The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1914-10-15
TRUNK Line CONSID-
GRAFTON ASKED

IfuIh lttC ~ *
lev. x Arens. DIR. John F. Beau
mont. E. o. Blanchar. G. N. Rayiin,
H. Connsway, Truman Butler Caas' mas
II. Castner, J. Z. Ferguson on mm
Stewart. F. o. Cameron, Geo: Shep-
pard, C. e. Lowell. Walter kimball'
VIM. r. Warner. Ill, H. l.. furrow,
Hans Hoerlein. q. +. Purdy, a. Me
hans. G. Fletcher. j. r. Steele, T. l..
Aubert, E. C. Miller, W. +. Maeil-
wrath.
Circular letters, as follows, showing
the prayer to the court, have been
mailed to all voters of the county:
Now that the Columbia highway IS
assured. a campaign has been launched
for a loon line through the Upper Val
lev with a bond issue TO meet the ex-
pense thereof. The roads in the Upper
Valley are in o wretched condition, and
the residents are justified in demanding
better service. This granted. II Is I'M
perative that the best route be select
ed. There are five points to be con-
sidered:
This "best route" must present the
best grade: il must be the shortest
route 1t must serve the greatest num-
ber of ranches: it must be permanent
and final, and it must be the cheapest
route in the long run.
Any route, failing in any one or more
of these requirements, viii fail 10 JUS
tfy heavy bond issue, for the simple
reason that in a few years another
bond issue would become necessary to
rectify the mistakes made now.
Leaving the selection of the route IN
the Upper Valley to the residents OF
that district, we, the undersigned, beg
to submit the following route from
Hood River town to Jake Lenz's place.
the natural gateway to the upper DIS
| tricts:
Beginning at Hood River town, this
road would run along the banks of the
river to point about one-half or three
quarters of mile, or more, north OF
| fuckers bridge. From this point. a
gentle grade, not exceeding four per
cent, would lead to the top without any
zigzags or switchbacks. Once on top,
the present road running past Haw-
thorne's ranch could be utilized to the
Mount Hood r. X. crossing. From this
crossing the road would follow the
| Odell creek canyon at maximum
grade of only two and one-half per
cent. At Fletcher's ranch, where the
Odel creek canyon and the present
road meet, the latter could again be
utilized to Mr.. Cameron's ranch. From
this point, the route would continue
straight south along blind canyon
thence swerve slightly to the southeast
through the ranches of Chas. Bone,
Mr.. Austin, MIR. Calkins and Jake Len2
respectively, all at grade nowhere
exceeding four percent. Here then. We
have a route from Hood River to Jake
Lenz's place which meets all the re
duirements enumerated above.
1t presents the best grade possible
in that it avoids the awful grades GU
of Hood River town and at Tucker
bridge, besides the one up Wasson'
: hill. while the grade through the hill
leading to the Upper Valley from
Dukes Valley up could be reduced t
about four per cent.
This is also the shortest route, muc
! shorter than either the East Sid
I through Meals creek canyon or tn
q West Side via fuckers bridge.
Ii would also serve a greater numbe
: of ranches, than the proposed Nei
S creek canyon route with its four mile
q of continuous forest, and that too
through district with roads fully 8
:, bad as any in the Upper Valley.
u This route would also be permanef
d and final, while all other routes woul
only be makeshifts to tide over preser
demands.
This route would also be the cheapei
e in the long run. Take for instance th
Odell creek portion of the propose
route: This is bound to be built In I'll
near future to avoid the very bad ar
tedious grade over Wasson's hill;
fact, the county road viewres have a
ready passed favorably on this rou
and have endorsed its construction
Similarly, the route long the river bar
to fuckers bridge is also bound to
selected sooner or later, first to vo
the awful grades out of Hood Riv'
town, and again as the natural contin'
alton of the scenic highway, whit
n sooner or later will be built past MouI
y Hood to Portland. Already, the su
- of $4,000 has been pledged to the A
Club of Portland by private individual
Is toward the reconstruction of the o
NJ Barlow road to Mount Hood. Ont
Is this end of the "Sky Line Route" ov'
IN the mountains is finished, Hood Riv'
ne will boast of loop scenic highwf
a from here to Portland via Mount Hot
s. and back along the Columbia highwa
an the like to which cannot be found Il
ds world over. And, whether we are pr
ms pared to believe it or not. it is neve
in theless true, that the scenic wonde
al of this loop highway will prove mo
,h valuable asset for Hood River vall'
an than our celebrated strawberries, W
he low Newtowns and Spitzenburgs.
Now, since these improved roads a
ed hound to be built in the near futur
q WHY not kill two birds with one ston
D.. WHY not embody them in this propos
p bond issue, thus saving thousands
pe dollars of the tax payers money?
is has been urged, that while the propos
is, road undoubtedly is the shortest, b'
&c. and therefore the cheapest, the coun
is unable financially to build it no
and that for this reason.w we must sele
Neal creek route. This argument
misleading in that it lodges the n
'ill issue. viz: To secure the best, her
ny, permanent trunkline to the UpI
lty Valley. Besides, there is the ent
at West Side, feeding towards Tucke
&C. bridge, the entire Odell district. 6
the above all the Willow Flat and Dul
W. Valley and Dee district, which wo
ain benefit by this proposed route; and
rks undersigned beg to emphasize the ia
oks that the roads from fuckers brio
1ey southwark, through Willow Flat are
the bad, and their grades. as trying, as 1
ain roads in the Upper Valley in fact,
is the only district north of Booth
without good roads. Hence, it is
fair that the proposed bond is
should recognize the needs of this {
ldi- trict as we'll as those of the Up
yer Valley and the Dee district. The
usi- dersigned beg to offer this solution
the whole question:
me Let the Neal creek canyon road
'us- put in first class shape so that it
My be travelled during the winter mont
ncy Let the Upper Valley and Dee r
Q in tion of the proposed route be built nc