In the Mail, October 20, 1916 Dr. R.W. Beck of Hamilton wrote a letter to Mr. Martin, the secretary of The Good Roads Association, stating “…They are coming to Anaconda to meet, regarding the benefits of a 28 mile highway.” He had also sent a letter to the Granite County Commissioners hoping to meet at both Philipsburg and Anaconda on October 22 and 23, 1916. This road was to be constructed over the Sapphire Mountains in a divide crossing of about 6000 feet with a southern exposure for a total of twenty-eight miles. There would be no extreme grades or difficult construction according to Dr. Beck.
The proposed road would make the Bitter Root valley an alternative part of the trip from coast to coast instead of a side trip. In addition, taken in connection with the much praised route from the Bitter Root to the Big Hole valley and back over the Mill Creek Hill road to Anaconda it would form a loop that would make a scenic trip for a day or two not to be surpassed anywhere.
The Road Booster’s on October 23 met with County Commissioners and businessmen of Philipsburg. There were two proposals: one route going over the Skalkaho; the other by way of Rock Creek and Stony Creek (over the “Old Burnt Fork Trail”). They favored the Stony Creek route because it would bring travel through Philipsburg and would not require as much road building. The promoters felt the Forest Service would pay half of the expense and liberal contributions would keep Granite County expenses low.
In December, The Good Roads Association met a second time with the Granite County Commissioners. The commissioners endorsed the project but insisted that finances of the county would not permit any contribution. The visitors believed they needed to send an endorsement from all counties involved before the end of the year to the Forest Service. So county commissioners A.S. Huffman, F.A. Beley and S.M.C. Hughes dictated a letter to the group stating they believed in the benefit of the proposed road but that Granite County would not be able to give any financial support to the project.
By January 26, 1917 the Road Boosters changed their focus to “slicing off part of Granite County.” A letter received by the Mail from Representative John R. Page stated he was approached by Dr. Beck of Ravalli County regarding this option and he assured Granite County that he and Senator Mershon would not support any measure of that kind coming up in the legislature. Shortly after receiving the letter County Assessor W. E. Albright and Commissioner S.M.C. Hughes attended a meeting in Helena and came back to Philipsburg with the news that both north and south portions of Granite County were being eyed by covetous neighbors. Missoula was looking at a portion of railroad right of way and the new bridge that had been paid for by Missoula and Granite County near Bonita.
January 26, 1917 (Anaconda Standard) stated: “A committee will interview citizens of the north end [this should say south end] of Granite County relative to the situation and if no appropriations can be secured from the road fund of that county the proposition will be offered to segregate the portion through which the highway would pass, and add it to Deer Lodge county, which could then make an appropriation toward the construction.” The portion to be segregated was the Flint Creek Power House, all of the Trout Creek district, everything south of Eagle Canyon, all of West Fork, including the Sapphire Mines and all of East Fork, Middle Fork and Ross Fork of Rock Creek. The Legislators assured the county there was nothing to be concerned about.
By August 31, 1917, the Forest Service had set aside money to survey the area for the highway. The only other obstacle was to find money to pay for the expense of the twelve miles through Granite county.
The Missoulian , September 7, 1917 quoted Dr. Beck: “We have at last found a way to overcome this objection and the way seems clear to build this much needed highway. The road has been mapped by the U.S. Forest Service for a long time as a much needed improvement and the government has been willing to do their part in aiding this work. Missoula, Hamilton, Butte and Anaconda have determined to raise the funds necessary to complete the gap and the government forestry department is about to make the necessary survey.” Dr. Beck stated there is every indication that Butte, Missoula and Anaconda will support the project and raise the $15,000 to insure the completion of the proposal.
Then came World War I. So everything was put on hold. As World War I was winding down The Mail on February 14, 1919 published the following argument regarding the Hamilton-Anaconda Road: “This contemplated thoroughfare between the cities named will pass through the south-west corner of Granite county where there are only a few hundred acres of hay and no grain land, with a few limited area of pasturage and a few ranchers altogether engaged in stock raising. From its exit in timbered elevations of the West Fork to where it enters the Georgetown Basin the distance does not exceed 12 miles. Throughout its entire course between the points noted it passes through rough open country, and along narrow defiles largely, it may be considered first: A scenic route of great interest to the touring automobilist; An interchange of profitable business relations between the few living along its line and the mercantile interests of Anaconda and Hamilton; As of no possible benefit to all the remainder of the county…
It will be understood that by presenting the matter in the light it should appear to the taxpayers of Granite no sentiment of animosits [sic] enters it. It is a question of expense followed by no possible benefit save to those interested in the project.”
The Commercial Club on February 28, 1919 stated that bringing the road through Philipsburg would add ten miles more than if the road was built past the Sapphire diggings with the group not agreeing and expressing the need to build it up Stony Creek and then down the north fork of the Skalkaho. Agreement was also expressed that the road would be completed that summer. This was not to happen.
In April 1920, miners in Frog Pond basin (Fred Lutz and Price Townsend) were vocal about having the highway pass through Frog Pond basin because many promising mines were being developed and big producers should mean the road needed to travel that way. Also building through Frog Pond and Moose Lake would bring the road south of Mungas Hill and south of Georgetown Lake negating the Flint Creek Grade.
On April 3, 1921 a telegram was received by Dr. Beck from the Forest Service stating: “Skalkaho has been designated as a post road. Ninety thousand dollars in post road money has been allotted. This completes all required details.” This support brought the funding up to $300,000.00. Of this funding $100,000.00 in bonds had been raised in Ravalli County with the bonds being sold to Mrs. Marcus Daly and the money becoming immediately available for use. The forest service gave $110,000.00 toward construction costs. Work was certain to start in 1921.
The survey started in May of 1921 and due to the difficult terrain on the west side of the mountains it was not completed until September. Federal Project 161 would be 16.20 miles long in Ravalli County, beginning thirteen miles east of Hamilton and connecting with a Forest Project of the Bureau of Public Roads in Granite County. Actual construction began in late September 1921. The road traveled at water grade along the Skalkaho Creek for six miles and then rose five feet every 100 feet to reach the summit. Starting at 4,310 feet it rose 2,948 feet in the 16.20 miles to reach the 7,258 foot summit. On the eastern side of the Sapphire range the road followed West Fork of Rock Creek past the Sapphire Mines.
In May,1922, Frank D. Monty (District Engineer) began construction with a work force of 600 men. He hoped to complete the Granite county side of the highway by September 15, which did not happen. A news article May 8, 1924 stated the roadway will be completed to Al Brennan’s by Saturday with Ben Walton Construction Crew doing the work on the Ravalli side.
Ten or twelve “jalopies” made the seventy-two miles trip in late May of 1924 from Hamilton to Butte. The official baptism was heralded on June 20, 1924 with about 300 cars traveling from Anaconda and Butte on the East and Missoula and the Bitterroot valley on the west. The Sunday before The Intermountain Transportation Company started a regular bus schedule leaving Anaconda at 9 o'clock and arriving in Hamilton at 1 p.m. and starting the return trip to Deer Lodge County by 2 p.m.
In 1927 interested parties were looking for $17,000 to move the road south of Georgetown Lake thus eliminating the Flint Creek Grade. Obviously that project never happened.
The 1865, Flathead Dictionary, deduced Skalkaho means “place of beaver.” W.W. deLacy, in 1865 had the stream named Ska-ka-ke in the first Montana Territorial Legislature and Barbara Hammond stated in June 1951 that Skalkaho means “Game Trail.” Whatever the word means, it is God’s Country and hopefully will never be over populated.
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| Early day trip over the west side of the Skalkaho grade |
Skalkaho
( The Mountain Highway between Philipsburg and the Bitter Root Valley)
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On the Skalkaho where cool winds blow from a rugged mountain side,
Where the “rocks and rills and templed hills” of America abide,
Where the great outdoors with its charm outpours on the cars of all who pass,
And the summit holds in its skyline folds deep snows ‘mid flowers and grass;
Where blue lakes rest at the mountain’s crest to picture Heaven’s expanse,
And the clouds that float, each a lazy boat,
God’s sketching to enhance;
Where the trails soar high and the startled eye looks below to depths that chill,
And a variant scene o’er a great ravine makes the heart with wonder fill;
Where pathways swerve into clinging curve on the edge of a green clad wall,
Where there springs to view just ahead of you a laughing waterfall---
There you’ll find the way to a sunny day, for you’re nearer the Great Big Blue,
And your soul will sing as the woodlands ring in a place that’s full and true;
There spirits rise to the sunny skies and man means more to man,
For it’s a trail that leads to better deeds---
and a friendly caravan will bring great cheer to it’s neighbors dear, each hour in a western glow,
And there’ll move along like the lilt of a song, a world on the Skalkaho.
May the “rocks and rills and templed hills” of America abide
For e’er and aye like a peaceful day on that sunny mountain side!
(author Barbara Ann Scharr, Helena Montana, published in the Philipsburg Mail December 19, 1924)
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