Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1919-05-09
ROOSEVELT HIGHWAY

gon, upon condition, however, that the
federal Government appropriate an
equal amount for the same purpose.
II lne Government fails to do this,
then no part OF these bonds can be
issued by the State, and II the Federal
Government does appropriate a like
amount for this purpose 1t will give
to the State OF Oregon all the advsn.
tages of this road at cost Of so cents
on the dollar.
The auto license fees already provid-
ed by law will be sufficient to not only
pay all the principal and all the inter-
est on the present bond Of the State
and those now authorized to be issued,
but will also pay the principal and in
terest Of these proposed bonds and
several million dollars worth more II
needed.
Many thousand acres of the richest
land in the State lie along the oast
between the summit of the Coast Range
and the ocean
This large, rich, but undeveloped
portion of the State is cut off from the
interior by the Coas; Range that has
only four or five available passes, thru
which the present highway department;
has already planned to build roads to
connect the Coast with the Willamette.
Umpqua, and Rogue River Valleys.
Construction upon these connecting
roads will begin this year, but without
the north and south Coast road, the
people from the interior can only go to
the Coast and, in some instances, come
back the same way. while the Coast
road they can go one way, come back
another and for commercial purposes
makes the whole Coast territory avail.
able to any portion OF the interior.
The Coast country can only be develop
ed by north and south road connec,-
ing the communities and further devel.
oped by local roads leading from the
trunk road up the valleys.
The Coast communities. thru the or.
ganization of Port Districts, have al
ready raised and paid approximately
| SS,O00,O00 for improvement of Oregons
harbors, and several times that amount
has been expended by the Federal Gov
ernment for the same purpose. These
harbor developments have already
been OF vast advantage to the whole
State in the way of reduced freight
rates and better shipping facilities.
With the construction Of this highway
! these benefits TO tie interior will be
increased many fold.
This Coast country has and is now
contributing to the cost of building
the Pacific Highway, Columbia High.
way, Eastern Oregon trunk highways
and all other State roads. II is only
fair for the balance Of the State to help
Z III lllN NbhNN ibsius hlluN IL uS
the Roosevelt Highway
With the Coast Highway to open
up the rich agricultural. fruit and
dairy lands of that section, fully 500.
100000 worth Of taxable value will be
added to the States tax rolls and con-
tribute large sums annually in taxes
for State purposes. In five years or
less the entire 81 100000 provided will
be paid back In the way OF taxes on
new property and new improvements
along the Coast as direct result OF
this Roosevelt Highway. and this new
taxable property will continue ever
after to pay taxes.
The allwise Creator has gwen TO
this world but one Pacific Ocean, and
Oregon. with approximately 400 miles
Of shore line. is one o. only three
States In the Union 30 favored. TIE
Columbia Highway, built by Multno-
nah county alone, has, in three years,
returned In direct benefits to the peo-
pie OF Multnomah county. more than
It's entire cost md these benefits will
rapidly increase every year.
What tho Columbia Highway has
done for Portland primarily. but the
State as well, is very small In COM
parison TO the benefits TO be derived
for the whole State by this great
Roosevelt Highway.
The natural beauties along the coast
Of Oregon are 80 great they compel
that reverent. silent admiration that
passes the power Of words to express.
This Is known TO but few. because n
trip along the coast can only be made
under difficulties frequently amounting
TO positive hardshlps
With this highway constructed. the
trip can be made with ell tho COM
forts OF motor travel and will not only
invite but draw to- oregon hundreds
OF thousands every year 10 view In
silent wonder these great works Of
nature and send them home 10 toll Of
tho beauties OF their trip that will