Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1923-05-17
], s. PROBE Of
s0UTH FORK.
ROAD limited
Parker Thrills Commercial
Club with His Demand for
Governmental Investigation
DEGREES What he Calls Lack
of Interest of Members in
Promoting Highway Work

dramatically declaring that he
uould push the investigation of the
| South Fork road scandal" ever
though he may be obliged to take the
natter TO the halls of congress for a
| federal probe, the Hon. A. f. Parker,
veteran publicist of Idaho county
thrilled the Grangeville Commercial
club In a stirring address, Wednesday
| noon, at the weekly luncheon at the
. Imperial hotel.
Mr.. Parker, who for almost forty
| years has been active in promoting de-
| yelopment of Idaho county, decried
. what he termed lack of interest of
| club members in the South Fork road,
| construction of which has been halted
/ BY the federal government, after $215,-
| 900 of public money has been expended
on the first link of the highway, from
| Rocky point to Castle creek, distance
! Of about twelve miles.
Insists ON Investigation
Determined that the activities of the
III. s. forest service and the federal
bureau of public roads shall be thor
oughly investigated, Mr.. Parker assert
+ ed he was in the fight to the finish.
Mr.. Parker has gathered a large
amount of data bearing on highway
construction in the mountain country
|of Idaho county for many years past.
|He Is preparing for the Free Press
b series of articles, In which he goes
Into the history of efforts to bring
about construction of a road to Elk
City.
The forest service it is said, has
virtually abandoned the South Fork
road as a means of reaching Elk City,
although this allegation is denied by
Forest officials at Missoula. 1t is
paid the forest service expects to reach
reach Elk City by constructing a road
PIP the Selway river to the mouth Of |
PHara creek, and thence up O'Hara
r-ccs, and over the divide to Elk City.
phis road would make Kooskia the
outlet for the Elk City country, instead
pf Grangeyille or Stiles. District En-
sineer Theme, of the Missoula forest
Pfhce, recently made a reconnaissance
pf the OHara creek route.
Elk City Resolutions
meeting of the Good Roads COM
nittee Of the Elk City district was
Peld in Elk City May 10, when the
following resolution was adopted:
Whereas, the fullest development
q the mining, agricultural and live
Fock industries Of the Elk Ciey basin
contingent upon the early compile
pom OF reasonable highway facilities
Fonnecting with railway transporta-
ion; and
whereas, the allotment of forest
ands by congress has been gradually
diminished during the past few years
nd relying upon the reconnaissance
nade by the forest service in 1913
rom which data it appears that the
resent cost of construction of the
'outh Fork project will approximate
ne million dollars; and
Whereas. it is common knowledge
nat on the basis of present allot-
rents Oh forest funds to north Idaho
" south Fork project can not be
ilanced and completed under
erloa OF ten years or more, which
'oaia retard the relief required by
LOT another decade: and
whereas. this committee earnestly
sql the inspection of the
nara creek route by the forest serv-
= as solution of the pressing
:, Guy OF our community, in view of
= TACT that highway could be con-
!, ~ u,eu on this route at relatively
|" cost' as compared with the funds
r .osy to complete the South Fork
,vsect On a grade not to exceed five
Ell and which would provide
connections with railroad
a1nnssportation; and
W. mnereas, such examination has
erof suaue by the forest service: now.
,r,a' be it resolved: That this
raaa wee earnestly urge upon the
N service the immediate initia.
a.. Oh location survey upon the
oon creek route and the allotment
MINIS o,yn.s'rnction funds sufficient to
u ,ap S the project on the coopera-
mm yssls previously proposed by this
tbaso iurther resolved. that a copy
. as resolutions be forwarded TO
INF uistrict forester at MissouIa.
"u copies furnished the press.
oDEM TO MOVE STORE
!. j. Odnn, - -