The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1911-04-13
COMMERCIALCLIIB
ENDORSES ROAD
CAMPAIGN TO BOOST SCENIC ROUTE
Highway Will be Part of TranSCOntinental
SySttm-New Bylaws Are
Adopted.

The most important matter coming
before the Commercial Club at its reg
ular monthly meeting Monday night
was the discussion of the proposed
automobile road between Portland and
Hood River. When the detail businesses
of the evening was completed. Presi-
dent Smith brought the matter before
the members of the club, stating that
the building of the proposed road was
benig agitated locally and strongly
boosted by Portland people who were
very enthusiastic over the matter.
Leroy Armstrong then addressed the
club showing the many ways in which
the city and valley would be benefited
by the building of such a road. He said
in part: Il do not know the attitude
of the Hood River people nor that of
the club, but | don't think there is any
matter that is SO important to the city
or the valley as that of the building,
eventually, of such a road as proposed
1t is surprising to one to learn of the
number of automobiles that every year
make trans-c continental trips, and the
number is constantly increasing, but
this section of the country is missed by
the tourists because of the lack Of a
through road. The present travel of
this kind goes either to the north or
to the south of us. However, when
once opened we would more than get
our share of the travel, because of the
unsurpassed beauty of the Columbia
River gorge. No section of the
country can compare with the scenery
we have either in grandeur or variety.
Local people do not appreciate this
because they have grown used to it,
But the traveller will include it when
he thinks Of desirable things. The
proposed road will become a part of a
rans-continental system and besides
becoming thing of convenience to
ourselves will be of an economic value.
Every one passing through will have
money and will spend freely, and the
money spent will be no donation; for
every one will feel well paid for the
expenditure. Mr.. Armstrong con-
cluded by urging the club to give the
movement its hearty endorsement.
Truman Butler told of the enthusiasm
of Walter Curtiss, correspondent of the
Chicago Record Herald. and Traffic
Manager Stubs, of the O.-W. r. & N.
Co., after they had made a close in
spection of the route. MIR. Butler also
pointed out the economic value to be
derived. He said that he had no doubt
but that the hotel capacity of this city
would have to be doubled within 6
very short time after the building OF
such road
j. 2. Lucas, who has long been a
supporter of the proposed road, told
those present that he had made a close
inspection of the country over which
the road would pass. He stated that
he had walked from Hood River to
Troutdale and that he found the con-
struction would be possible. ''The
people of Multnomah county are eager
to have this road" said MI. Lucas,
"and they have already made surveys
and set stakes to the Hood River
county line" He told the club that he
considered it the duty of Hood River
county to make every effort to build
the road within the county limits.
President Smith suggested. that,
since not only Hood River county
would be interested in and benefited
by the construction of the road but
also The Dalles, it would be we'll to
have preliminary survey made and
get The Dalles interested.
j. E. Montgomery recalled the cam
paign that had been made by southern
Oregon sections last year in the in
terest of the Crater Lake highway.
He suggested that since it was road
that would be more of state institu-
tion than a local one it would be we'll
to attempt the same campaign here as
was conducted by the southern Ore
gon people and make an effort to
solicit donations from people from
every part of the state, and especially
from The Dalles and the country to
the east of there.
At a query from W. N. Winter, Sec
retary Skinner announced that the new
bylaws provided for Good Roads
committee and on motion of Leslie
Butler, the matter was referred to this
committee with instructions to use
every effort to promote the road.
Secretary Skinner submitted to the
meeting several communications that
he had recently received relative to a
publicity scheme for the whole North
west that is being planned by the
Seattle Commercial Club. Among the
letters pertaining to the matter was
one received from the Portland Com
mercial Club stating that it was the
only commercial body on the coast that
had yet taken any step toward assist
ing Seattle in the movement. The
decision of the matter will be left to an
investigating committee.
The club voted that the secretary be
instructed to draw up letter of per-
sonal endorsement for the directors of
the Hood River Mineral Springs Co.
The new bylaws were adopted sub
ject to the approval of the Judiciary
committee, to which the following men
were appointed: Albert Sutton, Prof.
c. D. Thompson and Leroy Arm