The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1896-01-28
4 STATEMENT OF FACT.

At recent meeting of the county
court a lease was entered into between
the county and the Hood River Lumber
Co., declaring Hood river public high
way and providing that should the COM
pany build dam and boom at the
mouth of the river, it should have the
privilege of floating timber, cordwood,
etc., down the stream, subject to certain
restrictions contained in the lease. This
action of the court has caused some COM
ment in Hood River, as the following
from the Glacier of January Oath shows
We are informed by Captain Blowers,
one of the commissioners, that no fran
chise was given to this company while
he was present and acting with the
commissioners court; that nothing fur
ther was done in the matter except de-
claring the river a public highway. But
since his return home the county Judge
has communicated with him over the
telephone in regard to granting this
company the privileges asked for. Cap
tain Blowers advised against granting
the lease. 1t has since been learned by
some OF our citizens who have visited
The Dalles that the company secured
the lease of the river and have five years
IN which to make the Improvements.
Among the items of toll it was learned
that the company will be allowed to
charge thirty-fve cents cord for cord
wood. The lease was granted, it is said,
by the county judge and county clerk
THESE reports have created great excite
ment among our citizens, and the al
legged action of the county court is uni
Eersallv condemned.
It is not the wish of THE CHRONICLE
to enter into any controversy with the
Glacier, or with any people of Hood
River. but the article quoted does the
county court such injustice that in the
interests OF fairness the facts in the
case are given to the public.
The request of the Hood River Lum-
Der Co. was made in open court, and by
that body carefully considered before
any action was taken. It was shown
that about twelve miles from the mouth
of Hood river lay body of fine timber.
wholly inaccessible unless the river
could be improved to such an extent
that the timber could be foated. The
company offered, if the court would
grant them the exclusive privilege of
transporting the timber, to build dam
and boom and make it possible for the
timber to be brought to market. A
lease was drawn up, legal representa-
tives of both sides being present, which
provided that the company should com
plete one-f1fth of the work the first year.
one-ffth- the second, and SO on till the
entire twelve miles were done. Until
the twelve miles were completed the
company could not charge any toll for
the floating of shingle bolts, cordwood
and posts. Furthermore, the company
is compelled to receive shipments at any
time or accessible place. Besides these
provisions the lease fixes the rates at
which compensation shall be charged
for the bringing of timber to market.
1t is probable that the Glacier has in
correctly quoted Mr.. Blowers, since that
worthy gentleman would hardly declare
that he had advised against the grant
ing of the lease, when the fact is that
his opinion was freely asked and the
giving of his approval of the matter was
conclusive to the remaining members of
the court that the proposal would be