The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-12-17
HIRTEEN millions of dollars is


highways in the State of Washington
during the biennium 1913-1914, ac-
cording to figures just compiled in
the office of the State Highway Com
mission at Olympia.
1t marks a period of activity in
good roads work that is without
parallel in the Pacific Northwest, and
is a record that places the Evergreen
State up among the leading common
wealths of the Union in the matter
of highway Improvement. In this
enormous sum is represented the first
actual construction of a comprehen-
siye system of arteries that describes
a network across the entire state.
Washington farmers, automobiles
and business men have taken cog
nizance of the necessity and great
benefits of good roads, and their
wishes are reflected in the state
wide programme outlined by the 1918
session of the Legislature, and there
is every reason to believe that the
system OF roads will be carried
through to completion during the
biennium of 1915-1916, when, it is
estimated, not less than $4,000, 900
will be expended in lettering travel
ing conditions.
$500 Miles of Road Built.
Due to the aggressiveness of the
State Highway Commission, the va
rious boards Of County Commission
ers and the persistence Of public
spirited organizations, such as auto
mobile clubs and good roads associa-
tons, there were constructed in the
State of Washington during the
two years just drawing to a close a
total of approximately $500 miles
OF roads, representing no less than
seven different types Of construction,
from dirt roads to the highest grade
of brick surfacing. In this connec
ton Washington holds the distinction
of having laid down the first brick
roads west of the Mississippi River
and has more mileage of that type
than any state in the same section
OF Uncle Sans great domain.
While the state government ap-
p%ropriates an enormous amount Of
money for highways and made CON-
mendable progress, the 80 counties
that make up the commonwealth Of
Washington were not far behind in
activity. Out of the public highway
fund there was expended approx
mately $1,750,000 during the two
years on 233 miles of roads. The
permanent highway fund was ex-
tremely generous, contributing 3d.
330,S88 toward the construction Of
431.77 miles of permanent roads.
The 80 counties spent approximately
$4,750,000 in building roads, mostly
of the gravel type, and disbursed
~$3,22O,00O in maintenance work.
Hard-Surfaced Roads Made.
Washington is making progress in
laying down hard-surfaced thorough
fares, the major portion of which
are located where traffic is the heav-
lest. During 1913 and 1914 there
was built by the State Highway
Commission out of the permanent
highway fund 431.77 miles of roads
Segregated, they were: Spread gravel
1910 miles, costing $488,315; rolled
gravel, 91.61 miles, $401,392; water
bound macadam, 112.77 miles, $637,
It's; asphalt macadam, 1888 miles
s403,531; %warrenite, 7.67 miles
$114,676; concrete, SIS miles, $607,
416, and brick, 22.76 miles, $618,
719.
Six primary, or main, highway
were included in this work. The
greatest amount of activity was OF
the Inland Empire Highway, which
reaches from North Yakima, through
Walla Walla, Dayton and ColfaA, tt
Spokane, on which 67.5 miles wer'
improved. The Sunset Highway, ex
tending from Seattle through Sno
qualmie Pass, in the Cascade Noun
tains, to E%llensburg and Spokane
ranked second in the amount of worl
done, 58.7 miles of road having beer
built, thus connecting the east ant
west sides of the state with a good
passable route. The Pacific High
way, which reaches from the Cana
dian boundary to Vancouver, Wash.
across the river from the Oregon
State line, was improved to the ex
tent of 27.7 miles; the Olympic High
way, connecting the rich Olympi
Peninsula with the outside state
was benefited to the extent of 26.2I
miles; the National Park Highway
which runs from the south western
part of the state to Rainier Nationa
Park. connecting with the splendit