It is readily seen that the call for improved roads for these settlements is an urgent one. To meet the demands for transportation facilities the County has made a very creditable showing towards financing highway improvements. In November 1916 a bond issue was voted providing $140,000.00. The mileage is so great however, and the construction so heavy and expensive, that County funds available for permanent work are altogether inadequate.
Grant County was among the first to apply for State and Federal aid and its call did not go unheeded. The State Highway Commission drew heavily upon its first apportionments of Post Road Funds in order to provide a connecting road between Spray and Dayville through the Big Basin and Picture Gorge. The co-operative plans provide also for the improvement of the John Day-Prairie City sections.
Two sections of the John Day Highway in this County aggregating thirty-one and thirty-one hundredths miles in length have been definitely established by location surveys, an additional location is to be made in the near future. In November the State Highway Commission received bids for the grading and macadamizing of that section of the John Day Highway between Hall Hill and Prairie City. The cost of this work is to be defrayed by State and Government funds in equal amounts.
Funds have been set aside by the Commission for the matching of Federal and County funds in the construction of the John Day Highway between the Grant-Wheeler County Line and Dayville. This is a portion of Post Road Project No. 6 extending from the mouth of Sarvice Creek, Wheeler County to Valades Ranch, Grant County. The project covers a total of forty-eight and ninety-five hundredths miles, twenty-three and forty-five hundredths miles of which are in Grant County. The appropriations for the improvement are apportioned as follows: Grant County, $50,000.00; State, $93,871.20; Government, $93,871.19. Total estimated cost, $237,742.39.
The Department has also appropriated funds for the grading and macadamizing of that section between the town of John Day and Fisk Creek, seven and four-tenths miles east of the town. The total estimated cost of the work is $145,051.50, which amount is to be supplied in equal amounts by the State and Government. The improvement from John Day to Prairie City is listed for early completion owing to an urgent request from the War Department to keep the road in condition for hauling chrome ore.
The following summary shows State and Federal aid to be extended Grant County during the next season.
| Appropriated for expenditures in 1919 | State Funds | County Funds | Govern- ment Funds | Total |
| Hall Hill to Prairie City | $ 19,493.95 | ... | $ 19,493.95 | $ 38,987.90 |
| Wheeler County Line to Valades Ranch | 93,871.20 | $ 50,000.00 | 93,871.19 | 237,742.39 |
| John Day to Fisk Creek | 72,525.75 | ... | 72,525.75 | 145,051.50 |
Hall Hill Section—Grading and Macadamizing
In July of this season the Grant County Court turned over to the State Departments funds for the improvement of certain sections between John Day and Prairie City. The Hall Hill Section, three and five-tenths miles in length, received first attention as it was much in need of repair. The grading is almost completed and gravel macadam is laid on two and twenty-four hundredths miles. There has been expended on this work up to November 30, $39,000.00, and approximately $11,000.00 will be required for completion of the same. County funds will be supplied to finish this section. State forces and local labor are being employed on this work under the direct supervision of C. A. Harrington, resident engineer for the Department. In addition to the grading and macadamizing this work involves the construction of a 100-foot span bridge over the John Day River.