Spray courier. (Spray, Or.) 1???-19??, 1915-10-07
JOHN DAY VALLEY,
Good Roads 10 the Oolan5ia.
l3Dlroa CoURlERi

| EDllbR 1obFlbh'
have read with much interest
and pleasure the articles which
have appeared in your recent IS
sues in regard to the Inaugural
ton Of a good roads movement mi
the counties Of Central Oregon.
This growing demand for better
highways has spread throughout
many OF the counties, . few in
Tie central part Of the state cI-
cepted, and wherever il has been
systematically carried out Che
common expression is They
should hayo started the move
ment ten years earlier"
In every county which has en-
dorscd the good roads idea, The
movement has been fought hyI
taxpayers who honestly thought
that the expense o. constructing
permanent highways would bank
rupt their county. But the move
ment has won friends wherever
Lie has been tried, ard many who
fought the good roads movement
in the beginning are now the
leading advocates Of good roads.
The present handicap Of Cen
tral Oregon, and especially the
John Day river section. is the lack
Of good roads: and this is the
reason why the country ia unde-
veloped. Good roads develop q
country, and Central Oregon viii
not develop until it builds roads.
The counties thathaVe invested
in permanent roads have been
; surprised by the results. lncreas-
ed values Of property, cheaper
TRANSPORTATION, and the saving Of
+ time required in travelling, have
{ won many TO boost for better
E. roads that were at first opposed
S TO the movement,
The John Day river is the nat
!, ural water-grade pass for high
; way from Portland to Boise City.
1t is 100 miles shorter than the
; route via Pendleton and Baker,
3 and the country abounds in nat
ural road building material. The
building Of this highway would
open up a large area OF very rich,
3 but undeveloped country. anC
would be the main travelled roat
4, from Portland through Centra
= Oregon; or to Boise or to points
u farther east. Aside from tht
great advantage to stockmen
IT farmers and business men, thu
le road would present scenic attrac
t. tons for tourists that are unsur
d passed.
IN With such a highway Centra
o. Oregon would take on new iiIC
industries would be develope
d. that are now impossible.
ne With water grade FROM I'll
he headwaters OF the John Day to Por
q. land, and an open river our 'ndu
nd trial products could be marketed
or Under our present isolated cond
ton there is no market for or pr
ducts when the local demand
supplied.
"y The construction of this roa
>. over which heavy tonnage could
. ~ handled, would be almost equal
~ railroad for Central Oregon, al
- would do more to interest the Fa
road people i'll this country tn
any thing else. And this highw
ON can be had if the people want
am All that is needed is to get the p;
or pie to see what it will do for the
ay- and the press has never advooat
for measure which is so worthy
Iers attention as is the great movemt
her for better roads.
If the press of Central Ores
ling can present this much-needed J
ula- provement to the public IN
ues- proper light, the John Day hii
aust way will be built, and will 3
his lasting tribute TO the editors y
rloff were the pioneers in advocating
lped construction.
gine A COURIER READER