Imperial Valley Press

Motorcade From Florida To Pass Through Valley

The El Centro Chamber of Commerce has just received advice concerning the motorcade from St. Augustine leaving October 2, and traveling a distance of 2743 miles, over the route first traveled in America by Spanish conquistadors more than 400 years ago.

The caravan will use in part the Broadway of America and the United States Route 80. The Old Spanish Trail is now open for comfortable motor travel from coast to coast - 70 per cent of the distance is paved, and the rest is good going. The route includes more interesting territory and sights than exists elsewhere in the world. In 1926, Col. Ed Fletcher, of San Diego, made the entire distance - then 2850 miles - in the family car in 77 hours.

Starting with no less than 100 cars from Florida - Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, will contribute recruits until no less than 500 motor vehicles are in line when El Centro is reached.

Owing to the military importance of the Old Spanish Trail, it is believed that the United States War Department will supply a number of scout planes to accompany the motorcade and serve as contact agencies. It is also possible that one of the great aviation companies will lend a modern passenger plane for the occasion.

Representatives of the national news agencies will be asked to accompany the motorcade to insure the maximum of publicity of the event and let the people everywhere know that an all year open road exists across the southern border of the United States.

This affair will be conducted on a grand scale, consistent with the importance of the highway and the states through which it is located. Knowledge of these states and use of this highway will benefit the nation as a whole and the southern states in particular, beyond description.

The governors, city officials, and civic organizations, along the route have agreed to sponsor this event. Nothing will be omitted to make it epochal in every respect, it is stated. El Centro and the chamber of commerce will do their part in entertaining the motorists, say chamber officials.