The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1912-02-29
BENSON'S OFFER
CREATES INTEREST
MANY HEAR WEST AND COOVERT
Construction by CORicts Around Shell
Rock May Begil in Next 30 DAYS,
Il Is Declared.

That within the next so DAYS crew
of cOnvicts will be at work con-
structing "A highway around Shell Rock
mountain, the barrier between the east
and west portions Of the state, proqld-
ed Hood River county take advantage
of the offer of $4,000 made by S. S.
Benson, a millionaire lumherman. was
the expression of Governor Oswald
West, who was here Tuesday night
with T.. +. Coovolt, a prominent Port
land attorney, both of them addressing
several hundred enthusiastic citizens
at the assembly hail of the Commercial
club. Mr. Benson has long been inter-
ested IN the building of a road along
the Columbia With Mr.. GuUvert to
represent him he recently made the
offer of $40, GOO to be applied toward
its obstruction. Mr.. Covert began an
investigation OF the matter. lie found.
as he stated Tuesday evening, that
Multnomah county had built road to
within one mile of Multnomah falls.
Thirteen more miles remained 10 be
constructed to the Hood River county
line. However, he continued, the
county of Multnomah is willing to
complete its portion of the roadway,
and the money of Mr.. Benson is now
available for the purpose of beginning
operations on the difficult Shell Rock
portion of the highway, If Hood River
county will give an assurance of build
ing a connecting link in this county.
Through the levy of special road
taxes in the two districts through
which the road must pass, the sum of
approximately SIS, 600 has been made
available, and by the expenditure of
this money and what may be done on
the Shell Rock by the funds Of Mr.
Benson, il i. thought the roadway may
be made passahle in a short time
Governor West addressed the audi
enee, stating his present prison policy,
that Of placing the conyiots on parole
and making them work on the roads.
1t was shown that by proper manage
ment roads could be constructed for an
amazing cheapness. For the sum of
$4,000, judging from past expenses, it
was declared that 20 men could be kept
at work on the Shell Rock construction
for year and a half. the $40 600 COW
ering all of their expenses.
Because of the fact that County
Judge Culbertson at his home in Port
land rested Under the impression that
the meeting of fruit growers to con-
slider the report of the recently APP
pointed investigating committee would
be held Tuesday night instead of Tues
day afternoon, the addresses of Cover
nor West and Mr. Covert came veIy
| near being deferred. Judge Cuihelt-
son had communicated to the governor
tSat because of the meeting. il would
be impossible to get a hearing Tuesday
night The governor secretary at
Salem communicated this fact to Pres
dent Chas. N. Clarke, of the CONNER
cial club. who imul lately reach d
Governor West over the wires a. d
Informed him correctly as to the meet
ing, enabling him and MIR Coovert to
catch the afternoon local
Addresses were made by W. L..
Clark, a member of the Commercial
club committee on roads; J 7. Lucas,
postmaster; and G. T. Early, superin-
tendent of the Nj Hood Railroad.
Mr. Covert met yesterday morning
with the county commissioners and
talked over the proposed plans. going
over map and data secured by County
Surveyor Murray Kay.