A detailed survey was made over this so-called Jackson Hill route, and its advantages caused the Highway Commission to adopt it as the route of the Pacific Highway between these points. It is estimated the cost will be $109,000.00 to complete the subgrade, and it is expected this project will be commenced in 1919.
MORROW COUNTY
In Morrow County there are found all classes of conditions affecting roads and highway improvement. In some parts of the County there are good natural roads, while in other sections they are extremely poor. As in most other Eastern Oregon Counties, Morrow County has to wrestle with the problem of maintaining a large road mileage with a constant shortage of road funds. Highways are of extreme importance, as there are large agricultural communities that have no railway connections.
During the past two years the highway movement in Morrow County has experienced a wonderful growth. County authorities have broken the bonds of established custom, and have made a most creditable beginning in highway improvement. Although they have been supported by special road taxes, in most of the districts the available funds are far from adequate.
The State Highway Commission early realized the importance of good roads in this County, and took steps to extend the State aid through the Post Road Fund. The plans failed when the U. S. Office of Public Roads found it impossible to co-operate on the projects in question. This failure was due to nonfulfillment of post road requirements. Additional State aid was extended through the provisions of the $6,000,000.00 fund, but the execution of these plans were delayed by war conditions. This fund is still available, and the State Highway Commission will begin work as soon as conditions will permit.
Morrow County has received favorable consideration from the Highway Commission in the matter of surveys, it being the only county in Eastern Oregon in which the total mileage of State roads has been surveyed. Those surveys cover the Columbia River Highway in the north end of the County, and the Oregon-Washington Highway via Heppner, Ione and Lexington.
The Columbia River Highway was first surveyed under the direction of M. O. Bennett, and later additional work was done by Oscar Cutler. This survey was 13.85 miles in length. R. H. Baldock was locating engineer on the Oregon-Washington Highway survey, which has a total length of 66.1 miles.
Heppner Grading—Oregon-Washington Highway
During 1918 Morrow County graded 2.26 miles of standard road adjacent to the town of Heppner. A 1.82-mile section begins at the west city limits of Heppner and extends down Willow Creek on the State survey. Another section extends from the east city limits up Hinton Creek for a distance of .44 miles.
The County paid the total cost of this improvement which required $5,689.19. The State Department supplied the engineering supervision for this work through R. H. Baldock, resident engineer.