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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (July 11, 1920)
7 OVER THE SHORT-CUT ROUTE TO RAINIER Chevrolet FB Scout Car Picks Best Road to Park. NOW IS TIME TO VISIT IT Atmosphere Is Marvellously Clear 'o, and Auto Road to Para dise Will Open In Week. (Continued From First Page.) leavinp the present main Facifi". highway and taking the old traveled highway to the light via Mcintosh, Rainier, Yjlm. McKenna. Koy and Oreendale and ac-.-ss by good rravi.1 Prairie road 6.2 miles to the TacoTna Rainier Park highway, about 21 miles out of Tacoma. All Gravrl Ilond. This is all gravel road, but excel lent. Ihousrh somewhat rough be tween Tenino and Yelm. The dis tances are: J'ortland to Chehalis, 105 miles: Chehalis to Oreendale, 42.2; Oreendale to f'ark highway, 6.2; from there to park entrance, 35.4, a total of 188.8 to the park entrance, 208.8 to Paradise Inn. This run can bo made in a day, and is recommended to drivers who may have their doubts as to tackling the mountain road via Onalaska and Morton. The third and shortest route to the park from Chehalis is that taken by the Chevrolet party last week, via Onalaska, Morton and Elbe, where it joins the main park highway. It Is mountain road, narrow, and no place for the amateur driver, but presents no difficulties to a driver of experi ftice, except In a few places where there is no room to turn out if an other car were met. It is dry and fast time can be made over the latter part of it, between Morton and Elbe. Distances on this route are as fol lows: To Chehalis from Portland. 103 miles. Chehalis back-tracking south on Pacific highway to turnoff at sign "To Onalaska," nine miles. Thence across to Morton, 33.4, which Includes - all the mountain driving. Krom Morton to Elbe, mostly over fine road, 17.1 miles; Elbe to park entrance, 14.1 miles, a total of 178.6 miles to the park entrance, and 198.6 to Paradise valley. Really 28 Nile Shorter. This, it will be noted, is only 10 miles shorter than the better road, by way of Roy and, Yelm. However, this is not the full story, at that. For when the main highway between Castle Rock and Toledo is open again it will not be necessary to go into Chehalis at all, and 18 miles 9 miles Into Chehalis, 9 miles out again to the Onalaska turnout can be eut off the distance, bringing the total to the park entrance from Portland by this route to only 160.6 miles, and to I'aradise, only 80.6 miles. Then it will indeed be worth while to con sider this ehort-eut road. Instead of poing into Chehalis, the traveler will go by way of Toledo, and from there over paved highway to the turnout sign nine miles from Chehalis. turn out, and continue right on his way. But at present it Is best to go into Chehalis; if for no other reason, to get some of the fine strip maps pro vided by the Automobile club . of western Washington. This is a real road organization. It has strip maps covering all of Washington, and even strip maps of the Pacific highway in Oregon, and all may be obtained for a small sum. It has another large map or Washington, showing all roads, and still another map showing routes for transcontinental automobile tour ing. . In addition, this club has already signed up virtually all the main roads of Washington, and a number of the smaller ones, and is continuing its activity In this respect. But to continue. Bill Grout headed the Chevrolet FB into the Onalaska road. For six miles to Onalaska, a lumber camp, fine gravel. Then good gravel to mileage 20 out of Chehalis. Then the road begins to enter heavy timber and mountainous country, ft is a truly beautiful drive, this one through the great trees. Less Corudro; This Time, A year ago when the writer made this trip there . were many short jerky stretches of corduroy. Now only two or three such stretches, all short ones, remain. Evidently con siderable work has been done on the road in the interim, for most of this corduroy has been replaced by gravel. The road Is very fair to approxi mately mileage 29, though with some hills and rough stretches interven ing. But here it enters the moun tains beyond any question of doubt. You round a turn, and down, down, down goes the road into a timbered canyon. Second gear driving, this descent, the road narrow, every few feet a sharp hairpin curve. Sound the horn and sound it often, for around any of these turns one might bump into an ascending car. At the bottom, up goes the road on the other side, still narrower, sharper curves if any. The big Chevrolet was a beautiful car to drive over difficult road of this kind, because of its marvelous flexibility. It seemed im possible that a 4-cylinder car should throttle down to five miles an hour on a hiil, or over rough, bumpy road and still be able to accelerate with out going into second. But Grout did this with the car, not once but otten. Ail the way over the moun tains on this road he went into second only three or four times, and into first, never. In addition, the big car rode beau tifully, its springs absorbing every road shock. When speed was needed It had the speed, and where the cue was to loaf around sharp curves, it had the loafing power in high. What ordinarily - a car would not be ex pected to do under six cylinders it did -.vithout effort on four. Back I'p to Pass. From this ponit, mileage 29, the road is for the most part narrow. with few turnouts, though occasional open places with plenty of room. Sev eral times we met cars or teams, though luckily always at a turnout Only once was it necessary to back up to pass. The road winds along hillsides through meadowed vallevs surround ed by high hills, now alongside the stream of the Tiller river, whose wa ter graae it ioiiows: now high on a canyon side above it. most of the time through beautiful timber. Al ways through green, verdant country It was a revelation to California Now and then he raised his voice to say: look at in owe green mils! or "This sure Is a great ride!"' There I came a time presently, however, when California had nothing to say, for I lite simple reason that nothing was Ifo be said, the only possible act be- ins to hang on and to pray. Of that, soon. At mileage 35 out of Chehalis. this road swings along through timber on I the bank of the stream, most of the time well over it, but finally de scending along a narrow way chiseled out of rock. Then a red steel bridge crossing the stream, and then a long climb, high, high above the stream, along a narrow way, where if you dropped and missed bumping on tree trunks you might fall a couple of hundred feet Into water. At length, plank road, some- good, mostly poor, but not much of It, and then the lumber town of Morton. We had been loafing along through the woods, taking our own time. At the drug store in Morton we noted the time as 7:05 P. M. Somebody casually asked how late the park gate remained open. That Chevrolet Traveled! 'It closes at- 8 o'clock," said the obliging proprietor. Eight o'clock! And still 31 miles to go from Morton, and 55 minutes to do them in! Bill looked at us, and we looked at Bill. Evidently, after com ing so far. Bill did not relish the thought of leaning up against the park gate for the night. As one man we Jumped for the machine. They said it was 17 miles to Min eral, the next main town, with the road very good. It was good. We vouch for that. Had it not been good we would have spilled off it three dozen times. For Bill Grout took the bit In his teeth and sped that car over this road through the timber, with many sharp curves, as though he had been "on a race track. Once upon a itme Bill drove a small er Chevrolet on a record run around Mount Hood. Tin record stands yet. But Bill's father, who is Superinten dent of Schools Grout, after this per formance, very properly opined that until Bill was 21 years old he would confine his driving to mere touring car operations. Bill reluctantly com plied. He is now 21, so perhaps it doesn't matter. If he were not we could advise his parent that as a mere matter of safety first. Bill is far safer in race driving than at seeing how fast he can shoot a touring car down mountain road. As we said. Bill stepped on the throttle and the FB jumped ahead. Mile after mile-we raced along the curving road through the timber at never less than 30, most of the time at 40 and 45 miles an hour. In the back seat California was hanging on grimly. Occasionally we could hear him mutter: "There goes another ntle!" Real Kick to This. And those miles surely did go! Racing 45 miles an hour on pavement or straight gravel road has a more infinitesimal kick to it as compared with the large sensation to be ob tained from 'shoving at the same speed through the woods on a road that turns circles around Itself . every couple of hundred yards. We made Mineral in a little less than 25 min utes, and were in the park. 31.2 miles, in exactly one houivand five minutes from the moment wo. left Morton. This record may be bettered some day, and no claims are made in its behalf; but if it is bettered we prefer to remain at home while the Lettering is on. So does California. We made the park at 8:10 and found it whs open until 9 o'clock! After registering and paying the $2.50 fee for a season permit, we were quickly at the National Park hotel at I,ongmire springs, six miles within Ihe park. 1'ersons intending to stop either at Longmire springs or at I'aradise inn, which is now open, will do well to wire or write for reservations well ahead of time. These hotels are in for a heavy touring season, as more and more tourists are heading for Mount Rainier National park to pass their vacations next to nature. From Longmire springs next morn ing we headed up to Nisqually gla cier, where the glacier of that name, coming down from the summit of Mount Rainier, juts its brown snout out within a quarter mile of the road. From here on It is a one-way road only, cars going up and descending at certain hours, under control of angers at the Nisquaily and Narada falls checking stations. We were lucky In having to wait only a few minutes, for all ordinary "U-tes and schedules were on the blink that day owing to the flock" of cars n for the Fourth. At Narada falls. reached on a 4 per cent grade, skirt ing mighty canyons up from Nis qually, is the present terminus of automobile travel, due to snow on the four miles remaining to Paradise. I early Four Miles of Snow. We parked the car at Narada, and to ascertain for ourselves how much snow there really was, we set out on toot up the road. We soon found out. Only a short distance up from Narada we ran into snow, and then for most of the long four miles to Paradise we were ploughing through it. This was a brand-new experience for California. He had exclaimed at the great sights within the park, and generously acclaimed it as' "one hun dred per cent park!" and "even better than Yosemite," which is the apex and epitome of all things for a Cali- fornian. But the snow! Here was a new experience. California had on low walking shoes, which were not exactly built for snow travel. These shoes worried him beyond measure. He would wade through a great drift of snow across the road and stop in the middle of it to take off his shoes and pour the snow out of them. Naturally, this de layed his ascent considerably. But he was one game bird, was Califor nia, and he trudged along without complaint, delighted to see so much snow. Others who didn't care how much snow was on the road either walked up to Paradise inn by trail, much steeper than the road, but only 14 nines compared to tour, or took the elevator up, which is to say that they rode horseback. Horses may be ob tained at Narada for the trip. Road Open by July IS. It didn't look possible, but rangers at the park said that by July 15 the road will be, open all the way up to r-araoise inn lor automobile traveL They expect to put shovel crews on this week and clear it off in a hurry. Paradise inn is open now, however. and has many guests. Snow was several feet dep yet In many places near Paradise inn, but tne warn sun was melting it fast. Alpine flowers were peeping up from the edges of the drifts. Many par ties were hikjng off on the many different trips from Paradise inn, or preparing to ciiniD tne mountain. In short, the season at Rainier National park is open. Now is the time to go to Rainier National park, or to prepare for your trip. If you go once you will come again. t. aiuornia is coming again and"expects to tell all his friends to come, too. Fortland-Chebalis Ini?. 00.0 Oregonlan buildlnpr. Portland. Paved to Vancouver. Wash. 8.0 Vancouver. Wash. Follow Pacific hlgrhway pavement. 15.6 Salmon creek bridge. Pavement ends. Vry rough to 16.3. 16.3 Main highway closed, construction work. Oetour left at sign. Detour road paved to 22.9. but pood to RidBefield. 27.2 Rldgefield. Follow detour sign. Pave ment to 31.3. 31.3 End detour, rejoin main highway, end pavement.. Fair gravel. 35.2 l.a renter. Highway good macadam, silsthtly rough. 41.5 Woodland. Pavement to 41.9. 41.9 Turn left off pavement. New high way grade, surface good macadam. Old section through Martin's Bluff, formerly so rough, now good on new grade, and very good thence to Kalama. '50.7 Kalama. flood to Kelso. 02.0 Kelso. Here begin your troubles. Detour left over Cowlitz river bridge to west bank detour road. fi'J.4 End bridge, turn right. Road fair. 66.6 At shed, turn right. Road fair. f gravel. 67.3 Turn left on plank road up hill. Rough in here, has been bad in wet weather. Mostly dirt bottom. Many short up and down pitches. 69.0 Turn right and climb long, steep up-grade, followed by long, steep descent to 71.2. Road fair to me dium, gravel bottom. 72.6 Turn right at sign toward bridge' to Castle Rock, but Just before reach ins bridge, follow detour sign and take road to left, avoiding Castle Rock entirely. This road very fair to about mileage 77. T7.0 Dirt bottom only, and road becomes very rutty and rough. Abundant signs of extremely hard going here in wet weather. For next three mires hard to make over 10 miles an hour account ruts and bumps. Traces of one bad mudhole at 77.9. This stretch would be bad In even moder ately wet weather. Numerous short hills. 79 O Down Ions; hill. Road better. 80.5 High bridge, crossing stream. Just beyond is Olequa ferry road and end of detour, 80.6 Join Olequa ferry road, but turn to left Instead of back to ferry to right. Road good macadam. 81.7 Cowlitz-Lewis county line. 82.9 Keep to left for Vader. avoiding right-hand road to Toledo, account construction work near there. 83.4 Vader. Road good macadam. Straight ahead. 90.6 Wlnlock. Straight ahead! Road 95.1 Take left-band road at fork. Good to Napavine. 97.0 Napavine. Cross railroad tracks, fol low highway sign. 1005 Turn left. 103.5 Reioin , main Pacific highway. Paved road. Straight ahead. 105.0 St. Helens hotel, Chehalis. Call at ofice Auto Club of Western Wash ington in hotel for latest road in formation. You will receive real In formation and courteous treatment from Mrs. Ruth Sloper. In charge. Chehalis to Mount Rainier National Park. Via Onalaskav-Morton Cutoff. 00.0 Set speedometer back to zero, at St. Helens hot I. Chehalis. Then back south down main Pacific highway. Keep straight ahead, all paved road, to mileage 9. 9.0 Sign "To Onalaska." Turn left on good gravel road. 15.0 Onalaska. Turn left. Road good. 16.6 Straight ahead. First-class gravel to here. 17.0 Road begins to enter wooded country. 19.8 M. Oriel general store. Very good gravel to here. Straight ahead. 20.0 Down steep hill, sharp turns, go in to recond gear at top. Road now beginning to roughen up but still good. 0 2.1 2 Oood plank to 25 5. 26.7 Very rough old corduroy to 2T. 27.0 New grade being built along here. Going fair. 28.4 Pass white house with green trim mings, at left. Road fair, much better than last year, due to con siderable new work. 29.0 Now entering real mountain country. Narrow mountain road starts down into canyon. Long hill, winding road, go into second gear. Sound horn for sharp curves, little room to pass another car. 29.6 Wood bridge at bottom, then as cent up still narrower mountain road, sharp turns, few passing places. Re sure to sound horn vigorously at turns. Deep canyon alongside. Beautiful woods. 31.0 Out into comparatively open, level country. Road fair. 31.1 Bridge. 31.3 Enter another canyon, road very nar row. Drive cautiously. ?1.9 Bridge being repaired. Road all nar row, but beautiful through the trees. 32.0 Out on a pretty meadow glade, great wooded hills all about. 32.7 Bad but very short detour through creek, due to broken bridge. 32.9 Ranch house and barn. Road better now. 33.5 Through thick timber again. At 33.9, white schoolhouse tn left. 34.0 Cross red steel bridge, drive along right side or stream. 34.5 Bad corduroy, .1 mile, then fair, changing to good gravel at 35. 36.0 Road now goes through deep timber along and above stream. Road nar rows, cut out of rock cliff stream. Sound born, drive very cautiously for approaching cars. 37.4 Steel bridge, cross stream. Road nar row but good. 39.1 Settlement. Keep straight ahead. 39.6 Up long, fairly steep hill, road very narrow, rising high up side of gorge through whlrji stream flows. Heavy timber. Drive slowly, sound horn, no place to pass for nearly half mile, otherwise road good. 40.3 Summit. Now going down. Sound horn. 40 7 Hit good plank road. 41.3 End plank. 41.4 Plank again, but very bad, broken, out of place to 41.8. where enda plank. 41.9 Red steel bridge. Then plank, very bad, into Morton. 42.4 Morton. Drug store. Lumber town. Now out of mountain road. No more worry, all the rest is good road. 42.5 Turn left down main street to depot. 42.6 At depot, take main road to right. Follow Rhodes signs. "To Tacoma." This road is almost highway, and first-class for- miles, any speed you , want. Part through logged-off country, part tbroug beautiful big timber. 45. 0 I.indberg. Straight ahead. 46.7 West Fork. Road fine. 53.8 Sawmill. Road fine. Straight ahead. 54.3 First view of Mount Rainier through rift in mountains. 55.7 Town of Mineral and mineral lake. Road fine to here. Keep straight ahoad. Road now roughens up some, but still very good. 59.4 Bridge across Nisqually river. 59.5 Elbe, on main Tacoma-Mount Rainier highway. Turn right. 65.8 Pacific National Lumber company camp. Road good to here, but now rough to Ash ford, and dusty. Here passes through desolate logged-off section. 67.3 Ashford. Road now better. Timber again. 73.3 Entranet to Mount Rainier national park. Stop, register, give names, license number, pay $2.50 for sea son permit. 178.6 from Portland to Park entrance. Park Distance. Within Rainier national park, dis tances by automobile road are as follows: 00.0 Park entrance. 6 8 Longmire springs and hotel. 12.0 Nisqually glacier and checking sta tion. One-way road only, above here, cars going up and down under con trol rules. 16.0 Narada falls. Present terminus of automobile travel, due to snow on road up to Paradise tnn. This road to be open July 15. 20.0 Paradise Inn, at head of Paradise valley. Removing Battery Terminals. The terminals of storage batteries are often difficult to remove, espe cially if they are corroded. Hammer ing them is dangerous, as it is likely to break the plates, but a C clamp may be used effectively. place the clamp so that the lip rests against the terminal and the screw against the connector. Give the clamp a couple of turns and the cable comes out easily. ... ... Factory of Union Switch th Signal Co., and Weatinihouam Union Battary Co., Swiaarala, Pa. WESTINGHOUSE BATTERIES now in production WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE INTERESTS THE WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY WESTINGHOUSE TRACTION BRAKE COMPANY WESTINGHOUSE FRICTION DRAFT GEAR COMPANY WESTINGHOUSE PACIFIC COAST BRAKE COMPANY UNION SWITCH 4 SIGNAL CO. UNION SIGNAL CONSTRUCTION CO. THE AMERICAN BRAKE COMPANY NATIONAL BRAKE 4 ELECTRIC CO. ' NATIONAL STEEL FOUNDRIES MILWAUKEE LOCOMOTIVE MANU FACTURING CO. SAFETY CAR DEVICES COMPANY LOCOMOTIVE STOKER COMPANY WESTINGHOUSE UNION BATTERY COMPANY BACK of the Westinghouse Union Battery Company are the powerful resources, the ability, and the years of successful achievement of the Westing house Air Brake Company. Arising from its splendid record during the war in producing artillery munitions, the Westinghouse Air Brake Company was called upon by the War Department to create facilities and undertake the pro duction of the LeRhone Rotating Airplane Motor. The Air Brake Company, through its subsidiary, the Union Switch & Signal Company, at once erected the buildings illustrated above, and turned out the best rotary Airplane Motor ever built in this or any other country, as officially characterized in the Congressional Air plane Production investigation. After the close of the war, in a survey of the field of production in which to uti lize these extensive new plant facilities, the management of the Westinghouse Air Brake Company perceived the urgent demand for an increased supply of and improvement in Storage Batteries. It rec ognized the positive need for a battery service cf real value to motor car owners and appreciated their impatience for the advent of a Storage Battery with a de pendably longer life. It has undertaken to supply these de mands through the- organization of the xnis or any otner country, as omciany manas tnrougn tne organization ot the Westinghouse Union Battery Company The same outstanding integrity, the same far termination to render an exceptional service, this sighted vision of service, the same determination to build the best that is possible, which have distinguished every one of the many success ful undertakings of the Westinghouse Air Brake Company, are just as truly an inseparable part of the foundation of this new Battery Com pany. , . Endowed with the high purpose of the parent company and inheriting its uncompromising de termination to render an exceptional service, this company is about to introduce a storage battery and a storage battery service which will measure up with the high standards of the Westinghouse Air Brake Company. We are determined to justify the confidence and merit the patronage of every one with whom we deal. We are building carefully and permanently so that the automobile trade will be glad to welcome both the battery and the service offered. WESTINGHOUSE UNION BATTERY COMPANY Swissvale, Pa. WIS TIN G HO.O S E K LUTE IAD INFORMATION DATA COMPILED BY FIELD MKX OF FOHIiST SERVICE. McKenzie Highway One of Few 1m- . porta nt Roads "ot as "Vet Open for Season. The season has now arrived when virtually all roads of consequence, even in the mountains, - are open to automobile travel. The J McKenzie highway over McKenzie pass is still an exception; TTut mainly because of construction work. . Data compiled by field men of the United States forest service- on Ore gon and Washington, roads within or near national forests is Included in Road Bulletin No. 12. just issued. The reports follow: Wen tern Ores on. v- Crescent City-Port Orford Open Brook ings to Crecent City, excellent. Brook ings to Port Orford, poor. Ha.ntia.rn wagon road Open, fafr. Toll Kate 32 mile east of Lebanon, $5 per auto. Good camp grounds and fivhlng. MrKrizw riijrh way PTusrene to A Mcr Springs, open; good. Alder Springs to Windy Point, closed. Wllla-mette highway Eugene to Rigdon, open; good. Rigdon to summit, never open for automobiles. Kan tern Oregon. Medical Sprinzi-r5oii Medical Springs to Martin bridge, open ; fair. Man in bridge to Carson, closed; bad bridges. Haker-Cornucopla Open ; fair. Spa.rta-Ea.-t Eagle Open; fair. Wewtero Washington. UtUa Whit Salmon road Cooks to 1 Oklahoma ranger station, open good. I w nite salmon-Trout lake-ureenwooa Open; fair. Camp grounds in vicinity of Mount Adama. Olympic highway 1 ) Olympla to Ho quiam, paved. Open except between Elma and 4atsop and across Chehal i river at Ifiast Aberdeen; crop on toll bridge. Fare 23 cents. Hoquiam to Quinault lake, open; good. Olympic highway 2) Olympia to Port Angeles, open ; good. Port Angclea to Forks and Mora, open; good. Spirit lake road Open from Castle rock fair; good camp grounds. Sunset highway Open to Snoqu&lmie pa&a and eastern points; excellent. Cam n grounds at Denny creek and l!t miles east of North Bend. . . ..... . - mm Cleaning the Body. The body of the car should be cleaned with cast lie soap and water. Mjd should not be rubbed off, but rather should be washed off, by flow ing a gentle stream of water over the spot. This floats the mud off without injury to the polished surface. 5f mud is permitted to remain on a new body until it dries hard it almost al- TRU c Our Republic Truck organization is skilled in every phase of truck transportation. We are here to analyze a business man's hauling prpblems, and advise with him on the basis of actual facts and figures. Roberts Motor Car Co, Vancouver, Wash. Portland, Or. Boise, Idaho Largest Exclusive Truck Dealer in the Northwest , T ways leaves a spot; consequently re moval should be immediate. If spots of road oil get on the body they should be removed" by an application of salt butter, which loosens the oil. or by a local application of kerosene. Be careful not to rub them too much. The top should not be cleaned with gasoline or similar liquids. Soap suds and water should bo. used inside and out. For the upholstrv a little lin seed on a piece of cloth rubbed over it will work wonders. Deorystalizinj:. Travel over rouh roads causes crystallization of various parts, with subsequent briakafie, especially of steerage rod spindles. The trouble may be obviated by removing? the swindle and heatinsr it to a. cherry rod and then retempering it onto year. l"e of tia!-kots. Oil joints should be fitted with gas. -k-ts made of wrapping: paper, while water joints should have asbestos gaskets- coated with graphite. Hot sas joints, on the other hand, should have copper rovered asbestos, and dry sras joints call for coated asbestos. iiiiiiiiiiu IIIIllllllll Hill I IIIIIIIIIIU III IIIIIIIIIIIlllillilllllPM TpO live up to our "same day service and supply" we've got to have a most complete stock of all f3tewwd? parts, as well as the "Big Ten" GZieumfit? J Necessities themselves. ' You can run in or send in any time and be assured of getting what 5lUKiti? service and supply you want, the same day you ask for it v We're more particular about this "same day service and supply" than you are. Mail orders receive equally prompt attention retail and wholesale. Remember "ow in New Location BROADWAY AT FLANDERS DRIVE IN FOR SERVICE il in ' I I i' i-i i ' 1 : " ' in1 ' Mlllltai III Ml Ml I I i i Illlllllllli II 8 :!Si!!iSi!liS!!liiiil!i!!!iiit LUJJLI' 0I : i i!!l!llil!'!!h';!iHi:!iiiii!''l!'ii!,!iii'i::M'iii''?i::1 !!il 105.5v '