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:
| State Funds | County Funds | Federal Govt. Funds | Total | ||
| Expended in 1917 and 1918— | |||||
| On grading Cummings Hill Sec. | $ 7,004.85 | $ 7,527.50 | ... | $ 14,532.35 | |
| On macadamizing Cummings Hill Section | 32,465.44 | ... | ... | 32,465.44 | |
| On grading Bridge Creek Sec. | 14,235.45 | 10,000.00 | ... | 24,235.45 | |
| Total | $ 53,705.74 | $ 17,527.50 | ... | $ 71,233.24 | |
| Appropriated for Expenditure in 1919 and 1920— | |||||
| On Sarvis Creek-Grant County Line Section | $ 63,345.70 | $ 36,000.00 | $ 63,345.70 | $ 162,691.40 | |
| 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.