In 1918 a location survey was made from the town of John Day to Prairie City. The line follows the south limit of the valley east from John Day for eight and five-tenths miles and crosses the river to the north side of the valley at the bridge site on the present road. It continues thence along the north side of the valley to Prairie City. The length of this survey is twelve and seventy-four hundredths miles.

C. A. Harrington and R. H. Coppock were the locating engineers on this section. The office work for this survey is finished and plans are complete.

Sarvice Creek-Valades Ranch Port Road Project

(Same as for Wheeler county)

John Day-Fisk Creek Post Road Project

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.

a.s.surance 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.

Survey of Central Oregon Highway--Burns-Experimental Farm Section

During 1918 the State Highway Commission surveyed a six mile section of the Central Oregon Highway leading east from Burns and past the Government experimental farm. This project begins one and one-half miles east of Burns and ends two miles east of the experimental farm. The plans for this survey are practically completed. This survey was made under the direction of H. B. Wright, locating engineer.

Sage Hen to Burns Section Survey

This is also a section of the Central Oregon Highway and is ten and thirty-nine hundredths miles in length. The line begins near Sage Hen Creek and parallels the present road into Burns, with a considerable saving in distance. This survey was made at the request of the County authorities in order that some improvements they have planned may be placed upon a permanent location. H. B. Wright was locating engineer on this survey.

Gla.s.s b.u.t.te Section Survey

This is a portion of the survey between Rolyat in Deschutes County and One Hundred Mile Road in Harney County. Fifteen and six-tenths miles are in Deschutes County and fifteen in Harney County. This survey was made at the request of the Counties in order that local funds may be expended on a permanent location. The present road through Gla.s.s b.u.t.te section between Rolyat and One Hundred Mile Road is in poor material and much longer than necessary. Local plans provide for the opening of the new road as soon as practicable. H. B. Wright, locating engineer for the State Department directed the surveying of this line.

Reconnaissance Survey Burns to Vale

In April, 1918, the State Highway Department made a reconnaissance survey over the route from Burns to Vale. All possible routes were covered in the survey and reported upon fully to the State Highway Engineer and the Commission. The investigation resulted in the establishing of the route from Burns direct to Crane and down the Malheur River through River Side, Juntura, Harper and Vale. This survey was made by M. O. Bennett, division engineer for the State Highway Department.

HOOD RIVER COUNTY

Grading--Cascade Locks to Hood River

That section of the Columbia River Highway from the Multnomah County Line to Hood River pa.s.ses through the narrowest part of the Columbia River Gorge through the Cascade Range. The steep river banks rise directly up from the water's edge for a large part of the distance, so the s.p.a.ce for both railroad and highway is necessarily restricted. At many points, the right of way of the railroad and highway is contiguous and construction under these conditions involved extremely heavy work which added materially to the cost.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY WEST OF LINDSAY IN HOOD RIVER COUNTY]

Previous to 1915, there was no road through the County, but from the proceeds of a bond issue of $75,000, the County built on State standards a roadway to connect the uncompleted portions. In 1915, the State built about one mile, including the Mitch.e.l.l Point Tunnel, one of the many scenic features of the Columbia River Highway. One mile of pavement adjoining the Multnomah County pavement was built in 1916 by Mr. S.

Benson.

There remained about fourteen miles which require improvement, and on August 7, 1917, contracts were awarded to A. D. Kern for grading of these remaining sections to bring to standard grade and alignment. This improvement eliminated Ruthton Hill, with its narrow, steep grades, three railroad crossings, a narrow, steep grade near Wyeth and the improvement through the village of Cascade Locks to the end of the pavement. The work was divided as follows: Cascade Locks Section, 8.2 miles; Viento Section, 3.6 miles; Ruthton Hill Section, 4.2 miles. These contracts were completed in September, 1918. Due to the close proximity to the railroad tracks, the work required extreme care and watchfulness but was accomplished without accident and without delays to railroad traffic. The costs of construction for each of the three sections follows:

DETAILED EXPENDITURE STATEMENT--GRADING--CASCADE LOCKS SECTION

Engineering $ 8,744.41 Construction--General-- Common Excavation, 60,660 cu. yds. at 42c $25,477.20 Intermediate Excavation, 50,645 cu. yds. at 75c 37,983.75 Solid Rock Excavation, 44,500 cu. yds. at $1.15 51,175.00 Overhaul, per 100 lin. ft., 133,229 cu. yds. at 3c 3,996.87 12-inch Reinforced Concrete Pipe, 1,102 lin.

ft. at $1.75 1,928.50 18-inch Reinforced Concrete Pipe, 140 lin. ft.

at $2.25 315.00 24-inch Reinforced Concrete Pipe, 284 lin. ft.

at $3.00 852.00 30-inch Reinforced Concrete Pipe. 72 lin. ft.

at $4.25 306.00 Cla.s.s A Concrete, 80.86 cu. yds. at $20.00 1,617.20 Cla.s.s C Concrete, 32.43 cu. yds. at $14.00 454.02 Placing Reinforcing Steel, 3,197 lbs. at .00 15.99 Catch Basins, 9 at $25.00 225.00 Extra Clearing and Grubbing, 5.79 acres at $200.00 1,158.00 Extra Clearing, 4.13 acres at $100.00 413.00 Herman Creek Bridge-- Cla.s.s A Concrete, 137.61 cu. yds.

at $20.00 $2,752.20 Cla.s.s C Concrete, 3.57 cu. yds.

at $14.00 49.98 Reinforcing Steel (Placing) 23,000 lbs at .00 115.00 Reinforcing Steel furnished by State 1,394.32 Removing old bridge and constructing temporary bridge 426.00 Wet excavation for piers 664.86 Concrete toe wall to protect fill 1,547.98 Railing 438.72 -------- Total cost of Herman Creek Bridge 7,389.06 Gorton Creek Bridge-- Excavation for piers $ 483.44 Cla.s.s A Concrete, 90.85 cu. yds.

at $20.00 1,817.00 Placing Reinforcing Steel, 7,378 lbs. at .00 36.89 Reinforcing Steel furnished by State 447.27 Railing 224.29 Rip-rap 145.01 -------- Total cost of Gorton Creek Bridge 3,153.90 Force Account Work as Follows-- Construction and Removal of temporary bridge over Dry Creek 15.78 Removing Slide from O.-W. R. R. & N. Tracks 95.59 Gravel Surfacing--End of Pavement to Cascade Locks 2,418.55 Railing for Viento Creek Bridge 106.11 Excavating in water and placing Corrugated Iron Pipe 57.92 Excavation and placing drain tile in wet cuts 150.63 Excavation and placing box drain for form crossing 10.44 Riprap on slope to keep fill off O.-W. R. R. & N. Right of Way 177.29 Water pipe and private road crossing 40.16 Sinking test holes in gravel pit at Cascade Locks 24.93 Road crossing for Herman Creek Ranger Station 167.38 Hauling dirt to cover boulders 264.40 Placing concrete pipe 59.03 Flagmen guarding track (Contractor's force) 1,234.83 Miscellaneous Construction Items Paid Direct by State-- Replacing Fence 18.75 Reinforcing Steel for Concrete Culverts 193.77 Concrete Pipe furnished by State 71.50 Moving Building in Cascade Locks 1,400.00 Guarding O.-W. R. R. & N. Tracks (Ry. Co. Force) 1,343.69 Guarding Western Union Telegraph Line 498.01 ----------- Total Construction Cost $144,809.25 Grand Total Cost of Job 153,553.66 Deduction for Rental of State Cars and Track 648.81 ----------- Total Cash Expenditure $152,904.85

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY NEAR VIENTO IN HOOD RIVER COUNTY. GRADED AND GRAVELED IN 1917 AND 1918]

DETAILED STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES TO NOVEMBER 30, 1918--GRADING AND BRIDGES--VIENTO SECTION

Engineering $ 4,513.24 Guarding O.-W. R. R. & N. Tracks 976.47 Guarding Western Union Telegraph Lines 184.64 Diverting Flume Lines 936.37 Reinforcing Steel Furnished by State 257.79 Contract Work as follows: Common Excavation, 9,480.4 cu. yds. at 39c $ 3,697.35 Intermediate Excavation, 32,654.9 cu. yds.

at 70c 22,858.43 Solid Rock Excavation, 54,031.9 cu. yds. at $1.10 59,435.09 Overhaul, per 100 lin. ft., 82,711 cu. yds. at 3c 2,481.33 12-inch Reinforced Concrete Pipe, 622 lin. ft.

at $1.75 1088.50 18-inch Reinforced Concrete Pipe, 304 lin. ft.

at $2.25 684.00 Cla.s.s A Concrete, 62 cu. yds. at $20.00 1,240.00 Cla.s.s C Concrete, 20.8 cu. yds. at $14.00 291.20 Placing Reinforcing Steel, 3,928 lbs. at .00 19.64 Rubble Masonry, 12 cu. yds. at $7.00 84.00 Catch Basins, one at $25.00 25.00 Gravel Backfill in Rock cut (Force Account) 181.77 Repairing Lindsay Creek Bridge (Force Account) 149.92 Private Road Approach (Force Account) 168.30 Clearing Rock from Mitch.e.l.l Point Tunnel (Force Acc't) 93.94 Viento Creek Bridge-- Cla.s.s A Concrete, 62.7 cu. yds. at $20.00 $1,254.00 Placing Reinforcing Steel, 3,800 lbs.

at .00 19.00 Excavation for Footings (Force Account) 128.27 Material furnished by State 249.70 --------- Total Cost of Viento Creek Bridge 1,650.97 -------- Total Cost to November 30, 1918 $101,017.95 15 per cent Retained of Total Amt. ($93,899.74) Earned by Contractors 14,084.96 ----------- Total Paid Amount to November 30, 1918 $ 86,932.99

DETAILED STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES TO NOVEMBER 30, 1918--GRADING RUTHTON HILL SECTION

Engineering $ 4,074.19 Material furnished by State for Concrete Half Viaduct 200.50 Guarding O.-W. R. R. & N. Tracks 804.57 Contract Construction Work as follows: Common Excavation, 2,669.5 cu. yds. at 39c $ 1,041.10 Intermediate Excavation, 17,109.4 cu. yds.

at 70c 11,976.58 Solid Rock Excavation, 79,213.3 cu. yds. at $1.05 83,173.96 Overhaul per 100 lin. ft., 19,500 cu. yds. at 3c 585.00 12-inch Reinforced Concrete Pipe, 536 lin. ft.