The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-11-25
State Highway Engineer E. Nj.
Booth Met With Citizens
and Commissioners.
TO EXAMINE SURVEY
Road VIII Connect Extreme
Ends of State; IS Miles
in Idaho County.

There Is now every reason to believe
there win be something doing soon ON
the much talked OF north and south
highway, a fact that win undoubtedly
meet with the hearty approval Of the
entire popuIace of Idaho county. II
there is any one thing which will ma
teriay benefit the whole of the coun-
ty, II Is a good well kept highway, ex-
tending from the extreme north to the
state capital ON the south. The fac
stares us in the face that we in the
north have put our good money into
very fine capital building in the city
of Boise, and THAT at the present date
we are unable to reach 1t without trav-
cling through three states and taking
two days time and considerable expense
to do so. 1t is to the interest of ev-
cry citizen in the north to see those
conditions changed so that we can IN
some degree, ait least, get some good
out of our original investment. " 1t is
no more than to once in awhile run
/ down and look over "our property and
figure out just what our individual in
tterest might amount to in cold dollars.
A good highway, over which automo-
biles could be operated with safety,
would do this. The state now pro-
poses to send convicts up mere to be-
gin work ON such a highway. 1t is a
move IN tn right direction, and should
be encouraged by every good word pos
sible.
State Highway Engineer +. M. Booth
came up from Lewiston and spent last
Thursday in our city as the authorized
representative OF the state highway
commission. He requested that the cit
izens and the county commissioners get
together and talk over the use of con-
vict labor on the road between New
Meadows and Whitebird with him. 1t
was done, and Mr.. Booth, who shows
, himself TO be thoroughly conversant with
the highway situation in the state. as
well as the success so far secured In
, road work through convict labor stated
that he would send an. engineer uu here
. within the next few weeks to go over
, the new highway survey with the COM
, missioners and investigate the condi-
tions and estimate something OF the
extent of the task which the convtcts
were expected to tackle, and to decide
upon the most desirable and practica-
BILE place to begin work. Mr.. Booth him.
: self seemed to think the best point OF
beginning would be between Whitebird
and the Salmon river, that the diff
. cult Baker hill might be done away
!, with However, that is a matter to
!, be decided upon when the engineers and
commissioners go over the road. Mtssrs
: Long and Pettibone were both present
at the melting, and signified their will
o ingness to join labors with the engi-
~ neer when sent up here.
* This Is the first practical move made
: to join the two extreme ends of the
10 state by a real highway. 1t is encour-
aging to know that sufficient sentiment
Il has been aroused in the south and with
,5 the state officials in favor of this road
n to cause the visit of 1.-The state engi-
= neer and the promise of real work II
"a conditions are favorable enough to JUS
tify. The movement should not now
n be allowed to rest, or be overtaken
.s with that deadly apathettc condition
Sc which so often overcomes worthy pub
= lie enterprises. until some real benefits
25 are secured.
There will be some So miles OF road
SO inside of Idaho county, and some 5'
"a odd miles from the south line to Grange
SO vile, most of which latter is paral-
= lelled by the national forest, from tive
3s miles back right up to the roadway
Mr.. Booth estimates that 1t costs $4t
So per man to operate a crew Of convicts
10 for one month, including all costs, ol
09 overhead expenses. He Is figuring on
- ba inging so men to work on the north
O5 and south road. One of the require
ments Is that no portion OF the roat
constructed shall exceed five Del
cent grade. and the new survey has
~ been made on that basis. This would
a. make a fine piece OF road, through one
ar Of the greatest scenic sections of the
Vi state, and would place the people Cd
= Idaho county within an easy and very
~ pleasant days auto run to Boise. the
A. state capital It certainly Is q project
that should be pushed for all there is
in 1t.