The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1917-09-13
ROAD LOCATED
ALONG RIVER
WORK Of CONSTRUCTION RUSHED
State Highway Commission Took Definite
Action Last Week While Aboard
Train-Klein Gives Data

Last week while aboard Southern
Pacific train en- route from Roseburg
to Eugene the State Highway Com
mission decided to locate the Columbia
River Highway between Hood River
and The Dalles along the foot of the
Columbia gorge. East from The Dalles
the road will be located by way of Nc
Donald's Ferry. At the same travel
| ing session, breaking precedent for
Oregon, the Commission decided to is
sue another $780, 900 worth of bonds,
authorized under the $4,000, 900 bond
ing act, lwithin the next 20 days.
By next June the Highway for the
entire length between Astoria and The
Dalles, according to R. A. Klein, an
enigneer of the State Highway depart
ment, who is here in charge of survey
work, will be opened on permanent
locations. The scenic highway will be
graded to standard width and where
paving has not been laid, surfacing
of macadam or gravel will be built.
''The work at Cascade Locks, being
done under contract by A. ID. Kern, is
progressing very rapidly" says Mr..
Klein. "and with the closing of the
Highway by order of the Hood River
county court, the excavation will move
a great deal more rapidly. Four
steam shovels are being used in the
task. The latter part of next week,
contractors willibe engaged in the task
of building the Highway around the
bad grade on Ruthton Hill. All grad
ing between Hood River and Cascade
| Locks will have been completed by
May of next year.
Mr.. Klein and a crew of engineers
have just completed.a survey for the
east extension of the Highway be-
tween the.city limits of Hood River
and Mosier along the foot of the CO.
lumbia gorge. Three years ago sur
vey over the intervening range Of the
Cascades was made by j. A. Elliott,
an engineer of the State Highway
| Commission. Mr.. Elilott's survey
penetrates the orchard districts, and
local citizens strongly recommended
that the State Highway Commission
locate the Foad between here and
Moser over the inland route, in order
that motor tourists may be given- an
opportunity to see the orchard districts.
Figures on the cost of construction
of the two routes are of interest.
While the length of the overhill route
is 10.7 miles, that of the route at the
foot of theugorge is but 5.8. The max
| imum elevation of the river route is
| l07 feet as compared with 1l07 feet on
| the hill route. The river route will
hay a total curvature of 1900 degrees
as compared with $500 feet on the hill
route. The estimated cost of the con-
struction of both routes, exclusive of
paving, is about the same, total of
approximately $3200,00. 1t is esti-
mated, however, that the paving for
the hill route will cost 500, 600 more
than for the short length along the
river.
"The new work in this county will
| be the most difficult construction work
to be undertaken anywhere in the
state by the Highway Department this
year." says the engineer.
Including the proposed construction
work east of the city the State High
way department contemplates expend-
ing $500, ,OOO:in Hood Riverncountylthis
lyear.
Mr.. Klein and his crew of engineers
have also just completed reconnais-
sance survey of route leading over
the mountain range through The
Dalles Pass, where the old road is now
located. The length of this route
would be III miles. reaching maxi
mum elevation of l,570 feet.
Members of the county court are at
a loss over what proceedings they
must take following the Commission s
decision in locatingsthe. Highway along
the river. 1t is said that the river
right of way will be procured only
with difficulty. Action has been start
ed for securing rights of way over the
Elliott survey.