The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1908-10-01
PLIlv AUTO ROAD
: TO PORTLAND
PROJECT DISCUSSED AT MEETING
Sentiment In Its FayOr-HO0d River
and Multnsmah Counties Will Join
Hands In Movement.

was PtSoioou ONci oy As Hs ongbot
president Of the Commercial Club,
took place here Saturday in the club
rooms to discuss the proposed auto
monbile road between Hood River
aud Portland. The meeting was ad-
dressed by Lewis Russell, chairman
of the good roads committee of the
automobile club of Portland; e. +.
Cannon. the well known constructing
engineer, of Portland. p. NJ. Hall
Lewis, engineer of Hood River; A.
l.. Gillette, Of Los Angeles; r. P.
Loomis, of the New York commission
firm of Il. p. Loomis & Co., who Is
Interested with Mr.. Woodworth in a
large fruit ranch in the Mt. Hood
district, and f. l.. Smith, J. Adrian
Epping and ID. l.. Davidson.
In addition to a discussion of the
automobile road between here and
Portland, Mr.. Russell and Mr.. Cannon
devoted considerable time to the
matter of road building In the valley.
Both of these gentlemen have had
considerable experience in building
good roads and stated that with the
excellent material at hand they
thought that if properly handled
many of the roads In the valley could
be put in excellent shape by being
oiled, which would cost from 800 to
$3.50 per mile and would keep them
in good condition fromsa year--to two
years. Mr.. Cannon, who had been
for ride in the valley, stated that
one Of the reasons for poor roads in
many parts Of the valley was that they
we're not properly drained. This he
said was one of the most important
features of maintaining a good road
and that by ditohing..them SO as to
drain the water from underneath, in
stead Of allowing 1t to run of the
surface the road would not be cut up
and left full of ruts and chuck holes.
To build permanent road he said
that rock orusher was indispensable.
With the great quantities of rock and
other fine road making material with
which the valley was supplied, he said
Hood River county could have the
finest and most cheaply constructed
permanent roads in the state. Tenn
porarily, however, If the county want
cd to put the roads in good shape
they could be properly graded, ditch
ed and oiled and kept that lway COM
paratively small expense until perma-
nent roads could replace them. Speak
ing frankly, he said that Hood River
had the worst roads he had been over
tol community that had much
good material to make good roads of,
and thought that the matter was one
that ought to be taken up at once for
the good of the county at large.
Hall-Lewis told of the great benefits
that would accrue to Hood River by
the building Of the Hood River Port
land auto road and gave some inter-
esting facts In connection with the
preliminary Investigation that had
been made in regard to its oonstruc-
tion. lie stated that he was willing
to give his time In aiding the propo-
sition and thought the road between
here and Cascade Locks ought to be
built In any event, as 1t would con-
meet the lower part OF the county with
a wagon road, which was not only es-
sential but necessary.
A. l.. Gillette, Los Angeles man,
told what California was doing in the
good line and eaid II the road
between here and Portland was built
IL would be the finest scenic highway
on the Pacific coast, and mean that
thousand tourists and other visitors
would come to Hood River where we
now had one.
X. p. Loomis said that Hood River
grew the finest apples put upon the
markets of the world and was attract
ing many eastern men with money to
go into the apple industry. He had
visited all the other sections in the
United States, but they were not in
it with Hood River as a place to make
home and grow the finest fruit at
the highest prices known In the world.
He believed that there was nothing
more essential to the good Of the
Hood River district than good roads,
and with its great scenic splendors, a
grand climate and opportunities in
the huit business, an improvement
In the roads meant thousands of
dollars to the valley, and was the
most important issue before its res
idents.
f. l.. Smith stated that Hood River
was known as one of the most progress
sive communities in the state, and
he believed that If it took up the new
road matter, with the help that
was assured it from Multnoma coun-
ty, that it would be built. While it
was developing rapidly and big re-
turns were received here from the
various industries, large part OF the
people of the valley we're under con-
siderable expense on account of the
various projects that we're being taken
up He was In favor of he road and
thought that 1t would be one of the
finest thinps that onnld ha done to