Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1921-03-11
Elk River Exten-
sion Designated
IMPORTANCE OF PROJECT IS EX
PLANNED IN COMMISSIONER
HALLS REPORT

The road from Orofino, via Gil
bert and Russell, to Nezperce has
been designated state highway by
the state highway commission, ac-
cording to a preliminary report is
sued by Commissioner J. P Hall on
Feb. 25, copy of which was re-
ceived by the board OF county com
missioners of Clearwater county and
reads as follows:
Boise, Feb. 25, 1921.
"Elk River Highway-Lewfs county
designation of extension.
'The Orofino Commercial club.
Nezperce Commercial club. the COM
missioners of Gilbert Good Roads
District, the board OF county COM
missioners of Clearwater county and
the commissioners of Prairie High-
way District of Lewis county have
made presentation to the depart-
ment, setting forth the desriability
of extending the Elm River High
way from Orofino IN d southerly al.
rection to the town. of Nezperce IN
Lewis county. The matter of such
designation is now up ;or considera-
ton.
"A state highway has already
been designated from Ilo-Volmer
(Craigmont to Kam1ah. via Nez-
perce. This highway is known as
the Nezperce branch of the North
and South highway. The Lewis and
Clark highway has also been desfg-
mated from Lewiston to the Montana
line. via the Clearwater river can
yon from Lewiston to Kooskia thence
via the canyon of the Lochsa branch
or the Clearwater river to the Mon
tana line at Lolo Pass.
"A section of the Lewis and Clark
highway between Orofino and Greer
will be constructed this year. From
Greer to Kamiah no road has ever
oeen opened through the Clearwater
river canyon on account Of the large
expenses involved 1t is not likely
that this section can be built dur
ing the next several years.
"A road extends from Kamiah to
kooskia and then to Sites and 1t is
expected that the road between
Sites and Harpster and thence to
Grangeville will be improved within
the next few years. A road also ex-
tenos from Kooskia up the Lochsa
canyon to Lowell near the mouth of
tne Selway fork Of the Clearwater
river. From Kamiah fairly good
country road extends to the rimrock
anu theh across Nezperce prairie to
Neznerce. The grade from Kamtah
70 the r1mrock Is probably the best
UI tne grades out Of the canyon OF
the Clearwater river.
"The road desired to be das,ur
TED from Orofino to Nezperce would
connect all OF the roads heretofnra
mentioned with the Nezperce Prairie
and North and South highway. and
also with the Elk kiver highwav
north from Orofino to Bovfll
The commissioners or Gilbert
Good Roads District nave represent
and tax payers of the Prairie High
way district Of Lewis county. the
BOARD OF county commissioners OF
clearwater county and their own
BOARD have pledged financial aid and
nave asked for the designation. of
tnis extension Of the Elk River high
way. The board of county commits
s,oners OF Clearwater county, by res
oiution, mas pledged itself to levy a
TAX Tor state highway purposes each
year as required and the major por-
tion or II will be used In coopera-
tion in the construction or rhat nor
Iion OF the highway living within
clearwater county. The commis-
sioners OF Prairie high way district
OF Lewis county have by resolution
piNdged themselves to cooperate in
every possible way t. construct the
men" 'hnuph Prairie highway
district and to make a tax lew
TO supply funds for this purpose.
In view of the foregoing facts
the extension of the Elk River high
way Is hereby designated running
In southerly direction from Orofino
through Clearwater county. via GIL
bert Good Road District and through
Lewis county and Prairie Highway