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The Descriptiue Log
This information is carefully prepared. Hotels, garages, camps and service stations are selected with the purpose to build up good service. Houses that pay their rated subscriptions are printed in black face type; they and the membership make this travelog service possible for you.
Villages and hamlets are not included, as a rule. They are numerous along the way, so also garages, service stations and camping places. Many hotels fill early. New hotels are being continually built or old ones remodeled. Service improves all the time,'for tliis is an important travelway.
♦Indicates county seats. Inf., Information Headquarters.
FLORIDA—135 MILES
Road Conditions
All State and Federal standard road and all will be paved by the summer of 11)29. At present most of the pavement is laid.
No ferries. Maintenance is good, detours during paving construction well maintained. The Florida sector is one of the best examples of highway construction on the Old Spanish Trail.
Description of Country
The eastern coastal section, palmetto plains and pinelands. This soon gives way to rolling hills, with live oak and other fine trees. Klevations reach 2(>2 ft. at I)e Funiak Springe. There are rich farming sections, truck raising, pecan and satsuma orange orchards, shade tobacco, dairying and poultry. The little cities are paved, have nice public buildings, homes and parks, old trees shade tbe streets. Around Tallahassee many northerners maintain large estates. The gulf shores, bays and waterways are shaded with trees and are very attractive. Across Florida the drinking water is very good. In the western part pinelands again occur and lumbering has been a basic industry. Now homescekers are flocking in and finding the Florida Old Spanish Trail territory good.
Old History
San Agustin was settled in 1565, the oldest city in the I nited States. Ponce de Leon discovered and named Florida in 1512. The l>e Narvaez expedition landed at Tampa Hay in 152S and De Soto in 1530, and both fought their way around westward in Old Spanish Trail territory to the Tallahassee country where De Nunacz turned south to escape by sea and De Soto turned north and wandered thru the south and west. De Soto’s body was buried in llie .Mississippi Kiver, De Narvaez was lost in the Gulf of Mexico, Cabeza de Vaca, De Narvaez’ treasurer and three* others, were the only survivors to reach Mexico and their story Is told under “The Kl Faso Valley/’ Kagged survivors of the De Soto expedition years later escaped down the Mississippi Kiver and to Mexico.
There are records of 38 missions established out of St. Augustine, westward to Tallahassee and up into Georgia. They were probably of wood for no ruins are known except some of oyster shell cement north of Brunswick. Ga. De Luna landed at Pensacola liay in 1559 with the largest expedition of them all. but Indian enmity soon drove him back to Vera Cruz. AYliile the Spaniards were exploring the Floridas other remarkable expeditions were mining northward from Mexico into Texas. New Mexico, Arizona and California. Santa Fe became the second oldest city in the F. S., while others lay claim to existence back in tbe dim past. When the thirteen states were fighting for independence Spain controlled an empire south and west, and Mas building the California missions. Florida was Spanish until 1K21. except for an Fnglisli neriod 17(13-1783: Spain sold Old Louisiana back to France in 1800; France sold to the F. S. in 1803; Texas independence was won in 183(» and that territory was annexed by tlie F. S. in 1815. The Mexican AVar was 181(5-17. The New Mexico-Arizona-Southern California territory was ceded to the F. S. by >10x100 in 1818. The Gadsden Purchase of part of southern New Mexico and Arizona was in 1853.
The fhe great centers of mission and colonization effort of the Spaniards are along tbe Old Spanish Trail—St. Augustine, Fla., San Antonio. Tex., Kl Paso—Santa Fe. Tucson—Nogales, Ariz., San Diego and the C alifornia coast. The Old Spanish Trail of today is a thread binding together for .all time the old Spanish history and legend of three and four centuries past. In these lands tbe padres sought riches to lay up in heaven and the comjuistadores sought riches for personal glory and
o	ten found disaster for their Aain but romantic search. Now a new race is finding riches in the crucibles of industry.
OLD SPANISH TRAIL MONIMENT AT ST. Al’GFSTINE
*ST. AKH STINE. A charmingly attractive city of ancient buildings, streets and lypes characteristic of old Spain. The tropical growths imy,. used witli tlie years and fine old homes and hotels add to the distinction of (lie city.
HOTELS—Open all year: ALIIA.MI5KA. 70 mis. A.P., S4 up: E.I’. !?2 up. KENWOOD. :«) rms.. E.I\ S1.50 up. Also ISEXXETT. MARIOX. MOXSOX. OC'EAX VIEW. Open in winter: ALCAZAR. P,ARCEL< )\A. PONCE I)E LEON. ST. GEORGE. and others. Two private cabin camps, good. Inf.—Chamber of Commerce.
ST. JOHNS KIVEU. Toll bridge at Jacksonville. Toll rate on page 5.
*	JACKSON VIIX K. Gateway to South Florida: tourist and industrial city. Large lumber and naval stores market, railroad center and seaport.
HOTELS—ALBERT, moderate rates. ARAGOX, medium rates. CARLIXG. new and high class. MASON, first-class ciiinmercial and tourist. SEMIXOLE. first-class commercial and tourist. WIXDSOR. first-class, comfortable lounges, faces park. GEORGE WASIIIXGTOX, new and high class.
CAMPS—l’hoenix Park camp on river in a grove, 40 cabins, good.
INF.—Jacksonville Motor Club. (AAA).
MARINE GARAGE—Foot of Hogan St., largest storage garage in South. Mechanics expert on all cars. Open day and night. Wrecker, washing, all attentions. Phones 5-721.'! and £>-4058. Member Jacksonville Motor Club, AAA and OST.
♦MACCLENXY. Village. HOTEL AXNIE over store. Camp space. Glen St. Mary nurseries, ?> mi. west, noted nurseries, open to visitors.
OI.ISTEE. Lodging. Camp space in- live oak grove. Olustee Iia11lefield. Civil War. east 2.5 mi., marked by monument.
*LAKE CITY. .Jet. highway from northern states to South Florida. Important gateway city. Numerous lakes. BLANCHE HOTEL leads. Also POWELL HOTEL. Two cabin camps. 25c to SI.50. good.
INF.—West Const Inf. Bureau or Chamber of Commerce.
*LIYE OAK. An attractive home city, paved streets, old live oak shade trees. Ilogs. dairying, farming, tobacco.
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Old Spanish Trail Document (007)
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