The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1915-04-15
MUCH INTEREST IN
CANAL CELEBRATION

That the series of celebrations
planned by the cities of the Columbia
valley for the week of May 3-8, 1915,
in honor of the opening of The Dalles-
Cello canal, will eclipse in attendance,
human interest and constructive pub
lieity any public event of the year in
the northwest is evident. From every
section of the United States inquiries
are pouring in upon the general com
mittee, from press, commercial bodies
and individuals, for information touch
ing the enterprise to be commemorated
and its bearing upon the territory with
which it is related.
The actual participants in the cele-
bration at various points will include
official representatives of the United
States government, the Pacific states,
the army and navy, commercial organ
izations, navigation officers (poneer
and actiVe), good roads enthusiasts and
thousands of people from the farms
and cities of the Columbia valley.
The program at the various points
of celebration will be distinctive and,
in addition to the recognition given the
canal opening, will set forth the local
elements relative to the open river. A
marked feature of the festival will be
the emphasis given to the construction
of highways leading from the interior
productive sections to strategic points
in the river. In fact great road build
ing campaigns seem to be developing
at Lewiston, Walla Walla, Pendeton,
Maryhill and Biggs. This part of the
celebration will be given especial prom
nence in the program to be staged at
Maryhill and Goldendale May s, where
there will be a great assembly of good
roads representatives of the northwest,
and at Walla Walla, where the forenoon
of May 4 will be devoted to the discus
sion of highways.
The formal opening of Big Eddy,
May S, will witness in the canal a
great fleet of boats and thousands of
people from the upper and lower reach
es of the mighty river. Engineer +.
c. Schubert is in charge of the local
preparations and will provide a plat
form at the edge of the canal 20X60 feet
for the use Of speakers and distin-
guished guests as well as special loges
for official delegations and the two
score young women who will act as
sponsors, each bearing bottle of
water from tributary of the Colum-
bia.
The religious phase of the occasion
will be set forth by an invocation by
Rt. Rev. Chas. j. O'Reilly, d. D.,
Bishop of Baker City lin whose diocese
the canal is located and the benedic-
ton by Rev. Walter I. Sumner d. d..
Bishop, of Oregon. James S. Ramage,
president of the Spokane Chamber of
Commerce, will give an address in be-
half of the commercial bodies of the
Columbia basin. One United States
senator and one member of congress,
Ito be designated), will present greet
ings on behalf of the United States
government. Governor Withycombe will
extend welcome in behalf of Oregon,
Governor Lister for Washington and
Governor Alexander for Idaho. 7. G.
Elliott, of WaIla WalIa, will give a
brief historical outline, and Joseph n.
Teal, of Portland, a review of the Cell
10 canal. Massed bands will render
popular airs and the people will join in
the national anthem. Engineer Schu-
bert is arranging the celebration set
ting so that spectators on the boats
and on shore will have equal Opportun-
lty for observation.
Preceding and following the formal
opening, celebration features will be
held at The Dales, including banquet
at night, May S. On May ceIebra-
tions will be held at Vancouver, Wash,
and Portland, while the climax will
take place at Astoria, Ore, May and
s in connection with the sixth annual
convention of the Columbia and Snake
River Waterways Association, at which
time full inspection will be made of all
maritime and scenic interests at the
mouth of the Columbia river.