The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1916-01-27
GRANGE ADOPTS RAD
ICAL RESOLUTIONS

Incensed by the instructions of the
State Highway Commission to the
LEGAL county court to the effect that the
county hereafter assume the upkeep
and maintenance of the Columbia river
highway, the Pine Grove Grange at
meeting last Thursday, adopted radi-
cal resolution, not only, deprecating the
Commissions action but going so far
as to recommend to the local court that
the road be closed during the coming
summer.
County Judge Stanton, when notified
of the resolution. said that the Grange
might as we'll ask the court to close
the Columbia river, itself, as to close
the road. When q highway is once
opened, it cannot be vacated by action
of the county court until a petition,
properly signed by citizens of the road
district through which the highway
passes, has been presented to the body.
While Judge Stanton, himself. is prone
to deprecate the instructions of the
State Highway Commission, unguali-
fed by any reference as to the future
action of the body in taking over the
Columbia river highway through the
county, he states that the county must
clear the road for travel this summer.
Several slides block the road at pres
ent.
The resolution adopted by the Grange
was as follows:
Whereas: Our State Highway Com.
mission has notified our County Court,
That the State Highway Commission
and its employees will assume no re.
sponsibiilty for the maintenance OF the
road or roads known as the Columbia
Highway at Mitchells Point and vicin-
ity, except as by special arrangement
which it may obligate itself 30 to do,
and that the burden of responsibility
for the maintenance and upkeeping of
said road or roads is in the hands of the
county officials of the county in which
said road and roads are located. And.
"Whereas: During the late cam
palgn in this county, for SIS. 900 Go.
lumbia Highway bond issue, it was told
by those claiming to represent the State
Highway Commission, and those who
were most closely connected in promot.
ing the bond issue. that of the bonds
were voted, that the State Highway
Commission would allow $50, 900 in ad-
dition to the bond issue, to be used in
building around Mitchells Point, and
that the state would take over the en-
tire road over which this bond issue and
state appropriation was used, thereby
relieving our county of any further ex-
pense or responsibility. And.
Whereas: The State Highway Com
mission, through its subordinates, have
selected and secured the right.of way,
surveyed, built, and largely paid for
the same, all under the supervision of,
and in the name Of the state. And,
Whereas: The building and main
tenancre of this said Columbia High
way through such rough mountainous
country, and where the settlement is
very sparse and the expense very great.
and where it is almost necessity in
order to connect Eastern and Western
Oregon, is. by all the rights of justice
a state improvement.
therefore be 1t resolved: That we
ask our State Highway Commission to
take over this road and make it a state
as our citizens of this county
we're made to believe would be done
when they were asked to vote the
SIS, 900 for said road and.
"Be it further resolved: That if the
State Highway Commission does not
feel disposed to do this, then our county
court be requested to legally close said
road. thereby relieving this county Of
being financially responsible for this
maintenance, or the accidents which
may occur thereon.