The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1914-07-09
THE COMING ELECTION

THE COMING ELECTION
The chautaugua is over now, and the
absorbing topic Of the day is the bond
election Of next Wednesday. Doubt
will be over next Thursday morning
and it is hoped that the bond election
Eli carry. While citizens IN various
sections Of the county are inteTpOsing
objections, justifable from their view.
point we still maintain that from a
broad. business viewpoint, compre-
hending the benefits that will accrue to
the entire community, the county is
offered an opportunity in the S75, 600
bond issue, and that a mistake will be
made if the issue is voted down next
Wednesday.
70 be sure, the slightest increase in
taxation and the proposal Of bond is
sue tends to embarrass a voter in times
Of stringency. But it must be re-
membered that the cost of the S75, 600
bond issue to the average individual
taxpayer will be nominal. If it were
proposed that Hood River county
should build and maintain the Colum-
bia river highway entalling an ex-
pense that would, of course, be impos-
sible to the county, we would be un-
uualifedIy against it.. But the bond
issue called for is the smallest possible
amount that we can consistently vote
and take advantage of Mr. Benson s
offer of guarantee. 1t will undoubtedly
cost more than $75, 900, bat Mr.. Ben
son will pay the bill. For SIS. 600 we
will be able to open Hood River to the
world.
The argument is advanced that Hood
River county should do as Marion and
other counties have done, vote three
to one against bond issue. If the is
sues were such that we could compare
them, Hood River voters, we believe,
would vote three to one against a bond
issue. In Marion county, the voters
were called to pass on an $500, 600 bond
issue. The voters baked at such an
enormous outlay Of money. They
would no doubt balk here. Bot there is
no such call for an enormous sum of
money in Hood River county.
With the $75, 600 bond issue voted
Hood River county will be through
with the Columbia river highway.
The way will be opened, the valley OF
apples will be made accessible. Motor.
lists will flock in over the most scenic
highway in America. The road will
become state highway. This is q
natural result that will be demanded
by the people of Portland and easter
Oregon.
That Hood River county should at
tend to its own valley roads. we will
not deny. For the ranChCr living on Z
poorly kept highway to vote for The
Columbia river bonds and see no i'm
prOvements done on his own road vii
no doubt be hard. But it should be re
allied that an emergency exists ant
that the county has an opportunity il
the offer of MIR. Benson that may not
soon again be rea lized.
MIR. Winans comes forth with Z
strong plea for the Skyline boulevard
lie has done good work and commend.
able work for that proposed highway
which should and will no doubt eventu
ally be constructed by government aid,
as we hope. But that road will be
open but portion of the year. This,
coupled with its indirectness, will cause
it to be unpopular for direct travel.
1t is but natural that MIR. Winans, who
has property interests in the district
through which the proposed Skyline
road will pass, should use every effort
to promote it.
And we are not sure of this mountain
route, 1t is already in litigation and it
may be years before the Portland water
board valves the right to exclude traffic
through the Bull Run reserve. The
opening of the Columbia highway is at
hand vital to every one interested in
Hood River valley property The man
who looks ahead and comprehends the
benefits to accrue from such an asset
as the road will be. viii vote yes at
next Wednesdays election.