MORROW COUNTY
In Morrow County there are found all classes of conditions affecting roads and highway improvement. In some parts of the County there are good natural roads, while in other sections they are extremely poor. As in most other Eastern Oregon Counties, Morrow County has to wrestle with the problem of maintaining a large road mileage with a constant shortage of road funds. Highways are of extreme importance, as there are large agricultural communities that have no railway connections.
During the past two years the highway movement in Morrow County has experienced a wonderful growth. County authorities have broken the bonds of established custom, and have made a most creditable beginning in highway improvement. Although they have been supported by special road taxes, in most of the districts the available funds are far from adequate.
The State Highway Commission early realized the importance of good roads in this County, and took steps to extend the State aid through the Post Road Fund. The plans failed when the U. S. Office of Public Roads found it impossible to co-operate on the projects in question. This failure was due to nonfulfillment of post road requirements. Additional State aid was extended through the provisions of the $6,000,000.00 fund, but the execution of these plans were delayed by war conditions. This fund is still available, and the State Highway Commission will begin work as soon as conditions will permit.
Morrow County has received favorable consideration from the Highway Commission in the matter of surveys, it being the only county in Eastern Oregon in which the total mileage of State roads has been surveyed. Those surveys cover the Columbia River Highway in the north end of the County, and the Oregon-Washington Highway via Heppner, Ione and Lexington.
The Columbia River Highway was first surveyed under the direction of M. O. Bennett, and later additional work was done by Oscar Cutler. This survey was 13.85 miles in length. R. H. Baldock was locating engineer on the Oregon-Washington Highway survey, which has a total length of 66.1 miles.
Heppner Grading—Oregon-Washington Highway
During 1918 Morrow County graded 2.26 miles of standard road adjacent to the town of Heppner. A 1.82-mile section begins at the west city limits of Heppner and extends down Willow Creek on the State survey. Another section extends from the east city limits up Hinton Creek for a distance of .44 miles.
The County paid the total cost of this improvement which required $5,689.19. The State Department supplied the engineering supervision for this work through R. H. Baldock, resident engineer.
Following is a statement of construction quantities:
| HEPPNER EAST | ||
| Common Excavation, 1,190 cu. yds. at. 43 | $ 502.53 | |
| Culverts | 216.35 | |
| Total | 718.88 | |
| HEPPNER WEST | ||
| Common Excavation, 850 cu. yds. at .48 | $ 407.01 | |
| Intermediate Excavation, 2,150 cu. yds. at $1.11 | 2,385.30 | |
| Culverts | 2,178.00 | |
| Total | $ 4,970.31 | |
Jones Hill Grading
The 3.22-mile section of the Oregon-Washington Highway known as the Jones Hill Grade, lies about ten miles east of Heppner, and extends over the divide between Hinton and Butler Creeks. The State location involved the construction of an entirely new road. This improvement was paid for in full by the County, the total cost being $25,050.26.
R. H. Baldock, resident engineer for the State Highway Department, was the engineer in charge.
Construction quantities are shown in the following statement:
| Rock Excavation, 6,200 cu. yds. at $3.98 | $ 18,504.26 | |
| Common Excavation, 7,300 cu. yds. at .59 | 4,350.00 | |
| Culverts | 2,200.00 | |
| Total cost | $ 25,054.26 | |
Heppner Macadam
After grading the 1.82-mile section of the Oregon-Washington Highway west of Heppner, and .44 miles east, Morrow County proceeded to surface with a standard waterbound macadam. This work was done on a force account basis by the United Contracting Co. and Warren Construction Co. The work was completed and opened to traffic in July, 1918.
The 2.26 miles of macadam cost the County a total of $19,280.35. A total of 4,208 cubic yards of rock was placed, making the unit cost $4.56 per cubic yard. Crushed trap rock was secured from a quarry near the city limits, and suitable binder material was found near at hand. The engineer in charge was R. H. Baldock of the State Department.