The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1914-04-30
CRADLEBAUGH RECON-
MENDS RESERVE ROAD

posed route, and of interested citizens
of other parts of the state, has taken
up the cudgel in the Salem Capital
Journal, with which be is associated.
Mr.. Cradlebsugh, who formerly resided
in The Dalles and in Hood River, hav-
ing been the first editor Of the Glacier,
understands the topography Of the
country and speaks suthoritatively on
the subject.
The following recent article appeared
in the Capital Journal:
While Multnomsh county is building
a magnificent highway along the Col
umbia TO Multnomah Falls and the
Hood River county line, il is likely the
Columbia highway will end at that
point for some time. Ii may be possi-
bic that fairly good road may be
opened TO the Hood River valley in the
near future, but there can be nothing
certain about it, for the reason that It
is one of the most expensive pieces Of
road in the state to build, part Of II
being almost the same as tunnel work.
Hood River county is comparatively a
poor county, and under its present
stage Of development cannot afford TO
build this piece Of road without either
state aid or help from some other
source.
While this matter is being dis cussed,
and tourists and Portland people are
anxious to nave an open road across
the mountains, the fact that another
and easily available route is open to
them is overlooked.
In earlier years there was an old
trail across from The Dalles to theWill-
annette valley through the Lolo pass.
On the west, or through valley side of
the mountains this trail has been wild
ehed and graded and made into splen-
did wagon road to point well up to-
ward the summit.
On the Hood River side it has also
been made into a fine wagon road to a
point nearly as far east as Lost Lake.
Between these points distance of only
l3 miles, the forest reserve officials
have made fine trail four to six feet
wide, which is used by them every
summer in patrolling the reserve. This
trail crosses the summit with not
more than 5 per cent grade from either
side, and is an ideal route both as to
grades and scenery. From points along
it magnificent views are obtained; here
a glympse of the great undulating
Willamette valley with its winding
streams outlined and fringed with bal
sam and willow; its glades and glens,
fields and groves, always new, forever
beautiful. Winding through the pass
there is panorama of mountain and
stream, with glympses of the dazzling
snow peaks, and here and there a little
lake nestled away and hidden under
dropping ash and naples, blue as field
of fax blossoms. deep and clear as a
saby's eyes and cold as a political hand
shake. Here is the home of the gamey
trout and the nesting place of bright
plumaged wood ducks.
On the east side the views are be-
yond description. Passing a mile or
perhaps little more south of beautiful
Lost Lake, to which a side road could
easily be made, the trail runs along the
sides of the mountains, with big Mount
Hood looming up ever bigger and
grander as it approached, and on the
other side bird 's-eye view of that lit
tie gem of valleys, Hood River, with
its miles and miles of orchards, a YER
liable crazy quilt pattern and color as
one looks down upon it. Then beyond
it to the north, Adams lifts his snowy
crown, fitting climax of the grand up
sweep of the hills of Klickitat, while
the magnificent canyon of the Colum bia
cuts the mighty mountain range in two.
There is 1.-THE DEVILS Punch Bowl, "
with its columned basaltic sides and
the magnificent water falls where Dead
Point creek, d fine stream, leaps appar-
emily from the canyons sides into the
racing white-laced East Fork, which
joining the main stream few hundred
feet below goes racing, dancing and
laughing down to meet the mighty Col
umbia.
1t is an indescrbable trip that, and
one that is available to all if Portland
will kindly permit. All that stands in
the way of opening this road to the
publicis the objection made by one or
two Portland officials. The forest ser
vice, or the government through it,
wants to build this road, and would
build it without a cent of cost to the
state or any of the counties.
Unfortunately this trail and proposed
road runs for about five miles through
the Bull Run reserve, and the fear is
expressed by the Portland officials that
the opening of the road would serve tC
contaminate Portand's water supply.
This would be sufficient objection if il
was true, but it is not. The Lolo pass
is south and east of the water shed OF
the Bull Run reserve, though withir
the reserve itself, and between the roaC
and the slopes that lead their water
into the reserve is hill or range al
least 1900 feet high. Any water from
the pass in order to get into the watel
shed of the reserve would have to flow
up hill, but this cuts no ice with tn,
Portland water official who knows tht
road would run through the reserve ant
has never takensthe trouble to look a
the situration, or if he has, simply
shows his authority by opposing tht
road. Those who have passed over thu
route have named it very happily, "Th'
Skyline Boulevard" and that is jus
what it is. When it is remembered
that all that is necessary to get thiI
grand scenery road built free, and {
way opened for wagons and autos be
tween the valley and eastern Oregon il
the consent of Portland official, ont
cannot but feel vexed at the indefensi
BILE objections of Commissioner DAILY O.
Portland, which it is understood is tht
only thing in the way of the building
of the road.
I Portland people as we'll as those o.
the valley should bring pressure to bea,
on him to overcome his objections.
With this road opened it would be bu
four or five hours run to Hood River
and from that point all eastern Oregon
is within easy reach over good roads
While we are proposing to spend hun
dres of thousands of dollars to bulC
roads, why not get cheerful and lie
Uncle Sam build one for US and max,
US a present of it?
1t is suggested that all the autt
owners in the state take the matter VI
and bring pressure to bear on the Port
land official, whose senseless objections
alone prevent the secretary Of the in
terror having the road built.
Gfratnhf