UNITED CONFEDERATE VETERANS
FLORIDA DIVISION
1
HEADQUARTERS: OCALA, FLORIDA
T. J. APPLEYARD
ADJUTANT-GENERAL
TALLAHASSEE
0 CHIEF OF STAFF
T^RT-'m YXRsXL/C
ALFRED AYER
MAJOR-GENERAL, COMMANDING OCALA
i
Tallahassee, Florida, April 21, 1930.
,..rs. Henry Drought,
St. Augustine, Florida:
Dear Rrs. Drought--
Tlunks for your invitation to attend the "Reception to hr. Harral Ayers," the occasion being the conferring on that gentleman of "the Decoration of the cy; .1 Order of Isabel la Catclica.“ And no more worthy citizen could be found on whom to bestow this than my good friend, -or.
Ayres.
But we should get history straight. The first meeting (official) organise this great highway was held in mobile. A day or two previous to this, at a great good roads meeting held in harianna, the initiative was taken. A well-founded rumor came to the ears of the north and 'Jest Florida delegation that an effort would be made to route this "Trail" through the States of Alabama and Georgia to Jacksonville and then to St. Augustine. A Tallahassee was the Junction of five highways. Therefore (and we all knew the Old Spanish Trail should go through Florida) the delegates from this State went to L.obile some three strong, and ail with fighting blood in their veins, as they felt the honor of their State was at stake. After a two days’ fight, in which Florida was victorious, aiidxKisB in spite of assembling ox bell-hops and others as so-called delegates from our sister State on the second day,
As a matter of fact, the original resolution was written by myself, as Chairman of a committee for that purpose, and is as follows: "Resolved, That this organization shall be known as V&& V/est Florida Highway Association, and that a road be constructed to be known as the Cld Spanish Trs.il, beginning at Tallahassee on the East and running through the counties of Leon, Gadsden, Jackson, V/ashingtcn, Holmes, V/altori Okaloosa, Santa j css. end Escambia (via I'ensacola, to the Alabama State Lin on the v/est, to connect with the Old Spanish Trail contemplated to the IcvCific coast.
2.	Resolved, That its officers shall consist of a president, a vice-president, a secretary, a treasurer, and an executive committee of five, i vhich committee the president and secretary shall be members.
3.	Resolved, That a committee of tnxee be appointed to prepare the necessary constitution and by-laws for the government of the association, to report to a. meeting to be called by the president for action thereon."
Afterwar s, at some meeting I don’t know when, the route was changed so as to make St. Augustine the ending point on the east. There was really no necessity for it, because Road He. 1, at Tallahassee, made the connection. It was xight and proper that St. Augustine should have been cue east-| ern point, because that was (historically; the eastern end, anu ..ensaccla " the western end, as the old "King’s Highway" would undoubtedly be that of "The Old Spanish Trail."
I note the Reception is to be on Lie evening of April 29th. I am trying my best to arrange, to be there with my wife, who is somewhat prominent in club work in Florida, hut an important suit in the U. S. Court in whic we have had ,c sue an insurance company, may orevent it. However,] you have my best wishes. I shall try task; "angels could uo no more."
Respectfully,
___________________________________ -•	J- Appleyard.