Construction

First Annual Report of the Highway Engineer for the Period Ending November 30, 1914

Interest in the Columbia Highway increased rapidly, the daily press giving it their unanimous support. The Columbia Highway Association and its president, Mr. Julius Meier, worked unceasingly, giving it their unanimous support. As interest grew, it spread to other counties to continue the road which Multnomah County had started, as far east as Hood River and on the west to the sea.

In order to have all of these counties act in unison and the work done to one standard it was thought best to have Multnomah County take the lead and place the surveys and location of the entire highway under the supervision of the State Highway Commission, the writer having been retained by Multnomah County as consulting engineer and by the State Highway Commission as assistant highway engineer.

On September 24, 1913, the Board of County Commissioners of Multnomah County passed the following resolution:

"Ordered—That the following resolution be adopted by the Board of County Commissioners: —

"Resolved—-That the Oregon State Highway Commission be requested to take charge of the surveys, locations and all necessary preliminary work for the construction of the Columbia Highway lying in Multnomah County, and that the Oregon State Highway Commission be authorized to draw on the fund of $75,000.00 set aside for the construction of the road known as the Columbia Highway for such work, subject to the further orders of this Board.

"Board of County Commissioners,

"By RUFUS C. HOLMAN, Chairman,

"D. V. HART, County Commissioner."

The planning of the Columbia Highway in Multnomah County was immediately undertaken, and Mr. S. C. Lancaster, Consulting Highway Engineer, of Portland, was appointed Assistant Highway Engineer, and placed in charge of the work in this county. The road was located and constructed under the supervision of Mr. Lancaster. The construction of the Columbia Highway in Multnomah County was carried on by forces employed directly by the County Roadmaster, Mr. J. B. Yeon.

In passing attention should be called to the unusual condition existing in Multnomah County, where one of its leading citizens, a man of great wealth and with a life-long experience in construction work, donated his time to the county and accepted the position of roadmaster to hasten the improvement of the roads of the county. Only of less importance than Mr. Yeon's service is that of Mr. A. S. Benson, a close personal friend of Mr. Yeon, who has worked with him throughout the entire year, practically filling the position of assistant roadmaster.

The greater part of the Columbia Highway has been built in Multnomah County in one season, and the taxpayers are universally satisfied that the County has received a full dollar's worth of work for every dollar that has been expended. All of the credit for this accomplishment is due to Mr. J. B. Yeon, the Roadmaster, and his assistant, Mr. A. S. Benson.

Their own time and the use of their six automobiles have been at the constant service of the taxpayers of Multnomah County throughout the entire season of 1914.

The wonderful engineering, which emphasizes the scenic beauties of the Columbia Highway in Multnomah County, is due to the genius of the Assistant Highway Engineer in charge, Mr. S. C. Lancaster. Elsewhere in the report will be found a description of the Columbia Highway in Multnomah County in Mr. Lancaster's own words.

The climb from Portland, 50 feet above the to Chanticleer, 925 feet, is so gradual in 22 miles that you do not realize the elevation attained until the splendor of the scene bursts on your vision, when you stand looking out for the first time on this panorama and see the great Columbia River stretching far away for more than 35 miles in each direction. Looking to the east you can see where the main range has been parted like a curtain from top to bottom, allowing the river to pass through at sea level.

The first problem was to decide what character of road to build in such a setting; whether to continue the crooked lines, steep grades and narrow roadway originally contemplated, or to follow the best modern practice and build a road suited to the traffic and the place. It was then decided to build a road having a width of 24 feet, a maximum grade of 5 per cent, and the shortest curves to have a radius of not less than 100 feet.

Early in September surveys were started at Chanticleer and the exact location was fixed between Mist, Gordon and Multnomah Falls. Following this a construction camp was established and work started between these points.

The work was begun at Camp 1 in October, 1913; at Camp 2 and 3 in the February following; at Camp 4 in March, and Camp 5 in June, 1914. All work completed November 1, 1914.

Multnomah County has expended $1,250,00.00 in paving this great highway and other trunk roads leading to Portland. Crown Point can be reached in one hour, and the gorge of the Columbia, in the heart of the Cascade Range, in two hours from Portland.

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