The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1916-04-20
WINTER DAMAGE
Is VERY LIGHT
COLUMBIA HIGHWAY Is PASSABLE
Party Makes Inspection 1t is Thought
Traffic Should Be Prohibited
For a Time

county from the severe weather the
past winter has been far slighter than
any one anticipated. And a journey
Friday over the route brought graft
flying surprise to the motorist; for the
scenic route is already passable from
this city to Cascade Locks, and the
journey for the most of the way can be
made in dispatch and with the greatest
comfort. Road supervisors of districts
No. ] and No. 2, respectively, W. ID.
Tr0tter and S. W. Curran, who have
been busy the past three weeks, have
already removed all traces of slides
with the exception of two or three
points between Cascade Locks and the
Multnomah county line. We're it not
for several very wet spots between the
Multnomah county line and Cascade
Locks automobiles could easily negcti-
ate the distance between Hood River
and the former point.
Despite steady downpour of rain
the following Hood River men made
thorough inspection Of the entire length
Of the highway Friday: E. o. Blanch-
ar, E. W. Birge, R. E. Scott, Ted Serr
and Joe d. Thomson, proceeding from
here to point about mile and half
west of Cascade Locks in Mr.. Serr's
automobile. The journey was made in
order that the men might from first
hand information make recommends
tions to the county court for improve
ments to be made for the spring
and summer automobile traffic. While
a few days work devoted to the ex.
treme west end of Hood Rivers lap of
the highway will make it passable, it
was the consensus of opinion of the in
spection party that traffic should be
prohibited until after the rainy season
is over. or at least until May l. To put
the highway in the best of condition
for the heavy traffic of the coming mo-
tor season, the earth surface should be
dragged and given crown. II traffic
is allowed over the highway immedi-
ately following such work, and while it
is still wet, the roadbed will be cut
full of deep ruts.
1t will be recommended by the report
Of the inspection party that sand or
gravel surfacing be applied to points
Of the highway now covered with sharp
edged stone, that turnout be made
on Ruthton hill, the heavy grade just
west of the city, and a turnout on a
narrow stretch of road just west of the
Ruthton planer of the Stanley-Smith
Lumber Co.
Taken as whole the Hood River
portion of the Columbia river highway
is in far better condition at the present
time than during the late summer and
fall months of last year. The men who
made up Fridays party spoke in COM
mendation of Supervisor Curran, who
has made the most of his road appro-
priations. The route has been cleared
,f bushes, thus eliminating danger at
sharp curves, and the surface has been
,moothedlout.
Eat the present time Warren Miller.
supervisor of road district No. 8, which
les just west Of the city, is engaged
with crew of men in removing loose
rock and smoothing over rough sur
faces. The Mitchells Point tunnel,
which lies in Mr.. Miller's district, is
In far better condition than reputed.
Last year clay and gravel surfacing
was placed over the jagged rock grade
as left by contractors who built the
tunnel, and these have been cemented
with the rocks, forming hard and
fairly smooth roadbed.
Even though the east end of the
portion of the highway were
not closed by order of the commission
ers of that county, it would remain i'm
passable to any automobile. At dis
tance of l5 feet from the Hood River
county line a slide the past winter de-
posted huge mass Of earth and stone
in the center of which four maple
trees, from IL to Is inches in diameter,
rear themselves, just as though they
we're originally planted in the center
of the road.
No better day than last Friday could
have been picked for a trip of inspec-
tion over the highway. With the sur.
race fairly wet by the steady rain no
defect was overlooked. Despite the
rain the men making the trip enjoyed
it. Some of the incidents of the day
were interesting. MIR. Serr drove his
Overland car, and it may be remarked
that MIR. Serr is a mighty good driver.
Yet the best of drivers make errors.
MIR. Serr made the error last Friday of
thinking his chains were in the car
when they we're elsewhere. The error
was discovered just west of Wyeth.
where long, steep hill, muddy and full
of deep ruts. loomed ahead. About two
thirds of the way up MIR. Serr's non-
skids began to spin, every depression
in the tires was filled with greasy mud.
Then everybody gave of his advice and
best efforts, but still the car stuck.
Mr.. Blanchar started back to Wyeth,
but fortunately met MIR. and Mrs. Chas.
Gray, whose place was about half
mile to the west. Mr.. Banchar accom-
panied them to their home, and when
be agan appeared to bis fellow motor
lists he looked as though be were going
to a hanging. A 30-foot coil of log
chain was over the kink Of one arm.
while on the opposite shoulder was
about an equal length of rope. The
rope was placed on one rear wheel and
the chain on the other. Then the auto
mobile acted beautifully.
The road on the gentle slope Of this
hill last year was covered with cinders,
and formed one of the best stretches
on the highway. During the past win
ter Gyay's creek near the top of the
grade, broke over its banks and ran
directly down the middle of the road.
From the place of MIR. Gray the high
way extends to Cascade Locks through
heavy forests for the most part. At
intervals may he seen the homestead
places of the few settlers Of the dis
trict. II is a beautiful drive. one that
must be appealing during the months
Of extreme warm summer weather.
One cannot think of it ever getting
excessively hot in those hooks of deer
shadows. At this season of the ysal
myriads of spring flowers are blooming
the mock orange or syrinsa, the wilt
currant, blue bells and dog-tooth vio
let's. Soon the woods will be filled will
the great silvery white blossoms of th'