The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1916-07-20
no PUSH CAUSE OF
ROAD BOND ISSUE
From The palIes Chroniclsl

Meeting in joint session Monday
night the members of the board of
directors and advisory board of the
Chamber of Commerce enthusiastically
endorsed the plan to bond Wasco coun-
ty to the amount Of $3.50. 600 for good
roads and decided to morally and finan-
cially promote the cause.
From now on, the, movement will be
directed by the chamber, which will
send emissaries throughout the county
to educate the voters. A thoroughly
organized. systematic campaign will
be energetically waged.
A special election for the purpose OF
deciding the fate of the bonds will be
held about September /. 1t was re-
Gently proposed to place the bond issue
on the ballot at the regular November
election. But 1t has been learned that
the law specifies that special election
shall be called for voting on bonding
propositions.
Those who have studied the situation
are convinced that the bonds will be
authorized If the proposition is gener.
ally understood. The imperative need
at this time is q campaign of educa-
ton. Hundreds and hundreds of voters
are opposed to the bonding plan,
whereas they would be heartily in fa-
vor of bonding il they thoroughly un.
derstood the situation. What is needed
now, it was pointed out at the meet
ing, is for every man who favors the
bonds for good roads TO wake up, ap.
preciate the fact that it ia his duty to
talk, talk, and then talk some more,
explaining the proposition to every
friend he sees, and urging that friend
to spread the gospel among his friends.
Some farmers are against bonding,
favoring extra road taxes to improve
the highways in their district; they
do not realize that under this plan they
would be taxed for the full amount OF
the road improvement; they do not
know that under the bonding plan,
which has been perfected, the taxpay'
ers of the incorporated cities of Wascc
county would pay for approximately
one-half of the total amount of the
$3.50, 900.
Many do not realize that the pro-
posed road improvement is not fol
building of the Columbia River high
way; they do not know that all of the
$3.50, 900 would be expended on the
trunk line roads of this county; they
do not understand that the state high
way commission has agreed to builC
the Columbia River highway, along
the river, through Wasco county if thii
county will spend $3.50, 900 on its owr
local roads in the interior.
Furthermore, there are many hun
dreds who do not understand the fac
that the highway commission will built
splendid highway from Hood Rivel
to Mosier If Wasco county votes thu
$3.50, 900 bonds; if the bonds are de-
feated, the road from Hood River t.
Mosier won't be touched.
0lThe highway commission has sci
aside 500, 600 for the Hood River-Mosiel
roadway. But it will cost $3.50, 900 t.
build it. Are Wasco and Hood Rivel
expected to pay the difference? No
the commission says if Wasco county
votes the $3.50, 600 bonds the state viii
make up the difference between $50, 0O'
and $3.50, 600, from its own funds.
Many demands have been made up0r
the state commission for the $50, 00(
from various sections Of Oregon, be
cause this county has failed to "gt
ahead" but a majority Of the com
| mission has 'stood pat" refusing. t.
let the 800, 900 60 elsewhere until Was
co county takes action on the bonding
proposition. Wasco is to be given an
other chance, but never another one
| if il falls down this time.
1t was made clear at Monday night
meeting that if Wasco does not vot'
the $3.50, 900 bonds, the Columbia Rive
highway will be completed, by tn
state-as far as Hood River. Tha
city will be the eastern terminus. Witt
the new 'loop" road around Noun
Hood, which is now assured, tourist
will never think Of coming to Mosie
and The Dalles.
1--WE are not asked'to spend dolla
on the Columbia River highway" sal
J. L. Kelly, who has been an untirinl
good roads advocate for years. "Al
we are asked to do is to show our goo
faith by improving our own roads an
the state will do the rest.
Mr.. Kelly thoroughly outlined tn
situation and impressed the Chambe
of Commerce directors with the imper
ative need of lively, thorough educa
tional campaign from the present tim
until the date of the special election
His suggestions of couple men t
tour the county with the good road
petitions; junketing trips to farmin
communities: Portland speakers, etc,
were heartily endorsed.
C. T. Bennett, E. A. Race, L. j
Merrill and R. W. Moe, four live-wire
from Mosier, were at the meeting an
told of the hard work which is bein
done for the cause in their section an
reported encouraging progress. On
of the Mosierites, however. justly crit
icized the citizens Of The Dalles fo
their lethargy.
"It has appeared to the Mosie
people that while they have been bus
The Dalles has been asleep" he said.
The matter of the toll bridge at tn
mouth of the Deschutes was discussed
1t was alleged that while Sherma
county has been willing for long tin
to build a new joint bridge, to be fire
to all, Wasco county has refused
take action. 1t was stated that nor
has franchise for the bridge at Il
Deschutes, and that the present bride
should be purchased by the two coul
ties or that they should erect ne