[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 30, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1450-E1451]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DESIGNATION OF EL CAMINO REAL DE LOS TEJAS AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 30, 1999

  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I am privileged to introduce 
legislation that would designate the Camino Real de los Tejas as a 
National Historic Trail. This camino real, or

[[Page E1451]]

royal highway, forged the way for the early development of Texas into a 
Spanish colony, an independent Republic, and a state in the United 
States. As the first great highway into Texas, this camino real opened 
the door to trade and cultural exchange which continues to impact our 
lives today.
  The State of Texas recognized the critical importance of these royal 
highways in 1929 when the state legislature designated portions of El 
Camino Real de los Tejas, later known as the Old San Antonio Road, as 
one of Texas historic trails. State Highway 21 marks the trail's 
pathway in many parts of the state as do state historical markers. 
Designation as a National Historic Trail would greatly enhance the 
resources available for trail preservation and public education of its 
unique and important history.
  The National Park Service completed its feasibility study in July 
1998 pursuant to PL 103-145. The study concluded that the proposed 
trail met all applicable criteria in the National Trails System Act (PL 
90-543). Last Congress, the Senate passed similar legislation, the 
Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail Act of 1998 (S. 2276). 
The House did not consider this bill nor a companion bill which I 
introduced in the House (HR 4724).
  The bill I am introducing today contains a number of important 
changes from last year's version. In an effort to clarify the intent of 
the legislation and to respond to concerns raised during the bill's 
consideration last Congress, I have worked with the National Park 
Service to add language addressing the concerns of private property 
owners. The bill now states unambiguously that no land or interest in 
land can be acquired by the federal government without the willing 
consent of the owner, that the federal government has no authority to 
condemn or appropriate land for the trail, that the trail will not be 
established on the ground unless a private property owner voluntarily 
requests to participate, and that designating the trail does not confer 
any additional authority to apply other, non-trail federal laws. These 
provisions reflect my desire to assuage any concerns that a national 
historic trail in Texas would negatively impact private property 
owners. In fact, the experience of the other existing national historic 
trails suggests just the opposite--private property owners can and do 
benefit from participating in the trail program, but only if they want 
to do so.
  The Camino Real de los Tejas as defined in this legislation 
collectively represents a series of roads and trails extending for more 
than 1,000 miles from Mexico City through Saltillo and Monclova in 
Mexico to Guerrero and Laredo along the Rio Grande, converging in San 
Antonio, the provincial capital of Texas from 1772 to 1821, and then 
heading north and east to Los Adeas, the earlier provincial capital of 
Texas from 1721 through 1772, now located in Louisiana. Beginning as 
Indian trails from the earliest days of human activity in the Americas, 
the trails developed under the Spanish as routes of exploration, 
missionary work and colonization. The earliest Spanish route stems back 
to the travels of Alonso de Leon in 1689 and Teran de los Rios in 1691. 
During the next 150 years, explorers, traders, ranchers, armies and 
missionaries blazed a series of trails through South Texas to San 
Antonio and from San Antonio through East Texas and Louisiana. 
Immigration, from both the east and south, traveled along this 
transportation system.
  These trails gained different names over time. In South Texas, 
beginning at the Presidio del Rio Grande and ending in San Antonio, we 
find the Lower Presidio Road, or El Camino de en Medio; the Camino 
Pita; and the Upper Presidio Road. A separate Laredo Road linked Laredo 
to San Antonio and the Camino Real system. Two major arteries extended 
northeastward from San Antonio: the Camino de los Tejas along the 
Balconies Escarpment; and the Camino Arriba through the Post Oak 
Savannah. Both of these routes converged again in Nacogdoches, Texas.
  All told, various portions of the Camino Real de los Tejas now in the 
United States extend for some 550 miles and together make up 
approximately 2,600 miles in combined length. They served as critical 
trade routes, post roads, cattle trails, and military highways and 
opened Texas to the world.
  The Camino Real de los Tejas linked the Spanish in Mexico to their 
new outposts in East Texas in the late 17th and early 18th Centuries. 
These early settlements provided a Spanish presence to counter early 
French exploration of Texas. The Mission San Antonio de Valero, later 
known as the Alamo, was established along the Camino real route and 
later served as a focal point in the military battle for Texas 
independence. Critical supplies made their way to the American Colonies 
during the War of Independence via the Camino Real de los Tejas trail 
system. The Camino Real de los Tejas road system provided the main 
transportation route for Mexican and Texan armies during the Texas 
Revolution and continued to play a major role in future military 
actions.
  Recognizing the significance of the Camino Real de los Tejas and its 
historical importance grounds us for the future and provides 
opportunities for today. Trail designation will help enhance tourism 
and economic development in the many cities and towns along the trail 
system. Local museums and historical sites will be given new 
opportunities for growth. The San Antonio Missions National Historical 
Park, an important and beautiful network of missions in the San Antonio 
area, can provide a base of operations for trail activities. A number 
of public roads, state parks and national forests can provide public 
access to this important piece of our history. As we strive to boost 
international trade, develop our local communities, and enhance 
educational opportunities, we only have to look to El Camino Real de 
los Tejas for inspiration.

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