The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-09-06
PEOPLES IDEAS
ARE CHANGING

ideas about roads. 1t reminds us
somewhat of the things that happen
to children when they are growing
up. They have measles, whooping-
cough, and various other ailments
that are spoken.of as children's dis
eases. They also have growing pains
and they are not to be afraid of.
Grown up people Of this county
are passing thru some changes in
their attitude regarding roads and
the expressions they give out are
not to be afraid Of. A good many
4 people have come to The Republican
Z office and done a good deal Of talk
ing about the bad condition of the
f; road in the Rich Lane, especially
that it is so high and dangerous.
One would think, to hear some Of
them talk, that it is real adventure
to drive thru the Rich lane, since
tile county bond money was expended
on 1t.
Every week or two somebody
comes in from down the country and
gives us an awful story about the
condition of the road between Black
foot and Thomas. They say the road
money has been worse than wasted,
that the road was torn up and the
money squandered and that the road
is in an awful condition. When
asked to explain in detail just what
they mean they sometimes say that
the road is full of holes and chucks
Some of them say that it is sinking
down in the middle. Some say it is
all going to pieces and some of them
describe the condition of the road
mile south of the Thomas road,
where it was graded since the spring
rain, that has not yet got damp nor
settled We used to get alarmed at
these reports but we don't any more.
We used to go out and drive over
them, trying to find out what was
the matter with them, but we have
concluded that peoples views re-
garding roads are undergoing a
change like children do when they
are having the measles. During re-
cent years before any of the bond
money was expended on the Rich
lane II was mass of dirt and holes
and chucks, with high cnlverts that
one had to climb over on low gear.
There were sandy stretches where
it was difficult to get thru. There
were so many holes in the road that
one could not stay in vehicle that
went more than ten or twelve miles
an hour and the rig would probably
not have any springs If one did not
slow down for such holes. It is in
better condition now. The grade
has been built up, too high to be
sure, but still it is grade. About
half the distance it has been top
coated with crushed rock. That
part Of the grade will carry rafhc
at any speed the traffic wishes to
travel. Twenty to thirty miles an
hour is perfectly safe and comfort
able. The other half of it. not being
covered by the crushed rock or
gravel coat, is not in such perfect
condition, but there are a few holes
in the road and they are shallow.
The culverts and bridges have been
fixed SO they do not stick up in the
air and the traffic goes on any gear
II. wants to.
ans Road to Thomas
The road between Riverside and
Thomas has been in variable condi-
ton ever since the original trail was
disturbed. There was a time when
the old trail was smooth and hard
and people forded the creeks as they
arrived at them. %t'.
When the settlers began to build
fences, the road began to get bad
because it was directed along the
fences or on new ground that was
not packed and. 1t turned to deep
dust. Thlfe never were two sum-
mers that the road was exactly alike
because of the different places that
were newer than the other new
places and the dust deeper than the
other dusty places. The culverts
were in all kinds of conditions be-
cause they were built by all kinds OF
materials and on all kinds of plans. |
Until the last year it was real pun
ishment to travel over the road be:
tween Thomas and Blackfoot because |
Of the deep dust, the chuck-holes and
the bad culverts and bridges. In the |
early part of winter when the roads
we're frozen while rough, it was q
punishment to horses to travel over
the road and Q wrecking process to
autos to pass over it. During the
vet, muddy part Of the winter there
have been long periods when people
simply stayed at home unless driven
by necessity to make trip to town.
Swamp Of Saddle Blanket
There have been periods when it
was very difficult to get to town and
back with an empty wagon, and two
to three miles an hour was the speed.
People have come in from Thomas
for doctor when it took three hours
to drive in and three hours to take
the doctor back. Potato crops have
rotted in the cellars because it was
to haul them to town At