highway construction arc proud that the soul of the crusaders is not dead.
> illustrations^sonc-frcm .Californi-a'and-one-froin 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 gstcczt---------
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. 3 t vh, ✓vv>-*Xe.-
r '' h	1


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 iic’iu fast until their primitive.trails were paved by skilled engineers and an open corridor permanently laid to San Diego’s doors.	*
In ’Vest Texas a road hod to be 1- id for U-ZD -.ilss c cross the c t+le ranches,
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thread I-;'' tl.ru pastures and entailing double line of fences to protect c ttle -nd travelers. The ranchmen hud lit41c need for . expe..aiv hi-hr: y yet they pro *iood it should o thru* The bonds they voted "dr. - hi'jh per-C'-pit tax. Then us individuals they built the fences. "o- they are t uorh -odernizi th't ru_ ysd '"est Texas hill sector.
h- 7+ ;5 crusadi ~ spirit in 11 'hese sov.t* cr: \order 1 ud St tea t/-t hoops this co- .tr- 33 hntcresti . ; t! t h ~ r.ov: o. ened +his uto -.chile artery • ion^ the tr iis ■ nd thru the lands of the Sprr.ish crus: !ers of ;-oi centuries.
'"hose odern 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.