The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1915-07-15
BENSON PLEASED
WITH HIGHWAY
FIRST CITIZEN TELLS OF SIGHTS
Rufus Holman Says the Columbia River
Highway is the hey TO a Treasure
house Of Scenery

which, by vote of almost four to one,
bond issue of S75, 900 was subscribed
for the completion of portions of the
Columbia highway in Hood River
county. When the last ballot was
counted and the glad news was re-
ceived, Hood River people went wild
for the time being. An automobile
train, the machines loaded with shout
ing people made the night trip around
the loop road. Crowds had gathered
in Portland for the result and the spirit
Of joy was abroad there; for the days
action had meant that the Columbia
highway would soon be built.
During the years time that has
elapsed crews of men and contractors
have slowly but surely finished link
after link of the most wonderful scenic
highway in the world. So say those
who have travelled over the most noted
routes.
S. Benson, who may we'll be called
the father of the Columbia highway, as
he sat last Thursday evening resting in
the twilight glow on porch at the
home of W. l.. Clark, where he
was being entertained, said: AFTER
our 200 mile journey of the past three
DAYS ! am more enthusiastic than ever
as to the possibilities of the Columbia
highway. We have seen some of the
things it will open up to the world.
We have looked upon some of the
worlds most gorgeous scenery. We
have ridden through the orchards of
Hood River, Mosier and The Dalles.
Never shall we forget those wheat
fields around Goldendale and Center
vile. Nor can any panorama surpass
that we had this afternoon as we drove
down from Lyle to White Salmon. Ii
reminded me of glimpses one often
gets in moving picture shows-only
what we saw was grander and more
gorgeous.
The eyes of Oregon's first citizen
glowed with the enthusiasm that con-
sumed him so that those around him
were fired with the eIoquence of his
spoken words and thoughts.
"This little trip of ours, said Rufus
Holman. ''is just the beginning of
thousands of such trips. The Columbia
highway has been the key to the treas
ure house of our scenery. We have
been entertained on our journey at eV-
cry city and hamlet. We have found
the people ready for this great event
of the opening of the highway and i'm
bued with new enthusiasm now that
the road is completed.
Never has any Hood River meeting
left such feeling among all factions
of city and valley as that of Tuesday
night of last week. The return of the
dedication party was heraldled abroad
last Thursday afternoon, and again
were the distinguished visitors met.
With the members of the Hood River
band in motor cars, their melodies add
ing to the joyous occasion, delegation
was assembled to greet the dedication
party members at the Hood River
White Salmon ferry landing. Again a
triumphal procession began, and as the
automobiles passed up State street,
the old cannon on the courthouse lawn
was fred by X. NJ. Hunt.
A number of the first party to trav-
erse the Columbia highway had re-
turned by train before the return here.
Others left by automobile Thursday
night. However, the most of them re-
mained in the city and toured down
over the Columbia highway Friday.
H. l.. Pittock and party spent Thurs
day night at Homer Rogers Mount
Hood Lodge. John B. Yeon and Asa
Benson Joined their families at Mrs.
Alma Howe's Cottage Farm. The
family of Rufus Holman came up on
the first evening train and were taken
by Mr.. Holman to the home of Mrs.
Howe.
When Mr.. Benson and MIR. Holman
left the home of Mr.. and Mrs. W. l.,
Clark in the automobile of William
Stewart, they continued to discuss the
possibilities of the great road. ''We
don't want to forget that proposed
connecting link round the East Side of
Mount Hood" said Nh. Holman. IL
am sure that this highway, connecting
the Upper Hood River Valley with the
old Barlow road, will soon we con-
structed. Chief Forester Graves, while
en- route to Alaska, will soon be here
to make an investigation of the pro-
posed route, and | for one feel sure
that we are going to secure this coop
Grafton.
Among the interesting speeches
made at the meeting of last week was
that of MIR. Pittock. In introducing
MIR. Pittock, Leslie Butler said that he
didn't think he had ever been iD Hood
River before.
Eyes, I've been in Hood River be-
fore," said Mr.. Pittock. "Fifty-six
years ago | made trip down through
the valley from Lost Lake. only
met about two settlers, looking for To-
cations. visited Henry Coe, one OF
your early pioneers. But it didn't look
good to me then, and because of my
hard trip, am afraid that said some
hard things about the community.
want to apologize. If | had remained,
| would have taken a donation land
claim. Just think / would have had
800 acres of land which they tell me
today is worth So. 900 per acre. "
One of the most forceful speakers of
the evening was John b. Yeon, who as
Multnomah county's road master, has
been in charge of the construction
work. Just as soon as the Columbia
highway is completed, that is, finally
finished, Mr.. Yeon stated that he was
coming to Hood River and buy home.
In his short, witty speech Addison
Bennett, dean of northwestern staff
correspondents. passed few jokes to
MIR. Pttoek. "Some folks think
own the Oregonian, said Mr.. Bennett,
"but | don't. MIR. Pittock, here, is
our manager, and we pay him pretty
good salary for the work he does. "
AS rough as the Columbia highway
still is. automobiles are already begin
ming to hasten over it. A car from
Seattle passed through Hood River last
Thursday, having come up from Port
land over the highway. However, il
will be year before the road is finally
put in shape. 1t is passable now, anC
excellent in most places. But fol
some time to come there will be rough