In 1931, the Inland Route became a part of the State Highway system.
Inland Route Made a State Highway
The Edwards-Kline highway measure adding approximately 800 miles to the State's secondary highway system has been signed by Governor Rolph.
The bill provides that the Inland highway, passing through Vista is to become a State highway.
Supervisor Tom Hurley played an important part in the passage of the bill. As president of the Supervisors Association of California, and as a director of the State of Chamber of Commerce, he was active in pressing the legislation.
Improvements in the highway are looked for after the State takes it over. There are many short curves that need straightening and it will probably be widened along its entire length through Riverside and San Diego counties in time.
(The Vista Press, April 2, 1931)
Even though the bill was signed by April 2, the Inland Route did not become part of the State Highway system until August 15, 1931.
Inland Highway Now a Part of State System
Last Saturday the Inland highway in this county from San Diego to the county line at Rainbow was taken over by the State and hereafter will be maintained as a State highway. It will be known as State route No. 78. This route carries a large percentage of State traffic between Los Angeles and San Diego. The average traffic for Sunday, according to a check made by the State, is 1450 vehicles and 820 on week days, of which 59 percent is through and 41 per cent local on week days, the percentage being reversed for Sundays. The total to be maintained on this route is 112 miles in length.
T. W. Martin of Vista has received the appointment as foreman, and D. M. Marshall, as assistant. Martin will have his headquarters at Escondido and Marshall will be located at Fallbrook. They will have a crew of 10 men, all being employed under civil service rules.
Foreman Martin will have charge of 60 miles of road for maintenance all in the county.
According to Martin, his equipment at the present time includes two 1 ½ ton trucks, one Ford express truck, one power blade, one caterpillar tractor, and one 8 foot scraper.
The first work to be done under the new arrangement will be to cut weeds along the highway, build up the shoulders to the pavement, and as fast as practicable to take out some of the sharper curves. As no large appropriation for this highway is available now it will not be possible to make major improvements that are badly needed.
(The Vista Press, August 20, 1931)
It is interesting to note, the reporter states that the route number was Route No. 78. The original route number was Route No. 77. This may have been a typo error. Route No. 78 was later signed between Oceanside and Escondido.
Here is a map link of the roads that were added to the State Highway system in 1931.
http://vhsm.org/vista_press_archives/1931/1931-03-05.pdf