MILLIONS IN CONSTRUCTION
T •• 3oat* ant* bridge construction inaugurated along the Old Spanish rai *be past two years, and involving some ten millions of dollars,is n°" _noaring completion. From New Orleans to San Diego this high-•»! • is 94% improved, and the construction in progress will soon make «t a comfortable drive from Florida to California and give the Ameri-e.in people a transcontinental highway open all winter and connecting all the winter playgrounds.
FIFTY MILES OF BRIDGES
Because this highway extends along the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Texas and then across the vast plains and mountains of the West it has had to overcome unparalleled engineering and financial difficulties. Naturally it crosses all the waterways that How into the Uulf; these drain the whole midland continent and at the crossing points these waterways are frequently broad bays and drainage basins, or rivers that suddenly rise in flood from storms hundreds of miles northward. Over fifty miles of bridges and causeways are necessary. The bridges from the Atlantic to Mobile Bay arc built or building. From Mobile to New Orleans extensive paving and other construction is in progress, and improved ferries will be provided to serve travel until the bridges arc built. From New Orleans to the Pacific all bridges are built or building except at the Mississippi and the Atcha-falaya rivers in Louisiana, and over the Sabine basin at the Louisiana Texas line. Good ferries exist.
COMPLETED IN THE WEST
Another kind of camp is possible in places of unusual attraction Little cabins may be built and furnished to be rented at $1.00 a dav and upward, and a central lodge established where meals can be «erv<xi This permits people to get in their cars or travel bv train and go to some place and “rough it” at small expense. There are many people who want to got away from the city for a few weeks and enjoy the woods and streams. Vacation camps should be financially self-sus-
Cnmbinafion Camps
Sonic- places are combinations or Tourist Camus, Vacation Camp, and of Amusement Parks. Where such camps or parks are on ' * important trunkline, auto parties flow in from a wide territory Th” attractions depend in part on the natural opportunities for cnteriibT ment and relaxation and on the conveniences provided At one n i in Texas, auto parties are so numerous special parking ground?^’ provided with traffic officers in charge. More than 2000 parked . have frequently been 'counted Sundays and week-days -ru, ‘ u -cars swimming pool fitted for all sorts or sport, also bath houses -iml V a boxes, promenades, benches, pavilions, children's playcroundL	;
floor, tents, tent floors for parties with their own enuinmont8’ , .nce sleeping rooms, boats, canoes, restaurant, drinks, etc. Suchw attract and care for the tourist, the week-end par tv or thn Vi ,)ar':s seeker of a day or evening.	' lhe	Insure
Classes of Campers
The foregoing are simply for suggestion. Experience wilt .	.
many things. The basic thoughts to keep in mind are- iti tl ^ a class of well-to-do auto owners who are off for a trip with ih. f 1* or on a week-end jnunt, and they do.,ire nice surround^ panionshtp: (2) There is a large mass of men and women ?°n'-two or three weeks of vacation annually, and who want to . ho, hav* vacation in the country, but they must have locations whereP«K that rent their sleeping accommodations and be free of cooking Vu. can and have opportunities for sport, relaxation and #,ntort..:	*,ro‘)*®ni8.
There is that ever-increasing interstate and transcontinental” : eler. All these are an asset to every community and wher»v*° lrav* people find nice facilities for their comfort the word v . these passed along and that camp grows in popularity; (4, ThorC°”Unual,y class of wanderers who are living largely in the nnhi;..	,s u,so
there are others who litter and muss up the camp	camps, ;ln(j
assets.	’	nose	ary	not
Thru the West the highway is essentially complete from east of El Paso to San Diego, Cal. Mountains and deserts there have been conquered and one of the most interesting highways in the United Slates has been developed. The mountains are crossed by easy grades, and this is the only road into California never blocked by snow.
SUMMER AND WINTER ATTRACTION In winter the Old Spanish Trail has the Gulf of Mexico for its attraction, and the hills and mountains of West Texas, the Mexican border points, and southern, New Mexico, southern Arizona and southern California. This southern borderland country is just as attractive to travelers in summer for then the Gulf bathing and breezes, the Texas hills and mountains, the western attractions, and the primitive camping, fishing and hunting all along the way arc at their best. The Old Spanish Trail is rich in romance and legend, and in old missions and landmarks of the Spanish conquests which had reached their zenith and had passed the two-century mark when the American Revolution was being fought on the Atlantic seaboard.
THE OLD SPANISH TRAIL ASSOCIATION, Inc,
A Membership Organization
The membership is a voluntary band of men and women interest^ in building a great highway from Florida to Mexico and California and developing its travel comforts, and in the preservation or the old landmarks and the old history of those ancient and romantic period-, in the Southern Borderlands where men and empires struggled f0: mastery long before the American Revolution.
All funds are controlled by an Executive Board of business men.
The Department of Beautification plans to beautify, to sign historical places, to work against the roadside advertising nuisance, v. plan distinctive marking, and to preserve the natural attractions atd the wealth of historical values. Engineers, highway officials, women's clubs and boy scouts are cooperating.
The local Councils of San Antonio and Boerne are proceeding t-. make the section from San Antonio to Boerne a model of heautifita tion. Their plans call for many notable undertakings and it is hoped not only members along the Old Spanish Trail but others thruout th United States will learn from these efforts the best methods for th. beautification of the roadsides.
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS S. H. Peck, President, Mobile, Alabama Hurra! B. Ayres, Managing Director, San Antonio, Texas
.	Executive	Board,	National Headquarters, San Antonio
Kenneth Winter, Chairman	Percy	Tyrrell,	Secretary
II. B. Ayres, Managing Director	Leon	N.	Walthall,	Treasurer
Attorneys, Birkhoad, Lang Beckmann, San Antonio
:
TOURIST CAMPS
By the Department of Beautification, Mrs. Henry Drought.
Director-General
The remarkable growth of the automobile travel	com.
already developed need for well-regulated camps, rest r.°°?’ '	0.	yet
forts for men. women and children. The country hotels ha ® ^ advanced to meet the chance. Quite ccnerally they were built I £ . for limited patronacc. Their equipment is not cood, and tn is often indifferent. A few cars of tourists f.Il those'hotels and digai isfaction is often expressed. The country restaurant also is cknciem In the citie3 cood hotel service is always available. .	.	..	,e
Nice camps in the rural communities are appreciated b- tnesj travelers. Lavatories and restful places are essential. Women and children particularly should be remembered. A caretaker and a o s for registration and for the sale of fuel and camp needs is advised. A small Tee for camp space in a park of this sort is also advised.	-
supervision, the protection, the cleanliness and conveniences repn> t
Camps liarborinc hundreds of visitors are not unusual. Attentions to tourists at Sehulenburg. Texas, have been such that, according to records, over .*.000 cars carryinc over 18,000 people stopped at their camp in 1023.
DESIRABLE PROVISIONS
Water. Cookinc. Camp crates. If possible provide cookinc ovens and wood, or cas and quarter meters'.
Comfortable toilet facilities.
Hnthinc pool or shower baths.
Incinerator for burninc carbace and trash.
Tables, benches and lichts around the cookinc ami eating quarter-.
A brush or vine-covered arbor with comfortable seats will provide shade and comforts even tho you have a cood crove.
A pavilion or lodce is also desirable as a storm shelter and for other conveniences or pleasures. Comforts and licht; where tho women can attend to family cares would be another convenience.
Cleanliness and Sanitation Important
By all means keep sanitation, neatness and cleanliness well in hand. Travelers are quick to condemn the lack ol" these and to pass the word alone to keep away from unsanitary or unclean camps.
Don’t have open privies if it can he avoided. They are a menace. Where nolhine better is possible, lime or some other disinfectant should be provided to keep them as sanitarj as possible.
Paint your woodwork white. It is a constant suggestion to cleanliness.
Don’t have advertising around your camp. It cheapens the place.
Communities that are providing real camps are amply repaid! Build up good-will and the numbers that come will increase, and when they go they will scatter words of friendliness.
Vacation Camps
THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY MOVEMENT
As a result of the Federal Aid laws V/t. of the highways of the United States is subject to federal aid. and a national system of trunklines is now the designated and accepted program of the states and the federal government. It embraces about 220,000 mi. During 1923 about , QQO nli. were improved, making the total of improved mileage January 1» 1924, about S0.200 mi., leaving 139,sOO mi. for the years ahead. jn Addition, maintenance and reconstruction work add to the mngni-tilde of the lo“k-
One billion dollars is the estimated annual expenditure now for highways. Eleven billion dollars is the estimated value of the rolling •tock oil these highways. A business of incredible magnitude and an s	engineering force have boon created in but a few vears.
exlensi'c *-**»-	_	_	*
To the credit of the highway commissioners and the engineers, heir achievements in a brief period are one of the epics of American |-fe Old Spanish Trail officials meet them in various states.
A|ong the Old Spanish Trail tho engineering problems have often without precedent. Necessary changes in the old road laws have bce sjonV> Financing quite generally has been difficult. Patience and bec” rship are conquering many a barrier placed by Nature in the path lon h,-s highway. Before 1925 ends construction and maintenance will • the people of the nation comfortable travel conditions from St. Augustine to S,n Diotto.
Division Vice-Presidents S. L. McGIathery, Pass Christian. Miss. Coke R. Stevenson, Junction,Ta A. Fred Bultman, Jr.. New Orleans, La. A. H. Gardner, Tombstone, Ariz.
Honorary Vice-Presidents W. M. Corry, Quincy, Fla.	Mrs.	A.	F.	Storm,	New	Orleans
Mrs. T. A. Banning, Robertsdale, Ala. Mrs. George Scaly, Galveston Mrs. B. II. Scott. Irvington, Ala.	Mrs.	Henry	Drought, San Antor-
Mrs. P. J.Friedrichs, New Orleans, La. Mrs. Bert Couch, Sanderson, Tei
Directors
Fred W. Marsh, Pensacola, Fla. Mrs. A. A. Anding, Opelousas, La. Mrs. Rucks Ycrgcr, Gulfport, Miss. J. C. Baumgarten, Schulenburg, Tev Ed Fletcher, Jr.. San Diego, Calif.
Field Engineer—Harry Locke, Los Angeles, Calif.
DEPARTMENT OF BEAUTIFICATION National Board of Managers. San Antonio
Mrs. Henry Drought, Director-General. Mrs. John Lnpliam. Vi<v Director. Mrs. William Cassin. Vice-Director. Mrs. Sterling PH* Adams. Secretary. Mrs. F. W. Sorrell, Treasurer. Mrs. J. B. LewriS* and Mrs. F. F. Stauffer, Associate Managers.
State Directors
Alabama lira. T. A. Banning. Robertsdale. Mississippi— fucks Yeritcr. Gulfport. Louisiana Mrs. A. F. Storm, Netv Orient
Committee on Desitrn for Historical Mile-Post Mr.s. S. .1, Writ-lit. San Antonio. Chairman. Mrs. Gcorite Seal Galveston, Texas. Mrs. Josephine Coneh. Sanderson, Texas. Mt*. 1 ■ - toll, Irvinieton. Ain. Mrs. Della Human. San Dic-EO. Calif.
HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT Headquarters Section—San Antonio to Boornc Bexar County Council	Kendall	County	Council
; S; £ W- Sorol>- Chairman	Mrs.	Ceorge	Betsey.	Chairman
Mrs ,?rl l’nc* A(iams. Sec.	Mrs. II. E. French. Secretary
• • °hn I,. Pridgen, Treasurer	Mrs. II. C. Pitman, Treasurer
Executive Committee	Executive	Commit
THE OLD SPANISH TRAIL
TRUNKLINES AND TRIBUTARIES
The Old Spanish Trail still has difficult sections. It follows a route of great attraction, also a route of financial and engineering difficulties. Cut all the states are building. Thanks to the organized efforts of the Old Spanish Trail membership and of the engineers and highway officials, it is even now built and well maintained on ninety per cent of its long mileage. Inquiry at chambers of commerce and motor clubs along the way will provide dependable local information. If the traveler is interested in great construction works he will find much to compensate him as he travels along.
THE GREAT HISTORIC HIGHWAY
CONNECTING
* FLORIDA-CAUFORNIA-MEXICO*
OFFICES, SAN ANTONIO, TEXA*/*.