Third Biennial Report of the Oregon State Highway Commission Part 17

Surrey--Coos County Line to Roseburg

During April and May 1917, a preliminary survey was made from the Coos-Douglas County Line eastward to a connection with the new Pacific Highway location between Roseburg and Dillard. Some construction on this line was contemplated in the spring of 1918, but was postponed until the close of the war. Location surveys were in charge of Mr. C. C. Kelley, locating engineer. The length of the survey is 28.7 miles.

Survey--Johns Ranch to Jacques Ranch

This survey was made in July 1917, and is on the Pacific Highway between Glendale and Canyonville. The survey was 7.2 miles in length and was made by Mr. C. C. Kelley, locating engineer.

Survey--Canyon Creek Pa.s.s to Johns Ranch

This survey consisted of the location of a 2.3 mile section of the Pacific Highway from Canyon Creek Pa.s.s to Johns Ranch in Cow Creek Valley. It was made by C. C. Kelley, locating engineer, in August, 1917, and the section is now being constructed as a part of the Canyonville-Galesville Forest Road Project.

GILLIAM COUNTY

Gilliam County presents an interesting situation from the viewpoint of highways. Besides the Columbia River Highway the County is traversed by the John Day Highway, one of the important routes of Eastern Oregon.

This large mileage of State highways along with the fact that there are many large agricultural communities to be served, renders important and necessary an extensive road building program.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE JOHN DAY RIVER HIGHWAY SOUTH OF CONDON IN GILLIAM COUNTY MACADAMIZED IN 1917]

The people of Gilliam County have long realized the value of good roads.

Although continuous effort has been put forth, expensive construction and limited funds have resulted in only a beginning. County authorities have always shown a keen interest in the plans for state co-operation, regardless of whether Gilliam County was to be benefitted directly or whether improvements were to be made in the neighboring counties.

The State Highway Commission has always recognized the urgency of building the Columbia River Highway, and in addition has from the beginning realized the necessity of an improved road leading inland from Condon.

During 1918 the State Highway Commission made a location survey of the Columbia River Highway between John Day River and Arlington, and a reconnaissance survey has been made from Arlington east to the Morrow County Line.

Since August 1917 the State Highway Commission has expended $28,673.43 for macadamizing the John Day Highway between Condon and Thirty Mile Creek. In addition $9,000.00 of State funds has been set aside for maintaining and resurfacing this section during the coming winter.

Gilliam County Court and the road district in the north end of the County through heroic efforts have raised $60,000.00 for grading the Columbia River Highway between Arlington and Blalock, a distance of eight and sixty-eight one-hundredths miles. This work is to be started at once and rushed during the winter season. The State Highway Department will supply engineering supervision.

Condon-Thirty Mile Creek--Macadam

In August 1917 a contract was let by the State Highway Department to Warren Construction Company of Portland for macadamizing a five and seven-tenths mile section of the John Day Highway between Condon and Thirty Mile Creek. The contractor was paid on the basis of cost plus ten per cent for labor and plus five per cent for materials.

Rock was quarried and crushed at two different points on the job and trucks and teams were used for hauling. The old road was scarified and re-dressed prior to laying the macadam. A dry macadam six inches thick was laid over the five and seven-tenths miles. The average width of the surface is about fourteen feet.

The State paid the entire cost of this work amounting to $28,673.43 and it is thought that about $1,500.00 per mile will be required for maintenance and re-dressing during the next few months.

C. A. Harrington was resident engineer and inspector for the Department on this work.

Mayville-Wheeler County Line--Grading and Macadam

At the completion of the state work on the c.u.mmins Hill macadam, Gilliam County deemed it advisable to avail themselves of the opportunity to utilize the installed equipment and organization for macadamizing the John Day Highway between Mayville and Wheeler County Line, one mile south. Accordingly they graded and laid macadam for this distance thereby connecting Mayville up with the Wheeler County macadam. Gilliam County paid the full cost of this work amounting to about $6,500.00 for both grading and macadam.

The engineering and inspection was done by the State Department with George Hibbet in charge.

Columbia River Highway--Survey

A location survey of the Columbia River Highway was made by the State Highway Department during 1918. Beginning at the John Day River near its mouth the line follows up the Columbia River paralleling the O.-W. R. & N. Railway and ends at Arlington. The total length of the survey is twenty-three and ninety-six one-hundredths miles. The plans for the eight and sixty-eight one-hundredths miles section from Arlington to Blalock have been completed but there are revisions to be made in the remainder of the line owing to right-of-way encroachments upon the railroad property.

This survey was made under the direction of C. A. Harrington and B. H.

McNamee, locating engineers for the State Department.

GRANT COUNTY

Grant County lies in the mountainous section of the State and its limits on three sides, north, east and south follow water sheds. The general slope of the lands and direction of the drainage is toward the west but even here the country is of such rugged character that no natural pa.s.sageways are found to relieve the isolated condition. The roads in all directions are very rough and of little economic value to the County. The narrow gauge railway leading from Baker to Prairie City serves the whole County for both pa.s.senger and freight traffic.

It is readily seen that the call for improved roads for these settlements is an urgent one. To meet the demands for transportation facilities the County has made a very creditable showing towards financing highway improvements. In November 1916 a bond issue was voted providing $140,000.00. The mileage is so great however, and the construction so heavy and expensive, that County funds available for permanent work are altogether inadequate.

Grant County was among the first to apply for State and Federal aid and its call did not go unheeded. The State Highway Commission drew heavily upon its first apportionments of Post Road Funds in order to provide a connecting road between Spray and Dayville through the Big Basin and Picture Gorge. The co-operative plans provide also for the improvement of the John Day-Prairie City sections.

Two sections of the John Day Highway in this County aggregating thirty-one and thirty-one hundredths miles in length have been definitely established by location surveys, an additional location is to be made in the near future. In November the State Highway Commission received bids for the grading and macadamizing of that section of the John Day Highway between Hall Hill and Prairie City. The cost of this work is to be defrayed by State and Government funds in equal amounts.

Funds have been set aside by the Commission for the matching of Federal and County funds in the construction of the John Day Highway between the Grant-Wheeler County Line and Dayville. This is a portion of Post Road Project No. 6 extending from the mouth of Sarvice Creek, Wheeler County to Valades Ranch, Grant County. The project covers a total of forty-eight and ninety-five hundredths miles, twenty-three and forty-five hundredths miles of which are in Grant County. The appropriations for the improvement are apportioned as follows: Grant County, $50,000.00; State, $93,871.20; Government, $93,871.19. Total estimated cost, $237,742.39.

The Department has also appropriated funds for the grading and macadamizing of that section between the town of John Day and Fisk Creek, seven and four-tenths miles east of the town. The total estimated cost of the work is $145,051.50, which amount is to be supplied in equal amounts by the State and Government. The improvement from John Day to Prairie City is listed for early completion owing to an urgent request from the War Department to keep the road in condition for hauling chrome ore.

The following summary shows State and Federal aid to be extended Grant County during the next season.

=======================+==========+==========+==========+=========== Appropriated for | State | County |Government| Total expenditures in 1919 | Funds | Funds | Funds | -----------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------- Hall Hill to Prairie |$19,493.95| ... |$19,493.95|$ 38,987.90 City | | | | Wheeler County Line to | 93,871.20|$50,000.00| 93,871.19| 237,742.39 Valades Ranch | | | | John Day to Fisk Creek | 72,525.75| ... | 72,525.75| 145,051.50 -----------------------+----------+----------+----------+-----------

Hall Hill Section--Grading and Macadamizing

In July of this season the Grant County Court turned over to the State Departments funds for the improvement of certain sections between John Day and Prairie City. The Hall Hill Section, three and five-tenths miles in length, received first attention as it was much in need of repair.

The grading is almost completed and gravel macadam is laid on two and twenty-four hundredths miles. There has been expended on this work up to November 30, $39,000.00, and approximately $11,000.00 will be required for completion of the same. County funds will be supplied to finish this section. State forces and local labor are being employed on this work under the direct supervision of C. A. Harrington, resident engineer for the Department. In addition to the grading and macadamizing this work involves the construction of a 100-foot span bridge over the John Day River.

SUMMARY OF CONSTRUCTION QUANt.i.tIES

Excavation--5,300 cu. yds. solid rock; 4,100 cu. yds. intermediate; 10,300 cu. yds. common.

Pipe--70 lin. ft. 18-inch; 150 lin. ft. 24-inch; 120 lin. ft.

9-inch.

Survey of Big Basin Section of John Day Highway

In 1917 a location survey was made from the Grant-Wheeler County Lines east of Spray to Valades Ranch, five miles west of Dayville. The line crosses the North Fork of the John Day River at Kimberly's Ranch and follows up the Big Basin Valley along the east bank of the John Day River. A crossing is made near the upper end of Big Basin and the line follows the west bank of the river through Picture Gorge Canyon. On leaving Picture Gorge the line enters the John Day Valley, and continues on the west side of the river to Valades Ranch where the project ends.

Valades Ranch is five miles west of Dayville. This is a portion of the Sarvice Creek-Valades Ranch Post Road Project and the Grant County section is twenty-three and forty-five hundredths miles in length. This survey was made under the direction of R. H. Coppock, locating engineer.

Survey of John Day Highway From John Day to Prairie City