over the mountains; six and a half miles were blasted through solid granite at a cost of $60,000. The people of the West are not daunted by difficulty. The engineering achievements along the OST across the continent are really a romantic tribute to an undaunted courage and vision.
Yuma to Holtville, 52.S ms., being completed now; 6 ms. new plank road over sand hills, balance to Holtville paved. Holtville to El Centro, 11.2 ms. good dirt road. El Centro to San Diego, 123.0 ms., all pavement.
Note—Road conditions west of Texas today are indicated by the report that 83 buses and service cars are on regular schedule between El Paso, San Diego and Los Angeles.
The National Highway Movement
As a result of the Federal Aid laws 7% of the highways of the United States is subject to federal aid, and a national system of trunklines is now the designated and accepted program of the states and the federal government. It embraces about 220,000 ms. During 1923 about 12,000 ms. were improved, making the total of improved mileage January 1, 1924, about 80,200 ms., leaving 139,800 ms. for the years ahead. In addition, maintenance and reconstruction work add to the magnitude of the task.
One billion dollars is the estimated annual expenditure now for highways. Eleven billion dollars is the estimated value of the rolling stock on these highways. A business of incredible magnitude and an extensive engineering force have been created in but a few years.
To the credit of the highway commissioners and the engineers, their achievements in a brief period are one of the epics of American life. Old Spanish Trail officials meet them in various states.
Along the Old Spanish Trail the engineering problems have often been without precedent. Necessary changes in the old road laws have been slow. Financing quite generally has been difficult. Patience and leadership are conquering many a barrier placed by Nature in the path of this highway. Before 1924 ends construction and maintenance will give the people of the nation comfortable travel conditions from St. Augustine to San Diego. The Old Spanish Trail is 85% good now.
OLD SPANISH TRAIL MILEAGE
St. Augustine-San Diego. 2,830 Miles January, 1924
Mileage figures will vary constantly until the present extensive construction is completed. The Old Spanish Trail is building over great river and drainage basins in the East, and over mountains, plains and deserts in the West. In compiling the trans-continental mileage, estimates and allowances in the unimproved sections arc often |	difficult.	This log is the result of a new and careful survey of conditions from St.
1	Augustine	to San Diego.
PRESENT CONDITIONS Eastern Department—970 Miles
Florida, 455 ms. There have been about 6 ms. of bridges to build in Florida. These are building. The roads between are being improved. By the summer of 1924 travel should cross Florida in comfort.
Alabama, 70 ms. Not much progress in Alabama. Mobile Bay 9 ms. wide. Ferry.
Mississippi, 88 ms. Three' counties; two are building paved roads; the third financed for gravel. Construction proceeding nicely, and comfortable travel due in 1924.
Louisiana, 357 ms. Numerous projects under construction. Open for comfortable travel spring 1924,
Texas Department—948 Miles
Texas, 948 ms. Paving construction Orange to Houstpn. One bad county west of Houston. Two bad counties in West Texas. Highway Department takes over maintenance January 1,1924. Completion of present construction and maintenance will make Texas comfortable summer 1924.
Western Department—912 Miles
New Mexico, 199.6 ms. Good all-year traveling.
Arizona, 525.4 ms. Improved highway except about 40 ms. under construction.
So. California, 187 ms. Last contract let. Mostly paved now.
The foregoing means the Old Spanish Trail is rapidly working to a comfortable condition. The engineers are con-,	quering	the	most	formidable	series	of	physical	barriers of
any national highway on the continent.
From
St. Augustine FLORIDA	Miles
St. Augustine_________________ 0.0
40.7
Jacksonville_______________ 40.7
60.0
_ Lake City__________________100.7
24.2
From San Diego Miles
2830.0___
2789.3	__
2729.3	__