Roads and Bridges
The roads and bridges of Blaine County are in good
condition. The roads are being im proved from year to year and new
up-to-date steel and concrete bridges are replacing wooden
structures. We learn from history that the first thing which the
Romans did after conquering a country was to construct good
substantial roads and bridges. This was an absolute necessity with
her far-flung empire in order that she might move her armies to any
given point with the least possible delay. We are now following in
her footsteps in this respect. Good as are the roads now being
constructed, it is not contended that they will have the durability
of the Roman roads. Those roads for which federal aid is given are
being built for military strategic purposes as well as to facilitate
travel and commerce. Prior to 1914, all road-building in Idaho had
been of the order known as patch-work. Bad holes were filled and the
job was done.
The legislature of 1913 enacted a law
which provides for systematic, scientific road-building. On May 12,
1914, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 179, Session Laws of
Idaho, 1913, page 558, the Board of County Commissioners of Blaine
County entered into an agreement with the State High way commission
of the State of Idaho for the construction and improvement of the
public highways in said Blaine County, Idaho, and appropriated
$20,000 for the cost and expense of construction and improvement of
said highways, and the State appropriated $10,000. This was the
beginning of systematic road-building in Blaine County. The first
contract for the construction of the Sawtooth Park Highway was let
to O. C. Burton of Richfield, Idaho, on September 4, 1914. This
covered the grading of a 30 mile section from the Lincoln County
line to Hailey, at an estimated cost of $7,515. Work was commenced
about October 1, 1914 and completed in the following year. A new
roadway from Bellevue to Hailey, running on the west side of the
railroad right-of-way was secured and the new road built hereon.
This road has been maintained by the State since its completion.
Previous to this, the road between Bellevue and Hailey ran through
the ranches, beginning on Main Street in Bellevue, and ending on
Main Street in Hailey.
The highway from Boise via. Mountain Home and Fairfield, which comes
within Blaine County a few miles west of Camp Creek Canyon, and
comes east as far as Hailey, is a main traveled road, and is
traveled not only by people coming and going to Boise, but by many
tourists en route to the Yellowstone National Park and other places,
who often stay over night at the Hailey Tourist Park. This road is
maintained by the county and kept in good condition. The highway
which comes into Blaine County about four and a half miles in a
northwesterly direction from the Craters of the Moon, and which
comes via Carey and Picabo to Hailey, is a main highway to Arco and
other points east. This highway has been taken over by the state and
is maintained by it. The state also has taken over the highway from
the Lincoln Blaine county line up to its junction with the road
above mentioned, a little south of Picabo. All the secondary roads
needed throughout the county have been built and are maintained by
the county and kept in good condition. Trail Creek Highway is one of
the scenic roads of the county. It is a short cut from Ketchum to
Mackay, the distance being only about 60 miles.
In the early days this was a toll road. It is now maintained by the
county and kept in good condition. There is a good road from Ketchum
to about one mile beyond Warfield's Hot Springs. The forest service
is building this road and eventually will have it constructed to
Carrietown, in Smoky Mining District. The contract recently has been
let for the construction of 8.91 miles of highway beginning about
one mile north of the Lincoln-Blaine county line, on what is locally
known as the 'Timmerman Hill Highway, and by the state as the
Sawooth Park Highway, and by the federal government as U. S. 93, and
extending a short distance north of the Stanton school house. The
contractor will receive $63,080 for this contract. Blaine County has
appropriated, $10,000 for this work which is expected to be
completed this year. This new road will shorten the distance in
Blaine County approximately two miles and in Lincoln County
approximately three miles. The distance from Hailey to Shoshone will
then be 43 miles. The grade over Timmerman Hill will be materially
reduced. It is expected that a contract for the completion of the
remainder of this road in Blaine County will be let this year and
the road completed next year. This high way will join the main
highway running north and south at the southern end of Main Street
in Bellevue.
Lincoln County also has let a contract to have part of this road
constructed this year, and it is expected to have the remainder of
the road up to the Lincoln-Blaine county line completed next year.
There is a gap of about 11 miles of this road which begins at the
northern base of the Sawtooth Mountains which is nearing completion.
When the U. S. 93 Highway, which extends from Las Vegas, Nevada, up
through Idaho and Montana, to the international boundary line, will
have been constructed, it will be one of the best and one of the
most scenic highways in the country. The first view one gets of
Blaine County from the summit of Timmerman Hill looking north, is
one never to be forgotten. The beautiful Wood River Valley, with its
cultivated farms, and the lovely Silver Creek, meandering in its
course, are near by, and the majestic Sawtooth Mountains, about 60
miles to the north, is such a scene as would inspire even a Peter
Bell to rhapsodize, and Wordsworth tells us that: "A primrose by a
river's brim, A yellow primrose was to him, And it was nothing
more." The scenery all the way through Blaine County is magnificent.
Between Gimlet and Ketchum, upon looking to the right, one beholds,
a few miles distant, the stately form of Hyndman Peak cleaving the
sky at an elevation of 12,078 feet above sea level the highest
mountain in the county and the second highest in the State. This
mountain was named in honor of Major William Hyndman, of whom
mention heretofore has been made. A short distance north of Ketchum
one sees Glassford Peak straight ahead, towering to an elevation of
10,500 feet. This mountain was named in honor of Thomas H. Glassford,
a popular railroad conductor on the Wood River branch of the Oregon
Short Line Railroad in the early nineties. Boulder Peak and many
other lofty crags add to the sublimity of the scene. At the southern
base of the Sawtooth Mountains was the old town of Galena. In the
summer, there is one little store there, in the winter it is
deserted, but the door is unlocked so that a wayfarer may find
shelter.
The elevation there is 7294 feet. Upon reaching the summit of the
Galena Grade in crossing the Sawtooth Mountains, one finds the
elevation to be 8752 feet. This highway was constructed by the
Federal government in co-operation with the state and county, and
that is ample warrant for saying that it is a good highway. Each
year this road is being improved by widening it in places and
eliminating sharp turns. In crossing the mountains on this road you
behold some of the most magnificent scenery there is to be found
anywhere. There are many beautiful streams along this highway which
have been bridged with not only substantial but beautiful bridges.
The latest one constructed on this highway is. situated about two
miles south of Ketchum, and crosses Wood River near Mrs. Bonning's
ranch. It is an imposing structure. It has one steel span of 161
feet, two concrete approaches of 20 feet each, making the total
length of bridge and approaches 201 feet. The total cost of bridge
and approaches was $26,702.98. The rights-of-way leading to and from
this bridge cost $675.00. The roadway, which is 2.704 miles long
cost $19,891.30. The total cost of bridge, approaches, rights-of-way
and new roadway was $47,269.28.
Of this amount, Blaine County paid $14,440.90. On May 14th of this
year, this bridge was dedicated with impressive ceremonies. H. C.
Baldridge, governor, and many lesser dignitaries were present and
made suitable addresses. The honor of dedicating the bridge was
accorded to two pioneer women: Mrs. George W. McCoy of Ketchum, and
Mrs. J. C. Fox of Hailey.
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