The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1915-08-06
ORovILLE. WASH. AUGUST 6, 1915.
WORKING Road NO. 10.
After Many Days Construction of This
Important Public Highway is
Under Way.

At last actual work has commenced
in earnest on state road No. 10, south
of Oroville. Crews of men and teams
are tearing up the earth on the grade
as finally established by the engineers
in charge, and construction will con-
| tinue as far south as the appropriation
will reach, the aim being to complete
the road permanently as far as the
amount available will 90 the work. The
road bed proper will be 1S feet wide,
with bitches on both sides.
There has been much delay in get
ting this work started, through no
fault of the engineer in charge, how
ever. Much time was lost in making
the surveys, as more tnan one line was
run owing to hitch IN securing the
right-of-way without cost to the state
Had that part of the preliminary pro-
ceedings worked smoothly construc-
ton would have commenced some time
ago. The delay was Irritating to the
public, and added no little to the trials
and tribulations of those in charge.
After viewing the road that has been
travelled over for years the state Off
cials decided at once that the initial
cost of state road built along that
line would prove entirely too heavy,
and furthermore, annual maintenance
would be an expensive item to meet
A survey was made of what is known
as the lower road, hut there difficult
ties were encountered IN securing the
right-of-way, so another line was run,
known as the upper road, at the foot
of the mountain range. When it was
almost decided to select that route
residents on the lower road signified
a willingness to come to terms and
that route, considered altogether the
most desirable, was finally selected.
The road as laid out now and start
ed will strike south from the west end
of the bridge across the Similkameen
river, following along the side hill near
the bridge on a grade that will re-
quire but little cutting out of the bank
1t will pass through the Truax ranch,
thence through the Jas. E. Forde place,
between the barn and residence, strik-
ing the old road this side of the Schlief
tract. Leaving the rougher ground to
the west the road Will divert through
the Johnston place and after passing
the Spencer ranch will cut through
the Granger and LoudoE ranches,
striking LAUDER gulch near the river.
This is as far as a definite line Las
been established, and further, prob
ably, than the amount available will
carry construction at this time. 1t is
highway, nevertheless, and it is felt
confident that future legislatures will
set aside a sum sufficient to complete
the gap between Oroville and Tomas
ket that will exist when the work un-
der way has been completed. The
route selected gives an almost level
road from Oroville to LAUDER gulch,
nowhere, it is said, ever a 2-per cent
grade, to supplant the rough, hilly,
road that has made travel down or up
the valley hardship for years. Also
this road will cost less in the future
for maintenance than road construct
ed along either of the other two
routes.
The public will be pleased to learn
that all obstructions to construction
have been surmoun+ed, and that the
work fairly started will be continued
as long as the sinews last for meeting
the cost.