Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1923-05-10
ABANDON SOUTH FORK ROAD.
AND WASTE $4,000, IS
REPORTED FORESTRY PLAN
Bureau Officials Said to Re-
commend Reaching Elk City
by Way Of Selway

That the U. S. forest service or the
federal bureau of public roads has
recommended or will recommend
abandonment of the South Fork high
way. approximately twelve miles of
which has been built, at cost of $215,-
O0O is the report that has reached
Grangeville during the last week
Although local forest service officials
vigorously deny that the department
mas decided to abandon the road, as a
route from Grangeville to Elk City, it
is learned on supposedly reliable au-
thority that such is the plan of the
forest bureau at Missoula, Mont,
Headquarters for the district of which
the northern part of Idaho county is a
division.
$228,415 to Complete
Government estimates on the cost of
continuing the South Fork road from
Castle creek, the present terminus of
the highway, built two years ago, to
Elk City. is S21S415, or little more
than was expended on the initial work
on the Grangeville end of the proposed
road Official reports on the distance
from the end of the present road to
Elk City show thirty-four and
half miles
At the $23S,415 estimated cost, it is
said a 10-foot roadbed could be built
through rock construction, and a II
to 14--foot road where lighter construc-
ton Is possible. The road would fol-
low the water CRATE of the South Fork
Of the Clearwater river, and the grade
would not exceed percent, except for
a short distance, where a z percent
grade would be required.
Forest Bureau Plans
1t is pointed out that the forest serv-
ice contemplates abandoning the South ..
Fork highway, as means of reaching
Elk City, and to build a road toElk
City by way Of the Selway river. The
route would be from Elk City up Amer
lean river, over high divide and
thence down to the Selway river at the
mouth of O'Hara creek. The road
would then follow the Selway river TO
Lowell and there connect with that
portion Of the Lolo highway that is
already built from Lowell to Kooskia.
1t is declared that government Off
Gals have already set aside 100000 to
devote to this project, although this
TACT has only lately been available to
the public.
q. s. District Engineer Theme, of |
it is reported, made the sug- !
gestton at a meeting of federal and |
STATE highway officials, in Boise, last |
Writer. that the South Fork highway |
De abandoned. but his suggestion met |
with vigorous protest from w. J. Hall, |
lda no commissioner of public works.
Expressive of its attitude toward the |
government plan to abandon the South |
FORK. highway, the Grangeville Com
1nercial club, Wednesday, adopted the !
following resolution:
Here Is the Resolution
Whereas the construction of the
South Fork road project in Idaho
'ounty, state of Idaho, designated by
me forestry department as project No.
|. mas been held up and delayed ever
nnce the early part of 1921, and
whereas, the construction and COM
'ietl0n Of said road is of such vital
Importance to the mining industry Of
mis- section, as we'll as to the forest
nd agricultural interests, that it will
Z great public benefit and is now n
rear public necessity, and
whereas, the mining region that this
oad viii furnish adequate transpor-
allon to is something like forty miles
quare and great many of the mines,
rhclpally gold bearing, are dependent
pon said road for their successful op-
lauon, and without which they will
: compelled to close down and become
lactive and
whereas, it has come TO the lSnowl-
sge OF the people of the said highway
istrict and who are now paying inrcr-
~ on a $4,000 bonded indebtedness to
W. construct the road. the U. s. for
soy department has abandoned sail
.olecI and considering a road north
,on Elk City up the American river.
,er the divide to the Selway river at
II M mouth of O'Hara creek, and
:, "nereas. the said last mentioned |
, VIII cost as much or more than
yVinplete the said South Fork road
~ ueSlde 1t will he on a much greater |
. . and where the snow lies in the |
isler from eight to ten feet in depth,
"nereas. the South Fork road will
M vi water grade and at no place
- exceed . percent excepting for
s.ort distance, where it will not
Mo, U1 percent and
-, " nereas, there has been expended
Z, 1 u o ms proposed project the sum OF
''VoV' and that Of such sum the To- :