The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1921-05-26
ROAD LOOPS
OFFER CLIMAX
DALLES-MOSIER STRETCH APPEALS
ROwena Point Section Of Highway Seen
From Overland 4-U. R. Grey
Builder of Section

ne magic OF an engineer VISION
followed by work with transit ant
level and cold. hard mathematical cal
eulation turned Crown Point, where
the Highway now winds around the
Vista House. from a remote promon
tory into the vantage point of won
derland. How many thousands have
viewed the eXpanse of Columbia gorge
farm dotted lowland and fir-clad can,
yon sides. so inspired by the sight as
to carry the story of the wonders they
beheld to Oregon's sister state of the
Union.
The beginning chapter of the Colum-
bia River Highway, with its story por-
trayed from carven rock, graceful
curves, fills, cuts and mountain tor
rents bridged, was a climax in itself.
Samuel G. Lancaster, who left an en-
during monument to himself in the
Figure 8 and Crown Point loops, set a
pace that Toadbuilders have found diff
cult to emulate, but the natural scenic
resources of the gorge cut by the
Columbia through the Cascade range
has made possible new chapters each
succeeding year in the great scenic
highway. At Mitchells Point in 1915
j. A. Elliott. young engineer of the
Highway Department, bored tunnel
that surpasses the famed open windows
of AXenstrasse in Switzerland. Last
year j. H. Scott wrote another chapter
of the great scenic boulevard in the
six-mile gorgeside cut between here
and Mosier, where the tourist is awed
by inspiring views from precipices and
where the highway again penetrates a
double tunnel through jutting basalt.
The 1921 Columbia River Highway
chapter, if one will permit the figures,
is Is miles long, extending from Mo
sier to The Dalles, and at Rowena
Point, which bids fair to bring as
much fame to the Wasco county seat
as Crown Point has to Portland, Ul-
rich R.Grey has constructed road that
will bring new laurels to Oregon's
highway department.. already far
famed.
The new link of highway between
Mosier and The Dalles has just been
opened to traffic, and Rowena Point is
fast becoming the goal for those who
wish new thrills of motoring. The
writer. accompanying c. A. Elliott.
mid Columbia distributor for the Over
land Motor Car Co.. Fred w. Donner-
berg. the Slocom- Donnerberg CO. pho
and Harold Patton, toured
over the Hood River-The Dalles Sec
tion of the Highway recently. The
loops of Rowena Point brought ex-
pressions of surprise from every men,
ber of the party.
Rowena Point, just east of Rowena
Dell, known to pioneers as Hog Can
yon, a willow-covered fiat 1000 feet
across and walled in by precipitous
cliffs 200 feet high, is directly opposite
Lyle. Wash, in whose brown hills
sleeps f. H. Balch, author of "The
Bridge of the Gods. The topmost |
oop, at the west end of the series, |
a fiat-topped, solid mass of |
Dasalt, which looks from a distance |
ike a massive monument erected by |
he roadbuilders, so symetrical is it. |
Thence journeying east toward The |
Dalles, the motorist coasts downward |
n and out around six loops. Although |
he distance as the crow flies is only |
about three-quarters of a mile, the |
'oad's length is two miles and the drop |
n elevation is 625 feet. While the |
OOPS of the Figure are hidden from |
ZACH other by fir forest, those of |
lowena Point are always in view. |
They are not entirely bare, however.
or slightly clumps of oaks rear them
elves irregularly through them and |
lere and there stunted pine.
On the east eide of Rowena Dell. |
which the highway encircles by long |
loop. is one of those
Irtistc concrete bridges, one of the |
eatures of the Columbia River High |
way. If the motorist would make the |
most Of a journey to this point, he |
hould leave the car at this bridge and |
walk east to the top of the fiat-topped |
imrOck of the gorge, where the rib
IONS of the loops, the Columbia, mar
owing here, and the town of Lyle, are |
tretched out beneath him to the north |
ike map. 1t is interesting to watch
string of trucks or automobiles twist
n and out over the loops. The grade
n no instance exceeds five per cent,
nd the Overland raced easily up the
Dng 2-mile grade on high gear.
Ii is a rugged bit of gorgesde this
sowena Point, and year ago, when
DR.. Grey, who located the road as we'll
6 built it, was engaged with his sur
eying crews, the layman or even one
With engineering qualifications might
ave wondered just how he was going
0 proceed. Recently Mr.. Grey was
a contractor. prospective
idder on paving Of the route, over the
,owena Point loops. The contractor
1as impressed. He remarked:
''The man who located this rOadlceT-
ainly had CUTS.
A movement has.been under way in
he Dalles TO secure state ownership
f all land lying in the loops Of Row
ma Point. Mark A. Mayer, owner of
large Mosier district orchard lying
1st to the west, has offered to donate
unds for payment If the state will ac-
uire an S0-acre tract including the
ocky promontory topping the loops.
ir. Mayer makes his offer of the gift
ontingent on the state developing the
ract for park purposes.
The entire "a miles Of new highway
etween Hood River and The Dalles is
ow surfaced with gravel. except a
hort stretch Just east of ROwena. A
artery of trucks is now hauling ma
erial from the Marsh pit Just east Of
iosier and this short link will be sur
aced in two weeks. The traveller is
IMPRESSED over the entire "a miles {
nth activities Of contractors in prepaT-
" for paving. Bithulithic suFfacing,
milar 70 that Of Multnomah and Hood
liver counties will be laid on the en- /
re section this year. except for FIVE
lilies in the vicinity Of Rowena Dell
nd Rowens Point. While the con- 4,
TACT 10 the Hsuser Co, preparing for
aving Of The Dalles end Of the new I
rsde. includes this FIVE miles. city +,
-ill not be surfaced until next sum-
IeE in order that heavy fills NAV be (