Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-03-27
WEST SIDE ROUTE
LEAVES DALLAS AND
INDEPENDENCE OUT
Road From Vest Salem 10
Dallas Will Be Paved By
State Commission.

After three DAYS of continuous activ-
ity and talk and inspection. the work Of
the state highway commission is today
practically completed so far as the west
side and Columbia river highways are
concerned They found everywhere
along the line manifest enthusiasm over
the construction of improved roads and
a refreshing disregard to expense. The
outstanding feature Of this week 5 work
is the settling Of the long disputed line
Of the west side line of the Pacific
highway. In this it was their porc, Ia
select the most direct as well as the
most feasible graded route. Hence the
decision to run the line from Newberg
TO MeMinnyille by way to Lafayette,
and from MeMinnville south through
Homes Gap and Amity to Riekreall and
Monmouth, then in direct line to Cor
wallis. Between MeMinnville and For
est Grove the line will run by way of
Carlton, North Yamhill and CASTOR.
This arrangement was bound to leave
somebody by the wayside, and so the
towns Of Dallas and independence will
be obliged to connect with the trunk
line by spurs. 1t was also decided by
the commission to extend the seven-mile
post road out of Salem, on to Dallas.
In arranging for hard surface work,
II was arranged that those uni@ of
highway which were ready for paving
should have first attention. Altogether
the commission awarded contracts for
the construction of 1914 miles Of road,
and ordered preparations for paving on
62.4 miles, applying to IL different
counties. Among other matters they de-
eided upon the route of the Columbia
highway from The Dalles to Chenowith.
Bids on 10000 barrels Of cement were
presented by three companies, put all
were rejected as being excessive. Ten
thousand tons of asphalt were contract.
ed for at the rate of $3.50 per ton,
the contract being split between the
Standard Oil company and the Union
Oil company.
A delegation Of Marion county citi.
zens appeared before the commission.
calling their attention to the TACT Tint
the county will vote on the issue Of
sS5O,OQO in road bonds in June. Chair.
man 7. b. Kay, Of the market roads
committee, suggested that the commits.
sion build and pave from the brroec al
Newberg to Woodburn, distance Of II
miles, stating that If this done the Mar.
ion county funds would pave l2 miles
of market roads.
The argument was advanced that such
a road would link the east and west side
highways. This Newberg. .Woodburn
road must be built by the county if tho
state refuses, explained Mr. Kay, and
he said that if the commission would
promise to do this--at an estimated cost
Of some $300,O00--the voters would ap.
prove Of the bond issue.
The road proposed is not on the state
road map, the delegation was informed,
and it would not be fair to counties
which are voting bonds and offering to
spend it $3.50 with the commission on
building state roads to have marion
county given a state road, not on the
map, when Marions county offers not
cent toward paving the Pacific highway
the state road which bisects the county.
Mr.. Kay replied that the highway com
mission has millions to spend, ana Mar
ion county, being a heavy taxpayer,
should be taken care Of. Mr.. Benson
showed that there are 40 miles Of the
Pacific highway in Marion county, and
that paving this win cost about 81 ,000,-
300, and Furthermore, as s750O,0OO Of
-he $4,000, 900 bond issue must be spent
IN the Columbia river and Pacific high.
ways, Marion county was getting about
of all the money available.
However, the commission promised to
10 what 1t can to help later.