The Hood River News, Hood River, OR., January 5, 1923, page 1

UNDERWOOD PREPARES FOR COMING BOOM

     "Nobody," unless they live in Underwood, can realize what the new highway along the North Bank is going to mean to the community which has for many years, nestled under the hills at the mouth of the White Salmon River." Many Hood River people have traveled over the old Evergreen Highway in good weather, on their way to one or other of the resorts in Skamania or Klickitat counties. Nobody ever traveled over this old road in bad weather, because there were too many thrills to suit even the most ambitious. The result was that Underwood, often for many weeks at a time, has been completely cut off as far as road travel was concerned.
     With the completion of the new water level highway sometime this year, Underwood will at times have easy access to the outside world, and, in addition it will get very much of the travel that in the past has either passed the community up or has gone over the Columbia River highway by way of the ferry at the White Salmon landing.
     During the past year a number of improvements have borne witness to the spirit of optimism which now prevails in the Underwood community. In addition to new warehouses and an improved depot, a number of changes are being made at the big store of the Underwood Mercantile Co., in anticipation of the good times which are near at hand. Improvement of travel conditions, too, will mean that many of the Underwood people, including those living on the heights, will more frequently visit Hood River, the road between Underwood and the orchards section above having been widened out and graveled until now it now ranks as a first class highway.
     As Mr. Smith says, the future of Underwood now looks very bright, which proves the value of a water grade highway.

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer