Although the assessed valuation of Multnomah County is more than thirty-five per cent of the total assessed valuation of the entire State, this County has renounced all claim to any share of the State Funds available for road purposes, and will construct and maintain in a high state of improvement, at its own expense, all State Roads within its boundaries. This liberal attitude of the people of Multnomah County is to be commended, and it makes available for expenditure in counties outside of Multnomah County, a much greater amount of money than would otherwise be the case. The roads of Multnomah County represent some of the heaviest grading construction, some of the best improved and some of the most scenic highways to be found anywhere in the world. The Upper Columbia River Highway is by many considered the most scenic highway in the United States, and attracts a multitude of tourists annually. An interesting tabulation of the amounts expended by Multnomah County in the construction of the Columbia River Highway, both above and below Portland, is appended: COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY, EAST 82D STREET VIA SANDY ROAD TO HOOD RIVER COUNTY LINE ==============+=====+===========+===========+===========+============= Section |Miles| Pavement | Grading | Bridges | Total --------------+-----+-----------+-----------+-----------+------------- Sandy Road to |10.29|$183,001.41|$ 5,000.00|$ 14,845.33|$ 202,846.74 Troutdale | | | | | Sandy Cut-off | 2.47| 47,506.74| 94,389.04| ... | 141,895.78 to Auto Club| | | | | Bridge | | | | | Columbia River|26.68| 495,507.75| 601,012.13| 169,586.71| 1,266,106.59 Highway to | | | | | County Line | | | | | +-----+-----------+-----------+-----------+------------- Totals |39.44|$726,015.90|$700,401.17|$184,432.04|$1,610,849.11 --------------+-----+-----------+-----------+-----------+------------- Total Construction Cost $1,610,849.11 Engineering 72,004.95 ------------- Grand Total $1,682,854.06 VISTA HOUSE AT CROWN POINT Building $68,314.36 Retaining Walls and Pavement 30,833.69 ---------- Total $99,148.05 ST. HELENS ROAD, PORTLAND TO COLUMBIA COUNTY LINE LENGTH, 16 MILES