The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1919-03-13
CLUB BANQUET
GRAND SUCCESS
GOOD ROADS REVIVAL DEVELOPED
Speakers Demand Mount Hood Loop
Riley With His Incompatible ElO-
quence Wins Hearts of All

The above written 1873 years ago is
one of the most obscure of the poems
Of Robert Burns, but with all of its
obscurity it might have been taken for
the text Of sermons preached at a good
roads revival staged Wednesday night
of last week by the Commercial club.
0stensibly the event was a banquet
rendered by the members Of the com
mercial body to the Oregon State
Highway Commission and other advo-
Gates of good roads, but scarcely was
the sumptuous dinner, of which fried
chicken was the piece de resistance,
finished when TOastmaster Boldly, him
self minister, set the pace. Whether
unconsclously or purposely at least he
shaped the trend of the spontaneous
addresses toward the gospel of good
roads And then the first respondent,
r. A. Booth, is the son Of minister.
He recalled this in his talk, and he
took the cue and eloquently and grace
fully preached good roads, their econ
omies, their glory, their value and
benefits While he did not use the
words of Burns he predicted that those
of this era who fail to make provision
for comfortable and economic travel
are going to damn themselves most
surely.
However, calling attention to the
action of the 1917 legislature, most
commendable, as he declared, in that
it has moulded the public sentiment,
resulting in the momentous roads leg.
islation of the 1919 body Of solons, he
expressed Thanksgiving that Oregon
ians had read the signs Of the times.
81 am amazed, said Mr.. Booth,
when | read in every days newspapers
of the trend toward better highways.
The people have awakened every
where. He cited the action of
Nevada, Idaho. Arizona and other
western states in voting huge bond
issues and then, paying a graceful
tribute to his own commonwealth, her
resources, her fertile fields and scenic
grandeur, he praised the action Of her
lawmakers, whose acts he declared
will make possible fund of $40, 600, 600
for good roads in the next five years.
II want to give my idea of relig-
ion" said Mr.. Booth. Formerly the
ministers voicing their belief in the
power of prayer, were prone to ask aid
from some outside, mysterious force.
We are leaving that precept now.
Today we are realizing the power of
the force within US; that what benefits
we get must come from within.
That S my religion and that's the re
| ligion Of good roads. Let's begin at
home to build these highways. The
act will make our people more
religious.
An apparent reticence on the part Of
Mr.. Booth to dwell upon plans of the
State Highway Commission was ex-
planned Thursday when it was first
learned here of his decision to leave
the Highway Commission. The news
was received with many and sincere
regrets. MIR. Booth gave unstinted
praise to the work of 5. Benson and
W. l.. Thompson, the latter present.
He repeatedly warned the citizens Of
Oregon against proneness that might
arise, as he said, to criticize the High.
way Commission.
"You must remember, he said,
that the Commission is being called
upon to rush a gigantic work at a time
that is perhaps not as favorable as we
we have had. If an Oregonian likes
anything it Is to get a dollar and little
more of value for every dollar he
spends. The accomplishments of your
Highway Commission in the past has
made its members worthy of your
every trust
While Toatmaster Boldly by impica-
tion, at least, indicated that the sub
ject of the proposed Loop Highway
around Mount Hood, connecting the ole
Barlow trail with the Columbia High
way, was a forbidden topic and while
MIR Booth sdestepped any definite
suggestion of plans OF early construc
tion of the mountain road, the session
| finally developed into an appeal for i'm
mediate construction Of the way
Eventually, as has been made public
| the road Will be constructed through
the national forests by the fedora
government. Funds, however, are moi
available this year. 1t was suggested
however, that work can proceed i'm
mediately by cooperation Of the State
Highway Commission, counties affected
and the federal authorities.
While DR.. l.. K. Hewes, in charge OF
the Northwestern district of the Bu
reau of Roads for the Department OF
Agriculture, made no definite sugges
tion of plans, he expressed the hop,
that the road might be constructed a
once.
Geo. W. Joseph, who has charge o.
the estate of the late E. Henry
Wemme, who was eulogized for hi
philanthropy in making available thu
wiIds Of the mountain, has offered the
state the road built by Mr. Wemme W
to Government camp.
1--WE have grasped and brought t
view our Columbia river, he said
"why not also our Mount Hood? |
will be utility road, too. The peopl,
of central Oregon counties will sool
be coming in to Portland by way o
Mount Hood, not only on pleasure
trips but with trucks loaded with thei
products of their land. y
When Rufus c. Holman took th'
floor he "spilled the beans Il an
for the Mount Hood loop first, last an,
always, The time for advocating thi
roads is past. We have reached tn,
point now where we should begil
definite plans of immediate construc
tion.
Mr.. Holman said the appeal of cit
izens the state over, and especially il
the eastern and central Oregon coun
ties justified such demand. Tn
Multnomah county commissioner pai
tribute to the legislature and to tn
State Highway Commission.
'And, said he, now is an oppor
tune time to hang wreath around tn
head Of YOUR FELLOW citizen. I.esli