Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1917-01-18
BOISE AGAINST THE
NORTH AND SOUTH
HIGHWAY ROUTE
OUT IN OPEN AGAINST PRESENT
LOCATION OF NORTH AND
SOUTH HIGHWAY
Want THROUGH HLONC VALLEY
Admit Change Would Increase Cost
$300,000 But That Makes No Diff
ference with People at the Capital.

Boise-Efforts of the Boise CONNER
cial Club to get the routing of the
north AMI south highway through Wash
ington and Adams counties changed and
made to pass down the north fork of the
Payette river through Land valley from
New Meadows to this city, promises to
precipitate one of the biggest fights to
come up in the present session of the
legislature.
1t is genarlly agreed among members
of both houses that the legislature is
going to split along non-partisan lines
when bill making the proposed change
is introduced
Lobbying for and against the change
is going on feverishly, but both sides
are reluctant to show their hands. An
effort has been made to keep the mat
ter from lobbing up, but it cannot be
headed off, members of the lower house
say, and they are already looking for
ward to bitter contest.
Little is being said by those who
will direct the fight on the present
route of the highway for the CONNER
cial club, but little more is being said
by the highway engineer g department.
1t is claimed that the entire system
of roads for the state as laid out and
planned by the state highway commits
sion during the last four years may be
| dragged into the legislature when the
| attack is made on that section of the
north and south highway which is to be
brought under fire.
The north and south highway at the
present runs north out of Weiser
through Washington, Adams, Idaho,
/ Lewis and Nez Perce counties to Lew.
| iston.
If the change in its routing to be
asked by the local commercial club is
i made, it would bring the road south
from New Meadows in Adams county
| through Long valley to Boise by the
way of Emmett. The highway would be
made to pass the Payette lakes.
The distance to New Meadows from
Boise by the present route of the state
highway is III miles. From Boise to
New Meadows by the new proposed
eroute the distance would be but I45
miles.
At Weiser the north and south high
way merges with the Idaho and Pacific
highway. The road between Boise and
Weiser is part of the latter highway.
1t is in good condition.
1t is estimated by the state highway
department that it would cost approx
|
of north and south highway between
Boise and New Meadows is proposed
by those who are asking the change in
the routing, while the section as plan
ned by the highway commissioners be-
tween Weiser and New Meadows could
be constructed at a cost of approx
mately $348,000.
Washington county has soted road
bonds to be used in building the state
highway. Adams county has talked OF
voting bonds, but its people are hold
ing off until they learn what the legis
lature is goin to do for the state 1
road system before taking action.
The proposed change in the routing
! of the highway would bring it through
Boise, Gem and Ada counties. That il
going to have the result, legislators say
of causing the representatives from tn,
three counties named to line up against
Washington and Adams counties, leav
ing Canyon county the pivot about
which the two delegations would center
Members of the Canyon county delega
tion are saying nothing, and no on,
seems to know yet how they are goin.
to line up.