Tribute to a Visionary

By J. R. GABBERT THE STORY of the career of the late Frank A. Miller, master of the world-famous Mission Inn of Riverside, California, is one of the epics of our day. He went forth to battle in support of many projects, which seemed quite hopeless at the start, but which were finally brought to fruition. By his energy and enthusiasm, by the force of his personality and by his shrewd understanding of practical politics, he carried through to success enterprises which in less competent hands would have gained little recognition. Among other things, he proved to be the leader able to galvanize support for good roads in Southern California, and to bring it into being with the necessary vitality to sustain itself through the season of cold indifference to the more glorious summer of real accomplishment. One evening in 1907, there was gathered as distinguished a company as ever met in a general Southern California meeting. Only one man comprehended its full purpose, excepting rather sketchily, and he was Frank A. Miller, who with the same sort of vision that had brought about the building of his famous hotel, had looked into the future and imagined a world traveling on wheels on hard surfaced roads. The host, on that occasion, had expended such an amount of nervous energy arranging for the meeting and assigning everyone's part to him, that the nervous strain had prostrated him and he was able to appear only for a moment at the banquet. On this historic occasion, affecting the good roads movement of California, thefamous Rev. Robert J. Burdette, preacher and humorist, was toastmaster, and the gathering included President Ripley of the Santa Fe Railroad; high officials of the Southern Pacific and of the Salt Lake Railroad, which later became the Union Pacific; General Harrison Gray Otis, fighting editor of the Los Angeles Times; Frank Wiggins, the wizard secretary of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce; and many great political leaders and orators of the day were part of the brilliant company. There were distinguished ecclesiastics, including the Right Reverend Thomas J. Conaty, Roman Catholic Bishop of the diocese of Los Angeles and Monterey. Bishfamous Rev. Robert J. Burdette, preacher and humorist, was toastmaster, and the gathering included President Ripley of the Santa Fe Railroad; high officials of the Southern Pacific and of the Salt Lake Railroad, which later became the Union Pacific; General Harrison Gray Otis, fighting editor of the Los Angeles Times; Frank Wiggins, the wizard secretary of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce; and many great political leaders and orators of the day were part of the brilliant company. There were distinguished ecclesiastics, including the Right Reverend Thomas J. Conaty, Roman Catholic Bishop of the diocese of Los Angeles and Monterey. Bish-

Late Frank A. Miller Carved Niche in Highway Hall of Fame

op Conaty was given the rather difficult assignment of connecting Father Junipero Serra with the good roads movement, and while the bishop pretended to be greatly imposed upon, he concluded by delivering the most eloquent good roads address of the evening. This was essentially the day of the railroads. Automobiles had not as yet come into their own, and an improved highway was one with a hard gravel surface. Many of the prominent railroad officials of the country were looking askance at the prospect of automobile competition, and questioned the feasibility or importance of paving highways to connect counties, cities and states. There were many other prominent people who either manifested inertia or indifference, or even opposed a good roads program, and it required a man of the character and energy of Frank A. Miller, with his abundance of enthusiasm and wide acquaintance among the leaders of the day, to promote great projects.

highway was one with a hard gravel surface. Many of the prominent railroad officials of the country were looking askance at the prospect of automobile competition, and questioned the feasibility or importance of paving highways to connect counties, cities and states. There were many other prominent people who either manifested inertia or indifference, or even opposed a good roads program, and it required a man of the character and energy of Frank A. Miller, with his abundance of enthusiasm and wide acquaintance among the leaders of the day, to promote great projects.

He had proved his quality of leadership (Continued on Page 22)