-2- continent; now the women are organising and beautifying the highway and they too have made great contributions to the service. Is all this now to bo broken down and .all this time and money to be wasted? And what explanation can we as Texans make to these other states from Florida to California that trusted our loyalty and entrusted the national work to Texans? V/hat is the Texas situation with a trunkline north and south and one east and west, both marked Jefferson Davis and both of thorn already nationally known highways of interstate and international character and with nationally recognised names? And v/hat of the great travel movement that depends upon tho national trunklinos to carry thorn on their interstate journeys? Texas is the middle third on the Old Spanish Trail. Its geographical location will give it large advantage in bringing and keeping travel in the state. Texas has lands to sottlo; it needs investment and development—-all this good will and national interest built up by ton years of work should not bo lightly cast aside. Texas, in naming roads for local sontiment, should not interfere with highways of interstate and national character. The Lincoln Highway if named and narked according to the ideas of each state would soon lapse as a national highv/ay known to everyone and sought by tens of thousands in their overland trips. Plans involving tons of thousands of dollars are now "in the air"— --printing travelogs, maps, developing campsites and travel oomforts, marking, beautifying, meetings, field work—-there can be no dependence on finances or on tho allegiance of tho workers in other states, or in this Stato, and national magazine) articles ore in abeyanoe with a half dozen editorial requests before us. It is suggested this calls for such editorial and other attention as you can give. Texas has a vital interest in the preservation of the Old Spanish Trail projoct, and in its utmost development and publicity. north Toxas has the same interest os South Texas for travel must pass southward to get to this trunkline. The idea of marked copies to the Highway Commissioners and others is also submitted. It is a serious thing to hamper, hurt or break a projoct that hes achieved so much mid that now is enjoying unrivalled construction progress in all its states, and that has built up suoh favorable recognition all over the United States. Sincerely, May 5th, 1925 HBA/b H. B. Ayres, 03T Managing Director