1st Auto Eastward Bound over Idaho – Montana Divide – 1914
Over Mullan Pass In An Auto Safely
First Through Trip On The New Road Delights Tourist Party
Mullan. May 30 – (Special.) – The first automobile eastward bound over the Idaho – Montana divide on the new road between Mullan and Missoula passed through Mullan this week and reached Saltese, Mont., in a few hours running time. The car was a 22 horsepower Maxwell and was driven by Messrs. Roffner and Rice of Spokane. The gentlemen wrote from Saltese to the Mullan Commercial club stating that they had a very pleasant trip over the summit and reached Saltese with little difficulty. They stated that the new road would be in splendid condition within two weeks’ time. They found some snow on the summit and some soft spots in the road. This is the first car to make the entire trip through either way on this road. The people of Mullan and Wallace are subscribing liberally to the petition being circulated for funds to help the Mineral county people repair the road east of Saltese. Similar petitions are being circulated in Mineral county, and in a short time the road will be in as good condition as it can be placed this year. Next season Mineral county will have ample road funds to take care of this road, and it is the intention of the people of the new county to make an excellent graded highway for the main road the entire length of the county.
The above article appeared in The Missoulian on May 31, 1914.
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