The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1923-05-17
BINGHAM COUNTY'S
COMPLETED HIGHWAY

l ODN1fLEIEU HIGHWAY
Bingham county has just let the
contract for the completion of the
remaining link of its Yellowstone
Highway, the six miles on the reser-
walton between the Blackfoot river
and Gibson, and for three-fourths of
a mile between South Broadway and
the Blackfoot river at the edge OF
town.
This has been for some time con-
sidered the worst link In the high
way for a long distance, and 1t is
to be laid with a ten-inch bitulithic
| pavement at a cost of $192,533.89,
plus the cost of superintendent, en-
cheering and other administration
| expense which will be not more than
ten percent additional, or total of
$211 1871, of which the federal
government will pay $198,6O0, and
Bingham county will pay approx
mately $4,000. The latter covers
the countys share of paving in
front of certain pieces of property
privately owned and not chargeable
to the federal government on ac-
count of reservation rules.
The bids were opened at the
county clerks office at Blackfoot
last Saturday, the Mcguire Con-
struction company of Idaho Falls
and Blackfoot being the lowest bid
ders. Four bids were made on diff
ferent types of road, and in order
to secure the several bids it was
agreed that the specifications should
be so drawn that each of the differ
fun 81 m ho oh
be the equal of the others in strength
and wearing qualities, and that the
firm bidding lowest should be award
ed the contract. The powers let
ting the contract were the federal,
state and county highway bureaus,
and there had to be agreement on
all these things in advance The
county commissioners had to do con-
siderable work and travelling to in
terest some Of the biggest and best
construction companies and get them
to bid on this work. They had to
send their representatives into Idaho
to study conditions and to determine
what materials we're available and
how far they had to be transported.
so that making bid meant an ex-
penditure of considerable time and
money. When the bids were open
ed they were as follows:
Olaf Nelson. OF Ogden, for cement
concrete construction. $236,249.18.
Line & Schaffer. of Pocatello, &C.
construction, $213,-
1924.
Aston & Hogan, of Salt Lake, &C.
construction, $207.-
921.21.
]. C. Mcguire. of Idaho Falls,
sealed bitulithic construction, $192,-
$3.50.
The highest bid was just a little
above what the bureau of highways
had estimated that 1t must and
ought to be done for, and the low
est bid more than forty thousand
dollars below 1t.
There were present at the opening
Of the bids, besides the representa-
Ives of the firms named above, the
ocal board of commissioners, w. T.
England, j. r. Williams and Nelson
Miller, county attorney Hamilton
B. J. Finch, district engin-
Ger of the bureau of public roads, of
Ogden, representing the federal gov
eminent, Col D. P. Olson, former
y in charge of public roads, H. w.
Gregory, office engineer, state de-
Dartment of works, the commission
,rs Of Bannock county, their county
engineer, w. P. HavenOr, and Theo-
lore Turner and wife, all interested
n better roads, and such other local
nen as found time to attend.
The bid of ]. c. Mcguire being the
owest and best bid was promptly ap-
proved by the county commissioners
md by Mr.. Finch for the federal
government, and Mr.. Gregory for
he state, and the papers we're for
yarded to w. J. Hall, commissioner
II Public Works for the State. of
IDAHO at Boise for his approval
Contracts made In five sets Of copies,
with surety bond for full
illment of the contract are in course
# preparation for final signatures
~ all the parties and when this is
construction can be-
Tin.
This will make a continuous line
II bitulithic pavement from the
3lackfoot Sugar Factory to Fit, Hall,
distance of about fourteen miles,
md the rest of the Yellowstone High
way thru Bingham county is now
,eing completed with crushed rock
urface and 1t will all be turned
ver to the state and federal gov
rnment to be kept in repair by
hem. The gasoline tax of two
ents a gallon now being collected
Continued on page four