Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-09-07
MAY CHANGE HIGHWAY
COUNTY COURT VIEWS PRoPos-
ED ROAD TO SALMON.
Would Eliminate Treacherous Leno
Hill-New Road Would Induce
Settlement There.

The county court has practically de-
cided to accept the water grade road
from point near Bentley to John
Bowers place on the Little Nastucca,
distance of four and one-half miles,
the purpose Of the change being the
elimination of the Leno hill, one Of
the most impracticable highways in
the entire coast country. For nearly
four miles the present thoroughfare
stands nearly on end-frst one end
and then the other-and during the
winter months travel over it is next to
impossible. In several places in the
timber the road is still covered with
mud, Notwithstanding the fact that
no rain has fallen in that locality
for many weeks. When Judge Teal
drove over the Leno hill last Friday
he expressed himself as being sur
prised that Yamhill county should
permit the highway to remain in its
present wretched condition, and es-
pecially so since Polk county had con-
structed a splendid rock road connect
ing Herewith. A considerable por-
ton of the proposed new highway
around the hill is in Polk county, and
If constructed will have not more
than a two per cent grade with the
exception Of short distance, where
it will reach five per cent. The road
now Travelled has about three-quarters
of a mile Of better than twenty per
cent grade, ascending skyward several
hundred. feet and following a "hog-
back" in which there are also some
stiff grades. The road around the
Leno hill as surveyed will, as stated,
follow a water level, and will run
through fertile valley, susceptible
to high state of development agri-
culturally, and would doubtless be
the means of inducing settlement in
that section Of the county where now
there is but one resident for a dis
tance Of about seven miles, that at
the toll gate.
Judge Teal, Commissioners Wells
and Beckett, Surveyor Ed. Hines and
Roadmaster Waldo Finn, accompani-
ed by a representative of The OBJ
server, visited that locality on Friday
and investigated the representations
of those who have long sought a
change of route to the Salmon river
country, some of the officials follow
ing the survey as made by Mr.. Can
field to determine its practibility,
while Judge Teal, to satisfy himself
that the complaints regarding the
Leno hill road were well grounded,
went by that route. The verdict rem
sdered by the venerable judge, al
though brief and pointed. would not
look well in print, and will probably
result in granting the request of the
petitioners who are seeking relief
from isolation during the winter
months. The proposed new survey is
via Bentley, reached by shortened
route from what is known as the
Butler bridge over the Yamhill river,
and leaves Grand Ronde out Of the
running. 1t intersects the present
Salmon river road at the toll gate.
It not only eliminates the Leno hill,
but the wretched road in Yamhill
county after leaving the agency, to
connect with which this county has
expended in the past more than $4O,-
900. This particular road is on the
main highway to Tillamook county,
and is so rough that it would jar the
burrs loose on a wheelbarrow. The
planking has rotted in places, and
those remaining in fairly good physi-
cal condition are scattered over the
roadbed in such a manner as to make
traffic slow and decidedly uncomfort-
able. II was Judge Teal's first trip
over this road, and he expressed him
self as being surprised at the appar-
ent neglect Of the Yamhill court after
Polk county had constructed a per-
fectly rocked road from near Will
lamina practically to the intersecting
line.
The Salmon river road is a much
Travelled highway, especially during
the summer months, many outing par
ties going to Siletz bay annually, while
the country beyond the summit is
quite well populated. The records Of
the toll gate show that an average Of
ten four-wheeled vehicles pass
through daily during the season when
the roads are passable, besides which
there is daily mail from Willamina
to the Siletz country. The contractor
receives $4,000 per year for the deliv-
ery of the mail, and when il is con-
sidered that during the winter four
horses are required to draw a vehicle
through the deep mud of the Leno hill
and that from eight to twelve horses
are needed on the route, it will be
realized that he earns his money. The
postal department Of the government
puts up $l.50 each day for toll at
the gate, John Boyer, formerly of
Dallas, having leased the highway
from Tillamook county for term Of
ten years, three of which are still TO