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when the land in the counties was first granted to the Texas colonists.
With the map and records prepared for the D. A. R. Js by Prof W. 15. Dunn, that had been identified by Morfi (the explorer’s diary in 1778) calling for Camino Real, across Texas, giving his calculations from point to point and noting the topographical gestures along the route, and with the earliest land surveys of Mexico’s grants to its colonists that lay along the road, the road is now verified and geometrically surveyed, from the Sabine river to the Rio Grande river, by the State’s appropriation of five thousand dollars. While at the same time the suveyor, V. N. Ziveley, has placed a post numbered every five miles, on the west banks of rivers, county boundary lines, and cross-roads to the number of one hundred and twenty-three.
Major V. N. Ziveley has prepared a topographical map of his work .in fourteen sections, showing all of the features found along the survey, mounds, missions, sites, etc., and giving below in notes his impressions and origins as notated. His map of the road shows it goes back to primitive times, and that 'its windings were determined manly where the Indian villages lay, and where the missions were placed to Christianize the Indians, and to hold the country and prevent contraband trade across the province. Also its decimal figures show it is the same load that figured officially defining the boundaries and limitations of Mexico’s first colonists’ grants
The King’s Highway, or Old San Antonio Road, was hero at the coming of the Americans. It was traveled by the Spaniards after Spain had taken possession of the country, placing it under military and religious rule, by establishing Missions and Presidos close to the French boundary at Natchitoches, La., on the Red river. Here was located the Capitol of the Texas Province at Adae Mission, fourteen miles West of Nachitoches, now Robclin, La. When the road was traveled in the conquest of the country from 1716 to 1<<2. when the Capitol was removed to San Antonio and there it remained until IS3G.
Doctor Milton Dunn of Louisiana, who lias in course of preparation a history of Nachitoches, La. writes—“I am continuing this survey from Pendelton on the Sabine river to Cathedral Natchi-loches. Thence on an old abandoned Track to Saint Maurice on Kc«l river, thro Winn and Grant Parishes, crossing the Catahoula or Little nver, at the junction of the Castor and the Hugdcmonia. U,ei.<-«. across LaSalle and Catahoula Parishes to Ilarrisbury on the Ouachita river—across Sicily Island through the Mississippi m\amps ta Natchez. Some one else will have to continue on Huchenm St. Denis route to Mobile?” From Mobile, Camino Real liiris to . Ill ; ugustinc Ma. And it is suggested as the Missions mi	( V0'1’ wonsm, Philadelphia and San Augustine,
b lorida and . an Antonio Texas, were contemporaneus, trails Roads might be located connecting them.
Tradition, history and romance are intimately associated with hts highway, which represents the locality in which the types of !lir';" ;i''T appearance and take their place and position tn Texas lnston. A great moral land mark blending the five his-
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toric elements; the Indian, the French, the Spanish and the American.
First the trail was marked in Eastern Texas, East of the Trinity river by the Confederacy of Hainai Indians in going to and fro between their villages, as shown by the mounds of Indian villages of DeSisles maps of Louisiana and Texas of .1718.
This map describes St. Denis commercial route across Texas to the Rio Grande.
Second ,thc trail was the paramount road in the land question, when .Mexico opened its lands to American colonization, and it has an official standing in the Texas Republic laws.
When the Mexican Government came to distributing its lands to the Texas colonists, its laws regulated and governed that these grants should be on the south boundary side of the San Antonio Road, or the north boundary side of the San Antonio Road, that was maintained in the field notes of those counties where the road ran, and many of the trees today are still standing as a witness to the first survey.
Then when the site of the Seat of Government was selected for Texas, the old road was adopted to promote the welfare of the State, as the Commissioners appointed were requested to select a site above the San Antonio Road in Central Texas to draw immigration to the frontier, and close the pass through which the Outlawed Mexicans had traveled for ages across the State to Natchitoches, La.
The King’s Highway, Camino Real, or Old San Antonio Road, extends from Natchitoches, La., across Texas to the Rio Grande, going to the City of Mexico.
The King’s Highway, Camino Real, or Old San Antonio Road has been the theatre of some of the greatest contests in civilization. There is no set date just when the road was first traveled. It goes back to the Indian Confederacy, as the ancient maps indicate, by the mounds, and shows its windings across Texas is determined mainly where the Indian villages lay, and where Spain placed Mission and Fortress to hold the country against the French, and to prevent contraband trade with Mexico.
The King’s Highway is a product of the ages. When we use the word “King’s Highway,” it; is really by way of expression of what this highway means. Since it is not the improtance seen at the roots of every action, individual, communal or National. Does not the occult nature hide a secret, whose unfolding has been the universal quest of all ages?
The word King’s Highway is derivative, by tracing to its original source. Many of the ancient maps of Texas call for the Royal Road. When Webster defines the word Royal, as Majestic, relating to the King, in the services of the King, or founded by tho King.
The truth remains, our power of expression is dependent on the knowledge of the laws and customs of the country.