The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-06-27
NEW LEWIS AND
CLARKE ROAD
VIII soon Iie Ready for Teams and
General Traffic With
the City.
FERRY APPROACHES LOCATED
Contracts TO BE Lst In Immediate Future
Nhat European countriss Thiuk Of
Their iiigbNsys lssinl
and Ornamental.

County Judge Gray. who has Just
located the approaches for the ferry
across Youngs river which viii CON
meet the now Lewis and Clarke road
with the city. reports that the road will
be ready for the use Of teams probably
by July ist. From Information furnish
Cd by Councilman Parker and Judge
Gray, It is thought that the contracts
for the approaches on the west side Of
the river viii be let Immediately after
the next sitting of the county court.
and that the approaches on the east
side of the river win be ordered by the
council az an early date.
In commenting on the matter OF
country roads yesterday. u prominent
grocerymRn said: THE opening OF the
Lewis and Clarke road is most certain
~ a step IN the right direction and
S,yings into close relationship with the
city large and splendid territory.
The section In one OF the most fertile
In Clatsop county. and the farmers
there win soon be able TO market their
produce at the least cost for transpor-
tation and at the best prices The new
bridge is already Ia constant use and
the ferry which viii soon follow, will
enable our people 10 do business TO
great advantage with that beautiful
valley. As the old walluskl ferry was
succeeded by fine bridge which now
spans that river. so viii the proposed
ferry across Young's river be event
ually replaced by a substantial bridge.
our county court Is 10 be commended
Tor It's persistent work in securing bet
ter county roads
II people only knew and fully real
ized the value OF good roads TO com
muni,y there would be more roads to-
day In Clatsop county. and they would
not only be barely pasable. but would
be nrst-elass macadam A few men In
the city. and more In the country are
working In the right direction in re-
gard TO this matter There are always
some kcckers who doubt the advisable
ity Of spending large sums on roads.
Il has been q notable fact that In all
European countries. with probably the
exception OF Russia. the road tax has
been the highest tax imposed upon the
people. This shows what these coun-
tries, with centuries OF experience.
think OF their highways. In France
and Belgium orchards are planted by
the roadsldes. which not alone furnish
shade. but revenue besides. In the
last twenty-five years the roads OF
these countries have heen brought to
such q. state OF perfection that they
are not alone useful and permanent
macadam highways, but they are made
an ornamental part OF the landscape
by lining each side with both shade
trees and fruit trees.
These roads are what constitute
the principal delight OF American trav-
elers In Europe. We have here the do
main, the large rivers, the high noun
tHlns. the beautiful lands, and the
grandeur Of scenery on greater scale
than In Europe. but our people cannot
enjoy these magnificent gifts OF ma
ture because they are unapproachable
for the lack OF even bride paths. In
Europe over every river and mountain
there are magnificent driveways and
shaded bride paths which afford
amusement and recreation to the COM
mon people as well as means of
support TO the farmers, Visitors can
enjoy the wonderful beauties of the
landscapes and. while In the northern
part of Germany, for instance, the cell
ehrated Harz mountains have no peaks
as high as Saddle mountain, yet n
macadamized road winds to their sum-
nit, and a railroad reaches almost to
the top of the highest one. These Ger
man mountains, because Of their ac-
cessibiity, are better known In Clatsop
county than is Saddle mountain. Ore
gonlans go abroad, and they so to Cali
fornla every year. in order to enjoy
nature where nature is accessible. Peo-
pie need recreation as well as work
and business, and those countries and
sections Of country which provide the
means for the enjoyment of nature at
home do just that much to elevate the
condition of the masses who cannot
afford TO travel abroad. to say nothing
of the increase made for the farmer
In his hard work by having the proper
facilities for reaching his nearest mar
kets. say, let the good work go on"