Wheeler County, being without either rail or water transportation
facilities, is entirely dependent upon its roads for communication with
outside points, as well as between points within the County. All of the
large amount of agricultural products of the county must be transported
for long distances over roads and highways, and likewise, all
manufactured articles and other supplies from points without the County
must be brought in over them. For that reason, good roads are of the
utmost importance to all of Wheeler County, which fact is fully
recognized by the Wheeler County people.
Every effort is being made by the County to build up and improve its
road system, but the funds available within the County are entirely
inadequate. In November, 1916, bonds were voted to the amount of
$80,000.00, the maximum allowed the County under the State laws, but
this amount is hardly enough to make a beginning on the necessary road
construction in the county, as Wheeler County is rough and mountainous,
and road construction is therefore heavy and expensive.
The State Highway Commission realizing the importance of the
construction of roads in this County, and the impossibility of the
financing of their construction by the County alone, early determined to
assist to the greatest possible extent.
Surveys have been made by the Department over all but two miles of the
two most important cross-county roads, the John Day River Highway and
the McKenzie River Highway. During 1917 and 1918 the State Highway
Department expended the sum of $46,997.79, cooperating with the County
in the construction of 4.2 miles of grading and macadamizing between
Fossil and the Gilliam County Line. State aid was also granted the
County to the amount of $14,235.45 for the construction of nine-tenths
of a mile, known as the Bridge Creek Section, on the McKenzie River
Highway just west of Mitchell, the total cost of which was $24,235.45.
For the construction of 25.5 miles on the John Day River Highway between
the mouth of Sarvice Creek and the Grant County Line, the Highway
Department has set aside the sum of $63,345.70 to be added to 63,345.70
of Federal Post Road Funds and $36,000.00 of county funds to provide the
total amount of $162,691.40 which the project is estimated to cost.
The Department has further been instrumental in securing Federal Aid for
the construction of a Forest Road Project 5.5 miles in length between
Mitchell and the Crook County Line, known as the Ochoco Canyon Project.
On this project the State will expend $20,050.00, the Federal
Government, $20,050.00 and the County, $4,900.00, $45,000.00 in all.
In summary, State Aid and Federal Government Aid extended to Wheeler
County during 1917 and 1918 and set aside to be expended in 1919 and
1920, are as follows:
=========================+==========+===========+==========+===========
| | | Federal |
| State | County | Govt. | Total
| Funds | Funds | Funds |
-------------------------+----------+-----------+----------+-----------
Expended in 1917 and | | | |
1918-- | | | |
On grading Cummings Hill |$ 7,004.85|$ 7,527.50| ... |$ 14,532.35
Sec. | | | |
On macadamizing Cummings | 32,465.44| ... | ... | 32,465.44
Hill Section | | | |
On grading Bridge Creek | 14,235.45| 10,000.00| ... | 24,235.45
Sec. | | | |
-------------------------+----------+-----------+----------+-----------
Total |$53,705.74| $17,527.50| ... |$ 71,233.24
| | | |
Appropriated for Expen- | | | |
diture in 1919 and | | | |
1920-- | | | |
On Sarvis Creek-Grant |$63,345.70| $36,000.00|$63,345.70|$162,691.40
County Line Section | | | |
On Ochoco Canyon Section | 20,050.00| 4,900.00| 20,050.00| 45,000.00
-------------------------+----------+-----------+----------+-----------
Total |$83,395.70| $40,900.00|$83,395.70|$207,691.40
-------------------------+----------+-----------+----------+----------