The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1910-09-15
ENGINEER MORSE
ON RIVER ROAD

Editor Glacier-l have read several
letters during the past year in regard
to new road to reach the upper
valley by following up Hood River and
Neal Creek to Harbison's bridge or
Mohr's bridge, with possible laterals
up Whisky creek to Kennedy bridge
tnow filed and also on up Hood River
to Tucker Bridge. This question is of
vital interest to all East Siders, both
upper and lower valleys. AS many in
quiries have come to me regarding it
| have given the matter some little
attention. AS the roads are now laid
out it is impossible to come into or
leave town from any place on the East
Side without an uphill pull.
Mr.. Henderson has run line up the
river and in order to make compari-
sons have run a line over the present
road as far as the old Kennedy bridge.
Both the present and proposed roads
may be said to start from Front and
State street here in town
Take the present road first. From
Front street there is drop of 40 feet
to the steel bridge across the river, a
distance of 1900 feet; then the first
rise is SO feet in a distance of 500 to a
point but little higher than the point
of beginning; then the long climb to
the top of near MIR. Carter's place
This is a rise of 500 feet in distance
of 7000 400 feet being in distance
of 5000 feet SO that the best possible
grade would be per cent, which is 8
feet in every 100 feet. The rate really
varies from level to IL per cent.
From Mr.. Carter's the road drops 40
feet and then climbs to the same eleva-
tion Just east of Mr.. Reeds. Then it
drops 100 feet to the Kennedy bridge
Part of the way there is slightly over a
per cent grade. From here on the
road follows with so little variation
that the line was not continued.
Now, for what we might have.
From the same starting point, State
and Front streets, along the west bank
Of the river up to Evans bridge, dis
tance of l0,500 feet and rise Of 30.
Crossing here a lateral could be run
up Whisky creek to the old Kennedy
bridge, a distance Of 5000 feet and a
rise of 1926 feet.
The main road would go on up the
east bank to Neal creek, a distance oi
5000 feet and rise Of 100. Thence up
Neal creek to Harbson's bridge dis.
tance of 5000 feet, with rise of l2C
feet; thence on up the creek to Mohr's
bridge, distance Of 1000 feet anC
rise Of 40 feet.
So we have 1900 feet Of 3 per cent
5000 feet of 10 per cent 1000 feet from
level to II per cent; 2000 feet ir
which we fall and rise again 40 feet
and 5000 feet from level to per cent
thence over fair road
We can have l05, 900 feet of % pei
cent; 5000 feet of IL per cent and 4OOC
feet of per cent. With lateral Of
5000 feet at a per cent grade W.
could reach Kennedy bridge. There
is a difference both in distance ant
grade but especially in grade.
Of course, this proposed road woult
cost some money and the County
should not be called on to carry i
all. A small amount would cover thu
estimates on the probable cost AM
then perhaps half the amount coul'
be raised by subscription and tn
County carry the other half.
have written this so that those in
terested could have the information
and wish we could have some actiol
taken, as the road will undoubtedly b.
built some time. With the possibilit.
Of getting a road over which a tear
can haul at least three times as muc
as over the present road, | believ
the matter is well worth looking into
=. M. Morse.