The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1922-06-08

valley lands into the wooded base of
! the states great snow capped moun-
tain. For this reason alone, it will be-
come one of the most popular roads of
the state.
After a three-mile distance the new
grade will cross the canyon Of Whiskey
creek. Near the concrete crossing is
the site of an early day distillery.
Here in the dim days of the past pio-
neers were won't to secure the contents
of brown Jugs. The sections first
prune orchards were used for a distil-
lation of a potent beverage. From
Whiskey creek on into the Middle VAL
ley by graceful curves and appealing
straight Of way amid prolific trees, the
valley trunk will penetrate commun-
tiles of rare pastoral appeal, com
munity where fruit farming is prac-
ticed as a science. The visiting mo-
torist will be given an opportunity to
study orchards that have been visited
by horticulturists from the four cor
ners of the globe. Fruit acres will
continue on to the remote sections Of
the Upper Valley, where the road will
pass suddenly from the magnificent
orchards into the virgin wiIds of the
Oregon National Forest and soon bring
the motorist, high on the east base OF
the snow peak, to flaming acres of
flowers that grow in luxuriant acre
expanses up to the very edge Of snow
fields.
The new road will be completed
without any serious blockades. The
worst detour of the entire route was
that necessitated just south of the
city. where a portion of the old East
Side grade was destroyed by the new
road. The county court improved the
old original wagon road over the bill.
and traffic has utilized it conveniently.
Crews of Mr.. Webster and Mr.. Rum
sey have begun the construction of a
900-foot tie-in highway. Long before
apple hauling time the new grade will
be completed and ready for trucks and
wagons. Some detours, none of any
serious consequence, have been neces-
STATED in the 0dell section, and at
present in the Middle Valley it is nec-
essary to make a detour at the Barr
place to avoid the rebuilding of the
old road.
The grade near the city is on a solid
rock formation. Several heavy fills
wree made here, but the loose rock Of
which they are built are packed solidly
and there will be no settling, it is
said. Formerly travel to the Upper
Hood River Valley, during winter
months and the rainy season has been
rendered more or less hazardous TO
motorists because of the steep grades
over Booth hilh The new road will
eliminate this bugaboo. and Upper
Valley sections will be brought in close
contact with the city. Topography
and bad roads have formerly divided
the valley into two sections. The new
road, it is anticipated, will eliminate
the old sectional feelings.
The bond issue was proposed during
the period when construction costs
were considerably higher than at pres
ent. The actual cost of the road will
be far less than was anticipated, and
Hood River county will have left from
the bonds authorized at least 500, 600,
although rights of way, secured by the
county, have cost $33, 1868 Ga. Road en-
thusiasts have itched for the power of
expending this marEy on other roads.
Under the law, however, the funds SO
raised can be expended only on the
road for which they were voted. and
InS county VIII uShciy sSh CuouBh
bonds for this work.
In addition to the valley trunk road,
the county is expending an approx
innate $40, 900 on general road improve
ment and maintenance. Bids have
been asked for on $780, 900 market
road job. An approximate mile of
concrete paving will be laid on the
West Side main trunk road just south
of the city.
A crew of 20 men has begun work on
the Lost Lake highway without the
bounds of the Oregon National Forest,
where the county and United States
Forestry Service will each spend 81. 600
in rebuilding old grades. AS soon as
work will permit, Stanley G. Walters,
chief forest ranger Of the district, will
begin the construction of new half
mile of road on the shore of Lost Lake
and in rock surfacing the four miles of
new grade within the forest bounds.
The sum of $ll. $50 has been appropri-
ated for the work. In the bounds of
the National Forest six miles of the
Loop Highway have already been com
pleted. J.. T.. Clarkson, contractor. is
assembling a crew for construction Of
an additional 10 miles. which by the
end of summer will connect the Hood
River valley with the old Barlow road.
An approximate $50, COO has been APP
propriated for construction of a lateral
road, to connect the Loop Highway
and Cooper's Spur.
The road construction now under
way here has been stimulated by con-
struction Of the Columbia River High
way. II has been necessitated, in or
der that the great scenic trunk could
be supplemented. The new valley
trunk will result in the construction of
better valley laterals. 1t is the begin
ming of better roads in the Hood River
valley.