Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1917-09-06
rxAMNE PART OF STATE ROUTE
FROM THIS CITY TO TOWN
OF WHITEHEAD.
MEET BUSINESS men OF CITY
Proposed Route With Five Per Cent
Grade Gives Better Communication
Into Salmon River Country.

Chairman w. A. Broadhead and Secre.
tary E. A. Van Sickle of the State High.
way commission have been interviewing
Idaho county residents this week anent
the north and south State highway. 1t
is safe to say that the conferences will
result in bringing the proposed route by
way of Grangeville. The matter now is
in the hands of the highway engineers
of whom State Highway Engineer E.
NJ Booth of Boise and Engineer G. G.
Van Arsdol of Lewiston, accompanied
by Engineer L. j. Hewes of Portland,
representing the National Highways,
are out on the road today between here
and Whitebird. County Auditor and
others accompanied the party.
A body of representative business men
met the engineers last evening at the
Imperial hotel. Bonds of $35, 900 were
voted some time ago to aid in this road
building program and these bonds have
not yet been sold although there are
plenty of takers. But as no work can
he done on this part of the route dur.
ing the winter, the money will not be
needed and our careful officials wish to
avoid paying interest on the bonds till
the cash is ready to be used. Hence the
meeting of last evening. Engineer
Booth informed his audience that no
work would be done in this section till
spring but that the crews will confine
their attention to the Salmon river
country where conditions are ideal for
winter operations.
The Free Fress is informed that the
Chapman route has been accepted of the
Whitebird and that route has been laid
out to within three miles of this city
and it is for the purpose of completing
the surveys to Grangeville and the
balance of the county that the engineers
are here.
From this city to Meadows forms one
unit of the highway for the building of
which 100000 has been provided,
900 by the state and nation, $15,-
900 by the Whitebird district and $685.
600 by the Grangeville district. Mr..
Hewes who looks after the national end
of the matter says that the surveys must
all be made, checked over and accepted
before the bids for construction are to
be let, which will not be before Novem-
Der lst
For some time the people of this
section have been interested in securing
better graded road between Grange
VIE and Whitebird which will even
tually form part of the state highway
from Boise, leading through this sec
tlon. On several occasions engineers
have been out surveying between here
and Whitebird and number of routes
have been suggested as feasible and
laid before the state highway commits
sion as favorable routes till that body
decided to investigate for themselves.
so visited this section the first of the
week and made the trip to familiarize
themselves with the country lying be-
tween the two towns. And again they
wished to consult the wishes of the pub
ic In the matter.
For this latter purpose very pleasant
gathering took place Tuesday morning
IN the parlors of the Imperial Hotel
where T.. A. Van Sickle and w. A.
broadhead, member of the commission
aesired to met some of the business men
and others interested in the proposed
state highway route. The many phases
VI the route between Grangeville and
tne Salmon river section were talked
over with these gentlemen. 1t seemed
mat they wished simply to be thorough
Y acquainted with every detail of the
route and were desirous of hearing the
wishes of the public in regard to the
same. citizens present outlined the
s'uatlon to them, and the most kindly
,eehng existed. Hon. N. B. Pettibone,
eohn 7. Eimers and George ID. Smith,
VINO " iabored faithfully for the route to
orangeville, from the river section ac-
.eompamed the officials portion of
.hc way to Whitebird, on their depar.
'ure' The only regret Grangeville citi-
.ens express is that the stay of these
sehtiemen was SO limited that our peo-
p'e could not entertain them while they
.olourned in our midst. We learn thar
ue wives and friends of these parties
aa.eeompanied them from the Boise sec-
noh, touring in a special ear. All of
eno parties left for the south by the
@sy, OF Whitebird country to Weiser.
We w trust that they will visit us again
suu a. remain longer. It is settled fact
,';n Mat tne road comes direct to Grange
sa "e along the foothills as proposed and
~; ~, which the Grangeville Highway Dis
aa nS. voted the $35, 900 bonds. The pro-
pvasd p,os route will give five per. cent
sh" slaue and will go through a section
npfe NJ snow is less likely to drift.
na we also learn that the Joseph and
.;Sa ;S"seq highway districts on the south
e OF the Salmon river in Idaho county
hsar oeen united, an election having
yo,a neid Saturday at which time the
% e o,S was "a for uniting the district and
= opposed to the plant.
:. - understood the plans provide for