The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1920-10-21
THE LOOP ROAD
WORK PLANNED
MEN ARRIVE TO SLASH 6-MILE LINK
Heavy Construction, However, viii Be
Pushed First on the South Side
of liOunt Hood

Local folk were left in some confu-
sion after Joint meeting of the State
/ Highway Commission and forestry tffi-'
cials in Portland last week, when
large delega tion was present, TO discuss
plans for the Mount Hood Loop High
way. Reports from Portland intimated
! that the end of the Loop on this side
of the mountain might be altogether
postponed for a time Subsequent
events, however, proved chat the Hood
| River valley stretch of road will re
ceive attention this fall. Crews of
men have already arrived here on the
way TO the national forest, where'it is i
planned to slash ard burn the right of
way for 63 miles. No contract for grad
ing. however viii be let this year,~ It
is stated. but the ground wflf'he pte4l
pared for work of contractors 'next'
spring.
That there is no intention on the
par. Of the State Highway Commission
to abandon the Mount Hood Loop was,
made plain Friday when the Commis-
sion held a special meetin in Portland.
IhTere is no inclination, however, to
ru-h the work, according to a report in
the Oregonian.
h. A. Booth. speaking for himself,
informed delegations from Mutnomah,
.Clackamas and Hood River countess,
that he never heard any talk of ADAMS
doning the loop until the delegations
began speaking. Commissioner Booth
said he wants to see the road from
Sandy to Government Camp built next
year and not built but completed that
far. This road which he said was viT-.
'tually a market road, will be usabe,
As for the Hood River end Of the pro-
.ject, Mr.. Booth aaid he only warts to
delay it next year while The Govetn-
ment Camp Sandy end is being pushed.
Such a plan is constructive contended'
the commissioner.
Mr.. Booth said he had been over the
roposed loop and asserted that the.
best scenery is at the ends and not in,
the middle He expressed himself as
in the loop'as scenic as-'
set. with its shaggy rocks, patches of
snow and burned furests There are
dozens ofroads in Oregon more scenic,
he declared.
"Oregon is blessed with little bit
too much scenery for the good of its
roads, contributed Mr.. Kiddle. who
went on to say that the loop will cost
81, 900, 600
Chairman Benson said that the loop
will lcarry mere traffic when finished,
than any other crossing in the noun
tains He favored having the govern
ment let the contract for six miles on
the Hood River county erd, believing
that by letting the contract now it will
advance completion Of the loop year.
George II. Cecil. representing the gov-
arnment, urged that the Commission
not delay the east end of the project,
aging that it is possible the money
now available from the government
for the loon may be spent aroGGd Mt.
Baker in Washington. The government
ia holding up the awarding Of contracts
now at the Ieque' t. of the Commission,
Mr.. Purcell, representing one of the
government departments. pointed out
that slashing must be done this fail, or
delayed a year, as it is impossible to
slash and burn after the snow disap-
pears, owing TO fire risk
Among the Hood River delegation
we're the following. Leslie BuIer, j.
II. Fredricy, c. a. Bell, Mark Gamer
On, X. w. Sinclair. a. r. Cruik shank,
6. A. M0lden. G. l. Socom, J. M. Cul-
oeftson, John Baker, n. S. Braakmau,
Frank Stanton, J. o. Hannum, A. j..
II. G. Barklage and 7. A.
ReaVis,