Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1923-11-29
WORK
ON HIGHWAY
IS F0RESEEN
Federal and State Officials
and Idaho County Men Hold
Conference in Lewiston
Construction on Project to
Elk City May Be Resumed
in Spring, Belief Expressed

Expressing belief that the South
Fork highway to Dix City will be
built by the u. S. forest service and
the federal bureau of public roads,
and that, by next spring. work on the
project will be under way, Grangeyille
delegates to the federal-state highway
conference i'm Lewiston, last Thursday,
have returned home
The conference, at which were pres
emf w. j. Hall, Idaho state commits
sioner of public works; Engineer Pur-
cell of the u. S. bureau of public
roads. with offices in Portland; Fred
Morrell, district forester, Missoula,
and Fred Theme, district highway en-
gineer, Missoula, and delegates from
Grangeville, Sites, Golden, Elk City
and Kooskia, was declared to have
been most harmonious.
South Fork Better Route
Concensus was that the South Fork
route was the more practicable of the
two routes under consideration for
reaching Elk City with standard
highway. IL was agreed that the
South Fork route was preferable to
the O'Hara creek route, because of
the much larger number of people who
would be served thereby, and because
of the mineral, timber and grazing
resources of the lands to be tapped
by the highway.
Commissioner Hall said that the
purpose of the meeting was to secure
information and consider the findings
of the bureau of public roads and the
r. x.nN 4 fxr,
| figures as TO the cost of the two
routes proposed: to consider which is
best for the serving of all interests
concerned.
Mr.. Morrell declared that the forest
service is required to provide system
of highways in the national forests.
In determining the method, the forest
service, state highway commissioner
and the bureau of public roads con-
| fer. The first thing is to decide where
the road is to go under the forestry
| highway system. The funds are limit
ed Out of an appropriation of $1,000
| 900. Idaho secured IA percent this
year. which is 10 percent more than
| its allotted part would be under ordi-
| nary conditions. but this was due to
| the need for fire protection. From
i this, 100000 must be taken OUT for
the building of forestry trails.
Reviews Road Complaints
Toward the close of the meeting
District Forester Morrell reviewed the
various complaints made relative to
the Elk City road. Numerous letters
were cited by him showing in every
instance that the forest service could
not construct the road without coop
Grafton and further showing that any
Iadvance toward the construction was
made by the local community.
When federal money was made avail
able for road construction on the
South Fork road the local authorities
were so informed, but it was only on
the latter's application that a cooper
alive agreement was entered into. The
subsequent changes in the width and
length of the road were made in the
section constructed only with the full
, knowledge and consent of the COM
missioners Of the Grangeville Highway
; district. upon finding that the cost of
the construction would be in excess
of the estimate.
Local representatives at the meeting
CONTINUED on last page)
J agreed with Mr. Morrelrs statement
: of this case and after some further
: discussions and explanations better
f mutual understanding was had in the
7 whole matter.
Delegates i'm Attendance
In addition to the state and federal
: officials, there were present W. w
9 Brown. Il. NJ Griffith, A. G. Adams,
Frank McGrane. N. p. PettibOne, A
I; Urbahn, +. W. Cole and Walter Nc
Adams, of Grangeville; w. =. Huss'
man. Cottonwood; Lloyd A. Fem. r.
lJ. Jefferson, B. p. Stewart, Fred How
ey. II. Il. Foulks, George W. Trenary'
G. f. Cleceland and f. r.. Quist
J Kooskia; w. II. Pearl, ID. Martin. H.
NJ. Moore and J. B. Burney, Sites
. Harry Baker, Clearwater; B. b. Scott
! Elk City, and A. S. Johnson, Golden.