The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1914-02-05
CON-. DALY'S OBJ
JECTIONS TO ROAD

u ~
Commissioner DAILY, of Portland,
has issued the following statement as
to the Portland water boards attitude
on the proposed highway through :the
Bull Run water reserve:
"The reserve includes some rand
which is not on the actual water shed
of the streams, because. il the SUBMITS
of these divides were the boundaries,
there would be settlements just out
side of them and danger from fire and
trespass would be much greater.
Portland has now two steel condu-
its, each "a miles long, capable of
bringing 81, 500, 900 gallons Of water
which is equivalent to 720 gallons per
capita, including water for fire protee-
tion, manufacturing and power pur-
poses, from Bull Run river into the
city every "a hours; but that river at
extreme low water will not furnish
that much water and surveys and plans
have been made for a conduit to bring
water from Clear Fork and Lost Creek
also, as the rapidly growing city (now
$50. 900 population) will, in the near
future, need all the water it can pos
sibly obtain.
1.-The city has nearly $ll, 900, 600 in
vested in waterworks and proposes to
invest another SlI 900. 600 in obtaining
a supplementary supply of water from
Clear Fork and Lost Greek.
Township 2 south, range east of
Willamette Meridian, forms the entire
watershed of these two streams and
for that reason it is included in the
| Bull Run forest reserve. 1t is entirely
uninhabited and untraveled.
''It is separated only a mile from
the watershed Of Bull Run river by a
narrow spur of the mountains. The
water it furnishes il. of excellent quail
ity and very necessary as an addition
to the present supply to the city.
''1he dense forest of evergreen trees
which cover the reserve and prevent
the rapid melting of the snow in the
mountains and freshetso in the streams,
are very infiammable during the dry
season, when months may pass without
rain, and the danger of forest fires
which might seriously injure the water
| supply is very great.
''In order to guard against this
danger the Senators and representa-
tives of the state of Oregon, at the
earnest request of the city of Portland,
brought about the passage of an act by
conrgses on sApril "a, 1904, prohibiting
the grazine of cattle or sheep on public
lands in the reserve, and excluding the
public.
"Since then the fire guards, the ma
jority of whom, although selected and
directed by the governmnt, are paid by
the city, have prevented all grazing
and consequently no serious fires have
| occurred.
"The inaccsssibility of the reserve is
its greatest protection. The water
now flowing into the city from this un-
inhabited and untraveled forest reserve
is so perfectly pure that liberation will
never be needed; so clear that settling
reservoirs are not used. and so cool
that the use of ice is unnecessary.
Portland has been happy in the
belief that this remarkable water sup
ply is its most valuable asset, but now
comes an effort from some residents of
Hood River valley, which is separated
from the Bull Run reserve by the Cas-
cade range of mountains, to have a
wagon, or automobile, road opened
across those mountains at elevation of
$780, and through township south,
range s eest. from which the public is
now excluded because it is porion of
the reserve.
''The length Of the proposed road in
said township 10 about seven miles and
it follows along the north side of the
Clear Creek.
Camps of fishermen, hunters and
others would tend to pollute the water,
and fires might be started which would
rapidly climb the steep mountainsde
to Bull Run lake. This lake is the
main source of Portland's water sup
ply. 1t is only mile and one-half
from the proposed road and its water
would be in danger of pollution from
| pleasure seekers, who could readily
reach it if the road should be opened.
''The proposed road would join the
Barlow road, which crosses the Cas-
cade Mountains at elevation 1880 feet,
Just south of Mount Hood. near the
junction of the Sandy River and Zig
gag Creek at point 46 miles east of
Portland. The distance from Hood
River to Portland by this route would
be about 94 miles over rough mountain
roads, impossible in winter because of
snow; while the distance by the Co.
lumbia highway, now being constructed
because of the grand scenery along the
river, without any elvations, will be
66 miles.
"The city of Portland, believing that
the proposed road would only be used
for automobile rides in summer, hereby
respectfully calls attention to the fact
that opening it to the public would
cause serious injury to the water sup
ply, and earnestly begs that the request
of the pleasure seekers be denied.
"On April II, 1918, Senator Lane.
by urgent request of the city of Port
land, introduced in the senate bill
| (No. 1866 for additional protection of
the Bull Run forest reserve and the
sources of the water supply of the
city of Portland, in the state of Ore
gon.
"The bill was read twice and fer
red to the committee on forest eva
tons and the protection of game, of
which Senator Lane is chairman.
When this bill is referred back for con-
sideration, it is earnestly hoped that
Oregon members will strive to secure
its passage"