Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-08-19
Crime Against Oregon.

Inc stdte highway commission mas
made formal application to the de-
partment of agriculture for $3S5,000
of government funds for use in road
construction in Oregon, and for every
dollar of government funds that may
be received the state must put up
another dollar. 1t is set forth in the
application that the money is to be
used for building what is known as
the Mount Hood loop road, the Crater
Lake road, the Eugene-Elorence-
klamath Falls road and road to the
Josephine caves. Among the first
construction is to be the Mount Hood
loop, and any remaining funds will be
used on the other roods.
If this program is followed out in
detail, says the Eugene Register,
whose views upon this subject agree
with those of The Observer, it will
be nothing less than a crime against
the struggling people of Oregon who
are seeking with every resource at
their command to develop their state.
The Mount Hood loop road, which is
slated to be given first consideration,
is neither more nor less than scenic
boulevard. 1t opens up no CONNER
cial territory. 1t does not help the
farmer to get his crops to market. Its
part in the real development of the
state would be infinitesimal Its only
purpose would be to give wealthy auto
mobilists new route for joy ride.
Against the early competition of the
Columbia highway no legitimate objec,
tion would be urged This magnificent
road is one of the important assets of
Oregon, for it is not only one of the
most beautiful drives in the world but
at the same time provides means of
communication between the eastern
and western parts of the state. Its
utilitaran value is enormous and its
scenic beauty will attract tourist from
every corner of the United States.
But the Mount Hood loop is anoth-
er question. Its utilitarian value is
practically negligible. 1t circles the
base of Mount Hood through a wild
country that is hardly susceptible of
agricultural development-tha at the
very least will be developed more
slowly than hundreds of other sections
that might he reached by road. Its
chief purpose-its only purpose, it
might truthfully be said-is that of
pleasure.
The Register does not want to be
understood as opposing scenic roads.
1t does nothing of the sort. But in
Oregon scenic roads and commercial
roads can easily be combined. We
doubt if there is commercial road
in the state that if properly improved
would not be a scenic wonder that
would draw visitors from everywhere
The Willamette valley, with its grow
ing green fields and its fringe OF
snow-eapped peaks; Southern Oregon
with its wonderful orchards and its
delightful climate; Eastern Oregon
with its wide reaches of shimmerins
desert broken every few miles by rich
irrigated districts-these are all places
to delight the eye and warm the heart
of the tourist. Yet these areas are the
commercial heart of Oregon and money
spent on roads that will develop then
will pav huge dividends in greater
comfort and happiness and prosperity
for the people of the state.
Oregon is not an old and rich com
munitv and it cannot afford costly
frills and furbelows such as the Mount
Hood loop road. 1t is crime to spenc
in frippery such as this, the money
that ought to be spent in making th'
state n better place to make hVing III