The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1921-12-29
HIGHWAY DEVELOPMENT

the past seven years has turned the
Hood River valley from a community
of comparative isolation into suburb
of Portland and the city of Hood River
has grown into hub for id-Coulmbia
Cascade scenic activity.
Seven years ago, the motorist, to
reach Hood River, had to stow his car
on board a Columbia river steamer or
ship it here by rail. The barrier of
Shell Rock mountain. although two
years before Simon Benson had showr
the practicability of construction Of
scenic road along the south side of the
Columbia, remained. along with other
stretches where not even horseback
rider was able to negotiate gorgeside
trails. Today, although at present the
road is blocked by winters grip, a
paved highway extends from Astoria
on through Hood River to The Dalles.
Because of the topography of the
mountainous district. Hood River lying
within the Cascade range, the bound
ary between eastern and western Ore
gon, Hood River has occupied a fortu-
nate location insofar as Oregon high
way construction has been concerned.
Instead of the oldtme isolation the
city is on the main line of travel from
east tc west. Indeed, motor traffic
from north to south over the Pacific
Highway in a large degree reaches
Hood River, for the Columbia River
Highway, with its nationally known
scenery, attracts nearly all motorists |
who visit Portland, and while few of |
these who journey out from the metro |
polls for an inspection of the gorge's |
rock embattlemens and wooded crags |
tour no further than Multnomah Falls |
or Eagle Creek campground, the larger
portion of them keep chugging right
ahead to glimpse the snowfields of
Mount Hood from over the orchards of
the Hood River valley. Where tens
and twenties of tourists formerly
viewed the Hood River valley, when it
was available only by rail or Columbia
river steamer, today they come by the
thousands each summer.
Today the Hood River valley, while
its citizens continue to consider ways
and means for the further development
of its logged off land to apple and pear
orchards or for the planting of these
now unproductive tracts to some other
horticultural or agricultural crop, is as
much interested in the development of
the tourist business as is southern Cal
ifornia. Hood River citizens with an
earnest eagerness voted further in
vestment of $3.50, 900 last June for good |
roads. The county will sell bonds to
this amount if necessary to match a
like amount from the state in the con
struction of a 20 mile valley trunk of
the Mount Hood Loop Highway. that
magnificent scenic road that will en-
circle the snow peak of Mount Hood,
and thus supplement the Columbia
River Highway in making available
the Beaver states unrivalled mountain .
scenery. Already crews are engaged
in grading a portion of the valley
trunk road, eliminating in the first
unit of the work the old grade over
Booth Hill, where in winter time for
the past years motor traffic has been
impossible. The new valley trunk will
not be mere scenic boulevard 1t
will serve as a water grade market
road from the Upper Hood River Val u
ley to the city of Hood River, a mar. u
ket road in the strictest sense.
But Hood River folk. even before
the Mount Hood Loop materialized,
were spurred to the duty Of making "
available to the ever increasing hordes
of motor tourists her hooks of scenic =
appeal. Lost Lake up to the past two IL
summers, because of the rough trails 6
penetrating virgin fir and cedar forests "
to its shores. remained unknown ex- ."
cept to the hardest recreationists, fish a
ermen and hunters. For this reason, y
it remained for the Hood River Coanty 81
Game Protective Association to foster !"
a movement for opening Up this scenic ''
region, declared one Of the most at q
tractive in all the Oregon wilds. Three -
years ago. through private subscrip.
tions on the part Of the game associs-
-ion members. supplemented by coun
-y appropriation, modest work was bee da
gun on opening road into the Lost ia
Lake country. The forestry service m
vas interested, and eventually federal 10
appropriations that have since aggrc- of
gated $4,000 were secured Tor cutting +,
he grade through the bounds Of the all
forest. By the time the ae- rl
emulation Of winters SHOWS have ov
melted from the forest floor around iu
-ost Lake, this emerald mountain
ewel viii be accessible 90 any Port
and motorist who wishes TO spend a ra
lay within the wilds. where zJ-acre as
.Npanses Of rhododendrons greet the an
We; where crystal cascades OF noun pa
ain streams invite the trout fisher str
aan: OF where, when autumn days th,
ave come, the whole family may 90 tn
o. week end outing and return with tui
uckets and baskets lverrunning with ba
lscious huckleberries. lis
Indeed, the Hood River country bids de-
sir to become as well known as years foI
ass for its attractions as a nations
INNER playground as it is today for S
S orchard products. Duriag the past sur