While traveling to Laurel, Mississippi for a meeting, I noticed that US 84 was also marked with signs saying, “El Camino East/West Corridor.” I immediately thought, “Column idea!” Upon consulting with my husband's “friend, Mr. Google” I found this information.
“The El Camino East/West Corridor is a 1,729-mile east/west corridor which stretches from Brunswick, Georgia to El Paso, Texas, traversing the states of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.” http://elcaminocorridor.org/history.asp
The El Camino East/West Corridor is loosely based on El Camino Reale, or the King's Road. “The earliest network of caminos reales, which connected the governmental center of New Spain, in what we now call Mexico City, with Spanish outposts in New Spain and in today’s United States, was based on old trade routes used by Aztecs and other Indian groups.” “Not every route used by the Spanish during their exploration and settlement of New Spain met the requirements for designation as a camino real. Caminos reales were routes that connected economically important Spanish towns, capitals of provinces and mines that possessed charters conferring royal privileges. The status granted to these villas, capitals and mining areas was extended to the routes used by government officials, military troops and others traveling between them on the business of the crown.” https://texasalmanac.com/topics/history/origins-camino-real-texas
In my research I ran across columns rejecting the idea of El Camino East/West Corridor. They believed that since it was not strictly historically accurate it should not be done. Others believed that the highway was needed and the historical aspect, even if not strictly accurate, made it more interesting.
I am considering a return trip when I have time to stop at the museums and other attractions along the way.
One of the things which interested me was crossing the Tombigbee River. The Tombigbee winds through parts of Mississippi and Alabama. It provides one of the principal routes of commercial navigation in the southern United States, and is navigable along much of its length through locks and connected in its upper reaches to the Tennessee River as part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.
I was surprised to learn that the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway was first proposed in Colonial times. It was abandoned at that time as being too expensive, if they could figure out a way to do it. Parts of it were revived under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt as part of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Some of the dams and locks created by the TVA provided a way to finish the Tenn-Tom. The project was finished during the Nixon administration.
I remember there being some controversy about the necessity of completing the Tenn-Tom. Some people argued that it was not worth the expense. Others believed it to be needed and worth completing.
It was interesting to me to find out there is a connection between a controversial highway and a controversial waterway. I think both are useful, the highway as an east-west highway in an area where it is needed, and the waterway as a boon to shipping and other commercial interests in the Southeastern US.
Our next ASHS meeting will be Tuesday, November 20th. This will be our Thanksgiving celebration. The turkey is being provided. Those attending are asked to bring side dishes and desserts. We will meet at 6 pm in the Leach House located on 4th street near Jefferson Avenue in Century.
