Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1919-11-20
SOUTH FORK ROAD
DES|SNATED
by us. OFFICIALS;
Nor LOCAL AFFAIR
|cbarges That Undue Influence
Is Used Entirely Unfounded;
On Bankhead Amendment
Propaganda Spread Over Idaho
County Not Based on Facts;
Government Decides Action

GOV6I IlllCuO DSSASS
q Editors Note-This is the first of a
series of articles on the South Fork
s.rood the purpo-es of its builders and
what the road will mean to Idaho eoun-
~.
CHARGES so gross and sensational are
.being spread throughout Idaho county
regaTding the proposed government
& HIGHWAY up the South Fork of the
Clearwater river; and the route to be
Followed bv the highway, that the Ida
rbo County Free Press has felt impelled
+o make a fair and impartial investiga-
tion of conditions leading up to the
decesion to build the highway and the
Z adoption of a tentative route. While
RECOGNITION of petty criticism, which
s. often arises in certain quarters to pub
enterprises in Idaho county, has not
*been the policy of this newspaper, the
charges which have been circulated
fbave become so fragrant and possibly
SfbeIous that it is believed n statement
Hof the facts in the matter viii not be
Eamiss
BUILT BY UNITED STATES
The road up the South Fork will be
( built by the T. S. department of asri-
culture, through the bureau of public
roads. and the forest service. Survey
and actual construction of the road will
be under the bureau of public roads.
The highway will extend for dis
tance of from eleven to thirteen miles
from Rocky Point, seven miles south
east of Grangeville, up the South Fork
of the Clearwater river to Meadow
creek With the exception of about
three and half miles, the road Will be
entirely on a water grade along the
Clearwater river.
The road will be financed by the fed
eral government, under the Bankhead
Amendment to the postOffice appro-
priation bill, aided by local cooperation
in the sum of $4,000, which amount
has been raised by the Grangeville
highway district through the sale of
bonds voted at special election in the
district, after additional territory
through which that section of the road
without the boundaries of the forest
will pass. The sum of $135, 900 has been
set aside by the federal government,
under the Bankhead amendment, for
Financing the highway as far as Mea-
dow creek
That the road is being built by the
national government to aid in admins
tration of the Nezperce National forest
is to be concluded from perusal of the
Bankhead amendment. The road, which
happens to have been designated from
a point near Grangeville, and for which
the Grangeville highway district is pro
viding portion of the construction
cost, is not built by the federal gov
eminent to assist Grangeville, or bust
ness men of the town who may have
goods for sale and for which they seek
a larger market by means of better
into the mountain coun-
Try.
GOVERNMENT MOTIVE SELFISH
The U. S. government, in its decision
TO build the highway, acted on purely |
a selfish motive. No influence was |
brought to bear upon the government |
by Grangeville men, and it is a certain
W that the route of the route of the |
proposed highway could not be defect
ed one inch, even though an attempt
were made to influence federal officials
VINO decided to build the road.
mat good roads must come before
Ihe latent resources of Idaho county
can be developed has long been fore
gone conclusion, and Grangeville folk,
perhaps in this matter acting on a. sell
Iish motive, even as did the govern
hent IN its decision to build the road,
promptly raised the necessary $4,000
70 insure the road would be built.
BANKHEAD AMENDMENT
The Bankhead amendment to the
appropriation bill, under
Nhlcn money for construction of high
ways IN the national forests is made
valuable from the federal treasury, is
rs follows:
See. s. That there is hereby appro-
'rlated, out of any money in the trea-
,,e:ry not otherwise appropriated, for the
lscai year ending June so, 1919. the
'um of $3,000,000; for the fiscal year
,,nnodi ing June 80, 1920, the sum of 49,
,OV'uOO, and for the fiscal year ending
'une 80, 1921, the sum of $3,000,0O0
,sanaole until expended by the seere
aiy OF agriculture in cooperation with
NE proper officials of the state, terri
ttoy' nsular possession, or county, inf
"o survey, construction and mainten-