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From the Vault: 1962 Topics

The Trailblazers
In the 1930s, the Bridge Department was located in Room 322 in the Statehouse. Each year the Legislature met, they had to move out and rent offices downtown -- then move back after they had completed their session.

In the middle 1930s, a large bridge program was started and the Bridge Department enlarged to 16 members. Also, one unit became two by splitting the Bridge Department and the the Grade Separation Department.

In February 1936, the Bridge and Grade Separation units were consolidated at the Yates Building at 9th and Main Streets.

In those days, the starting salary was $100 per month.

In May 1943, they moved again, contracting with a mover for three truckloads at $34.15.

Between the 1930s and the early ‘70s, the Bridge Department replaced all the bridges over the Snake River from Lewiston to West Yellowstone.

When they replaced one of those bridges, at the town of Roberts, a young boy was driving milk cows over the bridge and it collapsed dumping the cows, the boy and his horse into the stream. The boy held onto the horse's tail and was saved.

Not all the news was good, though. When they were building the steel Goff Bridge over the Salmon River below Riggins, an employee of the contractor fell into the river and drowned.

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A LITTER JINGLE
"Paper, garbage, broken glass,
Scattered here upon the grass,
"Makes a fellow scratch his dome
"And wonder what you do at home."

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When a man forgets himself, he usually begins to do something others will remember.

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Gossip, like mud, can be wiped off; but it leaves a smear.

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A budget is a contraption that shows how much you are going to have to borrow.

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Living on a budget is the same as living beyond your means, except that you have a record of it.

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It has been said that doctor’s cover their mistakes with sod, brides cover theirs with mayonnaise, and engineers cover theirs with blacktop!

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Someone turned in a fire alarm to the Burley Fire Department and said a highway truck was on fire. They lost no time getting out there, and had the full force of their water supply trained on the burning truck before Claude Smith knew what was going on. He rushed around back of the truck, and asked the firemen what was the matter. They looked dumbfounded at him, and asked if he couldn't see that his truck was on fire. Claude reached over and turned a nozzle and the fire went out. Claude was driving the road burner. Boy, were their faces red! The firemen just packed up and left without a word.

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“Battling today’s traffic is a real battle of wits,” said the boasting husband.
“How brave of you to go unarmed,” his wife retorted.

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Teacher: "Johnny, name two documents that have contributed heavily to our government."

Johnny: "Form 1040 and 1040A."

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Riddle: What three words did Adam use when he introduced himself to Eve, that read the same backwards and forwards?
("Madam, I’m Adam").

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Teacher: "Paraphrase this sentence: 'He was bent on seeing her.’”

Tommy: "He doubled over at the sight of her.”