The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1911-05-18
AUTOMOBILE CLUB
HAS ORGANIZED
COLUMBIA AUTO ROAD IS SLOGAN
Committee Estimates Cost of Route at
$4,000 Citizens Will Donate
Sums for Construction.

With so owners present an enthusias-
tic meeting was held Monday night at
the rooms of the Commercial Club and
the Hood River Automobile Club was
organized. Leslie Butler, who was
temporary chairman of the meeting,
was elected president of the new or
ganization. Other officers elected
were: 2. s. Davidson, vice president:
W. 7. Sheldon, secretary, and W. f.
Laraway, treasurer.
The slogan of the automobile club
will be the promotion of the proposed
automobile road from Portland TO
Hood River. The scenic route was
enthusiastically and unanimously en-
dorse3 at the Monday night meeting.
J. A. Epping, inasmuch as he was
more familiar with the proposed route
because of having travelled over the
regions through which it will pass,
was called on to outline the present
status of the situation. He reported
that the Good Roads committee of the
Commercial Club on their trip several
weeks ago had made close investiga-
tion of the route as far west as Cas-
cade Locks, The probable cost of
opening permanent roadway, he said,
would not exceed, according to the
estimates made, $4,000. In all prob
ability, he continued it will be much
less.
The above mentioned committee,
composed of Albert Sutton, j. Adrian
Epping, j. H. Heilbronner, W. l..
Clark, c. X. Marshall, and to which
Leslie Butler, as an eX otficio member,
has been added, will make another in
vestigation of the route beyond
Cascade Locks today,
An expression of sentiment as to ways
ard means was taken Monday night.
However, no definite action will be
taken until after the report Of the
committee at meeting to be held
next Tuesday night. The members of
the Good Roads committee of the Com
mercial Club, all of whom are mem
bers of the Automobile Club, have
been appointed to the same capacity in
that organization.
The majority of those present Mon
day night expressed themselves as
being in favor of having the construc-
tion work done under county super
vision by the levy Of a special tax.
However. many thought that it would
be better to solicit public subscrip-
tion. The counties to the east of Hood
River are vitally interested in the new
road from which they will receive an
inestmable benefit because of the fact
that it opens up the only automobile
and wagon route connecting the east'of
the state with the metropolis, Port
land, and an effort will be made to
secure in addition to their cooperation
in boosting the highway, substantial
financial aid.
Local citizens are so enthusiastic
over the scenic route and believe so
strongly in the benefits that this
county will derive from it that they
are willing to donate large sums of
money for its construction. Mr.. Ep-
ping stated: 81 know of number of
public spirited citizens who will donate
$1,000 each to have the road built. And
furthermore the Commercial Club, the
Automobile Club, the County Court, are
acting in earnst cooperation in their
efforts to do all possible toward secur-
ing the road.
W. T. Sheldon, secretary of the club,
says that it will have for its purposes
not only the promotion of the Colum-
bia river road but also the extension
Of good roads through every part of
Hood River county. He earnestly re-
quests that every citizen of the county
interested in good roads be present at
the meeting Tuesday night.