Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1915-10-07
ENGINEER CALKINs OF u. s. FOR
EST SERVICE ASSIGNED TO
MAKE THE SURVEY.
SUPERVISOR RING INFORMED
This Will Probably Mean the Early
Completion of Road to the Trail
Bridge-Then on to Elk City.

A letter received this week by Sup
ervisor George V. Ring from the dis.
trict forest office at Missoula, Monta.
ma, brings pleasing message, especial
ly to those who are interested in the
survey and completion of road up the
South Fork of the Clearwater to Elk
City. A few weeks ago the Free Press
published an article in which it men,
toned that a special effort would soon
be put forth to procure the early build
ing of the South Fork road and that
the new plans wound include the hearty
cooperation of mining men of the South
Fork section, homesteaders, and the
business men of Grangeville.
| The letter received by Mr.. Ring lends
the first encouragement, as it announ-
ces that Engineer Calkins of the United
States Forest Service, who is now en-
gagged on Cour d 'Alene road survey
work has been assigned to survey the
Mount ldaho-South Fork bridge road
and will arrive here to take up the
duties of the survey on or about the
18th of this month. Mr. Bonner, who
has been here at different times in con-
nection with this road, will probably
come to see that the work is laid out
correctly.
This part of the work is of course to
be done under the direction of the For
est Service. When Senator Borah made
his recent visit to Grangeville he pro-
missed that if he was furnished with
data and information concerning the
road and the benefits to be derived
therefrom that he would endeavor to
obtain federal appropriation for the
road. In furnishing data for use in
getting an appropriation, o number of
men interested in mines in the section
tapped by the proposed road have
agreed to combine their efforts to pro-
cure government assistance and to
give every aid possible to the project.
The average resident of the South
Fork section of Idaho county and of
Grangeville understand clearly the
great benefit to be derived by the road
in opening up vast section to settle
ment by homesteaders and to miners
and prospectors. vast amount of
mineral, agricultural and timber wealth,
not to speak of water power and other
resources lie dormant in that section
and water grade road from Grange
vile would do more to develop these idle
resources and to increase the wealth of
Idaho County than any other thing
which could be done.
The main thing is hearty and unani-
nous cooperation of everyone to work
for this new improvement and to gath
er every available bit of information
that may be of use in promoting the
early construction of the road and to
procure federal aid in the building.
Further information as to the plans
of the Forest Service other than the
survey to be made in the near future
is not now available. 1t is thought
that the section of the road from Mount
Idaho to the South Fork bridge will be
completed, and part of the work has al
ready been performed, the road will be
pushed on up the Clearwater soon there
after. The completion of the road and
the cost of building the same would
not cost more than one years saving to
the federal government in carrying the
, mails from and to Elk City.