6 (’amino* Real by the Spaniards, is understood to be the main traveled road; the King’s road, the toll road, when taxed by orders of the King. From 1519 to 1S42 the development and civilization of the Spaniards had reached its summit and waned, and the growth of a great people and a world power, from a few struggling colonies on the Atlantic Coast, begins the story of the pioneer, who led the way across this great continent, and by right and might added the western territory to our domain. Then the Old .San Antonio Rond became the scene of the Texas pioneer and colonist daily toil and heroism, as it bound the two in mutual welfare, unifying the Texas spirit and solidifying of the American nation. When Moses Austin returned from Mex’co in 1S10, he returned to the States by the way of this road, dying later from exposure. Mis son, Stephen Austin, in taking tip his father’s work, traveled over this road to San Antonio and Mexico, when he was given permission to select lands between the Trinity and Colorado rivers, south of this old road, and the trees stand as a witness today to the survey. Stephen F. Austin pased over this great overland route from the Mississippi valley with his first colonists and it was afterwards the current stream of our race progress. The story of American expansion is the story of the old trails, the story of the pioneers. Texas was not cradled by any other state, but unaided and alone save by those American friends who passed over the San Antonio Road, she conquered the Southwest by her sword, and won her independence. Stephen Austin on his first visit to Texas noted in his diary three victims lately slain and the skulls and many bones scattered along the road. In the year of IS2G, Austin resolved to make a campaign against the Indians and various squads were stationed along the San Antonio Road from San Antonio to the Brazos river to detect any inroad of the Wacoes, whose depredations had become f requont. Hon. Wlilliam 0. Bourland of Missouri in the House of Representatives January 4, 1917, said,—“It is these International Highways that the Daughters of the American Revolution have interested themselves in preserving. They are as sacred to us as battle fields. They record the steady triumph of peace. These trails were not built like the roads of ancieut Rome, or other Empires to bring in the revenue of distant and unwilling provinces. They were built in order that the torch of civilization might be carried into the wilderness. Only in rare instances did they resound to the tread of martial hosts; but day after day, year after year, was heard the music of the creaking wagon and the lowing ox. All of the mighty host who crossed these highways were armed, not alone with the rifle but with the ax and spade. They took with them not the ammunition wagon and artillery, but herds of live stock and bales of household goods, implements of husbandry, and the women and children, 7 tlie evidences and guarantees of a future State, the earnest of permanent settlement and the basis of an American homo. The long line dotted with the cabins of the pioneers—the outposts of civilization. And even as the stars came out in the blue depths of heaven above they looked down into the green expanse of prairies beneath and caught the faint spark that reflected back somewhat of their own heaven born light. Each tiny spark in the sea of grecu marked the lighting of another hearth fire in an American home—another alter erected to Country and to God.” “These trails have not come to us by chance. They are the true index of the nations progress. The life history of a people. That they are linked in a complete chain from ocean to ocean is not a matter of accident, but each link represents an epoch in the growth of the Republic.” They are the autograph of a nation written across the face of a continent. This road is shown on .“Historical Outline Maps for Students of Texas History” in ilustrating those periods of discoveries; its eras of filibusteis, colonization, revolution, republic and state. It is always a straight line across the state, touching only the points of Rio Grande Mission Babtista, San Antonio and Nacogdoches, and from now on every child can follow its route. The title of King’s Highway on our monuments will always call to mind the production principle which it symbolizes, through the evolution of our State’s history and that it will always call to mind the thought—“the things of this life can be transferred from the action of King’s to those of the plain gentlemen. The name of the Old San Antonio Road indicates that we were builders of a Republic, when the nation stood at the cross-roads in its path of progress, and the Texans, with unity in purpose and in ideals, made themselves felt until the Royal Territory was scattered in a thousand fragments, and they an end in themselves. What poets and philosophers have dreamed, wo, the Daughters of the American Revolution are trying day by day to do; to keep our heads clear for right and justice, so that when, a thousand years from now, writers of the American history can tell these far-off generations the rise and the influence of the Texas history, under its six flags, in the making of the American nations. For the guidance of mankind along this ancient highway of life, are now being set sign posts of granite, to mark man’s struggle for advancement, from which has sprung our civilization today, and to remind us that we as builders, are the builders of a nation yet to be; that the faith that has impelled us into it, may still drivo us forward on our experimental way.