The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1912-03-14
SCENIC ROUTE
Is UNSURPASSED
VIEW OF RIVER AND GORGE
Parker Home Gives Insight in Propheey
Of "HagaT'S Son Officials View
the Proposed Route.

One who has never been over the
route can form but poor opinion as
TO the beauty of The scenery, which
the eve of the traveller who is proceed
ing over the proposed Columbia river
road from Portland to Hood River VIII
behold. THE eye will always nave
before il the Columbia and the tower
ing cliffs and canyon ON the opposite
bank. where streams flow down from
the snow capped Washington peaks.
Often the craigs will tower over the
wayfarer to a height of 500 feet or
more. Waterfalls along the route will
splash their spray over the upturned
faces of travellers. In places the high
way will rise several hundred feet
along the gorge where its stcpe is
gentle, and views of miles in length
may be had up and down the great
northwestern waterway; views so eor-
geous and presenting to the eye SO
much grandeur that everyone will
want TO linger for a moment and won
der in silence.
The passenger on trains of the o.
w r. 4 ~ system, who catch but a
tleetiug glance of the heaped up won
ders of nature, are delighted by the
scenes. but the highway over which
the pullman ears travel, never rises to
a height from which the long stretches
of the Columbia aud the jagged edges
of the gorge may he seen, Nor do the
passengers have time to grasp compre
hensively the beauty of any one scene.
1t is like looking at flying series of
pictures shown by a moving picture
machine. The wayfater along the
highway will have time TO make
study of the scenic displays he viii
look upon.
The Hood River people, although
it seems but little known, already
have opened to them a road. a drive
over which will give a sample of the
delights of the Portland Columbia river
road This is the State Road leading
from the city down to Mitchell's Point.
The highway is fairly good at present
for either rig or automobile. The mo-
t0rists may drive with ease to a point
where the road leads over the bench
beneath the great rock spur of the
Point down to the station of Mitchell S
Point. The grade on the other side is
rather precipltous and might prove too
much for a machine. However, just
at this point, amo3t opposite the mouth
of the Little White Salmon river on
the Washington side of the river, IA
splendid panoramic picture may be had
which opens up grander and more eor-
geously to the holder traveller, who
will climb the several hundred feet to
the top OF the Point.
| just beyond the spur to Mitchell S
Point, canyon leads out to the level
of the valley above. Roads through
this region lead out into the Hood
River valley at the Belmont planer.
The committee of the Commercial
Club, who de survey of the route
of the proposed highway last summer
are of the opinion that a road with a
lesser grade may be built to connect
with the Belmont road. The aut0mo-
bilst from Portland will thus be
brought through the valley in getting
to the city. If he were to come up
over the old State Road the tourist, il
he were going straight through to he
Dalles, would only see the East Side
orchard district.
An insight into the prophecy Of lie
Roy Armstrong in bis Hagar's Son,
which recently appeared in Sunset
may be had when one takes a peep at
the home of G.. w. Parker, who has
built handsome log bungalow at the
side of the canyon just beyond the
ramparts of Mitchell's Point. Mr..
Parker is just completing his artistic
home The ground floor is one big
living room, into the center of which
leads from the second story stairway
made entirely of hewn fir slabs. A
huge open fireplace yawns inVitinglS
at one end of the room.
Mr.. Parker has teTraced a portion
of the hiIsldes near his home, and {
picture is presented similar to those OF
terraced vineyards along the Rhone.
In every available spot will be The
home of some family, And sucl
homes Place cabin there and TIL,
view of surrounding scenery will make
ii the abode of more than Ordinary
luxury.
On last Sunday J. Il. Bolous, divi
sion superintendent of the 0-W X.
N. Co, came here in his private eal
with Gov West and met Judge CuI
bertson, Commissioners G. A Me
Curdy and 0. Il Rhoades, Murray
Kay and W. L. Clark, all of whon
went over the proposed right of way
of the highway. r. T. Covert, who
represents S. Benson, who donated TIN
$1,000 toward the construction of tht
highway, was also present
IL was decided to establish a caml
in a protected canyon near She'll Rock
where the difficult work will be done
Hood River county, according to th,
plans under way, will begin work OF
both sides of the Shell Rock noun
tain. Engineer Kay and O.-W R.& N
engineers will meet to draf a plan t
be presented to the county officials am
those Of the railway company.
"NOT CANDIDATE, BUT