Present Conditions
Zero Mounments
TOT. SAN ANTONIO. TEXAS BOTTOM, SAN DIEGO, CALIF.
The zero stone at San Diego was dedicated 1023 by an address of President Cooi-idge read by Col. Ed Fletcher of San Diego.
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The zero stone at San Antonio was dedicated 1924 by Gov. Pat Neff, city, state, federal and army officials, women’s clubs and the Old Freighters Association.
A monument will be dedicated at St. Augustine, Florida. this s u m m e r or fall.
It will be a globe C ft. in _____________________________
diameter faced with coquina; the walk around it will be a mosaic of coquina—all typical
of the “Ancient City.” It will stand with the Ponce tie Leon monument, the Bridge of Lions and other symbols or Saint Augustine’s romantic history and characteristic o her present-day charm. It is being installed by the LX-cliange Club. Rotary, Kiwanis. Lions, the civic organiz..-tions, and the women’s clubs will assist at the dedicatio • City, state and national officials will attend; it is expec the Spanish Government will send representatives.
The monument will mark the beginning of the Ojd Spanish Trail in its historical reach across the contmei • The dedication will be a celebration of victory by the men and women whose labors, after twelve years of strug» » have opened a new world to tlie American people in lands that were a wonderful world to the Spanish conn'"-tadores and the faithful padres centuries ago.
At the celebration there will be a business session tlie election of new officers of the national Old Spa • Trail organization and to decide upon future policies a that the highway construction is so well advanced.
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Eastern Section—St. Augustine to San Antonio
The eastern section, San Antonio to St. Augustine, is G0% paved; the remainder is good gravel, sand-clay or other improved surface and well maintained except in Baldwin County, Ala., east of Mobile Bay, where distress is possible in wet weather. New gravel road promised summer 192S. Ft. Bend County, Texas, between Rosenberg and East Bernard, has a paved and gravel detour to the north, adding S mi. Construction on tlie main line will last thru 1928.
Only two ferries remain between the Atlantic and the Pacific, the Mississippi River at New Orleans and Berwick Bay at Morgan City, La. The Mississippi River bridge is financed and it is believed construction will soon begin; it will cost $10,000,000.
Tlie East lias 50 to GO inches rainfall. The highway crosses the rivers and bays near the Gulf of Mexico; two-tliirds of the drainage waters of the continent are crossed in this eastern section. Long and expensive bridges, numerous drainage structures and paved or gravel roads have been necessary to create an unbroken and all-weather highway. $54,000,000 have now been spent on this section or appropriated, for construction in progress.
Western Section—San Antonio to San Diego
The western section, San Antonio to San Diego, is 31% paved: the remainder is good gravel or other improved surface, well maintained. This is a dry area with sunshine, hills, mountains and deserts, natural drainage and natural gravels. There are some short sections west not up to good standard for wet weather but distress rarely occurs for dry weather prevails and those sections then are fine, fast driving. When a storm docs occur in the West it is apt to be heavy, caution then should be observed in all sections. $1G.000,000 have been spent in the western section.
FERRIES AND TOLLS
St. Johns River, Jacksonville, Fla., toll bridge. 15c and 20c for automobile and driver. Round trip 25c and 35c. Additional passengers 3c.
Cochrane Bridge, Mobile Bay, $1.00 for automobile and driver. Additional passengers 10c each. 10% mi.
Pascagoula River. Miss., continuous ferry day and night, 50c. Bridge by May 192S, toll 50c.
Lake Pontcliartrain Bridge, east of New Orleans. $1.35 for automobile and driver. Additional passengers 10c. A 15 mi. project.
NOTE—The Pontelmrtrain DridRO lakes tke place of the old ItlRolets and Cliof .Montour ferry route mid shortons the distance I! nil. The Iliirliwny Department is hulhHn(t liridRcs at the Chef and the Riprolets.
Mississippi River. New Orleans, 20c to 40c. Continuous day and night.
Berwick Bay at Morgan City, La., 25c to 35c. Continuous day and night.
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