Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1912-11-11
great work.
GIVES KEYS OF CITY.

+ great work.
GIVES KEYS OF CITY.
Gentlemen of the Ocean to Ocean
Highway association, you are in the
house of your friends. We give you
4 the glad hand. Go in and out among
| us assured of our utmost cordiality
and good will as well as of our ma
/ terial and moral support
Nov a few words along other
lines
"There were the days of the Path
finders, when the vast trans Mssis-
sippi region was explored and
brought into communication with the
organized territory of the Union.
There were the days of the his
toric old Santa Fe trail, that great
primitive highway of commerce be-
tween the Spanish civilization OF the
southwest and the Anglo-Saxon civili-
zation OF the east
There were the days Of the old
Turnpike of the Atlantic states and
Ohio country.
There were the days of the Louis
and Clark expedition of exploration
through the Louisiana Purchase and
up to the mouth of the Columbia riv-
er, laying the foundation Of our claim
to the Oregon country
There were the days of the
George Rogers-Clark expedition into
the Ohio and Illinois country.
but back of all these primitive
trail blazers and road builders were
the Conqristadores, who, more than
three hundred years ago, blazed the
trail and builded the road over
which the caravans OF pioneers came
up the Rio Grande and planted the
banners of civilization and the en-
blem of Christianity here in this very
capital OF the 47th state in our great
republic.
in these days of our marvellous de-
velopment, wealth, and constructive
genius; in these days when, under
your leadership, we are joining hands
of the greatest of all works of high
way construction, let us pause long
enough in passing to pay a reverent
tribute to the memory Of the Con-
who were pioneers in
this cause here in New Mexico long
before it entered into the mind of
man to erect in this western world a
great republic as the land of the free
and the home of the brave.
"ln view of the unequalled profu +
sion OF historic incident that clusters
SO richly around this ancient capital
it seems foregone conclusion that
here on this spot that marks the west +
ern end of the famous trail, here at /
this ancient seat OF civilization and +
reclamation OF the great southwest, (
shall be erected a station for rest re-
and historic study along the T
great Ocean to Ocean Highway.
And now, in conclusion, a word of
cheer to you as promoters of this
great cause.
More than 300 years before the be-
ginning of the Christian era there
was begun the great Appiam way,
the standard of greatness in highway
through all subsequent history. 1t
was begun the great Appian way,
$50 miles in length when completed
rom Rome to Brundusimu. In name
t bears tribute through all modern
history to its great originator and
irst promoter Appius Claudius Cae
Gus Those of us who are classical
read Of it in the poems of
Horace and the histories OF Livy Our
school children from age to age read
,f it in their histories in varied
ongues. 1t has been subject of in
riches in song and story
IND historic research and archaeolog
cal excavation during all these
Years.
at lives today as a towering monu
nent in the pages Of imperishable
history to the constructive and pro-