Read Ebook: Third Biennial Report of the Oregon State Highway Commission Covering the Period December 1st 1916 to November 30th 1918 by Benson Simon Booth R A Nunn Herbert Thompson W L

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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 passageways 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 passenger 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 0,000.00. 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, ,000.00; State, ,871.20; Government, ,871.19. Total estimated cost, 7,742.39.

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 5,051.50, 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.

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, ,000.00, and approximately ,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 QUANTITIES

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

In 1918 a location survey was made from the town of John Day to Prairie City. The line follows the south limit of the valley east from John Day for eight and five-tenths miles and crosses the river to the north side of the valley at the bridge site on the present road. It continues thence along the north side of the valley to Prairie City. The length of this survey is twelve and seventy-four hundredths miles.

C. A. Harrington and R. H. Coppock were the locating engineers on this section. The office work for this survey is finished and plans are complete.

Sarvice Creek-Valades Ranch Port Road Project

John Day-Fisk Creek Post Road Project

The State Highway Department has submitted to the Government for the purpose of securing Post Road aid, that section of the John Day Highway between John Day and Fisk Creek. This project is five and seventy-two hundredth miles in length and the total estimated cost is 5,051.50. The co-operation is to be on the basis of fifty per cent of the cost from each the State and Government.

Assurance has been received that the project will receive the support of the Government and it is expected that construction work will begin in the near future.

Hall Hill-Prairie City Post Road Project

The Office of Public Roads has approved the application for Post Road aid on the John Day Highway between Hall Hill and Prairie City. The length of this project is two and fourteen hundredths miles. The total estimated cost is approximately ,000.00. The road is to be graded and surfaced with gravel macadam. This improvement involves also the construction of a fifty foot span bridge near Prairie City. The apportionment of the costs provide for the payment of ,500.00 by each the State and Government.

Bids were received for this work on November 27 and a contract for the construction was later awarded Kern & Co. of Portland, Oregon. Work will begin in a short time and the bid price for this improvement was ,987.90.

HARNEY COUNTY

Roads in Harney County are few in number, but the combined mileage of these few is enormous. Fortunately a large portion of the County roads are good most of the year, but during the winter season communication by the valley roads is usually extremely difficult.

Highways are of extreme importance in this County owing to the scarcity of railroads. The value of improved highways is fully appreciated by the people and a very creditable beginning has been made on the roads in the vicinity of Burns. However, County funds are entirely inadequate for the carrying out of a road building scheme of any magnitude.

The State Highway Commission extended aid in 1918 to the amount of ,000 which appropriation calls for a like amount from the Federal Government. The County joins in the co-operative work to the amount of ,000.00. This makes a total of ,000.00 for a beginning. Present plans provide that work shall start early in 1919.

Additional support was secured from the State in the forms of surveys. Approximately nineteen miles of the Central Oregon Highway within Harney County was surveyed in 1918.

Survey of Central Oregon Highway--Burns-Experimental Farm Section

During 1918 the State Highway Commission surveyed a six mile section of the Central Oregon Highway leading east from Burns and past the Government experimental farm. This project begins one and one-half miles east of Burns and ends two miles east of the experimental farm. The plans for this survey are practically completed. This survey was made under the direction of H. B. Wright, locating engineer.

Sage Hen to Burns Section Survey

This is also a section of the Central Oregon Highway and is ten and thirty-nine hundredths miles in length. The line begins near Sage Hen Creek and parallels the present road into Burns, with a considerable saving in distance. This survey was made at the request of the County authorities in order that some improvements they have planned may be placed upon a permanent location. H. B. Wright was locating engineer on this survey.

Glass Butte Section Survey

This is a portion of the survey between Rolyat in Deschutes County and One Hundred Mile Road in Harney County. Fifteen and six-tenths miles are in Deschutes County and fifteen in Harney County. This survey was made at the request of the Counties in order that local funds may be expended on a permanent location. The present road through Glass Butte section between Rolyat and One Hundred Mile Road is in poor material and much longer than necessary. Local plans provide for the opening of the new road as soon as practicable. H. B. Wright, locating engineer for the State Department directed the surveying of this line.

Reconnaissance Survey Burns to Vale

In April, 1918, the State Highway Department made a reconnaissance survey over the route from Burns to Vale. All possible routes were covered in the survey and reported upon fully to the State Highway Engineer and the Commission. The investigation resulted in the establishing of the route from Burns direct to Crane and down the Malheur River through River Side, Juntura, Harper and Vale. This survey was made by M. O. Bennett, division engineer for the State Highway Department.

HOOD RIVER COUNTY

Grading--Cascade Locks to Hood River

That section of the Columbia River Highway from the Multnomah County Line to Hood River passes through the narrowest part of the Columbia River Gorge through the Cascade Range. The steep river banks rise directly up from the water's edge for a large part of the distance, so the space for both railroad and highway is necessarily restricted. At many points, the right of way of the railroad and highway is contiguous and construction under these conditions involved extremely heavy work which added materially to the cost.

Previous to 1915, there was no road through the County, but from the proceeds of a bond issue of ,000, the County built on State standards a roadway to connect the uncompleted portions. In 1915, the State built about one mile, including the Mitchell Point Tunnel, one of the many scenic features of the Columbia River Highway. One mile of pavement adjoining the Multnomah County pavement was built in 1916 by Mr. S. Benson.

There remained about fourteen miles which require improvement, and on August 7, 1917, contracts were awarded to A. D. Kern for grading of these remaining sections to bring to standard grade and alignment. This improvement eliminated Ruthton Hill, with its narrow, steep grades, three railroad crossings, a narrow, steep grade near Wyeth and the improvement through the village of Cascade Locks to the end of the pavement. The work was divided as follows: Cascade Locks Section, 8.2 miles; Viento Section, 3.6 miles; Ruthton Hill Section, 4.2 miles. These contracts were completed in September, 1918. Due to the close proximity to the railroad tracks, the work required extreme care and watchfulness but was accomplished without accident and without delays to railroad traffic. The costs of construction for each of the three sections follows:

DETAILED EXPENDITURE STATEMENT--GRADING--CASCADE LOCKS SECTION

DETAILED STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES TO NOVEMBER 30, 1918--GRADING AND BRIDGES--VIENTO SECTION

DETAILED STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES TO NOVEMBER 30, 1918--GRADING RUTHTON HILL SECTION

Macadamizing--Cascade Locks to Hood River

On July 4, 1918, a contract was awarded to A. D. Kern of eighteen miles of gravel surfacing between Hood River and the Multnomah County Line on the basis of cost plus fifteen per cent on labor and supplies and twelve and one-half per cent on equipment; provided, that no percentage should be paid on any cost over ,000. This work also includes the building of shoulders on the one mile of pavement built by S. Benson in 1916 adjacent to the Multnomah County Line. The gravel for this work was taken from pits at Cascade Locks, Herman, Sonny and Hood River, was loaded by steam shovels, screened at two of the pits and hauled by auto trucks. As a result there is now a gravel surface between Hood River and Cascade Locks. A total of 23,396 cubic yards was placed upon the road at an average cost of .88 per cubic yard which represents total cost of excavating, screening, hauling, spreading and rolling.

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