GRANT COUNTY
Grant County lies in the mountainous section of the State and its limits on three sides, north, east and south follow water sheds. The general slope of the lands and direction of the drainage is toward the west but even here the country is of such rugged character that no natural passageways are found to relieve the isolated condition. The roads in all directions are very rough and of little economic value to the County. The narrow gauge railway leading from Baker to Prairie City serves the whole County for both passenger and freight traffic.
It is readily seen that the call for improved roads for these settlements is an urgent one. To meet the demands for transportation facilities the County has made a very creditable showing towards financing highway improvements. In November 1916 a bond issue was voted providing $140,000.00. The mileage is so great however, and the construction so heavy and expensive, that County funds available for permanent work are altogether inadequate.
Grant County was among the first to apply for State and Federal aid and its call did not go unheeded. The State Highway Commission drew heavily upon its first apportionments of Post Road Funds in order to provide a connecting road between Spray and Dayville through the Big Basin and Picture Gorge. The co-operative plans provide also for the improvement of the John Day-Prairie City sections.
Two sections of the John Day Highway in this County aggregating thirty-one and thirty-one hundredths miles in length have been definitely established by location surveys, an additional location is to be made in the near future. In November the State Highway Commission received bids for the grading and macadamizing of that section of the John Day Highway between Hall Hill and Prairie City. The cost of this work is to be defrayed by State and Government funds in equal amounts.
Funds have been set aside by the Commission for the matching of Federal and County funds in the construction of the John Day Highway between the Grant-Wheeler County Line and Dayville. This is a portion of Post Road Project No. 6 extending from the mouth of Sarvice Creek, Wheeler County to Valades Ranch, Grant County. The project covers a total of forty-eight and ninety-five hundredths miles, twenty-three and forty-five hundredths miles of which are in Grant County. The appropriations for the improvement are apportioned as follows: Grant County, $50,000.00; State, $93,871.20; Government, $93,871.19. Total estimated cost, $237,742.39.
The Department has also appropriated funds for the grading and macadamizing of that section between the town of John Day and Fisk Creek, seven and four-tenths miles east of the town. The total estimated cost of the work is $145,051.50, which amount is to be supplied in equal amounts by the State and Government. The improvement from John Day to Prairie City is listed for early completion owing to an urgent request from the War Department to keep the road in condition for hauling chrome ore.
The following summary shows State and Federal aid to be extended Grant County during the next season.
| Appropriated for expenditures in 1919 | State Funds | County Funds | Govern- ment Funds | Total |
| Hall Hill to Prairie City | $ 19,493.95 | ... | $ 19,493.95 | $ 38,987.90 |
| Wheeler County Line to Valades Ranch | 93,871.20 | $ 50,000.00 | 93,871.19 | 237,742.39 |
| John Day to Fisk Creek | 72,525.75 | ... | 72,525.75 | 145,051.50 |
Hall Hill Section—Grading and Macadamizing
In July of this season the Grant County Court turned over to the State Departments funds for the improvement of certain sections between John Day and Prairie City. The Hall Hill Section, three and five-tenths miles in length, received first attention as it was much in need of repair. The grading is almost completed and gravel macadam is laid on two and twenty-four hundredths miles. There has been expended on this work up to November 30, $39,000.00, and approximately $11,000.00 will be required for completion of the same. County funds will be supplied to finish this section. State forces and local labor are being employed on this work under the direct supervision of C. A. Harrington, resident engineer for the Department. In addition to the grading and macadamizing this work involves the construction of a 100-foot span bridge over the John Day River.
SUMMARY OF CONSTRUCTION QUANTITIES
Excavation—5,300 cu. yds. solid rock; 4,100 cu. yds. intermediate; 10,300 cu. yds. common.
Pipe—70 lin. ft. 18-inch; 150 lin. ft. 24-inch; 120 lin. ft. 9-inch.
Survey of Big Basin Section of John Day Highway
In 1917 a location survey was made from the Grant-Wheeler County Lines east of Spray to Valades Ranch, five miles west of Dayville. The line crosses the North Fork of the John Day River at Kimberly’s Ranch and follows up the Big Basin Valley along the east bank of the John Day River. A crossing is made near the upper end of Big Basin and the line follows the west bank of the river through Picture Gorge Canyon. On leaving Picture Gorge the line enters the John Day Valley, and continues on the west side of the river to Valades Ranch where the project ends. Valades Ranch is five miles west of Dayville. This is a portion of the Sarvice Creek-Valades Ranch Post Road Project and the Grant County section is twenty-three and forty-five hundredths miles in length. This survey was made under the direction of R. H. Coppock, locating engineer.
Survey of John Day Highway From John Day to Prairie City
In 1918 a location survey was made from the town of John Day to Prairie City. The line follows the south limit of the valley east from John Day for eight and five-tenths miles and crosses the river to the north side of the valley at the bridge site on the present road. It continues thence along the north side of the valley to Prairie City. The length of this survey is twelve and seventy-four hundredths miles.
C. A. Harrington and R. H. Coppock were the locating engineers on this section. The office work for this survey is finished and plans are complete.
Sarvice Creek-Valades Ranch Port Road Project
(Same as for [Wheeler county])
John Day-Fisk Creek Post Road Project
The State Highway Department has submitted to the Government for the purpose of securing Post Road aid, that section of the John Day Highway between John Day and Fisk Creek. This project is five and seventy-two hundredth miles in length and the total estimated cost is $145,051.50. The co-operation is to be on the basis of fifty per cent of the cost from each the State and Government.
Assurance has been received that the project will receive the support of the Government and it is expected that construction work will begin in the near future.
Hall Hill-Prairie City Post Road Project
The Office of Public Roads has approved the application for Post Road aid on the John Day Highway between Hall Hill and Prairie City. The length of this project is two and fourteen hundredths miles. The total estimated cost is approximately $39,000.00. The road is to be graded and surfaced with gravel macadam. This improvement involves also the construction of a fifty foot span bridge near Prairie City. The apportionment of the costs provide for the payment of $19,500.00 by each the State and Government.
Bids were received for this work on November 27 and a contract for the construction was later awarded Kern & Co. of Portland, Oregon. Work will begin in a short time and the bid price for this improvement was $38,987.90.