The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-05-27


movement to mark the historic
= Santa Fe Trail is reaching its
climax and consummation, by one
Of those ironic freaks Of fate that SO
often come to cap the best laid plans
Of men with an anti-climax the most
notable remaining memorial Of the
old highway is threatened with imml-
nent destruction. This Is the Fonda,
later known as the Exchange hotel,
which was the southwestern terminus
Of the trail from the beginning to the
end Of the commerce Of the prairies.
Il stands at the southeastern corner
Of the plaza in Santa Fe. and was the
rendezvous OF all the freighters,
scouts, plainsmen, bad men, Indian
fighters, gamblers, prospectors, pion-
GERS, travellers. soldiers and settlers In
the southwest when Santa Fe was the
chief mart and emporium beyond the
Missouri After bull team traffic came
to close on account OF the successful
rivalry Of the railroad the old hotel
fell upon evil days. and soon degen.
Grated into a rooming house for So
journers In the City OF Holy Faith.
Then the corner apartments we're used
as a meat market, while the others
were rented out for housekeeping
rooms. But within the past few
months the old adobe walls have be-
gun to bulge alarmingly, making 1t
necessary to prop them Up with heavy
timbers. Naturally the "roomers"
sought safer quarters. the butcher
moved elsewhere and the hostelry is
now vacant. Then an enterprlsing
merchant bought the property and
has announced It as his purpose to
rare the historic block upon the site.
This impending disappearance OF
the last relic OF the Santa Fe Trail re-
naming In the city Of Santa Fe is to
be compensated by the erection Of
memorial arch This win be placed
IN the plaza, directly opposite the
Fonda. at cost approximatlng 1880.
A bill 10 that effect was passed by the
legislative assembly in 1903 II was
provided that the work should be su-
perintended by a commission consist
ing Of the mayor Of Santa Fe, the
superintendent Of the Territorial peni-
tentiary. and third person to be ap-
pointed by the governor. Nothing has
yet been done. but only the other day
Gov Curry appointed Bradford l.
Prince to act as the third member Of
the commission, and the building Of
the memorial VIII proceed without
unnecessary delay by a further pro
vision Of the assembly. the arch muit
be Of stone Quarried in New Mexico
and the work must be performed by
conyiets from the Territorial peniten-
tiarv.
Few Relics Now Left.
The remaining bonaide relies Of
this highway to the southwest are
few. Through a large part Of its
length. the trail is now followed by
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe rail.
road. In many places the rails and
ties were laid along the exact line fol.
lowed by the old wagon trains Cross.
ing the Ration Pass Of New Mexico,
the trail Is distinctly visible from the
car windows; and near the summit of
the divide may be seen one Of the old
halting plaoes-a road house on the
old Southern Overland stage route A
few miles further on IS Starvation
Peak a landmark familiar to every
traveller in the old days, where It is
said that a number Of early traders
were besieged by the Indians until
they died Of thirst and hunger.
Across the region which the Span.
iards called The Grand Prairie but
which the Americans named the
Cimarron desert. was dreaded 60
mile stretch. devoid of either trees or
waters. This is now comprised in
southwestern Kansas. between Rich
field and Hugoton This desolate and
sandy waste is now inclosed by the
wire fences Of cattlemen, but is still
4 unsettled and likely to remain SO; and
here, straight as the flight Of the crow
stretches the Santa Fe Trail, still
plainly visible although no wheels
( have trayersed it for the lifetime oi
q generation. -Four wagon tracks
showing the deep-worn ruts left by
the wheels, the paths trodden by the
feet Of mules and oxen. and the little
ridges between, run parallel as far as
the eye can follow them from the
northeastern to the Southwestern
horizon.
AZ the trade with the southweg