Part 21

The State Highway Commission has designated as a Post Road a three mile section of The Dalles-California Highway immediately north of Antelope. This is known as the Antelope Grade Section. The new road will be a 6% grade along near the present road.

The total estimated cost of grading to standard width and properly draining is $30,000.00; and the funds are to be provided as follows: State $2,500.00; Government, $2,500.00; and Wasco County, $25,000.00.

It is hoped this work will start early in 1919.

Survey--Seufert to the Deschutes River

A survey was made in April, 1918, for the Columbia River Highway between Seufert and the Deschutes River, along the river for the purpose of comparison with a previous survey over the hill, conforming closely to the present road.

This route, which was subsequently adopted, has a summit of 210 feet against 780 feet on the hill route, and a length of 12.8 miles, a saving of 2.7 miles in distance. Between The Dalles and Seufert about two miles was graded to standard width and grade in 1917. The proposed route follows close to the railroad, which is crossed near Big Eddy on a proposed overhead bridge and utilizes the old State Portage Railroad roadbed, as well as the already graded bank of the Government canal. Near Celilo, another overhead crossing of the O.-W. R. R. & N. Co. tracks is proposed, and from this point to the Deschutes River the highway is located between the Oregon Trunk Railroad and the O.-W. R. R. & N. Co., using about two miles of abandoned railroad roadbed.

This improvement requires only very light construction, except for short distances, and it is believed it can be kept free from drifting blow sand by the use of sand fences, as the Portage Railroad is used where the sand is the worst, and this was kept open with very little maintenance. With a smooth roadbed, and with nothing to cause drifting, it is thought that the maintenance on this account will be negligible.

The route is attractive, as it makes available at close range the Locks at Big Eddy, the Celilo Canal, and the magnificent Celilo Falls. The estimated cost of this project is $142,500.00. It is proposed to include this project in the 1919 program.

Deschutes River Bridge.

Among the bridges expected to be built in the near future is the proposed reinforced concrete arch bridge over the Deschutes river at Miller, about a mile above the river's mouth. This will be a State and Inter-county structure, and will connect Sherman and Gilliam Counties on the Columbia River Highway, and will be located a few hundred feet below the present old wooden toll bridge which it will replace.

The design, which is practically completed, contemplates seven arch spans aggregating 580 feet in length with a filled approach at either end. The estimated cost of the bridge is $75,000.00.

WASHINGTON COUNTY

During 1917 and 1918, the State Highway Department in co-operation with Washington County has completed the grading, bridging and paving of the West Side Highway across that County. This work has involved the grading and paving of 12.5 miles and the construction of three bridges and one undergrade railway crossing. On this work, when final payments are complete, the State will have expended $292,000.00 and the County will have expended $10,000.00.

In addition to this construction, the Department has made surveys between Beaverton and Hillsboro and between Forest Grove and Gaston, and has furnished the County engineering services in connection with the grading of these two sections.

Paving--Multnomah County Line to Newberg

The pavement on the West Side State Highway between the Multnomah County Line and Newberg is 15.7 miles in length, of which 12.5 miles is in Washington County and 3.2 miles in Yamhill County. This pavement is a two-inch standard bitulithic surface on a crushed rock base. It is sixteen feet wide with a two-foot macadam shoulder on each side. The grading in Washington County and the paving in both Washington and Yamhill Counties was done by Oskar Huber of Portland under a contract awarded him on July 30, 1917. The work was started in August, 1917, and was completed in October, 1918.

The grading in Washington County will cost complete approximately $39,699.85 of which Washington County has paid $9,395.00. The part of the paving within Washington County will cost complete $234,750.00 all of which is paid for from State Funds.

DETAILED STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES TO NOVEMBER 30, 1918 GRADING AND PAVING MULTNOMAH COUNTY LINE TO NEWBERG

Engineering $ 9,445.56 Right-of-Way Costs 49.98 Construction: Crushed Stone Shoulders, 163,663.4 lin. ft. @ .06 $ 9,819.80 Standard Bitulithic Pavement, 149,764.4 Sq. Yds. @ $1.28 191,698.43 Broken Stone, Loose Measure, 34,885.75 Cu. Yds. at $2.40 83,725.80 Clearing and Grubbing 1,250.00 Common Excavation, 46,773.9 Cu. Yds. @ .34 15,903.13 Intermediate Excavation, 9,224.4 Cu. Yds. @ .62 5,719.13 Solid Rock Excavation, 385 Cu. Yds. @ $1.15 442.75 Overhaul per 100 Lin. Ft., 172,279.2 Cu. Yds. @ .01 1,722.79 12-inch Reinf. Conc. Pipe, 1,568 Lin. Ft. @ $1.25 1,960.00 24-inch Reinf. Conc. Pipe, 52 Lin. Ft. @ $2.45 127.40 36-inch Reinf. Conc. Pipe, 96 Lin. Ft. @ $4.25 408.00 6-inch Porous Drain Tile, 7,191 Lin. Ft. @ .15 1,078.65 Rip-Rap, 32 Cu. Yds @ $2.75 88.00 Force Account: Lowering and lengthening existing culverts 1,081.67 Replacing bridge approach at Tualatin River 50.27 Special wide ditches alongside road near Four Corners 814.50 Back-fill and planking at Onion Flat Trestle 405.94 Tearing down old trestles at Onion Flat 55.33 Replacing private water supply crossing 13.31 Rebuilding Right of Way Fences 70.85 Grading at Middleton R. R. Crossing 1,970.47 Blind Drains 189.68 New 30-foot Culvert 223.60 New 42-foot Culvert and special fill over it 468.26 Drain Tiling, back-filled with rock 582.09 ----------- Total amount earned by Contractor to Nov. 30, 1918 $319,869.85 Less amount retained pending completion of contract 50,388.46 ----------- Total paid contractor to November 30, 1918 269,481.39 ----------- Total expended to November 30, 1918 $278,976.93

Onion Flat Bridge

This crossing consists of a laminated wood deck on heavy stringers supported by a series of creosoted pile bents. It is on the West Side Highway about four miles southwest of Tigard and is designed for heavy traffic loading.

An asphaltic wearing surface prevents moisture coming in contact with the wooden floor and with the treated piling tends to give the maximum length of life to the main members of the structure. This bridge is 600 feet long and cost complete $8,372.22.

Fanno Creek Bridge

The Fanno Creek bridge at Tigard on the West Side Highway consists of a superstructure similar to the Onion Flat bridge, carried on wood bents on concrete foundations. A sidewalk was built on one side to accommodate pedestrians. The bridge is 70 feet long and cost $1,882.81.

Tualatin River Bridge

The bridge consists of a covered Howe truss wooden bridge of 144 foot span and 166 lineal feet of pile trestle approach.

Like the others constructed by the State on main highways, this bridge is of heavy traffic design, and the bridge and approaches have laminated wood floors with asphaltic wearing surfaces. Windows are provided at panel points to provide light and to add to the appearance of the structure. Cost $12,968.60.

Votaw Undercrossing

A grade separation was made on the West Side Highway near Votaw, wherein a wooden trestle was constructed to carry the Southern Pacific line above the roadway. The structure was designed and built under the supervision of the railroad's engineering department.

Final settlement has not yet been made with the Railway Company, but it is estimated that the State's share of the cost of this structure will be $4,000.00. The balance of the cost will be paid by the Railway Company, no share of the cost being borne by the County.

Survey--Beaverton to Hillsboro

A location survey was started January 1, 1918, from the West City limits of Beaverton and completed to the city limits of Hillsboro, a distance of 7.7 miles. The alignment parallels the Southern Pacific Railway on the north side of the tracks and eliminates four grade crossings. The entire section was graded by Washington County during the 1918 season.

Survey--Forest Grove to Gaston

A survey was made from Forest Grove to Gaston, a distance of approximately 6 miles. The alignment follows the existing road with the exception of a change at Dilley to eliminate two railroad crossings.

Considerable grading was done between Dilley and Gaston, reducing the grade to five per cent.

Mr. C. G. Reiter, County Surveyor of Washington County, was employed as locating engineer for the State, and also supervised the grading in both of the above sections.

WHEELER COUNTY

Wheeler County, being without either rail or water transportation facilities, is entirely dependent upon its roads for communication with outside points, as well as between points within the County. All of the large amount of agricultural products of the county must be transported for long distances over roads and highways, and likewise, all manufactured articles and other supplies from points without the County must be brought in over them. For that reason, good roads are of the utmost importance to all of Wheeler County, which fact is fully recognized by the Wheeler County people.

Every effort is being made by the County to build up and improve its road system, but the funds available within the County are entirely inadequate. In November, 1916, bonds were voted to the amount of $80,000.00, the maximum allowed the County under the State laws, but this amount is hardly enough to make a beginning on the necessary road construction in the county, as Wheeler County is rough and mountainous, and road construction is therefore heavy and expensive.

The State Highway Commission realizing the importance of the construction of roads in this County, and the impossibility of the financing of their construction by the County alone, early determined to assist to the greatest possible extent.

Surveys have been made by the Department over all but two miles of the two most important cross-county roads, the John Day River Highway and the McKenzie River Highway. During 1917 and 1918 the State Highway Department expended the sum of $46,997.79, cooperating with the County in the construction of 4.2 miles of grading and macadamizing between Fossil and the Gilliam County Line. State aid was also granted the County to the amount of $14,235.45 for the construction of nine-tenths of a mile, known as the Bridge Creek Section, on the McKenzie River Highway just west of Mitchell, the total cost of which was $24,235.45.

For the construction of 25.5 miles on the John Day River Highway between the mouth of Sarvice Creek and the Grant County Line, the Highway Department has set aside the sum of $63,345.70 to be added to 63,345.70 of Federal Post Road Funds and $36,000.00 of county funds to provide the total amount of $162,691.40 which the project is estimated to cost.

The Department has further been instrumental in securing Federal Aid for the construction of a Forest Road Project 5.5 miles in length between Mitchell and the Crook County Line, known as the Ochoco Canyon Project. On this project the State will expend $20,050.00, the Federal Government, $20,050.00 and the County, $4,900.00, $45,000.00 in all.

In summary, State Aid and Federal Government Aid extended to Wheeler County during 1917 and 1918 and set aside to be expended in 1919 and 1920, are as follows:

=========================+==========+===========+==========+=========== | | | Federal | | State | County | Govt. | Total | Funds | Funds | Funds | -------------------------+----------+-----------+----------+----------- Expended in 1917 and | | | | 1918-- | | | | On grading Cummings Hill |$ 7,004.85|$ 7,527.50| ... |$ 14,532.35 Sec. | | | | On macadamizing Cummings | 32,465.44| ... | ... | 32,465.44 Hill Section | | | | On grading Bridge Creek | 14,235.45| 10,000.00| ... | 24,235.45 Sec. | | | | -------------------------+----------+-----------+----------+----------- Total |$53,705.74| $17,527.50| ... |$ 71,233.24 | | | | Appropriated for Expen- | | | | diture in 1919 and | | | | 1920-- | | | | On Sarvis Creek-Grant |$63,345.70| $36,000.00|$63,345.70|$162,691.40 County Line Section | | | | On Ochoco Canyon Section | 20,050.00| 4,900.00| 20,050.00| 45,000.00 -------------------------+----------+-----------+----------+----------- Total |$83,395.70| $40,900.00|$83,395.70|$207,691.40 -------------------------+----------+-----------+----------+----------

Cummings Hill Grading

On June 19th 1917, a contract was let to the Elliott Contracting Co. of Portland, Oregon, for the construction of 3.5 miles of grade between the foot of Cummings Hill, north of Fossil, and the Gilliam County line. This construction was a five per cent development to eliminate the heavy grades and narrow roadbed of the former road. Work was commenced on July 6th, 1917, and completed on October 5th, 1917. The work of the contracting firm was very satisfactory, and an excellent piece of grading was secured. The Engineer in charge for the Highway Department was Mr. B. H. McNamee.

The total cost of the work was $14,532.35, of which the State paid $7,004.85 and Wheeler County $7,527.50. The detailed cost statement follows:

DETAILED EXPENDITURE STATEMENT--GRADING CUMMINGS HILL, SECTION

Engineering $ 1,423.30 Construction: Common Excavation, 11,397 cu. yds. @ .40 $ 4,558.80 Intermediate Excavation, 6,017.4 cu. yds. @ .70 4,212.18 Solid Rock Excavation, 2,816.5 cu. yds. @ 1.35 3,802.27 12-inch Corr. Iron Pipe, 682 Lin. ft. @ .40 272.80 24-inch Corr. Iron Pipe, 40 Lin. ft. @ 1.00 40.00 Rubble Masonry, 22.3 cu. yds @ 10.00 223.00 ---------- 13,109.05 ---------- $14,532.35

Bridge Creek Grading

The grading of a nine-tenth mile section in Bridge Creek Canyon was contracted to the United Contracting Co. of Portland, Oregon, on November 27th, 1917. This section is on the McKenzie River Highway about four miles west of Mitchell. In addition to the grading, the contract involved the construction of a ninety foot bridge over Bridge Creek.

The work was started on February 15th, 1918 and completed on June 20th, 1918. The engineering was in charge of Mr. R. H. Coppock.

The total cost of the work was $24,235.45 of which the State paid $14,235.45 and Wheeler County $10,000. The detailed cost statement follows:

DETAILED EXPENDITURE STATEMENT--GRADING BRIDGE CREEK SECTION

Engineering $ 635.30 Construction: Common Excavation, 3935.6 cu. yds. @ .60 $ 2,361.42 Intermediate Excavation, 549.4 cu. yds. @ .75 412.05 Solid Rock Excavation, 9837.6 cu. yds. @ 1.40 13,772.64 Overhaul per 100 lin. ft., 363 cu. yds. @ .03 10.89 12-inch Corr. Iron Pipe, 20 lin. ft. @ .73 14.60 15-inch Corr. Iron Pipe, 108 lin. ft. @ .83 89.64 21-inch Corr. Iron Pipe, 60 lin. ft. @ 1.00 60.00 Rubble Masonry, 1.58 cu. yd. @ 12.50 19.75 Guard fence, 100 lin. ft. @ .85 85.00 1 90-foot Bridge & approaches: Superstructure and trestle (Lump sum) $ 5,100.00 Class "A" Concrete in piers, 49.24 cu. yds. @ $34.00 1,674.16 ---------- $ 6,774.16 ---------- $ 23,600.15 ----------- $ 24,235.45

Macadamizing on Cummins Hill Section

On August 7th, 1917, no satisfactory unit price bid having been received, the State Highway Department entered into a "cost plus" contract with the Warren Construction Company of Portland, Oregon, to macadamize with broken stone the Cummins Hill Section between Fossil and the Gilliam County line, on the John Day River Highway. The rock for this work was crushed on the job, and the macadam surface was constructed sixteen feet wide with a compacted thickness of six inches.

Payment to contractor was made on the basis of actual cost plus a percentage of 10 per cent on labor and five per cent on materials.

To November 30th, 1918, the State had expended $32,465.44 on this work, and it is estimated that there are bills outstanding against it to the amount of $1,500.00.

In addition to the 3.4 miles of grading done by the State on Cummins Hill the County continued the grading at the foot of the hill for a distance of 0.7 miles, making a total of 4.2 miles. The full section has been macadamized, giving Wheeler County 4.2 miles of standard macadam road.

Butte Creek Summit Grading

During the 1918 season, the County has graded under State supervision, a one and seven tenths mile section about nine miles southeast of Fossil on the John Day River Highway. This section is known as the Butte Creek Summit Section. The construction was paid for entirely by the County. Engineering supervision was furnished by the State Highway Department, the engineer in charge of the work being Mr. B. H. McNamee.

The total amount expended by the County, prior to November 30th, on this work was approximately $30,000.00, and the quantities of construction completed to this date were as follows:

Common Excavation 8,000 cu. yds Rock Excavation 12,000 cu. yds. Pipe, 12-inch 234 lin. ft. Pipe, 20-inch 72 lin. ft. Pipe, 16-inch 100 lin. ft. Clearing 8 acres

Grading between Cummins Hill and Fossil

During April and May, 1918, Wheeler County graded, under the direction of the State Highway Department, a section of the John Day Highway between Cummins Hill and Fossil. This grade was .7 of a mile in length and joined up with the Cummins Hill grading. This improvement cost the County approximately $4,000.00. Geo. Hibbert was inspector and transitman in charge for the State Department.

Survey of the John Day River Highway

With the exception of a two mile section immediately West of Fossil, the entire John Day River Highway through Wheeler County is covered by location survey made during the past two years. The total length of survey on this highway is 41.5 miles. For all but about twelve miles, of this total, the detailed plans are practically complete. The survey of this highway has been in charge of B. H. McNamee.

Survey of the McKenzie River Highway

The State Highway Department has completed a survey of the McKenzie River Highway in Wheeler County from the boundary of the Ochoco National Forest west of Mitchell to the Grant County Line near Dayville, a total distance of 48 miles. This survey was made by Locating Engineer R. H. Coppock. The plans are complete except for the eight miles west from the Grant County line.

From the west end of this survey at Ochoco Forest boundary, the Federal Office of Public Roads has made a survey to the Crook County line, so the survey of the McKenzie River Highway is complete all of the way through Wheeler County.

Survey of Highway No. 14

In 1917, pursuant to a request from the County Court, a section of Highway No. 14 between Mitchell and Antelope was surveyed. This survey begins at the point on the Mitchell-Prineville survey about four miles west of Mitchell and extends 1.4 miles down Bridge Creek to where connection is made with the present road. This survey was made by R. H. Coppock, locating engineer.

Sarvice Creek-Valades Ranch Post Road Project

Application has been made to, and approved, by the Federal Office of Public Roads for Post Road co-operation on a 48.5 miles section of the John Day River Highway in Wheeler and Grant Counties. 25.5 miles of this project are in Wheeler County and 23 miles in Grant County. The total estimated cost of the project is $400,433.79, and the funds are to be provided as follows: State $157,216.90, Government $157,216.89; Wheeler County $36,000.00 and Grant County $50,000.00.

The survey for this project parallels the John Day River on the north bank, through Wheeler County and extends from the mouth of Sarvice Creek in Wheeler County to Valades Ranch about four miles West of Dayville in Grant County. In Grant County a crossing is made to the west bank near the upper end of the Big Basin.

It is expected that construction will be commenced on the Sarvice Creek-Valades Ranch Project early in 1919.

Ochoco Canyon Forest Project

A Federal Aid Co-operative Agreement has been entered into between the State, the Federal Government, and Wheeler County for the grading of a 5.5 mile section on the McKenzie River Highway. This section is known as the Ochoco Canyon Section and extends from the Crook County line to a point about 16 miles west of Mitchell.

This work is estimated to cost $45,000.00 of which the State will pay $20,050.00, Wheeler County $4,900.00, and the Federal Government $20,050.00. It is expected that this section will be built during the 1919 season.

YAMHILL COUNTY

In Yamhill County the State Highway Department has co-operated with the County in the grading and paving of 3.2 miles between Rex and Newberg and of 4 miles between Sheridan and McMinnville. The total expenditure on this work amounts to $147,000.00 of which the County has paid $18,273.49.