The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1922-10-05
VALLEYS PROGRESS
HAS BEEN GREAT

While work has progressed without
ostentation, a survey of activities in
the Hood River valley this past nine
months reveals that development. out
side of the predominant orchard indus
try, will reach new record. Total
expenditures on construction work,
chiefly roads and power development,
will reach more than 81, 600, 600. An
average of 750 men has been employed
daily throughout the spring and sum-
mer months, and the payrolls of high
way and power camp crews have been
reflected in the turn over of merchants
of the city.
The largest individual development
is noted on Hood river, where the
Phoenix Utility Co. is engaged in con-
structing power plant for the Pacific
Power a Light Co, that will cost
an approximate 81. $50, 600. The new
power unit, the largest owned by the
| big Oregon and Washington public util-
tiles concern, will develop about 10. 600
horse power. 1t will be tied in with
the White Salmon river plant of the
Northwestern Electric Co., and large
portion of the energy will find mar
ket in Portland. The new power plant,
which will rise about a quarter of a
mile south of Hood River, will be ready
for operation about April /, 1928. The
heaviest of the construction work has
ended, and crews, formerly 800 men,
have been reduced to about 400.
The new power plant will be driven
by flow of large part of the stream
of Hood river, which will be diverted
into a mile pipe line by dam across
the stream near what is known as the
Parker hole, favorite haunt of fisher
men. The big line, ten feet in diam
eter at the upper end and reduced to
six toward the penstocks. will rest
throughout the entire distance on con-
crete cradles placed every 10 fees
apart. The construction throughout it
of a permanent nature.
The total cost of grading and surfac-
ing the Mount Hood Loop Highway in
Hood River county will reach an ap
was hegun last fall, progress was
halted after the completion of a short
stretch of the Booth Hill unit by the
unprecedented heavy winter, and the
bulk of the grading has been accom-
plishd this summer. The entire grade
will be finished before winter weather
sets in this season. While contracts |
have been let for the surfaeing of the |
highway, the bulk of this work will |
be postponed until next year. The |
Hood River county portion of the Loop |
is being financed by the state |
and county jointly. Hood River county |
voted bond issue of $3.50. 600 for her |
part of the work. More than $50, 600 |
will be left after the new grade is
completely surfaced.
Hood River county has spent more
than S40.0 on maintenance of high
ways this summer, and an additional |
S26, 600 has been spent in building
about a mile of concrete market road
paving on the West Side just south Of
the city. A new bridge is being built
across the East Fork of Hood river at
Winans City. This will open to tourist
traffic the DEVILS Punch Bowl, a
unique point of scenic interest on the
Vest Fork of the stream.
Maintenance costs of the Columbia
River Highway within the county for
he year will reach nearly $50. 600, and
another $50, 600 is being spent on wi
iening grades and cutting back banks
m curves. Thomas Lacey, in charge
II the improvement work, now has
our crews on the Highway between
Hood River and Wyeth.
The county, joining on a $3.50 basis
With the United States Forestry Ser
ice, has spent 81, 600 in rebuilding a
ection Of the Lost Lake Highway cut
ide the bounds Of the Oregon National
forest. The Forestry Service spent ,
IN additional Sll. $50 m the forest
,ounds. A small section Of the new ,
axe road has been surfaced. The
Ounty program calls for an annual CO.
peratiOn with the forestry service in
sections Of the road without
be forest bounds, and in the course Of
few years, il is expected that the
sOst Lake Highway will be an inviting
ink in Oregon's highway system. The
cenery around the emerald lake gem
; declared as appealing as any in the s
Cascades, and scores Of q
Dcsl and Portland folk are planning q
ummer camps there. Samuel c. Lam
sster, who developed his Columbia I
iorRe camp this SIMMER, viii install {