The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1921-08-04
BEND, CITY OF
GREAT PROMISE
CENTRAL OREGON SHOWS PROGRESS
Lumber Industry and Irrigation Systems
On a Large Scale Impress ViS-
itOrS Scenery Inviting


Every Oregonian with an automobile
should not consider his touring knowl-
edge of the great commonwealth com
plete until he has journeyed to the
metropolis of central Oregon, the
! hourishing city of Bend, already
nationally famed for its amazing pro-
! duction of lumber and the eXcellency
of its hostelry. The Pilot Butte Inn.
Much has been written of Bend and
Deschutes county, of the fascination of
! inspecting the mechanical perfection
| of the city's great sawmills, than
which there are none larger anywhere,
of the worlds last outpost of great
pine forests, of the districts gigantic
irrigation and reclamation projects.
The casual reader may think he COM
prehends the vastness of the region
and the emprise of its citizenry, but
Journey into the juniper covered des-
ert, some of which today, reclaimed by
application of water, fiourishes like
garden spots that the ancients record
ed in their historical lore, by automo-
bile is required before one can fully
understand the true immensity of the
central Oregon country.
Bend, two weeks ago, was the goal
for members of the Oregon Editorial
Association, bound for their annua
convention. and those present of
the publishers and editors. out with
their families for the summer vaca.
tion, iourneyed there mostly by
automobile. For those who had not
motored through central Oregon be
fore, the trip was a revelation, and
Bend and her envirOns will shine with
new luster from the knowledge gained
by those who shape Oregon's publicity
policies. Editors motored in from the
east as far away as Ontario. They
came from southern Oregon and the
Willamette valley. and they left with a
true appreciation of The Dalles-Call-
fornia Highway, of Bend as an indus
trial and agricultural center and of the
future prospects of the town as tour
ist center, placed as it is within easy
iourneying distance of five snow peaks
and a chain of trout-filled lakes as
beautiful as the famed lOchs about
which Scottish song and story have
been builded.
Accompanying Mr.. and Mrs. A. ID.
Moe, the writer motored from Hood
River to Bend. A choice of two routes
is available after one leaves The
Dalles. The greater part of the traffic
through central Oregon now goes by
way of Wasco and Grass Valley. The
worst feature of this route is a bad
stretch OF the detour. around section
of the Columbia River Highway under
construction, on the west side of the
Deschutes canyon. Our party chose to
go bv way of Dufur, Kingsley and
Maupin over the route selected for the
north end of The s-CalifOrnia
Highway. The road from The Dalles
to Dufur is one of the worst bits to be
negotiated on this route. Dust-filled
ruts make driving hard. The five mile
grade down into Tygh Valley should be
taken with care, as tourists are few
and the road in spots in rough. The
motorist wonders, as he travels up or
down this long grade why county auth
critics do not eXpend a comparatively
small sum and construct more turn
outs. Points plenty, where excava-
tion would be easy, are available, and
a crew in few days could construct
wide turnouts at frequent intervals.
South of Tygh Valley cutoff route
through the Warm Springs Indian Res
ervation, the road intersecting the
main route again at Gateway, is avail
able. This reservation road, however,
is avoided, as those who have negoti-
ated it declare it exceedingly rough
and steep.
The road between Maupin and Ante
lope is in excellent shape. although
unsurfaced The smooth earth surface
is broader than the paving of the CO.
lumbia River Highway, and the motor
ist can make just as much speed as he
desires. We proceeded down through
Trout Greek canyon. where the road is
slightly rough and a little narrow,
travelling as long as daylight lasted.
AT $50 O'Clock we were Just 100 miles
from home, and were pitching camp in
the shelter Of poplars beside farm
yard.
Camping out is a pleasant venture
while on a central Oregon motor trip.
Just try it and you will become an en-
thusiast.
We we're up at daybreak Friday
morning, and after an appetizing
breakfast, cooked over sagebrush
branches. were on our way. From
Metolius on into Redmond, while sec
tions of the highway. freshly treated
with loose crushed rock, bid fair to be
very inviting after they are packed by
the winter rains, they are now difficult
to travel and are wearing on tires. At
some points this rock surface was ap-
piled a year ago. and here the hard
packed road is fine. One of the rear
tires of Mr.. Noes car picked up a nail
near Metolius and the wheel was soon
fiat. At the time the car was travelling
over this loose stone, and the flat tire
was not detected for some time. We
lost an hour and a half at Redmond.
while having the punctured inner tube
IL was found, however.
that the short journey over those loose
stones without air had practically
ruined the tube. Motorists on such
roads would do well to inspect their
tires at frequent intervals
The Is miles Of highway between
Redmond and Bend, while 1t is compar-
atively good now, will be better next
year. Ii Is surfaced with gravel.
which remains unpleasantly loose the
most Of the distance. The winters
rains will leave this section well
packed. and with a little maintenance
it will be like a boulevard. Despite
our delays we drew up 10 the Pilot
Butte Inn few minutes after noon.
This central Oregon hostelTy doesn't
need any additional publicity % add 10
its popularity. No less a globe trotter
than Irwin s. Cobb has characterized
il as one Of the best hotels in the
world. The bOnifsees Of small towns
a. well ss some that claim metrOpOli-
tan proportions ought TO hold a con- I
vention At Bend and get taste Of ser
vice at the Pilot Butte.
As Hood River has become a hub for
activity in viewing scenic attractions
Of the mid-COiumbIs Cascade district. +