The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1913-10-30
PORTLAND MEN
PRAISE ROAD WORK

Public opinion, Is voiced by the ex-
pressions Of business men Of Portland
standing high 10 their varied branches
Of commerce, paid q great tribute last
Thursday TO the work being done by
Multpomah county authorities on that
part of the Columbia river highway
which begins at Rooster Rock and
continues to the Hood River county
boundary beyond 0neonts gorge. These
opinions were given TO an 0regonisn
reporter after highly interesting
DAYS trip over that part Of the route
where the work is now under way.
The trip itself was the outcome Of
an invitation extended by County Com
mis- sioner Holman.
The work Is in charge of S. G. Lam
caster, assistant state highway engin-
eer, who has surveyed the whole route,
changing what was in some places a
nine per cent grade to one which at no
place exceeds five per cent. His plans
call for a 24-foot highway in the place
of 20-foot with a maximum of l6
degrees on the curves.
"The beauties of the road are so
many and so incredibly superb and
above all within 35 miles Of the heart
of the city, that one can be forgiven
for boasting that when this road is
completed Portland will have q road
grander by far than the Yosemite Val
ley road. Falls, FIVE. six and seven
hundred feet high with but few yards
separating them: mountain peaks,
towering rocks, luyuriant foliage and
tropical verdure, the magnificent wind
ing river even in view, with the sun
shining on the multicolored shore be-
yond, the wonderful combination of
evergreen and deciduous trees, all COM
bine to offer attractions unsurpassed.
This, in effect, was composite of the
views expressed by the various men,
bers of the party.
At the conclusion OF the outing each
member of the party was asked to crit
icise, to say exactly what he felt, in
the interests of the taxpayers. their
remarks follow:
A. 5. Benson = Lancaster's great
work insures permanency ana solidity.
The working organization is good, the
road is a mighty good investment, and
if built by 1915 will probably pay for
its cost entirely in one year. The Sc
curing of Robert Brooke is a great
thing. as have seen much of his
work, while MIR. Holmans work is
worthy of the highest praise. The
camp is comfortable, sanitary, cheap
to degree and the labor could not be
secured at lower price.
j. A. Currey, Trussed Concrete Steel
Company-As.a member of the Ameri.
can Society of Engineers, was inter-
ested from an engineering standpoint,
owing to complex problems relative to
grades, and peculiar formation of
ground. 1t ia really a revelation of
road building skill. Construction is
accomplished along modern and scien-
titic lines, the work is permanent and
the road monument. Mr.. Lancaster
is peculiarly fitted, because in addition
to his engineering skill he possesses an
artistic sense of preserving beauty
spots and vistas that will command the
attention of visitors from all over the
world. The road is an asset to Port.
land not to be measured in dollars anC
cents. The camp work is economical
and well arranged, with an abundance
of good water. The county court is
not providing something of the favored
few, but of pedestrians as we'll as thos,
who ride in vehicles of any description
Samuel ililE,' E,'bpresfdent Home Tele
phone Company'-The county is get
ting full value for every dollar spent
| am familiar with the road from thC
! Cascades to Portland, having walked il
more than once, \and | approve heartily
of all the work that is being done.
E. Hofer--l have travelled over tn,
United States and ! am conversan
with the work and policies of the coun
ty boards OF my own county. The work
is economical. is being done energeti
cally and we'll. The beauties of tn,
road will compare more than favorabl,
with anything that either hemispher,
can offer.
M. 6. Winstock- From the methods
that are being employed. from tn,
plans outlined and from the work al
ready accomplished, can see that tn
taxpayer is getting full value for hi
money and the support of every maj
should be given whole heartedly to Mr.
Holman in the work that he is donj
along these lines.
j. B. Yeon-All roads must be bull
substantially with view to the fu
ture. This is the greatest scenic roa,
| have ever seen, and it Is being bull
economically, the organization is good
the men are working all the time an,
can only say that if had enoug
money | would offer to guarantee tn
whole expense of construction wit
the promise that If the county did no
think the money well spent it woul
not need to pay a dollar. 1t is a pro
J ject of which the advantages canno
be measured today.