------------------------------------------------+-----+----------- THE COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY The Columbia River Highway is second only to the Pacific Highway as a commercial necessity in the state of Oregon; furthermore, the Columbia River Highway is the only connecting link between Eastern and Western Oregon that can be kept open for vehicular traffic throughout the entire year. From a scenic standpoint, the Columbia River Highway has now become world famous, not only because of its wonderful natural advantages of location, but because of the high standard of construction. A large part of this combined commercial and scenic road is now open to traffic and the coming year will see the elimination of the last almost impassable barrier--the summit between Hood River and Mosier, a piece of construction 5.8 miles in length which will cost approximately $350,000 for the grading alone. The Columbia River Highway parallels the Columbia River from the Pacific Ocean to Umatilla, a distance of 320 miles, thence southeast an additional 40 miles to Pendleton, where it connects with the Old Oregon Trail. The Old Oregon Trail continues southeast for a distance of 190 miles, crossing the Idaho-Oregon line at Huntington; making a continuous highway 550 miles in length. At this date, the grading of the Columbia River Highway is practically complete from Astoria to Hood River, a total distance of 174 miles, and the greater part of it is now either paved or macadamized. The cost of work completed on the Columbia River Highway between Astoria and Portland during the period covered by this report, after all payments are made will be approximately $866,000.00, of which amount $832,078.35 has been expended to date. The work accomplished consists of 9.4 miles of grading, 51.6 miles of macadamizing, 6 miles of paving, 15 reinforced concrete bridges and one covered wood draw bridge. On the upper Columbia River Highway between Hood River and Cascade Locks, 14.2 miles have been graded, 18 miles gravelled, and a number of reinforced concrete bridges built, among which is the Hood River bridge at Hood River, costing $48,000.00. The total cost of the work completed between Hood River and Cascade Locks will amount to $466,000.00. The sections improved during this period, with their mileages and costs are as follows: