Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1917-03-25
WRITER TELLS OF MARvEIS OF
WAY THAT TRavERsEs
SOUTHERN OREGON
ROAD OF A THOUSAND WONDERS
Has Numerous Attractions For the
Tourist, Every Mile Having Some
Thing OF Deepest Interest

The following story was written by
NJ. F. Duryea, formerly secretary OF
the Ashland Commercial club, but
now executive secretary OF the Mo-
line. H., Commercial Club and ap-
peared in The Road Maker of Moline:
The Pacific highway is a great in
ternational highway from British CO.
Iumbia to the Mexican border. passing
through the coast states Of Washing
ton, Oregon and California. To 1t
might be well applied the advertising
slogan Of the great railroad system
that parallels it for hundreds OF miles;
it Is indeed road Of s thousand
wonders," Not only does this high
way traverse a country rich in scenic
beauty. but leading from 1t are roads
OF the most magnificent scenic at
fractions of the United States.
The touring motorist will find much
to interest him as he journeys over
this main artery OF travel up and
down the western part of the United
States, for 1t will lead him through
fruitful valleys and thriving towns.
along peaceful rivers and mountain
torrents. through shadowy forests
and over mountain tops and close to
snow-clad peaks. Like the kaleido-
scope Of his boyhood days. each turn
win bring before him new combina-
tion in tree. and field and sky that
makes picture long to be remem-
bered.
One of the most beautiful and won
derful stretches of the Pacific high
way is that stretch from Medford, in
the lovely Rogue River valley Of
southern Oregon, to Hornbrook. CAL
ifornia, crossing the summit OF the
Siskiyou mountains. Not only is this
stretch OF the highway wonderful
from a scenic standpoint, it is even
more remarkable as a piece Of splen-
did engineering in road construction.
The old journey over the Siskiyous
on what was known as the Dollar
hide toll road. was one Of discom-
fort, as well as danger. II was a
trough and rugged road" with
grades as high as 80 per cent, that
taxed the best machines. Seven grade
crossings over the Southern Pacific
railway made it dangerous, for at al
of them the grade on rail and road
was heavy. The new road, laid out
in mastery fashion from the northern
slope Of the Siskiyous to the Califor
MIA line by Frank A. Kittredge, th'
engineer in charge OF construction TO
the Oregon state highway commission
has no grade crossing, and its maxi
mum grade is 6 per cent. The South
ern Pacific tracks are crossed bu
twice on the journey to the SUNNI
from Ashland, and in each instanc
the motorist finds a splendid con
crete bridge to carry him over 4
safety. A fine piece OF engineerin
is the approach to the first OF thes
bridges with great, broad and cas-
loop thrown out over the mountai
side around which the motorist ma
drive at full speed.
Automobile drivers will discove
this new highway to be easy work
Tor its broad. sweeping curves an
light grades do not impose any tax O
his strength or nerves. All curves
except the blind" ones, are bull
with radius OF 100 feet; the "blind
curves are built on 150-foot radius
All the curves are slightly banked I
the inside for safety and to allo,
drivers to take grades on speed. TIL
roadway on the Oregon side is twen
ty-four feet wide at all places, wit
an increase in width on curves wher
necessary for safety. On the Callfor
mia side the roadway Is somewha
narrower, but the grading is simlla
to that Of the Oregon side.
The progressive people OF Jackso
county. Oregon. have bonded them
selves for 100000 for the purpos
OF constructing paved highway fror
the north boundary OF the county /
the California line. Part Of this worl
has been completed, and the touris
on the Pacific highway can now spec
over a sixteen-foot pavement fror
Central Point. through Medford, tn
gateway to Crater Lake, to the south
ern limits OF the city Of Ashland.