The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1915-09-09
new WORK WAS
OPENED MONDAY
LOCAL FOLK VISIT MITCHELLS POINT
Completed Portion Of Columbia River
Highway Brings Universal Expression
Of Praise Work Attractive

The Mitchells Point tunnel and Via
duet were officially opened to, traffic by
the state highway officials at z o'clock
last Monday morning. The scenic third
Of a mile stretch, built at a cost of
$50, 900, had been completed four sever
al days.
However, the engineers preferred to
wait until the concrete masonry OF the
viaduct, 95 feet above the tracks Of the
O.-W. K. & NJ, was thoroughly dry.
The first car to pass over the new
portion of the Colubmia river highway
was driven through the tunnel and over
the viaduct on Sunday afternoon by II.
W. Mitchell, of the Mitchell Motor
Works. Gf Portland.
The old state road, passing over the
smaller of the two points OF Mitchells,
was closed at 4 o'clock Sunday after
noon, when men of the Standifer-C Clark.
son Co. began cut through the old
grade to connect up portions of the
west appoach of the viadcut. This
work was finished Sunday night.
The Mitchells Point work. said to be
the most scenic along the entire Colum-
bia river highway, was thrown open TO
hoiiiS JUST SIN HiouthS aiteI WuTh was
begun.
Since the crews of men began the
bore through the solid basalt of the
point Hood River men and women have
been attracted TO the place. During
the past few weeks, with the work near
in completion these crowds have been
gradually increasing. Scores of people
visited Mitchells Sunday, leaving their
conveyances at the east end and walk
ing through the tunnel over the via
duct. The grandeur of the view OBJ
tanned from the windows of the former,
and the artistic touches of the latter
have aroused universal expressions of
praise. Rubble stone walls will be
built at the base of the five big win
dows. The viaduct is lined by broad.
substantial concrete ratings of pleas
ing pattern. The rails are finished in
white, The nuts" so called, who
have mania for scratching their
names in public places have already
been busy, and hundreds Of initials may
be seen defscing the neat structure.
The builder of the railing, when he
spies new name on the wall, stops
and vents his anger on the perpetrator
of the deed. In his opinion these ini-
tial scratchers are the meanest and
most despicable persons IN the world.
Monday people from all parts Of the
valley motored to Mitchells Point.
Many automoboliists continued on to
Benson park to participate in ''lnspec-
tion Day" exercises. S. A. Mitchell
and his family motored down to Port
land Sunday. They returned Sunday
night. Miss 0'Reilly, new member
of the local teachers staff, accom-
panied the Mitchell party as far as
Latourelle, returning from there in or
der to take up her work Monday morn
ing.
1--WE had hoped to return and be at
Benson park for the dedication exer-
cises," says Mr. Mitchell, ''but we
were caught in jam of automobiles
and it was simply impossible for US to
get away for hours. II has been truly
stated that two Columbia river high
ways were needed to handle the traffic
of Monday. have never enjoyed any
trip more than that down to Portland
in our automobile.
Inspection day was promoted by the
Portland Ad club. the members Of
which operated a special train over the
0.-W. X. Il N. track as far as Benson
park. II is estimated that more than
10, 900 people we're at Benson park
Monday.