Third biennial report of the Oregon State Highway Commission

by Simon Benson; R. A. Booth; Herbert Nunn; W. L. Thompson

DOUGLAS COUNTY

As a result of the liberal co-operation of Douglas County, a very large amount of work has been done during 1917 and 1918 on the Pacific Highway across that County. From a $500,000.00 bond issue the County set aside $200,000.00 for the improvement of the Pacific Highway north of Roseburg, with the understanding that the Highway Department would expend an equal amount on the same highway south of Roseburg. In accordance with this arrangement, it was agreed that the County would grade 10.4 miles between Yoncalla and Oakland, grade and macadamize 4.6 miles between Comstock and Leona, and grade 2.4 miles between Comstock and the Lane County Line; and that the State would grade 12.8 miles between Myrtle Creek and Dillard and macadamize 2.4 miles between Comstock and the Lane County Line. It was further agreed that if the County would cooperate with the State and Federal Government to the amount of $23,000.00 on the Canyonville-Galesville Forest Road Project, this amount would be considered a part of the $200,000.00 to be provided by the County in connection with the general scheme of improvement outlined.

All of the work contemplated in this co-operative agreement has been carried to completion, and when final payments have been made the total expenditure by the State will be approximately $205,000.00 and by the County $175,000.00.

The Canyonville-Galesville Forest Road Project referred to above involves the grading of a 9.7 mile section over Canyon Creek Pass, and it will eliminate one of the very worst stretches on the Pacific Highway between Portland and the California Line. This is estimated to cost $211,000.00, of which the County will pay $23,000.00, the State $94,000.00 and the Federal Government $94,000.00.

In summary, the improvement work on the Pacific Highway in Douglas County during 1917 and 1918, including the work now under way, consisted of 39.9 miles of grading and 7.0 miles of macadamizing.

The expenditures on the individual sections by the County, State and Federal Government when final payments are completed, will be approximately as follows:

Sections		By State	By County	By Federal Govt.	Total
Lane County Line-Comstock Grading		$ 2,027.30	$ 17,119.44	...	$ 19,146.74
Lane County Line-Comstock Macadam		15,185.09	...	...	15,185.09
Comstock-Leona Grading and Macadam		5,650.28	74,349.72	...	80,000.00
Oakland-Yoncalla Grading		17,565.28	83,530.84	...	101,096.12
Myrtle Creek-Dillard Grading		120,000.00	...	...	120,000.00
Canyonville-Galesville Grading		94,000.00	23,000.00	94,000.00	211,000.00
Umpqua River Bridges		45,500.00	...	...	45,500.00
	Total	$ 299,927.95	$ 198,000.00	$ 94,000.00	$ 591,927.95

BRIDGE ON PASS CREEK—20 FT. SPAN. ON PACIFIC HIGHWAY NEAR
COMSTOCK IN DOUGLAS COUNTY

Grading—Comstock to the Lane County Line

This section runs through the northern portion of the Pass Creek Canyon, and has been the dread of tourists heretofore. It has always been a hard road to travel under summer conditions and absolutely impassable in winter, even for horse-drawn conveyances.

The contract for this improvement involved 2.4 miles of grading and was awarded to S. S. Schell of Oakland, Oregon on September 5, 1917. The bulk of the grading was done that fall and the job was completed in the spring of 1918. The road bed was graded to a width of 24 feet with 5 per cent maximum grades and easy curves. In addition to the grading, the contract included two drainage structures over Pass Creek, one a double 6x6 reinforced concrete box culvert and the other a 20-foot reinforced concrete bridge. All construction charges were paid by Douglas County. Engineering charges were paid by the State.

Mr. E. B. Bishop was the Resident Engineer in charge on this section.

DETAILED EXPENDITURE STATEMENT—GRADING COMSTOCK TO LANE
COUNTY LINE

Engineering						$ 2,029.80
Construction—
	Clearing and Grubbing				$2,400.00
	Common Excavation, 11,688 cu. yds. at 45c.				5,259.60
	Intermediate Excavation, 6,085 cu. yds. at 60c.				3,651.00
	Solid Rock Excavation, 1,016 cu. yds. at $1.15				1,168.40
	Overhaul per 100 ft., 7,220 cu. yds. at 3c.				216.60
	12-inch Plain Concrete Pipe, 134 lin. ft. at $1.00				134.00
	24-inch Reinforced Concrete pipe, 160 lin. ft. at $2.50				400.00
	6-inch Porous Drain Tile, 591 lin. ft. at 20c.				118.20
	Class A Concrete, 120.46 c. y. at $24.00				2,891.04
	Class B Concrete, 11.62 c. y. at $16.00				185.92
	Metal Reinforcement, 7,625 lbs. at 8c.				609.84
	Repairing Timber Bridge				26.34
	Laying 315.5 lin. ft. of Drain Tile and Backfilling				56.00
		Total paid to Contractor				17,116.94
		Total Cost				$ 19,146.74
			Paid by County		17,119.44
			Paid by State		$ 2,027.30
				Total	19,146.74

Macadam—Comstock to Lane County Line

On August 6, 1918, a contract was awarded to S. S. Schell for macadamizing the above newly graded section in Pass Creek Canyon, by the State Highway Commission, same to be a standard three course broken stone, water bound surface. This work was carried through in a very able manner on the part of the Contractor and completed November 16, 1918. This surfacing makes an all year road, of one of the worst pieces of road in the State. The entire cost of this work was paid by the State.

DETAILED EXPENDITURE STATEMENT—MACADAMIZING—COMSTOCK
TO LANE COUNTY LINE

Engineering			$ 302.09
Advertisements for bids			66.90
Construction—
	Broken Stone Macadam, 4,354 cu. yds. at $3.35	$ 14,585.90
	Earth Filler, 150 cu. yds. at 75c.	112.50
	Removing Slides	117.70
Total Paid to Contractor			14,816.10
Total Cost			$ 15,185.09

Grading and Macadam—Comstock to Leona

This section is through the south end of Pass Creek Canyon, beginning approximately a mile and a half south of Comstock and extending to a point a half mile north of Leona, being 4.6 miles in length. The contract was a joint contract signed by the County Court and State Highway Commission and was awarded to Hall & Soleim of Eugene on September 5, 1917. Work covered by the contract was for grading and macadamizing, culverts and bridges.

Due to shortage of labor, poor shipments on macadam rock, and financial difficulties, the contractors were obliged to ask the State Highway Commission to take over the work. On August 20, 1918, after a conference with the County Court and the Contractor’s Surety Company, this was done. The work was completed November 30, 1918. The construction details under the State supervision were handled by a State construction engineer, representing the Contractors and Surety Company, and the engineering details by the resident engineer on the work—the latter rendering regular monthly estimates of work done on the unit contract prices, of the original contract.

This work complete will cost approximately $80,000.00 of which the County will pay $74,349.72 and the State $5,650.28.

The construction of this section was in charge of E. B. Bishop, resident engineer, and F. E. LaPointe, construction superintendent.

Grading—Oakland to Yoncalla

This work extends from the Calapooya River Bridge at Oakland to a point two miles south of Yoncalla, a total distance of 10.4 miles. A contract for clearing, grading and culverts was awarded the Warren Construction Company, September 5, 1917, being the last of three contracts signed jointly by the County Court and State Highway Commission.

This work was completed July 25, 1918, and is an excellent piece of standard construction 24 feet in width. It eliminates the old excessive grade over Rice Hill, and some bad sections just north of Oakland—there being now no grades over 5 per cent.

On the completion of the grading the State Highway Commission requested permission Of the Capital Issues Committee to sell bonds, part of which were to cover the rocking of this unit to make it passable for winter. This request was refused on the ground that it was not a necessary war measure. The road will therefore not be passable this winter, but it is expected that the section will be macadamized during the 1919 season.

Mr. Robert A. Pratt was resident engineer in charge of the construction.

DETAILED EXPENDITURE STATEMENT—GRADING—OAKLAND TO
YONCALLA

Engineering								$ 5,864.31
Construction—
	Clearing and Grubbing						$ 6,350.00
	Common Excavation, 45,563 cu. yds. at 49c						22,325.87
	Intermediate Excavation, 37,544 cu. yds. at 77c						28,908.88
	Solid Rock Excavation, 17,976 cu. yds. at $1.30						23,368.80
	Overhaul per 100 lin. ft., 61,580 cu. yds. at 2c						1,231.60
	12-inch Plain Concrete Pipe, 2,463 lin. ft. at $1.10						2,709.30
	18-inch Corrugated Galvanized Iron Pipe, 742 lin. ft. at $2.75						2,040.50
	24-inch Corrugated Galvanized Iron Pipe, 108 lin. ft. at $3.44						371.52
	6-inch Porous Drain Tile, 1,055 lin. ft. at 20c						211.00
	Class A Concrete, 146.5 cu. yds. at $24.00						3,516.00
	Class B Concrete, 102.2 cu. yds. at $22.00						2,248.40
	Metal Reinforcement, 9,057 lbs. at 8c						724.56
	Lumber, 3,545 F. B. M. at $45.00						159.52
	Extra work on culverts, drain ditches, rock back filling						174.48
	Hauling and Placing rip-rap for embankments, approximately 350 cu. yds.						203.97
	Lowering water pipe crossing						13.64
	Rebuilding right of way fence						170.50
	Grubbing for borrow pit						21.12
	Extra clearing and grubbing account of line change						74.82
	Gasoline furnished State						9.19
	32-ft. by 36-in. Corrugated Iron Pipe (Hauling and Placing)						28.09
	68-ft. by 36-in. Corrugated Iron Pipe in place						370.04
		Total paid to contractor						$ 95,231.80
		Total cost						$ 101,096.11
			Paid by State			$ 19,015.09
			Paid by County			82,081.02
				Total		$ 101,096.11

ALONG THE UMPQUA RIVER NORTH OF MYRTLE CREEK IN DOUGLAS COUNTY. GRADED IN
1917 AND 1918

Grading—Myrtle Creek to Dillard

On November 27, 1917, a contract was awarded to Calvert & Wolke of Grants Pass (now known as the Grants Pass Construction Company, James Logan, President), for the clearing, grading, culverts and concrete bridges on a section of 12.8 miles between Myrtle Creek and the junction of the Pacific Highway with the Roseburg-Coos Bay Highway, one mile and a half north of Dillard. This construction eliminates the well but unfavorably known Roberts Mountain grade just south of Roseburg, on which several lives have been lost and also, seven grade crossings of the Southern Pacific Railway. It will be a water grade highway along the beautiful Umpqua River.

The road will not be open to the public until the completion of two bridges over the Umpqua, which are now under construction and which are expected to be completed about January 1, 1919. It is expected that this entire section will be macadamized during the 1919 season.

Mr. F. N. Drinkhall is resident engineer in charge of the grading on this section.

DETAILED STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES TO NOVEMBER 30, 1918—
GRADING—MYRTLE CREEK TO DILLARD

Engineering			$ 7,499.22
Culvert Pipe furnished by State			4,109.70
Construction—
	Clearing and Grubbing, 97% completed	$ 3,395.00
	Common Excavation, 49,146 cu. yds. at 35c	17,201.10
	Intermediate Excavation, 42,951 cu. yds. at 56c	24,052.56
	Solid Rock Excavation, 23,859 cu. yds. at $1.14	27,199.26
	Overhaul, per 100 lin. ft., 6,614 cu. yds. at 2c	132.28
	12-inch Plain Concrete Pipe, 1,798 lin. ft. at 35c	629.30
	18-inch Corrugated Galvanized Iron Pipe, 556 lin. ft. at 30c	166.80
	24-inch Corrugated Galvanized Iron Pipe, 284 lin. ft. at 40c	113.60
	36-inch Corrugated Galvanized Iron Pipe, 246 lin. ft. at 75c	184.50
	6-inch Porous Drain Tile, 5,054 lin. ft. at 25c	1,263.50
	Class A Concrete, 471.92 cu. yds. at $22.00	10,382.24
	Class C Concrete, 25 cu. yds. at $20.50	512.50
	Metal Reinforcement, 37,747 lbs. at 10c	3,774.70
	Lumber and Timber, 17,058 F. B. M. at $45.00	767.61
	Rough Dry Walls (approx.) (Force Account) 122 cu. yds.	106.41
	Clearing outside R. O. W. (Force Account)	112.96
	Back-filling over drain tile with gravel	321.06
	Total Amount Earned by Contractor to Nov. 30, 1918	90,315.38
	15 per cent retained until completion of contract	13,547.31
	Total paid contractor to Nov. 30, 1918		76,768.07
Total Amount expended to November 30, 1918			$ 88,376.99

Umpqua River Bridge One Mile North of Dillard

This bridge consists of 3-144 foot covered wooden Howe Truss spans on concrete piers. The spans are continuous, thus forming a roof over 430 feet long. Open windows are constructed at panel points to light the spans and make a more artistic appearance, lack of light and unsightly appearance having been the chief objections to covered wooden bridges. This bridge being on the Pacific Highway, was designed for heavy traffic loading. A laminated wood floor system is used and provision is made for an asphaltic wearing surface although a three inch wooden decking is used temporarily.

This type of bridge is regarded as being very durable, and under conditions of the past year or two, very economical. The structure complete will cost approximately $26,500.00. Mr. A. S. Kennedy was resident engineer for this bridge as well as the one two and one-half miles south of Dillard. The construction is being handled by the Portland Bridge Company.

VAN TYNE CREEK VIADUCT NORTH OF MYRTLE CREEK IN DOUGLAS
COUNTY. BUILT IN 1918

Bridge Two and One-half Miles South of Dillard

This bridge is similar to the one described above, except that there are two 144-foot spans instead of three. The cost of construction will be approximately $19,000.00. It is being built under a contract with the Portland Bridge Company.

Van Tyne Creek Bridge

This is a 60-foot reinforced concrete viaduct on the Pacific Highway near Dole, north of Myrtle Creek. It was constructed by the Grants Pass Construction Company, under their grading contract for the section between Myrtle Creek and Dillard. The total cost of the structure was $3,575.70.

Half Viaducts North of Myrtle Creek

These structures, two in number, were constructed within a few hundred feet of each other on the Pacific Highway between Myrtle Creek and Dillard and span crevices in the face of a rock bluff. They are of reinforced concrete construction of the through girder type and of spans of 45 feet and 58 feet respectively. The 45 foot structure cost complete $2,415.28, and the 58 foot structure cost $2,648.54. Both were built by the Grants Pass Construction Company under their contract for grading between Myrtle Creek and Dillard.

Myrtle Creek Bridge

The bridge over the Umpqua River at Myrtle Creek being inadequate for modern traffic a survey has been made for a new structure. As contemplated, the new bridge will eliminate a grade crossing that now exists at one end of the present bridge.

Canyonville-Galesville Forest Road Project

Under a co-operative agreement between Douglas County, the State and the Federal Government, a 9.7 mile section of the Pacific Highway between Canyonville and Galesville is being constructed. This project will eliminate the heavy grades and dangerous curves through what has been erroneously called Cow Creek Canyon. This section has heretofore been one of the very worst on the entire highway, and its improvement is of great importance.

The work is under contract to John Hampshire & Co. of Grants Pass. The supervision of the work is in the hands of the Federal Office of Public Roads. It is estimated that the project complete will cost $211,000.00, of which the County will pay $23,000.00, the State $94,000.00 and the Federal Government $94,000.00.

Surrey—Coos County Line to Roseburg

During April and May 1917, a preliminary survey was made from the Coos-Douglas County Line eastward to a connection with the new Pacific Highway location between Roseburg and Dillard. Some construction on this line was contemplated in the spring of 1918, but was postponed until the close of the war. Location surveys were in charge of Mr. C. C. Kelley, locating engineer. The length of the survey is 28.7 miles.

Survey—Johns Ranch to Jacques Ranch

This survey was made in July 1917, and is on the Pacific Highway between Glendale and Canyonville. The survey was 7.2 miles in length and was made by Mr. C. C. Kelley, locating engineer.

Survey—Canyon Creek Pass to Johns Ranch

This survey consisted of the location of a 2.3 mile section of the Pacific Highway from Canyon Creek Pass to Johns Ranch in Cow Creek Valley. It was made by C. C. Kelley, locating engineer, in August, 1917, and the section is now being constructed as a part of the Canyonville-Galesville Forest Road Project.