Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-04-07
A. ]. WILEY POINTS
OUT ADVANTACESOF
ARROWROCK ROAD
Prominent Consulting Engineer
Gives Data on Route to Be
Followed and Value of Road
to Residents. .
TRIP IS A SCENIC ONE
Road Would Pass Place Where
Mary Hallock Foote, Great
Author Lived When She
Wrote Her Last Story.

Probably no man In idaho is more
familiar with the topography Of the
country, the irrigation projects and
scenic wonders of the southern SEQ
ton OF the Gem state that A. ]. Wiley
the eminent consulting engineer, who
has been called into consultation on
practically every large irrigation
project in tho state and also on other
large engineering enterprises. Mr..
Wiley was one Of the first engineers
to look over tho site of Arrowrocls
dam and 10 familiar with every foot
Of the country between Boise and the
dam. He Is 4 strong advocate of a
good road from Boise to Arrowrock
and declares that the building Of such
. road would attract great numbers of
tourists to tho state.
Relative to its construction, route
and advantages, he presented the fol-
lowing:
GOOD ROADS ADVERTISE.
THE one thing above all others that
impresses these travellers is the
character Of tho roads. No matter
how attractive country may be in
other respects. or how many objects
OF interest 1t may have, they will
avoid 1t or get out OF 1t as quickly as
possible, If it has not made its attrac-
lions accessible by roads that can be
Travelled in comfort and safety.
Recognizing the Importance and
value of this new form of overland
travel, the principal towns of the west
have established automobile parks
which are used as headquarters for
thousands Of autos during the sum-
mer. and In this respect Boise is am
ply provided
such towns as Denver, Salt Lake,
Spokane, Seattle, Portland, Los An
geles and San Diego, all have splendid
roads radiating through the sur
rounding country upon which the
auto-tourist can travel to all points
of interest.
California in particular has catered
to this tourist travel by advertising
her attractions and making them &C
cessible by a magnificent system of
roads, so that she has come to be
known as the playground Of the ma
ton.
DAM GREAT ASSET.
within a days auto trip of Boise
there are 10 large dams. nearly all of
them among the largest of their type.
There is within a few miles of Boise
q great reservoir already in operation
with dam, not rs or SO feet, but $50
feet high; the highest dam ever built
anywhere. This dam was built by the
federal government for the use of the
Boise valley at q cost Of nearby five
million dollars. For all time to come
1t Will contribute to the wealth and |
prosperity Of the valley and the city
and for that alone 1t deserves to re-
ceive proper appreciation.
"A city or community can most
firmly impress itself upon the memory
of travellers If it has at least one fea- |
ture by which it appeals to their i'm
agtnation as being unique and pre-
eminent. The Arrowrock dam can be |
made to do this for Boise and the
Boise valley, but to do this the handi
cap of its present remoteness must be
removed.
1.-THE present road to the dam. in
stead of following the natural route
by water grade up the Boise river,
goes over the mountains by a road
whose hills are so long and steep and
whose grades are so narrow and wind
ing, that they are safe only for a skill
full driver, and not for him against the
or reckless driving of
others.
For this dangerous and little ira
veled road it is proposed to substi-
tute safe and practically level road