In the matter of highway improvement Union County has shown considerable
progress. Substantial road building machinery is owned by the County in
units sufficient to allow work to proceed simultaneously in various
sections of the County. It is noticeable however that most of their work
has been done (and justifiably so) on local and feeder roads rather than
on trunk highways. Local funds and equipment are inadequate to make all
the improvements needed when the mountainous sections of the main roads
are considered.
As in other counties the State Highway Commission easily recognized the
necessity and importance of co-operation and accordingly in 1917 plans
were laid and steps taken to extend State and Federal Aid.
During 1917 and 1918 a total of 83.54 miles of survey was made on the
two principal roads of the County. 45.26 miles on the Old Oregon Trail
and 38.28 miles on the La Grande-Joseph Highway.
Agreements were signed by the Secretary of Agriculture providing for
co-operation with the State on equal basis, for the grading of a six
mile section between Union and Telocaset and a 9.37 mile section between
Elgin and Minam. The respective amounts expended on each of these
projects to the date of this report, November 30, 1918, are: $16,642.29
and $3,838.44. State funds amounting to $5,000.00 have been expended for
grading in cooperation with the County on the La Grande-Hot Lake
Section. This road is 7.95 miles in length and involves the opening of a
new road for the entire distance. The State Highway Commission has set
aside funds for graveling this section preparatory to surfacing. The
completion of these three projects will require approximately $66,737.06
from the State, $35,575.50 from the Federal Government, and $3,000 from
the County.
The following summary shows for each project amounts expended to date
and funds set aside to be expended during 1919: