MISSION SAN XAVIER DEL BAC NEAR TUCSON
Mission San Xavier del Bac, 9 mi. smith of Tucson, apparently founded 1C92 or 1700. The structure is one of the greatest of the missions; the date of erection is not known. It laid In ruins for CO years, now restored. An impressive picture out of
the desert.	i
highway construction are proud that the soul of the crusaders is not dead.
Two illustrations, one from California and one from Florida, will show the enthusiasms of the early efforts, and of the pluck with which the groups fought their battles when they found that enthusiasm alone was not sufficient.
One of the first “triumphs” was celebrated in Florida with bands and barbecue when $55,000 was gotten together for a vital bridge. That bridge, over the Apalachicola River, was not opened until many years later, and then the cost stood at over $800,000. In passing let me say that many eastern bridges and causeways were “financed” early for sums that then seemed fabulous, and were completed five to seven years later at costs that ran into millions.
San Diego had those sand hills and the Mountain Springs trail. When San Diegans carried lumber to those sand hills and built that plank road back in the early days they too were welding enthusiasms and pluck into a spirit that could not be defeated. So also when they passed the hat in San Diego to blast a trail through granite mountains, and again to help build east of Yuma, Arizona. They kept the way open and held fast until their primitive trails were paved by skilled engineers and an open corridor permanently laid to San Diego’s doors.
It was this crusading spirit in a half of the counties across the continent that has now opened this automobile artery along the trails and through the lands of the Spanish crusaders of past centuries.
May I say that California leaders need now to	j
watch lest the leaders in the East who have opened the new world around the Gulf of Mexico and down
into Old Mexico do not command and hold the travel stream that now is heading that way.
I am not one of the pioneers of this Old Spanish Trail. I did not come into it until 1919. Those pioneers already glow with pride as they contemplate the fruits of their hardships and struggles. I believe there has been behind this Old Spanish Trail something of that omnipotence that at times raises up men and drives them to conquer and achieve.
Two-thirds the drainage water of the United States crosses Old Spanish Trail country. Bridging these rivers and basins has been a mighty task. In the West are vast ranches, deserts and mountains and few people. Yet the highway was built by a pioneer people across this continent despite obstacles and cost. A people that can do that are a people to tie to for future achievement. This Old Spanish Trail country will become the greatest frontier of the American Nation.
Not alone do these construction achievements make one reverent of the conquering spirit of men but some prescience guided those men in the East when they called their dream child the “Old Spanish Trail.” From many Nations come letters that show the spell the name carries—from students, writers, editors, librarians, lecturers and publicists. And from travelers we hear of the same spell. As we develop the old history we are continually impressed with the truth of the name. It begins with the ancient Spanish story of St. Augustine and ends with the romantic Spanish story of San Diego. Wherever the traveler picks up the
IX THE VAIXEY OF THE PADRES SAX DIEGO. CALIFORNIA.
roots sins of tlio padres and their missions along this Golden Coast. San Diego lias a monument to Father Junfpero Serra who administered the many mission building enterprises. Helen Jackson’s “Ramona” Is a romantic story of the mission period and its fall. Here at San Diego also you may look down Into the “Wishing Well” ns you did at St. Augustine and let your spirit for the moment dwell with those of that bygone nud romantic age.