Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/333



good wagon roads will always be present; and it was with " this thought uppermost that the proposition to construct a roadway for vehicles across the state of Oregon from Portland to the California line was conceived and set forth by a few men, who may be called public benefactors. The project includes, in the course of time, a road along the coast; another through the Willamette Valley and another east of the Cascade Range. Certain public-spirited individuals have provided signs, which have been erected along the route chosen through Western Oregon; and the further promotion of the project is largely left to the counties through which the roads are to pass. Many counties have taken up the work, and have accomplished some noteworthy improvements The dream of the Pacific Highway has (1918) been practically realized as all the heavy grades are under construction and will soon be eliminated. Substantial progress is also being made on the Coast Highway through Tillamook and Clatsop Counties and this road is passable along the entire coast for light vehicles.

The Columbia River Highway. No greater instance of genuine public spirit has been given during the history of Oregon than that shown by the people of Multnomah county when they expended the sum of $3,250,000 for the purpose of constructing and paving the Columbia River Highway, through Multnomah county to the Hood River county line, a distance of 63 miles. The former county had voted an TUNNEL AT MITCHEL S PuINT >