Burlington Ilotol asMngton, D.C. June 5, 1S2B
Mr. R. 0. Riddle,
Chamber of Commerce,
Jacksonville, Pla
Pear Mr. Riddle,-
Here is a word of interest about the "Lone Star Highway.” The AAA. files show a map dated January 1, 1922 of this "Highway" from Chicago to St. Louis, to little Rock, to Lake Charles, to Houston, to Brownsville. I cannot speak for this 'Highway1 north of lake Charles, hut from lake Charles to Brownsville it is on our lines and in our territory, and in this district it has no existence, and no chance for existence. From Houston to Brownsville is a section ’here the OST and the Texas Highway Commission and the federal engineer have Been planning for a long while to scout and lay down a highway. The country is so primitive that planned trips 3Lave again and again been postponed.	'.Then	the	highway	is
decided upon in that section it will he thru this ofificial cooperation, and will he built..as a carefully selected trunkline for the OST around the Gulf to Mexico.
The .-.AA has sowhn this "Highway” on a map it is just issuing, except that it has not duplicated its numbering on the main line of the Old Spanish Trail.
I have told Mr. Kld±±dge of tho activities and markings of the "Lone Star Highway” in southern Alabama, souther ; -Georgia, and thon on the OST in Florida in an effort to get to Jacksonville. Have also stated to him that I am certain this ''Highway” has no connection, ox <^rfr~T^b«aaagfcaon, across Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana to connect with the claimed "Highway" to Lake Charles. There is no trunkline of importance possible across that section of country.
.Apparently this is but a repitition of a familiar practice of gotting a "highway shown on maps of some national organization, then attempting to capitalize this by operating in some distant section where the real truth is not oasily known.
The "Mississippi River Scenic Highway" practiced this. Rand McITally Co., show them on the OST lines in West Louisiana to Houston, and from Mobile to South Florida. The .LJL helped to stop their operations. I have asked Mr. Sldridge to write to you and obtain confirmation of the operations of the "Lone Star" in your section, for both Mr. Bldridge and the aAA are desirous of doing their full part to keep this highway work on a sound basis.
You are to be congratulated on your insist and consequent refusal to give these 'Lone Star" people recognition in Jacksonville.
Sincerely,
Managing Director Old Spanish Trail.