MINUTES OF ANNUAL CONVENTION OLD SPANISH TRAIL ASSOCIATION. HELD AT GULFPORT. MISSISSIPPI, January 38-39, 1931.
Officers presiding:
First Session:- II. A. McDonald, Beaumont, Texas. Second Session:; Frank Sutter, Pass Christian, Mias.
The convention was called to order at 3:00 P. M. January 38, 1931, at the Great Southern Hotel, Gulfport, Mississippi, the .Managing Director, .Harral B. Ayres, San Antonio, Texas, acting as temporary chairman in the absence of the President.
Mr. Ayres in opening tli;: convention delivered a message from Harry L. Miller, 'President, explaining hie absence and wishing the delegates a successful convention.
Hugh A. McDonald, of Beaumont, yexas, was nominated and elected chairman for the session. He accepted with a few well chosen words end formally opened the meeting for the transaction of business.
In the mbnonce of tbs Secretary, Harry J. Vogel, Son Atonic, Texas, was appointed secretary pro tempore.
Mayor Charles R. Hayden of Gulfport was introduced end welcomed the delegates to Gulfport and the Gulf Coast. Ho stated, thss he was a man of action rather than words and desired to oeo something in the way of'action accomplished during the convention.
Managing Director Harral E. Ayres submitted a report of the work of the past year'Which was accepted and adopted.
Senator J4hn Craft, Mobile, Alabama, was introduced and made m address covering the value of this continental highway to the various communities through which it passes and urged the delegates to see that it was properly supported. Ho impressed on the assembled delegates the wonderful historical value of the highway to the Nation and also spoke of the various bills tnat were being introduced in Congress relating to the road building program of the nation a.:? a whole.
At this time announcement was made by Chairman McDonald that a delegation from St. Tammany Parish, j.ouliiona, was present, this delegation having traveled fifty miles by automobile, and twelve miles by barge to attend. He also stated that this delegation would have to return to Slidell, Louisiana, that night. Dr. J. K. Griffith, Slidell, Louisiana, was giventhe floor. Reporting for St Tammany Parish he stated that the people there were going to put the Old Spanish Trail across the swampc in their parish. A special road district has been formed, every voter visited, and on February-15, 1931, they would vote through road bonds for $250,000.'
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