UNION COUNTY

In the matter of highway improvement Union County has shown considerable progress. Substantial road building machinery is owned by the County in units sufficient to allow work to proceed simultaneously in various sections of the County. It is noticeable however that most of their work has been done (and justifiably so) on local and feeder roads rather than on trunk highways. Local funds and equipment are inadequate to make all the improvements needed when the mountainous sections of the main roads are considered.

As in other counties the State Highway Commission easily recognized the necessity and importance of co-operation and accordingly in 1917 plans were laid and steps taken to extend State and Federal Aid.

During 1917 and 1918 a total of 83.54 miles of survey was made on the two principal roads of the County. 45.26 miles on the Old Oregon Trail and 38.28 miles on the La Grande-Joseph Highway.

Agreements were signed by the Secretary of Agriculture providing for co-operation with the State on equal basis, for the grading of a six mile section between Union and Telocaset and a 9.37 mile section between Elgin and Minam. The respective amounts expended on each of these projects to the date of this report, November 30, 1918, are: $16,642.29 and $3,838.44. State funds amounting to $5,000.00 have been expended for grading in cooperation with the County on the La Grande-Hot Lake Section. This road is 7.95 miles in length and involves the opening of a new road for the entire distance. The State Highway Commission has set aside funds for graveling this section preparatory to surfacing. The completion of these three projects will require approximately $66,737.06 from the State, $35,575.50 from the Federal Government, and $3,000 from the County.

The following summary shows for each project amounts expended to date and funds set aside to be expended during 1919:

EXPENDED IN 1917 AND 1918
		State Funds	County Funds	Govern- ment Funds	Total
Union Telocaset		$ 16,642.29	...	...	$ 16,642.29
Elgin-Minam		3,838.44	...	...	3,838.44
La Grande-Hot Lake		5,000.00	$ 3,000.00	...	8,000.00
	Total	$ 25,480.73	$ 3,000.00	...	$ 28,480.73

APPROPRIATED FOR EXPENDITURE IN 1919
		State Funds	County Funds	Govern- ment Funds	Total
Union Telocaset		...	...	$ 15,000.00	$ 15,000.00
Elgin-Minam		$ 16,737.06	...	20,575.50	37,312.56
La Grande-Hot Lake		50,000.00	$ 3,000.00	...	53,000.00
	Total	$ 66,737.06	$ 3,000.00	$ 35,575.50	$ 105,312.56

The absence of figures in the column headed “County funds” in the above tabulation is explained by the fact that Union County, in the matter of co-operation, has agreed to expend certain sums on other roads than those mentioned in the table. The County’s appropriation for the improvement of the La Grande-Kamela section of the Old Oregon Trail is $40,000.00 and $10,000.00 additional has been stipulated for use in improving the Elgin-Willow Creek Section of the La Grande-Joseph Highway. The County has also provided funds for the completion of the grading between La Grande and Hot Lake.

Union-Telocaset Section Grading

In August, 1918, the State Highway Commission called for bids on the grading of a six mile section between Union and Telocaset. The Union County Court was the successful bidder and the Commission awarded the contract but it later developed that the County could not legally hold the position of contractor in doing State work. As the other bids were unsatisfactory the situation resulted in the State taking over the work and doing it with the State forces, and by November 30, the project was about 60% complete. The total estimated cost of this work is $30,000.00 and $16,642.29 has been expended to date. Mr. R. A. Pratt is resident engineer in charge.

Elgin-Minam Section

The State Highway Commission opened bids on the grading of a 9.37 mile section between Elgin and Minam Hill. In the letting of this work they experienced the same difficulty as with the Union-Telocaset work. (See report on the [Union-Telocaset grading]). The subsequent action of the State Highway Commission in taking the contract over to be done by State forces resulted in work starting in August, 1918. Owing to weather and soil conditions work on this section has closed down for the winter. The amount expended is $3,838.44 and the total estimated cost is $41,151.00. Mr. R. A. Pratt, resident engineer for the State Highway Department was in charge of this work and Mr. C. A. Dunn was superintendent.

La Grande-Hot Lake Grading

In November, 1917, the State Highway Department appropriated $5,000.00 to co-operate on the grading of that section of the Old Oregon Trail between Hot Lake and La Grande. Grading work started within the month and two miles were graded when work was closed for the winter.

This work was continued during the present season and up to November 30, about five miles of grade had been completed. In addition to the $5,000.00 of State money the County has expended about $3,000.00. It will require about $3,000.00 to complete the grading and an additional $5,500.00 for bridges. The bridge plans call for concrete structures.

Survey of the Old Oregon Trail, Union County

The State Highway Department has made a location survey of 45.26 miles of the Old Oregon Trail in Union County. The survey begins at the Union-Umatilla County Line near Kamela and continues through La Grande, Hot Lake and Union and ends at Telocaset. Office plans are complete for most of this work. Locating engineer D. D. Glass made the survey from La Grande to Telocaset and R. H. Baldock, locating engineer, was in charge of the work between Kamela and La Grande.

Survey of La Grande-Joseph Highway, Union County

In 1917 a final location survey was made from La Grande to Minam, a distance of 38.28 miles. D. G. Glass, locating engineer for the State Department, was in charge of the crews. Beginning at La Grande the line runs through Island City, and Elgin and ends at Minam at the confluence of the Minam and Wallowa Rivers. Plans for this work are practically complete. The location from Island City to Elgin is to be reconsidered with the view of making some changes in the route.

A SURVEY CAMP IN EASTERN OREGON

Union-Telocaset Post Road Project

A co-operative agreement between the State and Government provides for the construction of a portion of the Old Oregon Trail between Union and Telocaset. This section, six miles in length, begins at Union and follows up Pyles Canyon near the location of the present road to a point 1.5 miles north of Telocaset.

The total estimated cost of this project is $30,000.00 making $15,000.00 to be paid by each the State and Government. Union County joins in the co-operation of the work, in case the total cost exceeds the amount stipulated in the Federal agreement. If the total cost should exceed the estimate given in the project agreement, the County agrees to pay the full amount of such cost.

Work was started on this section August, 1918, and $20,575.50 had been expended to November 30. R. A. Pratt is resident engineer for the Department. The work is being done by the State forces under the supervision of C. A. Dunn, assistant engineer.

Elgin-Minam Post Road Project

The State Highway Commission secured an agreement with the U. S. Office of Public Roads providing for the construction of a 9.37 mile section of the La Grande-Joseph Highway. The survey for this improvement begins at Elgin and follows east in the direction of the present road to the top of Minam Hill.

It is estimated that this work will cost $41,151.00 or $20,575.50 for each the State and Government. In case the cost of this work exceeds the estimate shown in the project agreement, the County agrees to pay such cost. In this manner Union County is co-operating in this improvement.

Work opened up here in August under the supervision of C. A. Dunn, assistant engineer, for the Department. State forces are employed on force account basis. The expenditures to November 30 amount to $3,838.44, and the project is about 10% completed. R. A. Pratt is resident engineer for the State Department.