The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-04-03

80 SAAAA0s5O JS(CA4AS I'll Inc ElA1 W NJ U.s..
From the Apalachicola river to New
Orleans are 33 miles OF great water
ways and drainage basis (not count
Ing minor rivers) and now we see so
luttons to all OF this. FIordda's four
waterways, Apalachicola. Choctawhat-
chez, Blackwater and Escarnbia bay,
embrace 5 "a miles Apalachicola is
representing completion, Choctawhat-
chez is under contract Blackwater is
, finished. Escambia is ready for the
builders.
@Now the next, Mobile bay, miles,
is ordered
Through Mississippi, along that
wonderful gulf coast, are one river and
two beautiful bays. Traffic Is flowing
over these now without discomfort.
We now see our way clear, with this
gulf boulevard movement, to bridge
all these without undue delay
Louisiana, into New Orleans. has
serious drainage areas, but Louisiana
has 100000 to $4,000, 900 a year now
and this little section is New Orleans
outlet eastward, and also her outlet to
her gulf playground. It will soon be
on construction. Nine miles is now
AAAAO@ Is d SOIAI-
pleted gravel road, which will expand
to meet traffic. She has three bridges
in this section, and they will be built
now.
Very remarkable things are in ac-
tive progress on this Old Spanish trail.
Great changes will be effected in traf-
fic flow in the next few years It is
| time the people of the east were think
ing and planning for these changes.
The gulf coast boulevard will revolu-
tionize conditions between Pensacola
and New Orleans. East Florida should
| now have a similar conference to plan
for this new traffic flow. 1t takes
years to work out highway program.
East Florida doesn't realize, perhaps,
how much basic work has already
been done in the west, nor the remark
able things that We're accomplished at
the Mobile conference That confer
ence packed all sessions. 1t thrilled
every one for they suddenly visualized
| a great comprehensive program, and
saw the way to put it through now
they are united, constructive force.
That vote, 10 to 2, for Mobile bay
| bridge shows the great organization
behind this movement. This gulf
boulevard section, embraces orphan
sections OF four states. Pensacola
| westward, Is miles, is surely an or
phan as to Florida. Alabama, 20 miles.
| is orphan to Alabama, a little point
i sticking down into the gulf and sepa-
rated as by a Chinese wall from Ala :
| bama. Mississippi, about 95 miles is
| along the CULTS edge. Upstate Missis
l Ss{fN Ni1lYa IC0l hat
| very distant relation Louisiana
marshland area east of New Orleans to
| Mississippi line, is an orphan if ever
there was one. But no one who at
tended that two days at Mobile will
ever again think this section friend
less. The Old Spanish trail is going
through from Pensacola to New Or
LEANS with a wonderful program OF
| construction. Over one-half of this
gulf boulevard is now financed for paw
/ ing.
Now in each OF these four states
we must work to make this section of
the Old Spanish trail primary high
way. State highway commissions are
| reluctant to give primary designation
| to some parts because they want high
ways in their respective neighborhoods
to have that preference. Yet this Old
| Spanish trail MUST carry ALL the
traffic that all these north and south
highways send. 1t must be built
heavier and broader than north and
south feeders. 1t will be national
reservoir of traffic. Federal engineers
understand this, but state officials, in
their natural desires for this in their
own sections, are sometimes trying to
overlook this fact The national Old
Spanish trail Organization will take
these questions up with the road bu-
reau at Washington where states for
get primary requirements. Fortunate
] ly in but two short sections in this
| primary neglect threatened. All Old
| Spanish trail workers must guard on
this point. Too much traffic is coming
to take chances now"
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