Ogden Standard-Examiner | 1926-01-10 | Page 8 | Unusual Machine Opens the Road Across Snow-Bound Mountain Pass

UNUSUAL MACHINE OPENS THE ROAD ACROSS SNOW-BOUND SNOW MOUNTAIN PASS Hy By y NEA Service I EUGENE Ore Jan The D-The Th famous McKenzie lIau which cuts through th the Cascade Cascade mountAins between Eugene and Bend has al- al always al always ways been locked from November until June with snow now that often otten attains attain Id n I d depth of 20 feet or more morl This route H miles milea In length Is IA the tha sole aole conn connecting link between western and eastern Oregon and AM when It Is le blocked It Is la necessary to go from one tilde stile to the other by way vay of ot Portland and The Dalles I n a l distance of ot mor more than miles But this year the pass pan ha has ben been conquered by a 8 strange device called the snow motor a II machine thAt wriggles and twists across th snow covered snow enow road rond at a 1 speed of from flom se seven sen n to 10 miles an hour Nothing stops It for It pulls up the steepest grade or over the deepest drift with scarcely slacken Ill slackening slackening ing Its spud speed p ed towing behind It a aled sled led with a capacity of 14 passengers passengers gers REVOLVING nE DRUMS Th The machine Is s founded on a sensible principle It consists of oC a powerful tractor motor mounted on I two large drums each about s six feet long and two feet Ceet and one one- one halt half In diameter On each drum drumare drumare drumare are spiral l flanges two and one one- one halt halt half Inches high running spiral- spiral spiral like like from the pointed front to the tho rear similar to the he Interior of II a meat cho chopper pcr When the tho drums revolve toward each other the ap- ap apparatus ap apparatus Is le forced forward through the snow The device Is fe guided the same a as a II tractor by slowing down the speed of ot one or the other of oC the drums arums Tho The first trip over the snow snow- snow covered covered pass has hAil been ben successfully made Motor carried cl pas pas- pas passengers to the snow line the snow motor took them for tor 16 18 miles across the summit and at the theother theother theother other snow Know line thy they were met by b Y another stage which transported them on to Bend About 16 miles of ot highway cov- cov covered cov covered ered with a depth of snow varying The Snow Motor Makes a Brief Stop On Its IIo TrIp Across the Snow Snow- SnowBound Bound l Pass ss from six Inches to four feet feet was traversed with the motor Th The amount of ot snow will Increase as winter continues CROSSES ON OX SNOW The first trip over o the snow snow- snowbound snow bound bound McKenzie Pass revealed II a country of ot marvelous beauty The McKenzie Pass Pass Is a wonderful sight In summer with the majestic Three Bisters Slaters SI ers peaks rising grand grand- grandly grandly ly Iy to tho the south louth and leB lesser er moun moun- mountains mountains taine visible In the east cast and north but when these great mountains are covered with gleaming snow when the tho lava laVIl beds which In sum sum- summer summer mer mcl look like great heaps of ot huge cinders arc are glossed over with the white blanket that th t covers all but buta buta II a few Cew stubborn mounds the sight Right Is one ono of ot the most wonderful In America REGULAR ROUTE nOUTE The motor wilt maintain a 0 rc regu- regu regular regu regular u lar schedule ule over the snow locked snow pass paM making the trip each way every t day Sleds that will wilt haul cars across are arc to be built and then It will be possible for tor motor motor- motorists l ista to drive to the snow line have hav their cars taken across and pro pro- proceed pro I down the other side The motor Is being watched with Ith interest by th entire Pacific I coast because It will save eave a II days day's I time between the thc western and eastern sections ot of the tho state stale and It 11 will open up the tho famous McKenzie McKen- McKen zie le to winter travel travel-a travel a project long dreamed of by the people who love the beautiful region