The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1921-04-28
HOOD RIVER
WANTS HIGHWAY
THOUSAND ATTEND MASS MEETING
Citizens Support Trunk Line Of Loop
Highway Because of Economies De-
rived From Market Road

With strong delegations present from
every section of the county mass
meeting of approximately 1000 Friday
voiced a fairly unanimous sentiment
in favor of joining the State Highway
Commission in 20.8 miles of macadam
trunk road through the orchards of the
Hood River valley, connecting the Co.
iumbia Highway with the Mount Hood
Loop at the bounds of the national for
est. While citizens expressed the opin-
ion that the Loop road, to be built
Jointly on a $3.50 basis by state and
federal government in the forest re-
serve, will ultimately be of inestim-
able value to the entire sta tie, in that
it will make accessible vast scenic re-
sources, the participation of local tax
PAYERS was viewed almost entirely
from the standpoint of economies to be
derived from the local trunk as mar
ket road.
"We cannot afford not to meet the
proposition of the State Highway Com
mission" was the refrain of practic-
ally every speaker, and the meeting
apparently marks the initiation of
| formalities of road bond election for
caring for expenses of the proposed
trunk. Considerable objection as to
the location of the present survey for
the trunk cropped out in discussion, but
such difficulties it is believed can be
| ironed out. In 1914 Hood River county,
with only approximately rs per cent of
the electors disappearing, voted $75,-
900 in bonds to open the Columbia
River Highway in the county. Dis
senting sentiment on road bonds has
shown a marked decrease since that
time.
District Highway Engineer Scott,
who ran the survey for the trunk road
was here from The Dalles and stated
that the estimated cost of constructing
the new grade and the graveling and
rocking of same would reach approxl-
mately 5000, 900. Commissioners Booth
and Barratt represented the Highway
Commission. pointing out that the ex-
pendture of the funds could be distrib-
uted over several years. Both men
cited that Hood River has been ex-
tremely fortunate in expenditures OF
road funds. Mr.. Booth declared that
other counties on the Columbia River
and Pacific Highways had bonded
themselves to the limit in securing
these thoroughfares through their
bounds. Mr.. Booth commended the
proposed Loop Highway for its econo-
mics from a market road standpoint,
citing stretches not olny in this county
but in Clackamas. He praised Multno-
nah county for her liberality in build
| ing her own roads and in offering funds
| for construction outside her bounds.
Multnomah county. he said, was ready
to furnish $170, 600 toward aiding with
the west end of the Loop Highway
outside her own bounds.
j. H. Fredricy opened the meeting
praising the State Highway Commits
sion for their work in unifying Oregon
highway construction. He cited how
| Hood River county TO date had spent
but SIS, 900 for construction of trunk
highways, although the county has
benefited by expenditure of about 81
500, 900 in state funds.
Rev. w. H. Boldly was chairman of
the meeting. Speakers were limited
to three minutes. Mr.. Booth in his
opening talk was very complimentary
| to Hood River citizenship. But he
ended his remarks by declaring that
Hood River, while 1t was one of the
best places in the world, must not for
get that it was not the only place. Mr..
| Booth called attention to limitations
placed on distribution of funds by the
| legislature. He declared that only
about $1,000, 600 is available for new
road work, exclusive of the main trunk
arteries, the Columbia River and Pac-
ific Highways.
"We must be just and fair to all
parts of the state, he said. Some OF
the far eastern Oregon counties as yet
have had but little funds. They have
not even had surveys made.
Mr.. Booth. who in answering ques-
tions IN the course of the evening
brought out that under existing law
the trunk road, when completed, would
be considered as state road and would
be maintained by the state.
Mr.. Barratt complimented Hood Riv-
er on her strategic position. Until the
paving of the Columbia River Highway
was completed. he said Hood River
was considered in western Oregon.
Now, on my appointment, he said,
| Hood River is in eastern Oregon and in
my district. Mr.. Barratt pointed out
the asset to be derived from an adyer-
tising standpoint by Hood River coun-
ty from the Loop Highway. The world
knows of Hood River, he said. but she
doesn't know where Hood River is. He
recalled the story of a friend who in
London purchased Hood River apples
and was told by the fruit woman that
| Hood River was in Oregon but that
Oregon was little town in California.
The meeting proceeded from thence
until the end. when all but about a
half dozen present arose and expressed
their favor in voting on a motion in
proceeding with a bond election very
much as follows:
Leslie Butler, called TO the front by
Chairman Boldly. declared that nothing
| Hood River county could do would
work so much to her advantage as the
construction of the Loop Highway.
Hugh G. Ball asked questions about
unit estimates. which Mr.. Booth stated
no man could answer at the time.
j. W. Morton followed, consuming
his three minutes apparently in oppOsi-
tion to the bonds.
Il r. ]. McIsaac, called up by Mr..
/ Boldly, voiced the favorable sentiment
of Parkdale, declaring that it would be
more economical to vote bonds and
/ build a permanent road that to spend
i heavy sums annually filling chuckholes.
Il J. X. Forden asked the comparative
Il assessed valuations Of Clackamas,
Hood River and Multnomah counties.
II receiving the information that they
were respectively valued as follows !:
s29. 600. 600. $40. 600 900 and 500, 600. coo.