over $500,000
is spent on automobiles which equals the
amount of taxes received for one year in
the county. The value of the wheat crop
was $500,000 this year and dairy products
produced another half million dollars in the
county. All industries, he stated, are in
their infancy and the future possibilities
are large.
The New Freely-Latherinj
Grticura
Shaving Stick
ForTender Faces
EMOLLIENT MEDICINAL ANTISEPTIC