The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1920-05-06
NEW GRADE
IS COMPLETE
PLAUDITS WON BY M0SIER ROAD
Party in Overland Pioneers Over New
Scenic Route Now Open to
General Traffic

sion in opening stretches of scenic
| highways to that of an author or short
story writer. Since the first serial, if
the figure will be permitted, was writ
ten in the Multnomah county portion
of the Columbia Highway, in annual
succession other chapters of the great
story of Oregon roads have been made
ready for public perusal in Clatsop,
Columbia and Hood River counties.
and that of the past IL months has
taken shape in Hood River and Wasco
counties.
All Oregon citizens, those of Hood
River and Wasco counties included,
have in store an early and sensational
surprise. 1t might sappear that citi-
zenry Of the Beaver state and the
country at large had been fed to the
point of surfeit, if such thing can be,
on scenic features of great highway
for visitors from near and far have ad-
mitted that the Columbia Highway,
which has brought new fame to the
Rose City. has no equal in America or
any other continent. And vet the eli
max of the great thoroughfare, thread
ing IFS way along the turreted granite
and basalt cliffs of the Columbia, was
still to be presented. Up to few
weeks ago. when pedestrians began in
numbers to walk over the new grade
between Hood River and Mosier, the
new short lap of the scenic highway
was not considered with any great in
terest. Earlier road construction, in
terest in the coming presidential pri-
maries and the problems attendant on
the wind-up of great war, have been
absorbing all interest apparently. But
the road is now opened TO traffic its
graceful curves and the straightaways
along towering cliffs surfaced with
gravel. The motoring public is due for
moments of startling awe and ecstatic
amazement, for the new stretch Of
road is winning new and superlative
plaudits for Oregon road builders.
The other day Q A. Elliott. local
distributor for the Willis Knight Com.
pany, invited the writer to accompany
him on iaunt over the new stretch
of road in an Overland touring car.
Earl Smith. Portland representative of
the Fisk Tire Co., and Fred w. Donner
berg. photographer for the Slocom a
Garfield Co., completed the party. 1t
was memorable journey In that the
car was the first to journey from Hood
River TO Mosier over the new grade
with official sanction. Perhaps dozen
had lodged by warning signs ana re-
fused to be turned back by crews en-
gagged on the still dangerous route. but
up to that time the little Overland
bucked the rough places of the incom
plete grade no passenger vehicle had
passed through the twin tunnels Just
east of the Hood River-W Wasco county
line and had spun down the winding
grade to Moser, where apples are su-
preme lust as in Hood River. with per
mission of contractors and highway |
officials.
The Hood River. Mosier section of the |
Columbia River Highway may be said |
to begin at the city limits of Hood Riv- !
er with a new concrete bridge con |
structed jointly by the state and Hood |
River county across Hood river at an
expense of $48, 600. The bridge, how
ever, was completed year before the
new grade was under taken. The new |
road, which is 6.5 miles long, follows |
the old county road along the east side
of the Hood river gorge for about 300
feet, and then il turns northeast to- |
wards the Columbia river through a |
slight gap. The old grade, formerly |
narrow and unsightly, has been |
into a graceful curve. After |
the gap is passed and the gorge of the
small stream is left the motorist |
climbs about a third of the way up the |
Columbia canyon on open hillside by a |
series of four loops that give the old |
field a terraced appearance. No one
who ever travels over the new road /
will have cause to forget the city of
Hood River built on the gradual slope |
that arises to the west of the Hood
river gorge. The town, its windows
in the light of an early
sun. is set forth like view
from an aeroplane. The distance to the
top of the loops by direct line is ], 900
feet. All the way around by the sharp
but graceful curves car must travel
3, 600 feet.
In past years successive generations
Df Hood River road builders have con-
structed three roads up from the town
to the East Side orchard district. The
first was a mere trail, fairly passable
for horseback traffic, over the hill.
The second, winding around passes,
seeking easier grades, was not bad for
hack and wagon. Then came
the days of the automobile and the So
called East Side grade. dug out of the
rock and cement gravel of the Hood
river gorge, was completed more than
a decade ago. The new road crosses
them all. apprOpriating here and there,
where its more modern purposes suit.
Before the new highway was con-
structed Victor Beauregard operated
dairy ranch on the hillside where the
cuts and fills Of the four loops now
greet the eye. The road has approDri-
ated most of the Besuregard farm, and
now his ranch is limited 10 the small
plots living like the beginni < Of sunk
en- gardens between the bops. DIR.
Dumble owned lot 100 feet square on
Lhe hillside. The survey Of the new
road crossed the lot diagonally. Now
the ex-mayOr owns two tiny triangles
On either side of the portion Of a loop.
mile east of Hood River the new
road passes out Of sight Of the Column
bia into a series Of narrow ravines and
miniature happy canyons, where the
warmth Of spring sunshine " now caus-
ing early flowers, tfilliums. rork lilies
and purple lupin, to paint hooks with
a wonderfully appealing array Of color
ing. For q half or three-quarters Of a
mile the motorist may fevel in mood
Of queitness. Then suddenly the road
turns a curve toward the Columbia
gorge and a view if long stretches Of
the canyon. up and down stream. and
the neat truck gardens and fruit tracts
Of Bingen may be mad. of across the
chssm over the great westward flow Of
water the homes and business struc-
lures Of White Salmon appear like doll
houses.
Thence for a mile the new road runs
along the side Of the great gorge