Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1915-11-25
FIFTY CONvICTS BE PLACED ON
JOB AND BE EMPLOYED FOR
A PERIOD OF FROM FIVE
TO SIX MONTHS.

10 SIX MONTHS.
Work on improving the Salmon river
road will, without doubt be inaugurated
the first of the year, plans having for
their purpose this object have been al
most completed and within the next
several weeks the few details that re-
main unsolved at this time will have
been agreed upon and by the first of
the year there will be camp of at
least fifty convicts along the Salmon
river widening out the road at the mar
row places and doing other works that
is very necessary at this time.
State Engineer Booth, who is employ
ed by the state highway commission,
was in the city last week and at a
meeting held Thursday night at which
time members of the commercial club,
prominent business men, stockmen from
the river section and county Officers
were present. Mr.. Booth outlined the
plan of the highway commission and
went over the grounds with those in
terested
Mr. Booth stated but small sum of
money originally allowed for the use
on state highways was now available
but at meeting of the commission
held recently it was decided to devote
practically the entire remaining sum,
close to six thousand dollars, on the
Salmon river road, providing the peo-
pie showed the proper appreciation. 1t
is the desire of the commission to do
such work as will be of the most practi
and with this object in view it is pro
able what work is done will be under
the supervision of the county commits
sioners who have been asked to visit
the road with the engineer at a near
future date and agree upon the points
where work is most necessary. AS the
law provides that the state funds be
spent only on state highways and the
survey made several years ago for the
proposed north and south road does not
follow the present road entirely, the
desire of the commission seems to be to
spend the present amount on such sec
tions of the old road as are on the
survey and where badly needed. just
where the work will begin is not known
at this time and will be determined at
a later date.
The amount of money to be used
will permit the employment of at least
fifty convicts for period of from five
to six months. Engineer Booth ex-
planned that on account of the desira-
bility of keeping the convicts on work
requiring a large number of men on as
small piece of road as possible, reduc
ing the cost of handling the men as
well as their likelihood of escape, also
the lack of plows and scrapers, the mer
would be employed ON rock and picl
and shovel work. Arrangements viii
undoubtedly be completed by the frs
of the year at which time it is the de
sire of the state to have at least
fifty convicts busily engaged on th'
river road. There is no doubt as t,
the necessity of work on the river roa'
and the people are highly pleased witt
this opportunity the state is offering
feeling that it is just beginning o
the completion of a fine boulevard fror
the north to the south.
The state is interested in approx
mately 800 miles of highway construc
tion in the southern part of the stat
at the present time and the total es
penditure during the past five month
has been about $250,000,, of while
amount the state has furnished one
third. The southern and southeaster
part of the state has been active i
the matter of appropriations to seeur
state aid and the money appropriate
has been larger than the state ha
been able to meet with its one-third.
In Bannock county, the state is il
teresed in about 100 miles of highwa,
construction work is being prosecute
on the Yellowstone highway frol
i Pocatello north to Ashton, so miles al
being constructed in Cassia county nes
Burley but the best road is in Blain
county between Richfield and Halle,
Up to the present time the only su
: facing has been gravel, the chief after
tion being given to the grades and tt
. drainage system. These are of tn
$ most permanent character, conrete an
!, steel being used for all eulverts an
a bridges.
n The state is maintaining its fir
t convict honor camp on the north sic
o of the Shoshone grade and up to Il
present time it has been complet