Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1916-11-10
ACTIVE CAMPAIGN STARTS
FOR ROAD TO MONTANA

UIl lIUhU U WUu MN
Major Frank Fem of Missoula, con-
nected with the Forestry Service, was
in Orofino Wednesday evening, ad-
dressing the Commercial Club in the
evening on the matter of the proposed
Missoula- Lewiston highway. Mon
tana has already raised the money
and will construct her end from Mis-
soula to the Idaho state line, a dis
tance of 80 miles. Major Fem wants
the people of Idaho to take up the
work and is organizing movement in
this direction. The next legislature
will be asked to appropriate $50, 900
for work from the Montana line west
to Kooskia. Idaho county will take
care of its share, reaching from Koos-
kia to Kamiah. Lewis county will
complete its link from Kamiah to
Greer. 1t is desired to enlist Clear
water county in the movement. 1t is
up to our county to construct the
link from Greer to Peck, much of
which is already built, altho little of
the existing road within Clearwater
county will comply with the condi-
tions-a five per cent maximum grade
and 20 foot roadbed. The follow
ing resolutions were adopted:
State Board of Highway Commits
sioners: The undersigned, your pc
titioners, respectfully represent:
That, at present there is no passable
road across the Bitterroot Mountains
from the Missoula- Wallace road on
the north to the Gibbonsville-B Big
Hole road on the south.
That, an entirely feasible route for
highway across the Bitterroot range
is found by way of the Lolo Pass,
about midway between the two roads
first above mentioned.
That, the route suggested would
begin at the Lolo Hot Springs in Mon
tana, and thence would extend west
erly and southwesterly via the Lolo
Pass, Packer Creek, the Crooked
Fork of the Lochsa, the Lochsa river,
and the Middle Fork of the Clear
water river to Kooskia, Idaho, where
it would connect with the present
road system of Idaho county.
That, in the counties of Nez Perce,
Lewis and Clearwater steps have been
taken to assure the building of road
along the Clearwater river to connect
with the above suggested road via the
Lolo Pass at the Idaho county line,
and by such connection make a
through east and west water grade
highway across the State of Idaho,
which in it's course would traverse
Idaho, Lewis, Clearwater, and Nez
Perce counties and unite with the
highway system of the State of Wash
ington on the west and that of Mon
tana on the east.
That, when con pleted said east ant
west road will intersect the north ant
south highway system of Idaho, ant
connect directly at midway poin
with the Park-to-Park Highway il
Montana. the principal north an(
south thoroughfare of that state.
That, the greater part of said cas-
and west road will pass thru a region
which is now undeveloped and unpro
ductive, but which is rich in natura
resources and capable of contributin,
greatly to the material wealth of tn
state and of affording to the touris
and pleasure seeker recreational at
fractions unrivalled in any part Of tn
west.
That, with the exception Of about
miles, the said east and west roa
lies within the limits of Nationa
Forests and the Forest Service. ap
preciative of the immense possibili
ties for development of the region j
question. is interested in and desirou
of securing the building of said eas
and west road under the plan of CT
operative road construction now az
proved and applied by the State {
Idaho and the Forest Service. Ths
throughout its course said east ar
west road will follow or parallel tn
route taken by the explorers, Lew
and Clark, on their way to the Pa
cfic at the beginning of the last Gel
tury.
Therefore, your petitioners prs
that the said proposed route begiI
ming at the Lolo Pass on the Sta
line between Idaho and Montana. al
extending thence westerly and sout
westerly by way of Packer Creek, Il
Crooked Fork of Lachsa river. Il
Lochsa River and the Middle Fork