The Old Spanish Mission Fields The Spanish missions were numerous tliruout the Spanish possessions in the Americas. Five Spanish mission centers are In the present United Stntes along1 the Old Spanish Trail; four of these were extensively developed outposts of the mission chains that readied from the administrative centers in Mexico. Now Orleans was a French mission center. During the Spanish occupation of Louisiana and the Mississippi Valley Spain established missions and settlements but later French influence was re-established. ST. AUGUSTINE. NORTH FLORIDA—SOUTH GEORGIA First, was St. Augustine, Fin., settled in 15C5. There are records of 38 missions in the Florida district. Old Fort Son Luis. Tallahassee country, was an important section. The Florida missions were probably of wooden construction. The only standing ruin known is of oyster shell cement in a forest north of Brunswick, Gn. EL FASO—SANTA FE. THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY Second, the Santa Fe—El Paso district. Don Juan Ofialc colonized near Santa Fe beginning 1508. The El Paso mission settlement began in 1C59 and the Spanish colonized from El Paso to Santa Fe. In 1G80 the Indian rebellion and massacre occurred around Albuquerque and Santa Fe; the survivors fell back to the mission at El Paso, and a new group of missions in the El Paso Valley was established. SAN ANTONIO. EAST AND SOUTH TEXAS Third, the San Antonio district. The beginning, however, was in northeastern Texas (Nacogdoches section) in 1G90 with intermittent attempts to establish missions there. In 171G-17 four new missions were established there. In 1718 the mission now known ns the Alamo was transferred to the present San Antonio and^the remnrbablo Texas mission works were definitely founded. Five mission groups and ranches wore developed along the Sun Antonio River; great- stone churches still remain and two of the irrigating aqueducts still function. Four other mission fields were occupied in southern Texas. NOGALES-TUCSON. SANTA CRUZ VALLEY Fourth, the Nogales—Tucson district, Arizona and Mexico. Contemporaneous with northeast Texas and San Antonio. Beginning in . 1G91, the mission efforts spread far and wide and remarkable churches were built. Present Conditions Eastern Section—St. Augustine to San Antonio The eastern section, San Antonio to .St. Augustine, is 05% 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 is under construction. Ft. Bend County, Texas, between Rosenberg and East Bernard, lias a paved and gravel detour to the north, adding S mi. Construction on the main line will he completed during 1020. 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. The East has 00 to 00 inches rainfall. The highway crosses the rivers and bays near the Gulf of Mexico; two-thirds of the drainage waters of the continent are crossed in tliis eastern section. Long and expensive bridges, numerous drainage structures aud paved or gravel roads have been necessary to create an unbroken and all-weather highway. $01,000,000 have now been spent on this section or appropriated for construction in progress. Western Section—San Antonio to San Diego Tiie 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 aud 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 does occur in the West it is apt to he heavy, caution then should be observed in alt sections. $10,000,000 have been spent in the western section. FERRIES AND TOLLS St. Johns River, Jacksonville, Fla., toll bridge, lac and 20e 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. Bridge, toll 50c. THE CALIFORNIA COAST Fifth, the California proup. Tlicv wore built a day’s journe.i s!!irr>i21 m}8sio"S >'i all bepinninp in 17G9 with the Missior ban Dlopo do Alenin, now San Dlepo, and extending north o oan Iran cisco. NEW ORLEANS. FRENCH, WITH ITS SPANISH PERIOI French mission center wns nt Now Orleans, embrncinf 01d Lm,ai„ ‘° '“st nnd Lafayette, La- to the west, and thrnoui sottlemem? Pu,rinc <• OST, Is New Iberin, an Acad nn- : — nneienFe111* , y *s :l bike known ns Spanish Lake. Ihcrl. undent Spanish Irlbo name. Lake Pontchartrain Bridge, east of New Orleans, $1.35 for automobile and driver. Additional passenger 10c. A 15 mi. project. Alternate route by free ferries across the Chef Menteur and the Rigolets. The ferries run continuously day and night. The ferry route is longer hut -10 to 00 minutes time is saved by the bridge. Free bridges are being built over Chef Menteur and the Rigolets. Mississippi River, New Orleans, 20c to 40c. Continuous day and night. Five ferry crossings. Berwick Bay at Morgan City, La., 25e to 35e. Continuous day and night.