The usefulness of the Old Spanish Trail lias been greatly impaired by the Srale Highway Commission’s action in changing the names of designated highways in Texas, asserts H. 15. Ayres, managing director of the O. S. T.
lie points out that the Highway Commission, about a month ago, designated the Old Spanish Trail from Orange to El Paso, the Stephen E. Austin Highway. Since then, he said, the commission had droped this name, and renamed it the Jefferson Davis Memorial Highway. He said the highway from the lied River to Laredo has been designated the Jefferson Davis Highway, which causes a confusing similarity in names.
“If persisted in, this means the destruction of the Old Spanish Trail from St. Augustine, Fla., to San Diego, Cal., as a National highway, for Texas, with one-third the distance across the continent, can make or break the project.’ Ayres said.
History of Organization,
‘‘The Old Spanish Trail Association was organized in Mobile in 1015, and lias been a continuous active organization over since. At a conference in Houston in 1010. San Antonio was asked to assume the National headquarters work. The value of connecting such a project, across Texas was recognized and (he San Antonio Chamber of Commerce apropriated $1.-000 and otllers followed loyal support. In the 10 years, members have spent over $100,000 personally. They have succeeded not only in making the Old Spanish Trail a connected .tra
maps, in Government manuals, at. schools, libraries, colleges and with all magazine editors interested in out-dor life and auto travel. It has inspired more magazine and newspaper itors. If let alone it will be the National highway.
“Its name, its historical background, its potential service to National tourist travel, and the possibilities of its territory for settlement, development, fishing,	camping	and!
resting, all appeal to the Northern ed-j itors. If let alone, it wil be the Na-! t ion s’ best known highway.
Work Imperilled.
“The Old Spanish Trail Association in the last 10 years has published
10.000	service and general maps* 10.-000 four-color lithograph wal maps;
50.000 miscellaneous	leaflets	and
booklets; 20,000 travelogs, and now has a wealth of material ready for a Texas Travelog of 20,000 copies, magazine and feature articles have reached a circulation of over 4,000.000; over
2.000	miles of roads have been marked and new marking is necessary; zero milestones have been dedicated by Presidents and Governors; field men have traveled over 50,000 miles in this work, in the early days they wallowed in mud and mire working out courses of the highway across the continent; now the women are organizing and beautifying the highway, and they, too, have made great contributions to the service.
“Is all this now to be broken down and all this time and mono,,
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