Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-04-07

Boise river.
1.-THE distance from Boise to the Ar.
rowrock dam is 20 miles, of which the
first eight to the mouth Of the canyon
is over level country with roads al
ready built. OF the remaining IA
miles, for the last AZ miles there car
De used the abandoned grade of the
governments Arrowrock railroad
which, with some improvements, will
make an admirable wagon road.
LESS THAN 10 MILES TO BUILD
so there would remain of actual
road building only the 81 miles be-
tween the mouth Of the Boise canyon
and the mouth of Moore's creek
Through this distance the Boise river
flows In alternating sections of can
yon and rolling hills with little choice
between the natural condition of its
two sides. The construction of the
first 81 miles If located on the north
side Of the river Is made much more
difficult, however, by the location on
this side, Of the Intermountain rail-
way, and, as the old road-b bed of the
government railroad which 1t Is pro-
posed to use for the last ~ miles is
on the south side Of the river, there
seems to be no question that the To-
cation through the canyon should all
be on the south side.
The construction in the CANYON al
ternates between steep slopes, usually
covered with masses Of broken lava.
and benches of level ground. The
most difficult construction is on the
steep lava covered slopes. The lava
on these slopes is usually underlaid
at a small depth by gravel, but across
the larger slides gravel surface will
nave to be made on top of the loose
rock. The work of grading for the
roadbed on these steep slopes is not
very difficult or expensive. 1t is
largely pick and shovel work with
some shooting of the rock which are
too large to be moved with bars. The
work on the level sections could be
done more economically by teams, but
under certain conditions it may be
best to do this also by hand.
There is comparatively little cross
drainage to be provided or. There
are a number of small streams to be
crossed such as Lytel's gulch, Cotton
wood creek and Charcoal creek, which
bridges or culverts.
HARD SURFACE UNNECESSARY.
Il would not advocate the building
OF an expensive hard surface road. A
good location with easy grades should
be made following as closely to the
level of the river as possible. The
roadbed should be at all points wide
enough for safe passing.
THE availability of gravel in the
road excavation at many points and
from the adjacent river at all points
would mako gravel surfaced road
cheap and this, l think,
would be advisable.
Starting from Boise existing roads
could be used on either side Of the
valley as far as the wagon bridge
dam, Above this point the present
road on the south side of the river
follows the bank of the government
canal. This location would require the
of the canal at its head and
the use of the canal bank which would
not be satisfactory for general travel.
Probably the best location would be
to cross the government canal at a
point directly south of the Barber
bridge and to follow the edge of the
bench Immediately above the canal to
the diversion dam where the road
would drop to near the level Of the |
river above the DAM
THE construction Of this road Is of
prime importance to the residents of
The Boise valley in Ada and Canyon
counties, to the United States forest
service and to the residents on the
upper Boise river and its tributaries
n Gilmore and Boise counties.
There is already a road leading
rom the dam up the south fork to
Smiths Prairie. There was at one
lime road leading up the middle
ork to Atlanta. With a good road
o Arrowrock these roads could be
improved for the mutual
of the forest service and
he residents along the river as well
Is for the pleasure of the people of
he Boise valley.
COOPERATIVE BUILDING.
AS for the method to be followed
n doing the work, this would depend
lpon the organization undertaking it
md the funds available. It would be
IN ideal piece of work for the use of
Prison labor. 1t could be done very
argely by hand work. The labor
ould be taken out every morning and
eturned at night. using auto trucks,
r the Intermountain railway. In this
vent, no doubt, it would be the plan
0 pay the labor at such a rate that
would share in the saving effected
Yer other methods of doing the work.
On account of the different coun-
les traversed and served by the road
would seem to some properly un-
er the state highway commission.
,hich is also best equipped with en-
ineering talent and organization for
s construction.
1t might be built by. cooperation
etween the forest service. the re-
lamation service and the various in
srests of the town and valley.
In any case 1t should be under.
ken promptly SO that this invalu-
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