THE MORNTXGr OREGONTAJT, SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1915.
BOND CAMPAIGN TO
COVER ALL COUNTY
SPLENDORS OF COLUMBIA SCENERY
UNFOLD ALONG COLUMBIA HIGHWAY
Road Up Great River Is Expected to Be Open for Travel by July 1 Rapid Progress Being Made Along Route.
Landmarks Get Special Attention.
AUTOMOBILE JAUNT INTO COUNTRY
PROVES TO BE AN IDEAL OUTING
Most of Road Found in Good Condition, but Spot at Garden Home. Is Bad C. C. Clinton Reports Way to Salem
by West Side to Be Fine.
Road Advocates to Explain
Need of Hard-Surfacing
in Every Section. .
5 '
h
ECONOMY IS TO BE SHOWN
"Wording of Call for Election Will
Bo Made Clear Indorsements of
Organizations to' Be Sought to
Swell Present List.
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BY CHESTER A. MOOKtS.
Want to know- where to go for
pleasant one-liour automobile drive
that will take you over 20 or S3 miles
of good country road.'
Filled with enthusiasm of Sprinp. a
party of five left The OTegonian build
insr the other afternoon in a seven
pa8cnKcr 1S13 Cole four bound for a
ramble over into Washington County.
Before returning we covered 20 miles
of road that is good enough for any
body, saw enough scenery of all varie
ties to satisfy any eye and viewed a
epot in Washington County where 100
automobiles are said to have been
docked Involuntary luring the rainy
(canon, which now seems to be safely
ushered Into oblivion.
If the weather turns out to he ns
hypnotic today as it was last tsunuay
and you happen to have access to a
motorcar you can hardly do better than
follow the tracks the Cole has laid for
you out over the Hillside Parkway and
th Slavin road past Bertha, ilultnomah
and Garden Home.
As you hum past the artistic arches
Strung along the graceful slopes of the
parkway you have the privilege of
canning about 97 per cent of the City
of Portland, all of the mountains and
snow-capped peaks within the sweep
of the panorama and the beautiful Wil
lnmette. with its dotted craft of vary
ing description. Uy the time you have
completed the parkway or Tervt illiger
boulevard, as the famous South Fort
land drive is sometimes called, the
Bpeedometer will register two miles
from the heart of Portland.
Rood I, Left at Bertha Taken.
Then on the Slavin road you will be
treated to a mile of good going before
crossing the Southern Pacific tracks at
Bertha. Be sure to take the road to
the left as you enter Bertha and cross
the tracks Instead of branching off on
the Council Crest road. Soon a won
derful horizon -will open before your
faxe. for there lies the beautiful Tuala
tin Valley snuggling behind the hills
of Council Crest. Until passing Buck
ingham and Multnomah you are on the
Capital highway on the West Side Pa
cific Highway, as it is often called, but
to touch Garden Home you must lake
the other road, which leads down to a
mall bridge that divides Multnomah
County from "Washington County.
Until a year ago it was easy to tell
when Multnomah County was left be
hind by the "feel" of the roadbed, but
this particular stretch, be it said to the
credit of the Washington County Com
missioners, compares favorably with
the Multnomah County path fhat leads
to it. This road was once one of the
orst specimens of corduroy to be
found anywhere, but it was fixed about
a year ago.
Road Worst Xear Carde Home.
This is true until a mess of road is
reached about a stone's throw from the
"heart" of tiarden Home. Here, below
the Oreson Electric station and just
this side of the tracks, lies what is
pronounced by residents of that locality
as absolutely the deadlies-t spot of road
In all Washington County, a jurisdic
tion that has long been noted for its
lack of progress in road building. The
fact that this place is now passable
without any difficulty is a tribute to
1S13 Spring weather rather than any
thing else
Two men were on hand the other day
to testify that they had counted 10t
automobiles stuck in that '"family" of
mudholes. It is said that even the
notorious old strip between Rex and
Ttgardville could never in all its prime
have approached the disgraceful dis
tinction won by this area of earth
with a record of a hundred!"
As you pass through Garden Home
your "speedometer should read about
eight miles. At the further edce of
Warden Home, where the schoolhouse
'lands, you have the option of taking
any of four roads which intersect at
right angles.
Bcavrrtoa Lira Straight Ahead.
Straight ahead will lead' you to F.ea
erton, a turn to the left will usher
you on to Rex and Tigard. the turn to
the right will lead you to the Terwilli
ger boulevard and Council Crest road,
while by turning right about you are
permitted to retread the outgoing
course.
The Cole party last week took the
Hex-Tigard road that brushed past
Sletzger .station and Greenburg. but
when it reached the edge of Tigard It
witched off at the left and struck the
Capitol Highway, which is the main
West Side route between Portland and
talem. This led 'us through Multno
mah and Bertha, but at the latter place
vt took a turn to the left after pass-
? t
t W
ing the failroad tracks and traversed
the Hillsdale country, where the homes
of Colonel Henry K. Doesch and the
late Henry Hewitt are located.
This road is surprisingly good and it
affords a superb view of Tualatin Val
ley from a point just back of Council
Crest It also winds directly into Port
land Heights, where some of that dis
trict's finest homes are located. The
curves along this road are rather sharp,
but the use of a good warning signal
makes the trip delightfully Interesting.
On the entire trip of 20 or more miles
the Cole did not have any bad experi
ences. In fact, as one of the party re
marked, all roads look good to the Cole.
For most of the way the highway
opened out much like a boulevard.
Mud Holes Are Dried I p.
The former mud hole near Garden
Home and another not far from Metz
ger are now both so dried up that they
are -trivial. In fact the Cole did not
have a touch of dampness on any of its
wheels when it bowled back down
Broadway to the Northwest Auto Com
pany, where it is now "at home." Dust
is quite prevalent along all. of the coun
try roads now, but it is hardly offensive
yet.
But perhaps you want to take a long
er trip, one to Salem, maybe. If such
Is the case the advice of C. C. Clinton,
who made the round trip to Salem less
than a week ago, is "Take the West
Side by all means."
In his Palmer Singer "Blue Bird"
racer lr. Clinton drove to Salem over
the l'acirie-Highway on the East Side
and returned by the West Side route.
That leg of the East Side road be
tween Oregon City and Woodburn is
not in good shape." said Mr. Clinton
yesterday. "We passed no less than 11
cars that had been laid up with punc
tures and blowouts occasioned -by the
poor condition of the surface along that
stretch. Sharp-pointed gravel has been
SOME THEATERS ARE LAX
FIRE PROTECTION LAW VIOLATIONS
FOtSD DIRI.X'G INSPECTION.
Mr. Stevens Orders Changes and Care
ful Tab Is to Be Kept Exits
Are Fonnd Locked.
A general inspection of motion-picture
theaters just completed by cap
tains and lieutenants of the tire bureau
in their capacity of deputy fire
marshals, . has revealed the fact that
some of the theaters are not complying
strictly with the law regarding fire
protection and safeguards. As a result
Fire Marshal Stevens will give orders
to all theaters tomorrow to make
changes and to comply with all pro
visions of the law from now on.
Careful tab is to be kept to see that
the changes are made. Arrangements
have been completed to send out a
code signal on the Are alarm telegraph
service to all stations instructing the
captains and lieutenants just when to
make their theater inspections. The
theater people will not know when they
are coming. In some places the the
aters will be inspected every night.
Reports as made by the depuliy
marshals to Marshal Stevens indicate
that the majority of theaters have ar
ranged for the required safeguards,
but have not kept them in proper
order. One complaint is against the
s tut
r
b. iy&-
piled up in the middle of some of this
road and in other places egg-sized boul
ders litter the path.
"A little harrowing would put this
road in fine condition. . There was a
steady stream of cars on the road last
Sunday and many were forced to go
on the rocks in order to pass machines
coming from an opposite direction.
"West Side Iload Nearly Boulevard.
"By traveling via Sherwood instead
of going over the Rex-Tigard road,
w-hich is still in the process of amend
ment, for about a mile and a half, the
West Side road is practically a boule
vard for the entire distance. For the
rest of the way I would advise any
one to follow the familiar course of
the Capital or West Side Pacific High
way that passes through Dayton and
enters Salem over the River road.
"It took me three hours and a half
to reach Salem over the East Side road,
but the return was covered in two
hours and 40 minutes actual running
time." '.i
Road conditions along the Pacific
Highway in Southern Oregon are im
proving rapidly, and this road to Cali
fornia will soon be open, according to
Harry C. Hays, traveling representative
of the Howard Automobile Co., repre
senting the Buick line.
Hays recently drove a 25-horsepower
Buick touring car from Ashland over
the new hard-surfaced highway to. Cen
tral Point, thence from Central Point
to Grants Pass, and from Grants Pass
to Riddles, via Wolf Creek and Cow
Creek Canyon. While the road through
Cow Creek Canyon is not in the best
condition, it is passable with slow
driving and without possibility of stop
page. The only section of the Pacific High
way not yet open is from Myrtle Creek
to Cottage Grove, the greatest stum
bling block for the autoists being a
short stretch of half a mile in the Pass
Creek Canyon.
permitting of persons to block the
foyer and aisles of the theaters. It is
reported that in some places persons
are even permitted to sit in aisles.
Movable signs n the theater entrances
is another complaint. It is the request
of the fire marshal that all signs be
so arranged that they do not block
the entrance to the theater. Complaint
is made also against large paper and
cloth signs over the theater entrances.
These often touch electric bulbs and
wires thus causing a fire hazard.
In the lamp or operating rooms of
some of the theaters conditions are re
ported bad. These rooms are required
to have automatically closing windows
and the picture machines are required
to have automatic shutters. While
these are provided in the majority of
theaters they are not kept in working
condition. This is particularly true of
the automatic windows, it is reported.
Smoking, in the operating rooms is
permitted in some theaters, it is re
ported. In addition small bits of film
are scattered about. This causes an
unusual danger, it is said. The law
requires the picture operator to have
two buckets of water and two buckets
of sand in his room,. In many places, it
is said the water had all evaporated and
there Was no sand.
Complaint is made by the deputy
marshals about the exits in some of
the houses. Red exit lghts are not kept
burning and in some- cases exits were
found locked. Fire extnguishers which
are required to be renewed once a
year have " in some places stood
neglected for four or five years.
From the bottom or the deepest hole in
the sea to the top of the highest mountain
On the land there Is a distance of 61,0'.Kt
feet, which on a plobe six feet in diameter
would be represented by one-tenth of an incn.
ORGANIZATIONS THAT IN
DORSE: ROAD BOND ISSIK.
St Johns Commercial Club, after
an address by A. S. Benson, be
fore 100 members.
Community meeting 1n Wood
stock schoolhouse.
Multnomah Commercial Club,
of Multnomah, Or.
East Side Business Men's Club
at luncheon at Hotel Edwards
last Monday.
North Portland Commercial
Club at meeting Tuesday night
in North Portland Branch Li
brary. Meetings to Be Held.
At M o n t a v 1 1 1 a schoolhouse
Tuesday under auspices Monta
villa Board.
At Albina Branch Library,
Knott street, Wednesday night,
under, - auspices Albina Business
Men's Club.
At Sellwood T. M". C. A. April
6 under auspices Sellwood Board
of trade. .
An educational campaign in favor of
the proposed fl,2S0,000 road bonds will
he carried into every corner of the
county in the next two weeks by the
good roads advocates of Portland.
Volunteer speakers will address meet
ings and will point out to every com
munity the advantages that the pro
posed road improvements will brinsr.
Efforts will be made to obtain indorse
ments of the proposed bond issue from
every meeting that is held.
Particular emphasis will be laid, in
the campaign, on the argument that
the bond issue ts a measure of economy.
It will be pointed out that the present
cost of maintaining the 70 miles of
road that it is proposed to improve is
approximately $1000 a mile a year, an
aggregate of $70,000, and that the in
terest on $1,250,000 at 5 per cent is
only $62,500 a year, an actual saving of
$7500 a year. It is assumed, of course,
that there will be no maintenance on
the roads after they are treated with
bard surface.
Call to Be Explained.
Explanation also will be made, to
meet the objections of some skeptical
voters, of the manner in which the bond
election notice is worded. It has been
pointed out that the call reads no
more than $1,250,000 of bonds shall be
issued in any one year." This has led
some persons into the belief that it
would be possible, under the provisions
of a call worded in wis manner, to
issue other bonds in future years with
out another election.
K. E. Coovert. one of the good roads
advocates, explains that this wording
is required by the bonding law passca
bv the 1913 Legislature. That law
prescribes precisely the manner in
which the call for the special election
shall be worded and the call in the
present instance is in accordance wjtn
the law.
Desnite the delay on the part or me
Central Labor Council in indorsing the
nrnnnsed bonds, many laboring nien
and members of organized labor have
given their individual approval to the
plan. It is pointed out to them that
a. large proportion of the bond money
will be paid out to labor and that
the highest prevailing wages win oe
paid.
fS a Day ware aovoctito.
The labor council wants the County
Commissioners to agree to establish a
inimum wage of $3 a day on the new
road work.
Roadmaster Yeon will address a
mass meeting next Tuesday night at
the Montavilla schoolhouse. under the
auspices of the Montavilla Board of
Trade. It is expected that stereopti
con slides of the Columbia Highway
will be shown.
The next meeting for next week win
be in the Albina Branch Library, Knott
street, near Rodney avenue, under the
auspices of the Albina Business Men's
Club. A special committee, with. A. R.
Zeller as chairman, is making arrange
ments for this meeting, and an invita
tion is extended for all citizens of the
Albina district to attend and hear Mr.
Yeon.
Anril S Is the date fixed for Mr.
Yeon's address in the Sellwood Y. M.
C. A. rooms, under the auspices of the
Sellwood Board of Trade. It Is hoped
to show pictures or the nignway ai
this meeting. W. M. McClure, of the
Mount Tabor Improvement Association,
will call a special meeting next weeK
to hear Mr. Yeon. Other public meet
ings are being arranged for, when the
road bonds will be explained.
Organisations Indorse Plan.
So far the following organizations on
the East Side have indorsed the bond
issue: St. Johns Commercial Club,
which is some distance from the trunk
roads to be hard-surfaced; East Side
Business Men's Club, at the meeting
last Monday; the Albina Business
Men's Club Friday afternoon: and the
community meeting of men and women
held in the Woodstock schoolhouse at
tended by 300 persons. This latter In
dorsement is considered important.
In no case has any club refused to
indorse the bond issue after hearing
Mr. Yeon and listening to the firray of
figures and facts presented.
L. E. Rice, who has been a leader in
civic improvements in the Richmond
district and in Portland, and a member
of the Richmond Improvement Associa
tion, said yesterday:
"I am for the road bond issue nrst.
last and all the time. I believe the
bonds will carry. Hard-surfaced roads
will mean a great deal for Portland
and the surrounding district. If Port
land is to move forward, it must help
build hard-surfaced roads, the same as
has been done in King County, Wash
ington. I am asking all my friends to
vote for the bond issue."
Swindler's Arrival Expected.
Portland police have been warned
against the appearance in this city of
a bogus naval officer, who obtains
money while pretending to be a cniei
warrant officer, sent to enlist copper
smiths, machinists and boilermakers.
He was recently in Ogden. Ltah, and is
expected to arrive here shortly. He is
described as being about 35 years old,
weighing 170 pounds, having light hair.
blue eyes, and a ruddy complexion, iie
is smooth-shaven.
5
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UPPER WORKMEN ERKCTING DRY
Multnomah County's work on the Co
lumbia River highway probably will be
completed" to the Hood River County
line by July 1.
Commissioners Holman and Hol
brook went over the entire road last
week in company with J. B. Yeon,
roadmaster, and S. C. Lancaster, engi
neer. They reached the conclusion
that if the work Is pushed persistently
the road can be opened by that time.
Meanwhile Hood River County is
working between Cascade Locks and
the Multnomah County line and will
have the grade completed and open for
traffic early in July. If the c?n"c
ors finish the work around Mitchell
Point wtihin the same period it will
be possible then for vehicles to travel
all the way from Portland to Hood
River over "the new highway.
The Multnomah County link now is
open to Kelly Creek about three miles
west from Bonneville. A bridge is be
ing built across the creek at that point.
The grading beyond the bridge is com
plete Several .other bridges remain to
be built, but' the contractors are at
work on them. Additional forces soon
will be employed with the view of has
tening the work.
Summer iJ'se Is Intent.
It is intended to permit the fullest
possible use of the road through the
Summer. If the proposed bond issue is
authorised by the voters at the elec
tion on April 14. funds will be available
for hard-surfacing the entire h ehway
from its present connection with the
old Sandy River road to the cn'y
line. The bonding plans call for .he
expenditure of approximately $400,000
ou the Columbia River Highway.
Although the entire road now is pass
able to Kelly Creek, certain sections ol
-, , . in. ri mck surface.
It Still IJICSCH. - -
annoying automobile drivers. It is the
intention to treat ine emuo
steam roller contact and to cover the
crushed rock with some finer material.
On their recent inspection trip the
Commissioners viewed the wind break
that Roadmaster Yeon has erected at
Crown Point on the hill overlooking the
Columbia Uiver.
At this point the traveler out of
Portland will obtain the first full view
of the river. It will "be possible to se
85 miles in either direction, east oi
west. The point is nearly 700 feet
above the river. The farm lands and
hills on both the Oregon and Washing
ton sides of the river are in full view.
Mr. Yeon anticipates that travelers will
stop here to feast their eyes on the
scene.
. Pedestrians to Be Protected.
For that reason he has erected a wide
sidewalk clear of the roadway and con
necting 'with the windbreak. A curb 10
inches high will protect persons on the
sidewalk from vehicles passing along
the road. The entire wall and sidewalk
are built of concrete. Their length is
more than 600 feet.
The road-along the hillside at Roos
ter Rock is in good condition. It stood
the Winter well. At no place does the
grade exceed 5 per cent. It is said that
this piece of the highway has settled
sufficiently already to permit of hard
surface treatment.
The Commissisoners as well as Mr.
Yeon expect the road to. be used ex
tensively this Summer for picnic par
ties as well as by tourists. They are
getting ready for the picknickers. A
Shepherd's Dell, Multnomah Falls and
other scenic points along the way they
are building trails leading away from
the road into the secluded portions of
the woods.
Already various Portland organiza
tions have made application for per
mission to erect small landmarks along
the way. The Rotary Club is planning
to harness a natural cold water spring
at the roadside near Multnomah Falls
and erect a fountain there. They in
tend to name the spot '"The Rotarian
Spring."
Dakotans to Build Seat.
The Dakota Society wants to build a
seat and a railing around a high stone
cliff overhanging the railroad. The
point easily is accessible from the road
way. Other societies will make small
improvements to perpetuate themselves
in the minds of travelers.
It is probable that the Commission
ers will detail motorcycle policemen to
enforce the speed laws on the new road
ROCK WAI 1. l.OWF.R WHKRB THE
OUT OF SOLID ROCK.
this Summer, and to maintain order
generally. The recent Legislature
passed a law prohibiting the erection
of billboards or other advertising signs
along the highway, so the scenic beauty
will not be marred in this fashion.
At every point where the earth has
been excavated, leaving the rough
bank exposed, grass seed have been
planted. It is taking root already. This
answers the double purpose of restor
ing the natural beauty of the land
scape and of preventing the earth from
sliding. A landscape gardener has been
engaged to plant shrubbery and to treat
some of the few spots along the route
that nature has neglected or that the
construction crews have marred. The
Commissisoners are determined, also, to
build a series of comfort stations at
intervals along the road.
Waterfalls Are for Public.
Most of the waterfalls and other
points of particular scenic Interest al
ready are owned either by the City of
Portland or by the county, or are held
by persons who propose to present
them, ultimately, to the public. S. Ben
son now is negotiating for the pur
chase of the property embracing Mult
nomah Falls for the purpose rf pre
septing the entire tract to the city.
Mr. Benson already has made, many
improvements on the grounds sur
rounding the falls.
The ground' embraced within the
semi-circle formed by the windbreak at
Crown Point is owned by the city. As
this Is the highest point along the
POLICE PENSION ISSUE
COUNCIL TO DECIDE ON RELIEF
MEASURES THIS WEEK.
Question of Putting Plan Up to Voters
to Be Considered Court Re
ceipt May -o to Aid.
Whether or not the voters will be
asked to grant a relief and pension
system to the police bureau or whether
such a system will be provided by an
ordinance passed by the Council will
be decided by the Council probably this
week. Several plans have been con
sidered for the inauguration of a new
system to take the place of the present
relief system, which is considered in
adequate. At present the policemen pay. 50 cents
a month" into the relief and pension
fund. They get only nominal relief
In case of disability. It is proposed
now to enlarge the system so that the
policemen will have adequate protec
tion. It was proposed at first to exact
2 per cent of the salary of each po
liceman each month for the fund. The
police object to this on the ground that
the rate is too high. Now a compro
mise has been suggested at Hi per
cent.
The total salary Toll of the police
bureau in a year is about $356,000,
which, at. the rate of Hi per cent,
would net the pension and relief fund
a total of more than $C000. It is pro
posed to add to this the fines taken
in by the Municipal Court, amounting
to $30,000 a year. This would mean
a total revenue of $35,000 a year for
the fund. There is a balance of about
$11,000 in the present fund.
It Is proposed to have the $35,000
added to the fund each year until the
fund has a balance of about $200,000.
Then it is planned to have the fund
derive its revenue from the assess
ments against the salaries of the po
licemen. Under that system It is said the po
licemen would have benefits equal to
the benefits of the firemen, who won
a relief and pension system by votes.
The firemen pay In 1 per cent of their
salaries to the fund. This la said by
City Auditor Barbur to be Insufficient,
inasmuch as the claims paid out last
year amounted to more than the
amount paid in by the firemen. The
firemen derive $30,000 In taxation each
year from general taxation, a special
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1 ill "I II
SEE
HOil) I.ITl:HI.I.V WAS II KMX
road, from which a full sweep of ti.s
river and the surrounding country csn
be seen. It Is probable that the bsnk
will bo graded and a shelter station
erected thereon. Mr. Yeon and the
Commissioners have hopes, also, that
some one will place within the helter
station a pair of telescopes, ro thM
the traveler can view the splendid
scenery to best advantage.
Labnrrnt Are Well Kr.
One of the landmarks seen from this
point Is Castle Rock, but the Commis
sioners have recorded on their minutes
a resolution that this point hereafter
shall be known as Heacon Rock the
name originally given it by Lewis and
Clark.
Accompanying the offielsls on their
trip Inst week were l'aul Turner and
Otto Newman, representatives of the
Central Labor Council, who went to In
vestigate the conditions of the men
employed on the road. Their day's ef
forts revealed that the men receive
most satisfactory treatment and that
the food they get "cjn't be beat." For
Instance, the bill of fare for dinner on
the day that this trip was taken con
sisted of weinerwuist and sauerkraut,
short ribs and brown potatoes, botled
potatoes, stewed tomatoes, string
beans, boiled rice and cream, rhubarb
pie, chocolate cake, brend and butter,
tea, coffee and milk.
Roadmaster Yeon Insists that th
men be fed well and Isys the success
of the highway effort largely to thla
fact.
levy of one-tenth of 1 mill bclnff as
sessed annually.
City Attorney LaRoche has ruled that
the City Council has power to create
a relief and pension system and fund.
It is said, however, that such a sys
tem would not have the stability thst
a measure enacted by the voters would
hve. '
SEE THAT
:urve
PRICE DOES NOT
MEAN VALUE
The PRICE of glasses
gives TITLE to them
ONLY.
Glasses, without knowl
edge and service back of
them, are worth only
the cost of the raw ma
terial. Your eyes arc worth
more money than most
of us possess.
Why take chances?
Come where Service is
First.
Thompson
OPTICAL INSTITUTE
209-10-11 Corbett Building
Fifth and Morrison
VI