Cottonwood chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1917-current, 1920-05-14
ROCK WORK
SLOWS HIGHWAY
TRAVEL IS BLOCKED-TO
BE COMPLETED THIS
YEAR UP RIVER

c. G. Griffin, in charge of
Grant Smith & Co.'S headquart-
ers camp No. at White Bird,
states that the work on the con-
tract on the north and south
highway is progressing rapidly.
THE contract embraces II
miles in seven separate sections
Letween White Bird and New
Meadows, in Adams county;
four sections of two miles, one
half mile, one mile and five miles
respectively, between White
Bird and the John Day ranch; a
t w o-m lie section extending
north from the steel bridge two
and one-half miles north of Rig
gins, and a 5O0-foot section at
Race creek, one mile north of
Higgins, and a section about nine
and one-half miles, extending
north from n point about IS
miles north of New Meadows" ;"
explained Mr.. Griffin.
"T h e sections eliminate
some of the toughest road and
worst grades and curves, but at
least as much more mileage
should be rebuilt to make the
highway safe and permit travel
at uniform speed. Original est
imates of the project had to be
cut down considerably to come
within the appropriation, which
was finally placed at S597, 900,
the approximate amount of our
contract, on basis of quantities
and classification estimated by
state highway engineers.
Solid Rock i'm Slate Creek.
"The. work at the north end
is the heaviest, running largely
through solid rock, especially in
the Slate Greek canyon. The
first mile. however, commencing
at point about three miles
south of White Bird, is loose
material, grade being carried up
and back from the river, where
the old road was formerly cover
ed by high water in places.
There is no timber to speak OF,
except on the long section 1T the
south end through the Little
Salmon valley canyon. Grading
on this section is comparatively
light, with many large boulders.
in covering this work we
have installed two outfits, each
consisting of a caterpiller tract
or steam shovel, with dinkey To-
comotives and cars; also a port
able air compressor for drilling.
One of these outfits started at
the north end and the other at
the south end, but we were coml
PEELED to move the latter to the
section north of higgins by Sc
we're weather of last December,
and only clearing is in progress
on the southern section as yet.
The work in the Slate creek can
j; Won has been done largely by
hand, having been sublet to sta
tion men. Three-fourths of the
first section is completed. about
80 per cent of the fourth section
(Slate creek), and about Is per
cent of the work Just north of
Higgins (Race creelO. a total OF
about 40 per cent of the entire
work.
Warns Motor Tourists.
Work has been carried or
with as full force as conditions
permitted. but we have beer
hampered by starting work al
: the worst time of year and hav.
ing to freight all our machinery
: and supplies "a miles or more
over roads well-nigh impossible
We expect to complete our con.
: tract before the end of this year
mo one should nlan to trave
over the highway between New
Meadows ard White Bird except
on a saddle horse. as one or othe,
of our shovelS will have the roaG
. blocked at all times, although We
: do what we can to hermit the
: passage of local traffic. Their.
: is no detour possible. the roaC
t being narrow and running