In a few cases, either no bids being received or the ones received being considered excessive, work has been let on the cost plus basis with definite cost limit set, beyond which no percentage would be paid. Three of these force account jobs have later been taken over by the Commission, as it was felt that the work could be handled more economically with its own forces.
To determine the legality of the State and Federal co-operative bonds for co-operation on post and forest roads, a friendly suit was brought in the Supreme Court which was decided favorable to the issue.
The interpretation placed on the Federal Aid Road Law by the Secretary of Agriculture requiring actual carriage of the mails or a reasonable prospect before approving as eligible for Federal co-operation eliminated from the classification practically all of the Columbia River Highway and especially links in the Pacific Highway in Douglas county on which it was desired to receive Federal aid.
Under the post road law seventeen projects have been agreed upon, and to date ten have been approved, three disapproved, two pending and two in preparation. Construction work has been started on two of these projects. Under the forest road law fourteen projects have been approved. Construction has been started on four of these projects. Several will carry over into the 1920 program.
A railroad asphalt paving plant was purchased but not used during the 1918 season, since no bituminous pavements were constructed, under new contracts, in that period. Three concrete pavers are owned by the Commission, as well as three road rollers, four rock crushers, and six auto trucks, besides considerable grading construction equipment. A large part of this equipment has been in use this season and not only has saved the cost of rented equipment but has been available at times when it was impossible to get the same elsewhere.
A total of seventy-one projects have been advertised as follows. It will be noted that the number of proposals exceeds the number of bidders which may be explained by the fact that on paving work bidders have made proposals on more than one type of pavement.
Under the provisions of the Six Million Dollar Bonding Act, bonds to the amount of $2,190,000.00 par value have been sold. These bonds bear four per cent interest and mature in from five to twenty-five years from date of issue. An average of six proposals were made for each issue.
| Date of Sales | Date of Bonds | Numbers | Highest Bidder | Par Value | Price Paid | ||||||
| Aug. | 7, | 1917 | Aug. | 1, | 1917 | 1 | - | 520 | Lumbermen’s Trust Company | $ 500,000 | $ 471,300 |
| Sept. | 12, | 1917 | Sept. | 1, | 1917 | 521 | - | 1040 | E. H. Rollins & Sons | 500,000 | 472,130 |
| Mar. | 15, | 1918 | April | 1, | 1918 | 1041 | - | 1560 | Henry Teal | 500,000 | 455,850 |
| July | 9, | 1918 | July | 1, | 1918 | 1561 | - | 2280 | E. H. Rollins & Sons and A. B. Leach | 690,000 | 643,770 |
| Totals | $ 2,190,000 | $ 2,043,050 | |||||||||
Under the provisions of Chapter 175 of the Laws of 1917, (Bean-Barrett) bonds to meet Federal co-operation are authorized. Four hundred thousand dollars par value of these bonds were sold August 18, 1918 by the Board of Control to the highest bidder, Clark-Kendall & Co., whose proposal was $381,160.00. These bonds are four per cent and mature in from four to eight years.