The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-20
Great HIGHWAY Open FOR
Travel BY JULY |. NEXT
Columbia River Road, Which Begins at
Portland, viii Soon Be Added to
the Scenic Assets Of the Pacific
Northwest

Two impeliing attractions soon may
be added to the scenic assets of the
Pacific Northwest and serve to accel.
crate road travel in that part of the
country. One of these is certain-the
Columbia River Highway; the other is
possible-opening of the Yellowstone
wonderland to motor-driven vehicles.
Samuel Hill, the well-known roads
enthusiast, thus informs Chairman
Frank X. Mudd of the A. A. A. Tour
ing Board as to the great thoroughfare
which will begin at Portland and skirt
the majestic river of the Northwest
you may say authoritatively that the
Columbia Highway will be omen for
travel July l. although only hard sur.
faced in part. In my opinion the Co.
lumbia Highway will surpass in scenic
beauty any road anywhere in the
world"
The effort to secure, the admission
of automobiles into Yellowstone Park
is not of recent origin, and President
John A. Wilson of the American Auto
mobile Association is continuing the
policy of his predecessors in uring that
this national recreation area should be
available to the modern form of trans.
portation. A communication to the
A. A. A. head from +. p. Mathewson,
president of its Montana State body,
concisely summarizes the situation in
these words:
we, of Montana, have felt for some
years past that the stage lines in Vel
lowstone Park were not progressive and
were not looking to their own best in
terests in working against the introduc-
tion of automobiles AS rule, the
visitor to the park nowadays takes the
fve-day trip. People who are not
physically fit are extremely weary after
a long ride in the stage coach; and
many people who would otherwise visit
the park will not go on account of the
poor arrangements for transportation.
If the good people running the stage
lines would substitute the modern
sightseeing automobiles, they would
have twice the number of passengers
and could charge a larger fee. In ad-
dition to this. they would be able to
take a much more extended route
through the park, visiting points of in
terest that are never seen by the ordi-
nary visitor
1t was natural that the United States
Senators from the Pacific Northwest
would take an interest in the Yellow
stone matter, and Senator James HI.
Brady, of Idaho, and Senator F.. f.
Warren, of Wyoming, have been espe
clally active. In letter just directed
to the Hon. Stephen T. Mather, Assist
ant to the Secretary of the Interior.
and in charge of the National parks,
Senator Brady thus refers to the sub
Ject: Conferences had with your
predecessor in relation to certain i'm
provements and changes in the park
roads causes me to express the hone
that it is now possible for the people
en- route to the Panama Pacific EXPO
sition to enjoy the advantage which
automobile service in Yellowstone would
afford. 1t would be splendid thing
and of much benefit to the travelling
public, and l am hopeful that the 1915
interstate travellers will have oppor-
tunity of using their own vehicles in
the park"
Admission into Yellowstone will re-
suit in considerable travel over the
Park-to-Park road connecting with
Glacier National Park, and a use of the
new Snoqualmie Pass road over the
Cascades, with Seattle as the destina-
tion. Then would come the use of the
Pacific Highway through Oregon south.
ward to California. For those who
would emerge from Yellowstone at the
western gate there would be offered the
Idaho route. which would include Sho-
shone Falls, deservedly known as the
Niagara of the West, and successfully
competing with the great cataract in its
picturesque grandeur.
Unquestionably the western country
is going to make an irresistible appeal
to large percentage of the million and
three-quarters of motor car road
ravelers.-Adv.*