Letter to the Editor

Cyr-Iron Road should remain open to public

This letter is in reference to the Cyr-Iron Mountain Road, located just outside of Superior. Built with public funds, the road has been in use for over well over 100 years and, therefore, fits the description of a “Public Highway.” Originally built as a wagon road back in the gold rush days and rehabilitated in the 1930’s by the CCCs, it has been used by local residents as an alternate route between the Quart Flats and lower Trout Creek areas and as an access road for hunters and others over the past 100 years. Additionally, this road serves as an escape route should Diamond Road be blocked for any reason.

Approximately five years ago a piece of the property that the road traversed was sold by Stimson Lumber Company to private individuals who put up barriers, restricting use of the road by the general public.

This past summer the road was opened up at the request of the USFS, who upgraded the road and repaired the bridge with the use of public funds to permit firefighting activities. Once the fire was over, the road was again blocked by the same individuals

A group of concerned residents, who contend that this road has been blocked illegally, will be meeting with the Mineral County Commissioners and Ryan Weiss, Public Access Specialist, Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation, on Friday, Feb. 9, at 10:30 a.m. at the Commissioners’ Office in Superior to explore ways to get this road restored to public usage. All concerned parties are invited to attend.

—Diane Magone, Stephen Moats, Guy Moats, Denyse Traeder, Teresa Simkins, Tim Spangler, John Woodland, Dan Arnsan, Barbara Arnsan, Joseph Magone (all of Superior)