The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1919-06-07
COMP PLET|NG LINK
OF SPANISH TRAIL
URGED BY LEADERS
Conference Held at Sliden, La, to
Further Project of Road from
New Orleans to Gulf Coast.
DELEGATES FROM PELICAN AND
MAGNOLIA STATE MEET.
Bay St. Louis and Hancock County
Had Live Delegation-Mayor
Webb and H. s. Weston.
FROM THE sLIDELL SUN


many parish and of. the counties of
the Gulf Coast of Mississippi met in
mass meeting at Slidell Thursday and
appointed committee Of five, clothed
with full power to use any means
necessary to bring about the imne-
date completion of the link in the
Spanish Trail National Highway be-
tween New Orleans and the Mississip-
pi State line.
Early completion of this link in the
Spanish Trail is considered of vital
Importance to New Orleans, the Mis-
sissippi Gulf Coast and to st. Tam
many Parish, and it was the senti-
ment of the mass meeting, plainly
and unmistakably expressed, that the
work on this highway, which was in
terrupted by the war, should be
speedily finished.
While the mass meeting was pri-
marily st. Tammany parish affair,
the citizens of the Mississippi Gulf
Coast were invited to participate, be-
cause they were equally interested in
the construction of the highway and
lrage delegation from the Magnolia
State came by automobile and joined
IN the conference.
The mass meeting assembled at II
a. m. in the auditorium of the High
school building, with Mayor L. Badon,
of Sldell, presiding. DR.. ]. K. Gri-
fifth, of Slidell, explained the object
of the meeting which was to have a
full and free discussion of the Span
ish Trail Highway situation and to
| devise ways and means to have the
link between New Orleans and the
| Mississippi State line completed, es-
pecially that section in st. Tammany
| parish.
Claims Funds Inadequate.
DIR. Griffith related the result of a
conference with Duncan Buie, State
Highway engineer of Louisiana, dur
ing which Mr.. Buie, he said, gave lit
tie encouragement about early con-
struction Of the highway Inc through
| st. Tamany parish. Mr.. Buie claim
ed, DR.. Griffith said, sufficient funds
are not available for building both
the New Chef Menteur and
the New Hammond highways
| and for that reason the State high
way department was disposed to
hold up the work on the ST. Tammany
link
Dr. Griffith took issue with the con.
| tentions of Mr.. Buie, and called at
tention to the language of the amend.
ment of the constitution. ratified last
! November, which provides the New
| Orleans Chef Menteur road shall be
completed first. DR.. Griffith said
while he did not wish to place any
obstacles in the way to prevent the
construction of the New Orleans.
Hammond highway, for he thought
that section is entitled to a modern
road. he would insist the mandate OF
the Constitution be complied with
and the Chef Menteur route built.
The speaker then called attention tc
report that is in circulation, causing
many citizens to believe .'there is &
bug under the highway chip" This
report, he said, was to the effect The
Jackson National Highway route was
to be changed by running the line
from Poplarville, Miss, to Bogalusa
La, thence to Covington, and from
Covington to New Orleans via Ham
mond, thus ''leaving Slidell off the
map and forcing the Mississippi
Gulf Coast autoists to traverse {
long and cireuitous route to reacl
New Orleans.
1t was also reported, DR.. Griffith
said, Governor Theodore G. Bi1bo, O:
Mississippi, whose home is in Pop
larville, had had hand in changins
the Jackson Highway route, but h,
could not vouch for the accuracy o.
this.
| "Slidell," DIR. Griffith said, SIS tn,
natural gateway for the Spanish Trai
and the interests of New Orleans ant
the Mississippi Gulf Coat, as well a.
ST. Tammany parish, demand earl,
completion of this link. Slidell stand
for the square deal. We want
| square deal ourselves, and we arr
| equally as anxious that others shoult
have a square DEAL"
! DR.. Griffith Chairman.
At the conclusion of DR.. Griffith
address the mass meeting went int,
| permanent organization, and the fol
lowing officers were elected:
! DR.. J. K. Griffith, chairman; A. C
Everett, vice chairman, and F.F. Wig
ginton, secretary and treasurer.
The meeting decided to place Sli
dell citizens in all of the offices, be
cause it was believed better result,
could be obtained by concentratin,
the organization at one place.
/ With the organization completed
discussion of the Spanish Trail stu
alton was resumed. Sam Stone, com
missioner of Public Property, of New
Orleans, was invited to give hi
views. Mr. Stone explained the New
Orleans-Chef Menteur and the New
Orleans Hammond highways buiit
but the Chef Menteur link was con
sidered the most important work t,
be done at this time. Mr.. Stone sal,
while that was the attitude of the city
New Orleans could do nothing be
yond extending its good ofices,fo
the reason that the constitutions
convention amendment ratified i