Construction is now under way on two Post Road Projects both of which are in Union County. These are the Elgin-Minam project, estimated to cost $41,151.00, and the Union-Telocaset project, estimated to cost $30,000.00. The contracts for the construction of both jobs were let on July 9, 1918, to Union County, represented by the County Court, the lowest bidder. Subsequent to the letting, however, the Attorney General gave the opinion that the County Court had no legal authority to enter into a contract of this nature, and in order to facilitate matters and prevent delay in construction the State Highway Commission on September 10, 1918, agreed to take the work over at the prices bid by the County, the County agreeing to reimburse the State in case the cost of the work exceeded the bid prices.
The total estimated cost of all projects agreed upon to date is $1,409,993.24 of which $627,496.62 is to be paid by the Federal Government, $627,496.62 by the State, and $155,000.00 by the Counties interested. On [page 24] is given a tabulation of the Post Road Projects approved, giving the estimated cost of each project with the respective amounts to be paid by the State, the Federal Government and the Counties.
FOREST ROAD PROJECTS
The Federal authorities and the State Highway Commission have to date agreed upon co-operation on fourteen Forest Road Projects. The total estimated cost of these fourteen projects is $1,246,204.65; $538,231.78 to be provided by the Government, $538,231.78 by the State, and $169,741.09 by the Counties.
Construction is already under way on three of the Forest Projects, namely: the Canyonville-Galesville section of the Pacific Highway in Douglas County, the Three Rivers Project in Tillamook County, and the Ochoco Canyon Project in Crook County.
POST ROAD PROJECTS
PROJECTS AGREED UPON TO NOVEMBER 30, 1918
| Projects | Project Number | Miles and Kind of Work | Total Cost | Funds Provided | ||||
| By Government | By State | By Counties | ||||||
| Baker County: | ||||||||
| Baker-Middle Bridge Section | 10 | 17.0 | miles—grading | $ 71,235.45 | $ 28,117.73 | $ 28,117.72 | $ 15,000.00 | |
| Sag Section of Baker-Cornucopia Road | 9 | 4.9 | miles—grading and gravel | 41,926.00 | 17,963.00 | 17,963.00 | 6,000.00 | |
| Canyon Section of Baker- Cornucopia Road | 11 | 4.5 | miles—grading | 22,498.00 | 8,249.00 | 8,249.00 | 6,000.00 | |
| Grant County: | ||||||||
| John Day to Fiske Creek Section | 13 | 7.2 | miles—grading and gravel | 143,817.14 | 71,908.57 | 71,908.57 | ... | |
| Hall Hill to Prairie City Section | 14 | 2.2 | miles—grading and gravel | 43,282.47 | 21,641.23 | 21,641.24 | ... | |
| Harney County: | ||||||||
| Burns-Crane Project | 15 | 6.0 | miles—grading and gravel | 48,000.00 | 20,000.00 | 20,000.00 | 8,000.00 | |
| Malheur County: | ||||||||
| Project to be selected | 100,000.00 | 40,000.00 | 40,000.00 | 20,000.00 | ||||
| Marion County: | ||||||||
| Salem-Aurora Project | 7 | 18.0 | miles—grading | 347,232.60 | 173,616.30 | 173,616.30 | ... | |
| Union County: | ||||||||
| Elgin-Minam Project | 5 | 9.3 | miles—grading | 41,151.00 | 20,575.50 | 20,575.50 | ... | |
| Union-Telocaset Project | 8 | 6.0 | miles—grading | 30,000.00 | 15,000.00 | 15,000.00 | ... | |
| Wasco County: | ||||||||
| The Dalles-Three Mile Creek Project | ... | 2.0 | miles—paving | 44,000.00 | 20,000.00 | 20,000.00 | 4,000.00 | |
| Wheeler County: | ||||||||
| Fossil-Sarvice Creek Project | 4 | 9.5 | miles—grading | 36,733.40 | 18,366.70 | 18,366.70 | ... | |
| Wheeler and Grant Counties: | ||||||||
| Sarvice Creek-Valades Ranch Project | 6 | 48.5 | miles—grading | 400,433.80 | 157,216.90 | 157,216.90 | 86,000.00 | |
| Yamhill County: | ||||||||
| Grande Ronde Project | 12 | 2.8 | miles—grading and gravel | 39,683.38 | 14,841.691 | 4,841.69 | 10,000.00 | |
| Total estimated cost of all Projects | $ 1,409,993.24 | |||||||
| Federal Government Funds | $ 627,496.62 | |||||||
| State Funds | $ 627,496.62 | |||||||
| County Funds | $ 155,000.00 | |||||||
The Canyonville-Galesville section is what is generally known as Cow Creek Canyon, one of the worst stretches on the Pacific Highway. This section is 9.7 miles in length, and is to be graded sixteen feet wide; the estimated total cost being $211,000.00. The work is under contract to John Hampshire & Co., of Grants Pass.
The Three Rivers Project is 10.35 miles in length and lies between Hebo and Dolph on the Portland-Tillamook Highway in Tillamook County. The County of Tillamook, represented by its County Court was the low bidder on this work, but before the contract was entered into, the Attorney General ruled that the County Court had no authority to contract work of this kind. The State Highway Department having available the necessary equipment and desiring to get this important piece of road work under way, agreed with the Federal Government to take the work over at the prices bid by Tillamook County.