Grant County lies in the mountainous section of the State and its limits
on three sides, north, east and south follow water sheds. The general
slope of the lands and direction of the drainage is toward the west but
even here the country is of such rugged character that no natural
passageways are found to relieve the isolated condition. The roads in
all directions are very rough and of little economic value to the
County. The narrow gauge railway leading from Baker to Prairie City
serves the whole County for both passenger and freight traffic.
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 | State | County |Government| Total
expenditures in 1919 | Funds | Funds | Funds |
-----------------------+----------+----------+----------+-----------
Hall Hill to Prairie |$19,493.95| ... |$19,493.95|$ 38,987.90
City | | | |
Wheeler County Line to | 93,871.20|$50,000.00| 93,871.19| 237,742.39
Valades Ranch | | | |
John Day to Fisk Creek | 72,525.75| ... | 72,525.75| 145,051.50
-----------------------+----------+----------+----------+-----------