Kansas City daily journal., 1896-11-16

Spanish called it FL Moro. It is capped by
several layers of sandstone of unequal
sizes that cause its outline against the
sky TO suggest a castle with its turrets
and towers hence the name of the town.
We now reach Trinidad-Trinity. Do you
sec that monument on that high peak
north of town? There is the burial place Of
Simpson. an OId-timer who had a fight with
Ute Indians on that mountain some thirty
years ago.
He, requested his friends to burr his
body there. Upon his death a grave was
blasted in the rocks and his request COM
pliei with. His daughter was, at a later
date buried beside him.
Now. as We reach the western limit Of
the town. do you see that small. artificial
lske2 1t is called WoOten lake. Just be
yond it in that struggling house died old
Dick Wooten, in August, 1892: or was 1t
1892 ! was here at the time, but have
forgotten the year.
Wooten came 10 New Mexico some sixty
years ago. Later he obtained franchise
from the Mexican goverEment-this was
then a part Of Mexico-fCr Il tod road from
here to the other SIDE OF the Ration noun
fains. n distance of about twenty-five
miles. WDyten built ana maintained toll
road here until the advent Of the Santa
Fe railroad in 1873 ] believe that was The
date He dcfeI the railroad. He held the
key to the Standardization pass.
BY the treaty OF GuadalOupe HidalgO-
in iSiS-ihe United States obligated itself
10 fulnE the contracts made by the Mex
lean government in all the ceaed territory.
This treaty obligation caused the con-
frrnation Of WOoten's franchise. Although
twenty miles Of his road was on and across
the Maxwell land grant, he held Ration pass
until the Santa Fe Railroad Company
bought him out and he moved down here
and as stated above, died fifteen years
later.
From about the time of the Mexican war
until Is78-about thirty years-Woot"n liv-
ed about three miles this side Of the pass
by tho side OF his toIl-road. which be"am"
4 part OF the great Santa Fe trail after the
Fremont expedition of iAi.
Xii Carson guided Fremont past this
house of his friend. Dick Wooten. Later
Carson lived near WOgtcn. The ruins or
two old adobe buildings may still be seen
on the west side o! the railroad track
which mark the spot whore these two
frcnt!ersmeu lived for many years. 1t
Va while living In this cabin that Carson
made a good part Of his record as a scout
and Indian fighter. Passing emgrants and
frrl-hters depended on him in a large de-
gree to recover straying animals or women
and children that were sometimes carried
away by the Indians. and held for ransom.
Many oId-timers insist that Carson had an
understanding with the Indians on the
subject OF making captives OF women and
children and their restoration 10 friends
under such circumstances as 10 make a
hero Of Carson IN the eyes Of the deIuded
em grants and, through them. the outside
Wsrlf.
Before starting mp the mountain. let me
tell you something Of the peculiar history
Of this country. Four hundred years ago
the Tte Indians held the mountains and
the COrnanchcs. Kiowas, Cheyennes and
Arapahoes fought nearly every year for
the ownership Of the plains below and
east Of here.
From 1882 to 1GS0-a period Of ninety-eight
ycars-it belonged nominally to the Span
lsh. From 1850 10 no. thirty years. it vas
again In the possession Of the Indians.
From 17l0 10 1871. III years, II belonged 10
Spain again. From ls2i "a 1876. a quarter
OF q century. IL was 4 part Of Old Mexico.
In 1876. General Sterling Price. OK Mis-
rouri. marched an American army into
New Mexico auG took possession in the
name Of the United States New Mexico
then extended eastward TO the lJ1th meriI-
Ian and north 10 the Arkansas river
Now we slowly ascend the Ration noun
I talus. Near the top We pass the station
Of wooten and Immediately enter the tun-
mel
{ ON emerging we get the first view OF
/ New Mexico and a few minutes later reach
Ration by the way. Ration means mouse.
We may now look out on some Of the
/ best grazing lands OF New Mexico. We
/ pass Maxwell statNn-headquarters for the