Sam Hill

"Good roads are more than my hobby, they are my religion."

"Sam Hill, the quirkiest of the Northwest's pioneer business magnates, was building was building the infrastructure for his proposed Maryhill town site in 1909. Hill believed that economic prosperity followed road improvement and he campaigned enthusiastically for 'Good Roads' (most roads in the early 1900s were dirt and rock, boggy and uneven. Gravel and pavement were still rare)."

"Hill proclaimed his gospel to more influential groups, including the University of Washington Board of Regents. In 1907, he convinced its members to establish a highway engineering curriculum at the University with Lancaster as its chair. The position was the first of its type in the country... Hill’s dream of creating a large supply of highway engineers to improve Washington’s road system seemed fulfilled as nearly two hundred students enrolled in Lancaster’s first class."

Scott Cook, Curious Gorge: Over 100 Hikes and Explorations in the Columbia River Gorge

Hill strove to get the WA gov't to build a road on the Columbia's north bank to aid commerce between Gorge, Maryhill, and inland farmers. Initially, with WA Governor Hay's support, Hill convinced Klickitat County to house convicts in a walled tent camp east of Lyle in order to use their inexpensive labor to build the roadway over this difficult cliff-pinched impasse. The progressive use of convict labor garnered national attention and praise. Construction began with leveling the surface and building masonry retaining walls on this one-mile stretch ... until Gov. Hay inexplicably about-faced and pulled the plug on the convict-use idea. Regular wage workers were deemed too expensive to hire for this far-from-anywhere road, so the infant north-bank road was abandoned.

Hill fumed, to say the least. Gov. Hay had personally promised to back his project! Infuriated, Hill successfully schemed to unseat Gov. Hay in the 1912 election. Meanwhile, interest was growing in Oregon for a Columbia River road, and Hill, despite his previous WA ties, joined with OR Gov. Oswald West to campaign energetically for a road on the Oregon side of the Gorge.

In Feb 1913, at Hill's own expense, he brought the entire Oregon Legislature -- 88 men -- out to his Maryhill ranch for a gala event. At this gathering Hill showed-off the experimental roads that he had been building on his ranch with his personally contracted road engineer, Sam Lancaster.

Together they displayed state-of-the-art grading and paving techniques used to construct the "Maryhill Loops." Hill's tenacious boosterism succeeded. Soon thereafter the legislature approved funding for the Columbia River Highway and hired Sam Lancaster to design the project.

The Oregonian, "Sam Hill, Road Builder (on the occasion of his death)"

The citizen who shapes an ideal of service, nor turns his face away thereafter, not only is assured of the great happiness of endeavor but of the opinion and affection of his fellowmen. Sam Hill dreamed of highways and worked constantly with the purpose that his dreams should have realization. He dreamed of gracious and beautiful highways, fore he believed that utility and beauty are compatible, and that men should be comfortable and inspired as they go to and from upon their journeys. And for his dreams and accomplishments he will be long remembered in the West. The impress of his life is on the land.

Now, it is well enough to be of practical mind, for the practical carries one far and achieves a great deal in the span of a single life. But if to this virtue be added the virtue of idealism, then the thoughts of other men are kindled, and the project goes forward as though it were especially blessed by providence. The constant idealism of Sam Hill, expressed in his concern for more and better highways, has furthered this work beyond anticipation. You must believe, and when you truly believe, then you also are of the idealists, and are filled with that providential discontent which denies that things as they are must always remain so. One man, ideal, can accomplish an almost inconceivable labor in a swift few years – as Sam Hill did.

It would weaken the tribute to his memory were we to say that our Columbia River Highway, and the spirit of highway construction that animates the Pacific Northwest, shall constitute memorials to him along. There stands John Yeon, yonder in that same province, who was less articulate in life, but who gave of himself so freely that it may be said the two were in veritable companions-at-arms. And Simon Benson, still living, who advanced money out of his own pocket toward construction in Hood River country and contributed otherwise of means and services. Yet it can be said ungrudgingly, and without lessening in the least that recognition which other services deserve, than no man toiled and planned more sincerely and unselfishly than did Sam Hill. So long as roads endure in Oregon, tracing the rivers, penetrating the mountains, searching out to sea, linking farm to farm, and the town to city, the hand of this man will rest gently on our commonwealth.

And when this is said of him, that those who did not know him may understand the essential altruism and fine chivalry of his character, there needs to be written another line. Only one. He had many friends.

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