Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1917-08-27
ADAMS SAYS TWO
MAIN HIGHWAYS
ARE GREAT NEED

r., j, Adams, q mombor OF the
state highway commission spent Sat
urday In this city while waiting for
repairs to be made ON his auto. He
spcnt Sunda, In looking over tho
road work on the Siskiyou mountain
south OF Ashland,
MIR, Adams discussed state road
matters In the state quite at length
with q representative OF tho Courier,
There is no difference OF opin-
ion among the members OF our com
mission or among Oregon good road
enthusiasts generally MS to the wise
course to pursue, Our greatest need
Is to open up two main highways.
one leading from the east TO Port
land by way of Baker, l.aGrande.
Pendleton and The Dalles. and the
other leading from California and
Its immense tourist possibilities
north 10 the metropolis by way OF
Medtord, Grants Pass. Roseburg, Eu-
gene and Salem. Eventually every
foot OF these two highways will be
built ON first class grade and
hard surfaced, With this accom-.
plished. the state will reap an I'M
mense annual income from the tour
ist business which Is not coming
here now.
The laterals or feeders TO these
two main highways are second
consideration, In time they will be
built. But we know. from the ex-
perience OF other states. that ten
times as many people will visit such
a point as your Josephine caves. II
there is a fine highway 10 a point
within striking distance OF them
such as the Pacific highway passing
through Grants Pass. without the
actual building OF modern highway
to the attraction itself. want to
see good road built to the Oregon
caves but a paved highway passing
north through Grants Pass will bring
with ease and comfort such host
OF auto travellers. that many OF them
will gladly undergo the hardshlps OF
the side trip to the caves. Most OF
these same people would not take
such trip II their main north and
south travelling Is one filled with
hard going due 10 poor roads.
The California coast highway
will end at Crescent City for some
time to come at least. With n Pa
cific highway paved through Grants
Pass as II will be soon. Californians
will insist upon connecting link
between the coast highway and the
Pacific highway up the Sacramento
valley. This makes your road be-
tween Grants Pass and Crescent City
one Of the most important laterals
IN tne state.
But no one OF good judgment
would think for moment OF spend
ing any money on the present grade
over Oregon and Gasquet mountains.
We ate our lunch near Monumental
mine. The water flowing by our
stopping place runs south and emp
ties into the Smith river. Still, we
climbed between 500 and 500 feet
higher than We then we're to get
over to Smith river.
"The state highway commission
appreciates the fact that Josephine
county, with $50 miles OF roads TO
maintain. with a warrant indebted
ness. including interest. OF about
100000. and with - per cent OF
your area locked up by the federal
government where II cannot be as
sessed for any purpose. has road
problems which are not easy. We
are going 10 help you all we can.
feeling that In so doing, we are
benefiting the entire state. We ex-
pect. OF course, and will insist, that
the county will do the best Il can
towards helping itself.