The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1914-07-16
MULTNOMAH WORK
AROUSES ENTHUSIASM

There was a feeling among the 300
Hood River people who journeyed down
the Columbia to Multnomah Falls,
Gordon Falls and Oneonta gorge last
Thursday aboard the 0.-W. X. & N.
special train that keen regret would
prevail today in case the proposed S75,-
600 Columbia highway bond issue
failed to carry. Never did a larger
and more enthusiastic crowd leave the
local passenger station. The five big
steel coaches sent here by the railway
company to handle the crowd were
comfortably filled. j. Ii. Fredrlcy
personally conducted the tour. And
though tired and dusty from the jaunts
over the rugged cliffs at the foot of
the scenic falls and an inspection of
the work being done by Multnomah
county on the scenic highway, but very
few of the excursionists returned to
their homes not boosters for the Co
lumbia road.
A special train over the Mount Hood
line brought down large delegation
from Upper Valley vicinities and from
points along that line between here
and Parkdale. Before the train was
made up here the station platform was
lined with the crowd awaiting with
lunch boxes. People were picked up at
all stations en- route to 0neOnta. Many
children were in the party. and the
cars were filled with the animated
chatter and merry laughter of the
women.
The first stop was made at Oneonta
gorge, where the party detrained, in
specting that wonderful chasm cut in
the side of the Columbia canyon. AT
this point the Columbia highway passes
through a tunnel. The work, just
about completed. was of interest to the
local citizens who inspected and mar
veled at the enterprise with which the
Multnomah people are pushing the
highway.
The train then proceeded to Gordon
Falls, where lunches we're spread IN
grove of great forest trees. 1t was
thought that one of the construction
camps would be located here, but 1t
had been moved, and as result the
promised coffee for the lunches failed
| to materialize. Big cans of excellent
lemonade, however, were made by AL
Cruikshank and E. o. Blanchar. and
on account Of the. warm day, struck the
fancy and palates of the crowd better
| than coffee.
A delegation of about so Portland
people, prominent citizens Of the Rose
City, Joined the Hood River delegation
at this point, and after the luncheon
was over all wandered around the
scenic spots, viewing Gordon Falls,
which is hidden from the railroad. and
inspecting the broad, curVing highway,
which with its solid retaining walls and
attractive curves. is being brought TO
completion at this point.
Between Gordon Falls and Multno-
nah Falls, about half mile apart,
portion of the highway encroaches on
the right of way Of the railway com
pany. The adjoining hillside here is
not solid enough to permit of excavat-
ing for the "a foot wide roadway. such
work would probably cause slides and
damage resulting from them would
have to borne by the county. How
ever, this possibility Of damage is
eliminated by roadway constructed
on concrete piers at the side OF the
railway track. The hill is not dis
turbed and any damage that may result
here in the future can only be attribut.
ed to an "act Of God, 'and because Of
it the county cannot be held.
The entire crowd walked from Gordon
Falls to Multnomah Falls, where the
last hour before the departure Of the
train was spent inspecting that 1855 feet
of madly plunging water. The bolder
excursionists climbed to the foot OF the
first falls, where the cooling spray that
falls day in and day out, waited in and