Description of Work of the State Highway Department In the Counties of the State 1917-1918 BAKER COUNTY Although Baker County is generally well supplied with railroads there are sections still isolated and much in need of improved transportation facilities. Some of the most fertile and productive areas of the County are not served by rail transportation and depend upon roads for communication with railway points. This situation with the character of the winter season and soil conditions found here render improved highways of extreme importance. Since State and Federal aid have been made available the people of Baker County are fast coming to a realization of the situation and are making strenuous efforts to co-operate in highway improvement. No bond issues have been voted in this County but an example of their enthusiasm is supplied by the fact that private donations for co-operative improvement of one road amount to $15,000.00. State and Federal aid were extended in 1918 and the co-operation has resulted in plans for improving three sections of the Baker-Cornucopia Highway. Other roads in the County will receive the consideration of the Highway Commission during the coming season. Four sections of the Baker-Cornucopia Highway have been surveyed, and plans for three of these are nearly complete. Together the four sections make about thirty-eight miles of location survey. Construction work will begin on this road early in the coming season. Survey of the Baker-Cornucopia Highway During 1917 and 1918 the State Highway Department surveyed a greater part of the Baker-Cornucopia Highway. The policy of giving first attention to those portions of the road most in need of improvement resulted in the surveying of four separate sections. These sections are designated as follows: Baker-Middle Bridge; Love Bridge-Black Bridge; Canyon and Sag Sections. These surveys were made under the direction of J. O. Kingsley and W. C. Crews, locating engineers for the State Highway Department. The Baker-Middle Bridge section extends from Baker to a point near Middle Bridge on Lower Powder River. Beginning at Baker the line follows closely the present main traveled road east for about six miles, thence along the Palmer road to the present crossing at Ruckles Creek, thence down Ruckles Creek to a point about two miles south of Keating, thence easterly, leaving Ruckles Creek, and entering the lower Powder River Valley near Middle Bridge. This survey is 18.64 miles in length. The plans for this work are completed.