The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1921-07-14
MIR. MOE TELLS OF
LONG AUTO TRIP

the loop automobile tour from here in
to eastern Oregon and Washington b.
way of Walla Walla and Wenatche'
and returning through Yakima owe
the Snoqualmie Pass and by way o.
Puget Sound districts, forms an idea
summer recreation jaunt according t.
A. ID. Moe, who recently returned
from the journey with Mrs. Moe.
"All in ALL" SAYS Mr.. Moe, 1--WE
found the roads on the entire trip good
The Columbia Highway, all the way
from Portland to Pendleton except fol
detour east of The Dalles, is in ap.
pealingly good shape. The motorist
going east on the Highway finds prog
ress over The Dalles detour better
than in case he is heading west, be-
cause of the steep east side hill grade
of the detour on the climb up from the
Deschutes river. This road is steep
rocky and rough. The Highway is
graveled clear through to Pendleton.
The dust does not bother and going is
good.
"The road from Pendleton to Spo-
kane is in fine shape, some pavement,
some macadam and the remainder good
gravel surface. The main highway
between Walla Walla and Seattle was
found in good condition, except for a
steep bad grade just before we entered
Ellensburg. The road between Pasco
and Gle Elum is fair, but the surface
is showing the effects of wear in
places. From the latter point in to
Seattle the way is excellent. The
scenery of the national forest through
Snoqualmie Pass issexcellent. The road
winds around Lake Kachess for a con-
siderable distance, and the scenery of
this stretch compares favorably with
parts of the Columbia River High
way"
Mr.. and Mrs. Moe toured through
the Wenatchee district, heading west
through Blewett Pass, the only outlet
from the apple district to Seattle. AS
the completion of the Blewett Pass
road will shorten the istance between
Spokane and Seattle by 100 miles, the
route apparently causes considerable
rivarly between Yakima and Wenat-
chee. The road when completed will
be one of the most scenic in the state
of Washington, Mr.. Moe says. The
summit, in the Wenatchee national
forest, is over 1000 feet high. The
grade, already constructed, is easy,
but the highway from the summit
south is single track and should be
taken with caution, as there are few
turnouts.
Down in the valley" Mr.. Moe con-
tinued 'about 20 miles of the road re-
main to be graded. 1t is not danger
Gus, but is narrow and winding. Con-
struction crews will have the entire
route fairly wells completed by the end
of this summer. The state highway
commission of Washington at the in.
stance of contractors, recently an
nounced a determination to close the
route entirely during the period of con-
struction. but Wenatchee, bringing to
bear her every energy and influence,
and seemingly through the cooperation
of the national roads department, Sc
cured action that will keep the road
open all summer. The federal bureau
has agreed to construct a detour around
the portion being rebuilt"
Mr.. Moe travelled over the Pacific
between Portland and Seattle
last year. He declares the conven-
fences of this link of highway admir-
able as compared with a year ago,
when construction necessitated CON
stant detuors. He expressed the belief
that all but 35 miles of the route will
be hardsurfaced before the year is
over Only part of this 35 miles was
found rough by him and Mrs. Moe.
Mr.. Moe inspected orchards of the
Nalla Walla and Dayton section and in
Nenatchee and Yakima. Crop cond-
ions are exceedingly promising in all
'ruit sections. he declares. and the
grain farmers of the Walla Walla dis
.rict expect to harvest bumper crops.
The labor situation has eased to
)oint, he says, where men are appeal
ng for work in the harvest field at 81 L
,er day and board. The apple growers
# the Washington districts, he says,
re encouraged over price outlook, de-
pite the diminished buying power of
astern consuming points. With the
astern commercial apple crop short
he Washington growers expect to de-
i've heartening profit from this sea-
on's huge apple tonnage. At Wenat-
hee, he says, the apple crop is est-
mated at $4,000 carloads. Mr.. Moe
ays he finds cash buyers present in
he Washington districts already max
ng bids for the crop. He was inter-
sted, he says, in a new cooperative
gency. just established in Wenatchee, 1
nth Dwight l.. Woodruff. formerly
lew York city sales manager for the
.pple Growers Association. at its head.
his cooperative concern, brought
bout as the result of the failure of an
buyer who still owes
rOwers $500, 600 on their 1920 tonnage,
as signed up 5000 carloads of apples,
e says.
Mr.. Moe says he finds light pear
nd peach crop in the Washington dis
'icts. and cherries range from third
} half Of normal yield. Wenatchee
berry growers are finding a ready cash
Iarket for their black cherries at l2B
ents per pound. These are being
acked and shipped east under refrig-
ration. The light varieties, the can
ing demand being poor, find a low sale
four and five cents.
Mr.. Moe saws that the apple trees of
le Washington district show compara-
vely light damage for the heavy
eeze of December, 1919. Cherries
nd peaches were hit rather heavily, he
Iys. In Wenatchee, too, he says that
Dples of the Spitzenburg variety are
7ing and growers attribute this dam
ye to the 1919 cold wave.