The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-02-08
ROADS
MEETING Is A
Big SUCCESS
Four States Send Hundred-Fifty
Delegates to Highway
Convention
EVERGREEN ROUTE BOOSTED
Sentiment is UnquestionabIy in Fav-
or of Bridge Across Columbia
at this Point

The Interstate Highway associa-
tion was permanently organized when
more than $50 good roads enthusiasts
from the states Of Montana, Idaho,
Washington and Oregon met at Pasco
Friday and Saturday of last week, in
what was said to be the most success
full road meeting ever held in the
Northwest. Yellowstone Trail repre-
sentatives Of the state Of Washington
were in attendance and held joint ses-
sions with the above association, which
went on record as favoring the con-
struction of an "all-the-year-round"
route from Montana to the Pacific
Coast. Starting at Missoula, the
Evergreen Highway, as the route will
be called, extends directly across the
state Of Idaho thru the Lolo pass and
the Lewiston gateway to Lewiston,
thence following the route of the In
land Empire Highway thru Pomeroy,
Dayton, Waitsburg, Walla Walla, Pas
co-Kennewick. Starting at Kenne-
wick the route westward was not made
permanent, but was tentatively desig-
mated as following the present estab-
lished highway thru Prosser, Mabton,
Bickleton, Goldendale, Vancouver, Kel-
SO to Aberdeen. Objection to the
route thru Bickleton was voiced on
the grounds that that road is closed
by snow at certain seasons Of the
year. The route of the Evergreen
highway will no doubt eventually fol-
low the north bank Of the Columbia
river from Kennewick to Vancouver,
but that route can only be opened up
by the expenditure of large sums of
money, because of several rocky cliffs
that will have to be tunnelled or blown
out.
The meeting, however, was Of unus-
ual Importance to this section, not
alone because it places Kennewick on
another important highway, but be-
cause it brought about an organization
of the communities Of southern and
eastern Washington, in highway as
sociation. 1t is safe to say that here
after, when the communities Of south
eastern Washington, all of whose in
terests are practically the same, speak
their desires will be needed especially
by the eastern division of the Wash
ington Highway association. It is
hoped that more fair division of the
state highway appropriations will re-
suit for southeastern Washington.
The meeting opened Friday after
noon with Harry Y. Saint, temporary
president in the chair. A. j. Elrod,
of Pasco, welcomed the road men on
behalf of the city and the Chamber Of
Commerce. A splendid program on
road subjects was rendered.
H. o. Cooley, general secretary, and
]. w. Parmley, president of the Yell
lowstone Trail association were snow-
bound in South Dakota and were un-
able to be present.
Friday evening Geo. Cotterill, chief
engineer Of the state highway depart
ment, gave an illustrated lecture on
Highways of Washington" But the
feature that was by far the leading
attraction of the two days session was
the address and pictures shown by
Frank B. Riley, of Portland. Mr.. Riley
spoke on the columbia Highway" and
by his eloquence and humor, as he re-
lated the history of and the incidents
that led to the construction of the
highway repeatedly moved his audi
ence from almost tears to hilarious
laughter. Surely he could claim with
relationship to the immortal
James Whitcomb.
Kennewick and Benton county were
by large delegation,
perhaps the largest of any county be-
sides Franklin, E. w. Trenbath was
appointed to represent this county on
he joint resolutions and nominations
Ben F. Hill, of Walla Walla, was
elected president and Lewiston was
.hosen as the next meeting place in
October. e. w. Trenbath was named
(Continued on page four)