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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 8, 1908)
GENERAL AWAKENING OBR THE Bt L A. rERNSWORTH. IF THBRB Is one thins above all else outside of her natural resources upon which Tillamook County pride her e!f tt J her excellent highways. It seems that this county, so long neglected and Isolated from the rest of the world, has expended unusual efforts in the di rection of good roads, until today she has a system of highways that. In point of construction, are second to none In the State of Ore con. As a rancher naively expressed It to me the other day: Til lamook has some roads that will make anyone sit up and take notice, and then again, she has some roads that will make a person stand up to toe table for his meals for a whole week." John H. Albert, chairman of the way. agd means committee of the Oregon State Good Roads Association, remarked after tajdng a trip over the roads of Tillamook County: "We came here to teach you how -to build roade. but I declare that It is Tillamook County that has given us a lesson in the art of good road making." Put Tillamook Is not content with the record made, for she realises that con tentment and progress are Inimical to each other. Hence "she has adopted the slogan: "Better Roads- for Tillamook." The theory upon which Tillamook Is basing her future policy Is that roads, good roads, are a valuable asset Instead of an annual expense to the taxpayers. Governing her actions accordingly, she will, hereafter, when aha builds roads, build them in such a manner as to make them permanent. Looking toward this end the county has Just Installed some of the latest road-building machinery, notable among which Is a large rock crusher and the latest Improved gasoline road roller. The crusher Is an Aurora No. 1. mounted, revolving screen and 24-foot elevator: It Is now In operation continuously. The road roller Is a seven ton roller, and cost the county CTS. Thus fortified. Tillamook expects to show the world a few of the possibilities in good roadmaklng. No More Bad Roads. The history of the good roads move ment In Tillamook County dates back to 1MM. At that time County Judge "W. W. Condor inaugurated a good roads cam paign and gave Impetus to the strong sentiment existing in the county at 'present. By holding mass meetings and orpuniiing good roads clubs' in various localities he succeeded In arousing pub lic Interest In good roads; then there fol lowed an era of road construction with out precedent In these parts. The present administration, which succeeded Mr. Con dor in 190, Is leaving no stone unturned In the furtherance of his poltcy and from all appearances It Is a case of "23" for bad roads In Tillamook County. In a recent statement County Judge 'H. F. Goodspeed. the present Incumbent, said: "1 will give every assistance towards the movement that I can. The County Court Is willing to pay for good roads all the people will spend." This statement Is typical of the prevailing sentiment throughout Tillamook County. Tllramook County expends the largest amount of money per capita on roads that Is expended by any county In the state. This year she has available $60,000 for roadbulldlng purposes. Ketlnmting that there are 300 miles ef highway In the county she has 50 to expend for every mile of road. The roadbulldlng problem In Tillamook presents small engineering' difficulties. If Indeed difficulties they can be called at all. The roads for the most part bor der the banks of the principal waterways, and an abundance of roadbulldlng ma terial In the form of gravel Is available within less than a stone's throw. All thst Is necessary, then, .to perfect the work already beifun by Dame Nature Is labor and a judicious expenditure of money. The Main Thoroughfare. The main trunk road of the county finds Its beginning at Slab Creek. In the ex treme south end. on the Lincoln County line. At Hebo. 21 miles from Tillamook, It Is Joined by what Is known as the Sheridan road. Thence It extends to Tillamook City on through to NehsJem 1n the northern end of the county, and In a short time an extension will be com pleted as far as Seaside In Clatsop County. To make a first-class, perma nent road of this thoroughfare is the end to which Tillamook County is bow concentrating all her energies. "When the one of the finest highways In the coun try. T,he automobilist specially will find In It a source -of endless delight, for it will afford him a driveway 106 miles In length, with practically no hills, snd with such a variety of acenery as will mke the most blase gape in wonder ment. An Ideal Road. But what especially armisea the wonder of the visitor to Tillamook Count v Is the stretch of road lying between Tillamook City and Nehalem. a distance of 30 miles. This road was constructed under the direction of John llickev. an expert at roadn.akinar, who has been road supervisor In his district for many years. It was this road espe cially that excited the admiration of Mr. Albert at the time of his visit here. Mr. Albert on that occasion pro nounced the construction and drainage to be almost perfect. Clatsop and Til lamook counties are -working toward the extension of this road to Seaside, and at present the County Court of Til lamouk County is advertising for bids . a. f a it for the construction of three miles of road around Necarney Mountain, which overlooks the Pacific. Besides the Sheridan road there are two other highways by which means of egress are afforded rinamooK touiuj. The Trask road, going1 to North Yam hill, la the one over which United States mail is brought to ana irom Tillamook City dally. A stage line is run In connection wun uie iimn The other Is what Is commonly known as the Wilson River route. This road Is 62 miles In length, and nnas its ter minus at Forest. Grove. Four stage lines are conducted over these three routes during the Summer months. One of these Is the famous automobile line operated by R. W. Watson, and another Is the regular mall and passenger stage combined, which distributes the mail to the southern portion of the county. Both of these stages run between Mc Minnvllle and Tillamook City over the Sheridan route. The auto line is oper ated -during the Summer months, and whenever else the weather will per mit. Three round trips weekly and six hours' time Is what Its schedule calls for during the season. Mr. Wat ion, by the way. is one of the leading figures In the good roads movement in Tillamook County, and has perhaps done more than any other individual In furthering the cause. Fine Scenic Routes. The fourth stage line Is conducted over the Wilson route, and it maintains Its schedule as long as the travel will Justify It. This year It bids fair to contlnne In operation throughout the entire Winter and on Into the Summer. The Wilson and the Trask roads j1erce directly Into the mountainous wilds of the coast region, while the Sheridan road follows an easier, though more roundabout course. The Trask road, especially, traverses steep mountains without any attempt at easy grades, and along Its course Is found some of the most gorgeous scenery that ever tourist feasted eyes upon. A Portland man recently told me that he had been all over this country and Switzerland, but that he considered this road the most scenic that his eyes had ever be held. The Wilson road, while not so rugged, and making at least some pretense at easr grades, fully equals the Trask In point of scenio beauty. There has been, in fact, some talk of making a National park of a portion of the land traversed by this road, that Its beauties may be preserved. All Pulling Together. Fred C. Skomp. an old settler in Tilla mook Count v. In a recent communica tion to the County Court, advanced the assertion that by making a cutoff on the Trask road, which entailed the building of some six miles of new road, it would be possible to drive from Til lamook to a point on the West Side line of the Southern Pacific and reach Portland eight hours after, starting from Tillamook. The court Is now In vestigating the proposition. The people of Tillamook are well aware that In the past many mistakes have been made and they are deter mined to protit by their experiences. They believe that by the employment of more scientific methods in building th.ir roAds than have heretofore been in vogue their highways can be vast- ly improved and made absolutely sec; ond to nune. To this end an organ- 1 THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY -.f- - .Y V-a , - i - find. V vrr . - - it' . : ... t " - "M-Jtrft lzatlon was effected September 4 last to co-operate with the State Good Roads Association, and to put forth ev ery effort and exert every influenoe In all matters pertaining to good roads. The fame of this Tillamook conven tion has been spread broadcast. It was the first- of the series of good roads conventions which the state organiza tion decided to hold In every county in Oregon after the good roads confer ence In Portland August 11 last. This fact caused Tillamook to be especially thrown in the glare of the limelight at the time. Among the principal figures In the good roads movement in the state are John H. Scott and J.' H. Albert. .-The first mentioned was formerly County Judge of Marlon County, and Is now president of the State Good Roads As sociation. Mr. Albert, who is presi dent of the Capital National Bank of Salem, Is chairman of the ways and means committee of the state associa tion, and a -more ardent good roads enthusiast never breathed unless, par baps, it were Mr. Scott. State-AVlde Movement. . It was for the purpose of forging to the front with her sister states, of securing the enactmentof practical road legisla tion, and of" otherwise furthering the cause of good roads throughout Oregon, that the state organisation was formed. To do this In a systematic way,, local or ganisations, branches of the main one, are being launched over the state, and a united movement thus secured. It were as well to seek to sweep back the waves of the ocean, with a broom as to arrest a movement so arrayed. Some of the measures proposed by the association are: The creation of a state highway commission, the securing- o a county engineer for each county: the .em ployment of convict labor on roads, the raising of a special state tax to go Into a roadbulldlng fund and the building of a road across the state, from its southern to Its northern boundary. This road It Is proposed to connect with' similar ones now being built by the states of Califor nia and Washington. Finally, the asso ciation will endeavor, by systematic or ganization and the creation of a strong public sentiment, to catch the ear of Con gress, and secure Government assistance in the making of the roads of the country. Will Avoid One Mistake. In the building of her roads, Tillamook is not making the mistake a fellow once made at Albany. A number of men were sitting around the festive hoard In the old Franklin House quaffing the health of King Bacchus. That was In the good old days before the temperance reform strurk that town. One of the number finally got to feeling pretty good, and perhaps a little frisky, and he Jumped up saying: "I can lick ' any man in this crowd." No one replied, and he continued: 'I can lick any man In Albany." Again there was no response, and he announced: "I can lick any man in the State of Ore gon." At this a double-fisted cattleman. Just down on the Prineville .stage from Eastern Oregon arose and knocked him 1. 1 -m.ha. h. tlllllll.h I f. f .hat To which the first man replied: "It would datlon. Man seeks pleasure and amuse have been all right if I hadn't tried to ment along lines peculiar to the time cover too blamed much territory." Tillamook is endeavoring not to make this mistake. Therefore she is center- ing her present efforts on the Sheridan ms "l, "' , " i thi road, already referred to. To make this COlViTRUCTIOIVOF RIR-ST eLAJggHjGHV 1' i , r j - T. -w- f f " 1 lair t mill v 8 ' II- 4 road, a model of excellence Is her aim. When this is accomplished, automobilists may start from Portland at 5 P. M. Sat urday, visit Tillamook over Sunday, and return to Portland In time for business the day following. It is a feveV among automobilists In DOES CIVILIZATION -INCREASE HAPPINESS '"Wherein Do the People of One Generation Get More Out . - of Life Than Came to Their Ancestors? BT r. MILLER. WE OF E OFTEN hear it remarked that people of the present day enjoy much more fully than did those of a half oentury ago, because of discoveries and. the many wonderful Improvements since then which we of today enjoy, that people ' of earlier times were deprived of. Therefore, the" question, may arise, Has civilization made the world happier? In other words. Is there In the world today less worry and trouble and more of real happiness as a result of civilization? Do our court records, and especially those of the divorce courts, tend to' prove this as being; true? I am rather inclined to believe that they do not, and that the question must be answered in the negative, And if so, then what has been gained in. the way of happi ness byadvanoement of the race toward a higher state of development? Noth ing. -N ' I will state In the beginning, for the purpose of relieving the mind of the reader, that- I do not wish to be understood as attempting to convey the, idea that the world has not been benefited by civilization. For It has been greatly benefited and uplifted in both thought and deed to a much high er plane of morality and usefulness. A young man may be helped by the ad vantages of a good education, but Is he happier than when, In childhood, he played and romped about the house with his toys and playthings? I be lieve that those who. lived hundreds of years ago enjoyed life, and perhaps were just as happy as are the people who live in this, the 20th century, with all its advanced ideas and modern im provements, which were altogether un known to past generations. This may seem at variance with facts when ap plied to certain periods of human his tory. But tne iaea is not witnout tout In which he lives witn me same ae- gree of satlsJactlon as that which comes to those who may live In a much later period, having Improved methods and more of the conveniences of life. We 2 1 HIM -1 ii-ii'iVfr nrnl ilij Portland to conys to Tillamook; they feel that It Is the place for them to spend their outing. The county Is rich la beauty and resources. It has five of the finest beaches on the coast, magnificent soil that is rich In productiveness and capable of supporting a dense population, diversi would be out of place living in an age entirely different in custom from that of our own time. One cannot appre ciate nor enter heartily Into the enjoy ment of that for which he is not fully prepared. Life means progress, and progress necessitates the giving up.' in a large measure, of old customs and things of life in exchange for the new and more modern, which, however, does not nec essarily mean a corresponding increase of happiness and comfort to humanity. If . this were true, then the things which tend to annoyand vex the mind would have continued gradually to disappear. But apparently such is not the case. It Is true that civilization has led the way Into broader fields of knowledge and has, in numerous ways, helped and blessed mankind. Many objectionable customs and practices of early times have been dispensed with in the interest of- home and society. But while this has been done, there have been opened a variety of avenues, leading to vice and crime, probably differing somewhat In character, but in many respects just as degrading. Civilization has been pro ductive alike of both good and evil, just as the same elements' that cause the fragrant flowers to grow and bloom for our enjoyment will also cause the thorns and thistles to thrive and mul tiply. It is not possible for man ever to reach a state or place where he can dwell in absolute contentment, and where there will be no desire for fur ther progress. This would mean stag nation and final decay. Our wants and aspirations may. In a sense, be supplied or satisfied as to certain things or conditions. But satisfied- only Insofar as the conditions favor the promotion of our ambitions: It might be said that man, in all his social efforts, has al ways been governed by the Idea of a state of perfection never yet attained, and that all human history may be regarded as a scries of attempts to realize this ideal, but without success. Thus generations, one after another, pass away, each leaving humanity still striving, apparently with increased eagerness and effort, for the attain ment of a higher degree of ease and comfort and for the accumulation of rsjrvr-xccs ami 3k 4 t yyXtAAooj jxs" cXOAstis: jerztiD& Zft2r fied Industries, and fir, cedar and spruce which stand without .peer in the whole world. The completion of the Sheridan road will tear down the bars which have In the past deterred outsiders from enjoy ing these things, and a channel of trade will be thrown opsn. through which thou sands of dollars will flow into the county annually. outlet for the various industrial products of the county, and a better medium of exchange for all commodities. Travers ing this road recently, I met no less than 20 wagons bringing In fruit and feed from the Willamette Valley, or hauling salmon to the ouuslde. Thousands of pounds of Nestucca salmon In cold storage are shipped out this way yearly. The automobile is, perhaps, the great est of all factors In the good roads movement In fact, it has been aptly termed "the advance agent of good roads." There are, some who maintain a hostile atcitude toward the automo bile, but it matters not; it Is bound to come. This is an automobile age. Judge Soctt recently stated that, in his opin ion, the time is not far distant when the largest share of traffic will be done by the automobile. And events seem to warrant the assertion. The side wheels of the auto are road preservers Instead of road destroyers. "Does It pay to build good roads?" some will ask-. Yes, It does pay, and It pays big. Does the rancher realize how many blacksmith's and wheelwright's bills for broken-down rolling stock, wracked and wrenched to pieces, are due wholly and solely to the bad roads he has to travel over? It Is a fact that the bills he is now paying amount annually to more than his taxes for a class of good, greater wealth "and power. The man who has accumulated millions of dol lars Is just as grasping as ever,, and I believe even more so, because his desire and cravings for more seem to have grown proportionately with the growth of his wealth, and thati the amount which he now considers neces sary to fully satisfy his worldly am bitions is just as far from his eager grasp as when first he started out in acquisition of wealth. Consequently, he Is no hacpler nor any nearer being satisfied than when In possession of his first thousand .dollars. So after thus considering these facts, and noting the unrelenting interest and rapidity with which the great com mercial bodies of the world are so eagerly pressing forward In the race for wealth and position, does it seem at all strange that difficulties and trouble , should occasionally come up between capital and labor, and even war between nations, resulting from efforts to excel in worldly possessions? And what is it likely to result in? Is there a person anywhere td be found, possessing the depth and broadness of mind, or one endowed with the gift of prophetic vision that can give any idea or true conception of what Is in store for the people of the next century? But whatever shall be the inheritance of succeeding generations. It Is not like ly that the world will be made happier thereby, as man will have changed in his views and methods In accordance with developments and In conformity with conditions of the times without his having gained the secret of happi ness, greater than that which Is pos sible' for the people of the present day. Useless Noise and Insanity. Professor Rubner, of the University of Berlin, has just Invented a register ing apparatus which enables him to calculate the number of noise waves striking upon the ear In any given period. The new apparatus proves beyond question that the prolonged labor it is none the less existent, though we are frequently unconscious of it to which the acoustic nerve Is subjected In large cities or large establishments, has the effect ultimately of paralyzing its efficiency and consequently of cre ating a breach In the Intellectual cen ter which may be the beginning of cerebral dissolution. Rubner points out the moral of his Investigations by Bhowlng that Insan ity is rare among the inhabitants of modern sized country towns. It Is, he says, greatest in cities and great soli tudes. On the principle of "the iden tity of countries, according to Hegel, WSUm acadamlzed or metal road that would eliminate all these hardships. Is there a rancher within a radius of say two miles of his market, church or school, or of social intercourse with rel atives or friends, who cannot recall the time when a mud embargo was on, and he found himself and family Isolated for weeks at a time? Is there any won der, then, with these conditions exist ing, that the rising generation leave the old farm and flock to the cities, seek ing, not better employment for either body or mind, but companionship, com radeship and the pleasures of society that were denied them on the ranch with nothing but a mud trail leading to or from-It? What the steam and electric railways have proven to the Nation and state, so Is the wagon highway to the county and community. It is and ever must remain the farmer's best and most serv iceable means of transportation be tween him and his market town; his friends and his neighbors. A well graded, hard-surfaced and durable highway is the one thing more than all else that enhances land values, invites Immigration and tends to the develop ment, well-being, comfort and conven ience of a community. - The question of good roads Is being fairly and squarely placed before the American people. - It has become a live issue. They realize that It Is one of the 'most important problems before them at this time, and they are prepar ing to leave to posterity a magnificent monument in the form of splendid, en during highways.- The movement has gained an impetus that is lrreslstlble. It cannot fall. continuous existence in a tomblike si lence would have as bad an effect upon the brain as the noises of a vast city." From a Car Window. T. A. Daly in Catholic Standard and Times Ah! yes. I been away today; You no could Kuess how far away. I s'pose you laugh eef I should say How mooch delight I had for be Wan Icetla while een Italy Ah! yes. 1 Jee you laugh at me. Wat use for tal you more, my trend? You juata no could ondrastand. No. w'at'aa use. my frand? Eh? Wal Eet ees not moooh dat I can tal. I go today for ride een train. An' now here am I back acain! Eh? How I get to Italy? Eef you had been een train weeth me Here eesa theeag dat you would see, Eef queeck an1 sharpa weeth your eye Tou catch eet while da train go by: A. whlta. house, a beet of land i Where plies of ripa corn eea atand. An" een bayt-wen weeth leavea so gr Eea shine do softs gold skeen Of how-you-call ? da "pumpakeen." Here on wan side by fence where twine Da purple grape ao fat weeth wine, Ees stan, da man dat keep da plaoe. You aee how brown hees nan's an' face, How brown weeth sun da hat he wear On top heea curia blacka hair. How brown weeth dust from da ear Hees blacks panta, hees plnka shirt? An dat must toe hees wife dat stoop For feeda cheeckens eena coop. You ever see more bright red Dan handkacheef dat'a on her head? Oh, look da sky!,. I ask you. too. You evva see so grands, blue? You evva see aooch aun dat roll Bo ' like shinny brassa bowl Een bottom side of sky an- speel Eets gold eensldes against da heel!? Look! here ees com' along da road torn' boys and girls weeth w-agonload Dat dey have gathra from da flel'. Oh. happy, happy girls and boys! Eef train no mark, so moocha noise You woulda hear da sweet song Dey singtn' while dey marcha 'long; But even so. w'en all so dear You can no longer see an' hear, W'ea queeck ees pass da flyin' train An' all ees 'Merlcan again. You steel can feel da song dey teeng. Bo lika leetla leevln theeng, Dat moove around eenslde your breast An- Justa weel no let your rest Eh? Wat ees dat? You don'ta see How I have been en Italy? Ah! wal. deed I no say. my frand. Tou Juata no could ondrastand? The Terrors of English. If an 8 and an I and an O and a U. With an X at the end spell Su. AiOQl an E and a Y and an L spell A, Pray what U a speller to do? Then if also an S and an I snd a O And a H E D soell side. There's nothing much let for a speller to do But go commit slouxeyesfghed! Success Magaalne.