Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-05-23

ployer. 1t was a profitable trip for
La Lande, if not for Morrison Two
years later Lieut.. Zebulon M. Pike set
forth upon his famous expedition.
His report revealed to Americans the
opportunities for profitable trade with
northern Mexico; led to the estab-
lishment of the great and refnunera-
tive traffic over the Santa Fe Trail,
and resulted ultimately in the war of
conquest against the southern repub-
lie, and in the annexation of the en-
pire of the southwest to the United
States Before Pixies expedition lit
tie was known of distances, directions,
obstacles or opportunities in the great
and underlined region called Kan
zas- He mapped the way from the
Great Bend of the Arkansas to the
Rocky mountains, and thence to Santa
Fe and Chihuahua, blazing the trail
for the irresistible progress of the
American pioneers beyond the Mis-
souri,
After Pike-who was anything but a
trader-the first traders to journey to
Santa Fe were those of the Baird Nc
Knight and Chambers party. consist
ing of IL men, who started in 1906
They were seized, taken to Chihuahua,
and cast into prison, where they re-
manned for nine heart-breaking years,
or until the poisoning of Iturbide's
power, when they were set free On
the return journey Mcknight was
killed by Indians, but Baird and Cham
bers reached civilization in safety,
and in 1922 organized another expedf-
ton. This was late in starting, so
that the animals froze to death, and
he fro hod 70
ing of the Arkansas In 1891, William
Becknell started for the Missouri
river, intending to trade with the In
dams of the Arkansas valley; but he
was met by some Mexicans, who per-
suaded- him to continue on to Santa
Fe- His trip was successful, and the
next year he tried it again, taking
three wagons along Although he was
not the first to make the journey, yet
he is known as the Father of the San
ia Fe Trail" That is the tribute the
world pays to success.
Turning Point of Destiny.
Thus was inaugurated the first over
land commerce by way of the Santa
Fe Trail The journey was small in
comparison with some of the trade
routes established by the Spaniards
long before in South America, and al
most trifiing compared with that over
the Oregon Trail that came shortly
after; but it was at least three times
as long as any commercial journey by
land ever before undertaken by the
American people, and in danger and
hardship it was without previous
parallel in our national life 1t marked
one of the turning points of destiny,
because 1t was the beginning of the
great drama. of the Winning of the
great west beyond the Mis-
souri,. History has not yet done justice
to the Santa Fee Trail
The traffic across 500 miles of desert
and wilderness to the inland capital
Of a foreign province was at first ex-
clusively by pack train When Beck
nell employed wagons on his second
trip great surprise was expressed that
no serious obstacles were encountered
to their progress That fact shows
how true it is that the Santa Fee
Trail was a natural highway. At the
beginning of the southwestern trade |
little trouble was experienced with In |
dams Not uE:fl the Texans and some |
irresponsible traders began Indian |
batting were The redmen provoked to |
scalp lifting AIS measure of retaiia- |
ton
Journey One of Hardship
Nevertheless, the long distance that |
had to be traversed over waterless |
deserts, the heat of the treeless plains |
and the sandstorms and tenipests that |
overlook the caravans |
made the journey, under the most !