The State Highway Department has submitted to the Government for the purpose of securing Post Road aid, that section of the John Day Highway between John Day and Fisk Creek. This project is five and seventy-two hundredth miles in length and the total estimated cost is $145,051.50. The co-operation is to be on the basis of fifty per cent of the cost from each the State and Government.
Assurance has been received that the project will receive the support of the Government and it is expected that construction work will begin in the near future.
Hall Hill-Prairie City Post Road Project
The Office of Public Roads has approved the application for Post Road aid on the John Day Highway between Hall Hill and Prairie City. The length of this project is two and fourteen hundredths miles. The total estimated cost is approximately $39,000.00. The road is to be graded and surfaced with gravel macadam. This improvement involves also the construction of a fifty foot span bridge near Prairie City. The apportionment of the costs provide for the payment of $19,500.00 by each the State and Government.
Bids were received for this work on November 27 and a contract for the construction was later awarded Kern & Co. of Portland, Oregon. Work will begin in a short time and the bid price for this improvement was $38,987.90.
HARNEY COUNTY
Roads in Harney County are few in number, but the combined mileage of these few is enormous. Fortunately a large portion of the County roads are good most of the year, but during the winter season communication by the valley roads is usually extremely difficult.
Highways are of extreme importance in this County owing to the scarcity of railroads. The value of improved highways is fully appreciated by the people and a very creditable beginning has been made on the roads in the vicinity of Burns. However, County funds are entirely inadequate for the carrying out of a road building scheme of any magnitude.
The State Highway Commission extended aid in 1918 to the amount of $20,000 which appropriation calls for a like amount from the Federal Government. The County joins in the co-operative work to the amount of $8,000.00. This makes a total of $48,000.00 for a beginning. Present plans provide that work shall start early in 1919.
Additional support was secured from the State in the forms of surveys. Approximately nineteen miles of the Central Oregon Highway within Harney County was surveyed in 1918.