The sun., 1909-06-27
MARKING HESANTAF FE TRAIL
IIsT or COLORADO AND KANSAS
MONUMENTS UNVEILED.

s,,,c school Children and Patriotic
sorletics Have Helped In tho Work
KIT CarsOn's Descendants at the
III Moro and Trinidad Ceremonies.
TorrKA Kan, June 22.-The last OF the
I'M monuments and markers along the
old Santa Fe trail from Kausas City, Mo-,
10 Trinidad. Col, was recently unveiled
at the latter place. The DESCENDANTS OF
Kit Carson. name that will always be
asaoc:4:ed with this once great highway
n the plains over which the commerce
NJ the Southwest passed, assisted in uu-
yelling the monument in the centre Of the
business district Of Trinidad. Granite
markers are now placed at intervals OF
not less than five miles along the Sante Fe
trail through the States OF Kansas and
Colorado. and all that remains to finish
the work is similar action on the part Of
the State of Missouri and the Territory
Of New Mexico. Within few years at
most the work OF marking the trail will
have been completed from its beginning
at Independence, Mo-. to it's end at the
historic plaza at Santa Fe, N. M.
The Kansas branch OF the Daughters
Of the American Revolution inaugurated
the movement several years ago. The
Legislature appropriated $1,000 for the
purpose, but as this was not sufficient to
buy the granite monuments at the quarry
in Oklahoma it was suggested that
penny collection be taken up in all the
schools OF Kansas on January 20, 1905,
the States anniversary. This collection
amounted to about $780, The Atohison,
Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Company
offered to deliver the markers free Of
cost to all accessible points on Its line.
The enterprise was received in every
county with interest and enthusiasm and
generally the boards OF county commits
sioners and citizens along the 500 miles
OF the old trail through Kansas assumed
the expense Of setting the monuments.
thus making the money at hand furnish
eighty nine markers between the Missouri
border and the Colorado line. In addition
to these there are at different points on
the trail six special markers paid for by
individual chapters Of Daughters OF other
local interests, making a total Of ninety
five from the east to the west line Of the
State.
Tho unveiling OF tho markers at Trini-
dad and FL Moro. N. NJ. was an occasion
OF more than ordinary interest, as the
descendants Of Kit Carson participated
In the ceremonies. Both dwellings were
made in one day. FL Moro being FIVE miles
from Trinidad. Formerly FL Moro was an
important point ON tho trail, but to-day
it is simply a collection OF coke ovens
operated By the Colorado Fuel and Iron
Company. Both El Moro and Trinidad
are near the present New Mexico line. and
here the trail turned south and wound
across the Ration Mountains. where many
fights with Indians took place.
The unveiling Of the monument in
Trinidad near the Santa Fe railroad
station took place at the edge Of Kit
Carson Park, tract OF land given to the
city by Mayor Taylor. who was one q
Fit Carson's most intimate friends in
frontier days. The descendants Of Kit
carson who attended the unveiling were
Kit Carson. Jr., Charles Carson and a
daughter Of Thomas Woods (grand-
daughter OF the scout). all living near La
;unta, Col. and Mrs. .Terquina Allen Of
Isaton, N. NJ. a daughter Of the trail
maker.
In the pioneer days Kit Carson piloted
many caravans OF prairie schoonsrs.
Car,ons home was at Taos, N. NJ. and
he supervised the work Of nearly one
hundred trappers. all Of whom were
expert shots and intrepid Indian fight
srs The trapping season lasted from
early fall till late spring. During these
months Carson and his men would be
scattered along the Rocky Mountain range
to the Canadian line. Then they would
bring in their pelts and after cleaning them
and refurnishirg their outfits at Taos
would take them to st. Joseph, Mo-.
where Carson would disposo of tho fuTs
After their furs were sold Carson and
bis men would organize into deta achments
and hire out as guards on the Santa Fe
trail.
1t has been asoertained that in the
single year 1868 there were 5000 wagons,
els horses, 20.Sl2 oxen. S.04o mules. eS
carriages and 500 men engaged in the
freishting business along eng TIN. this 2 th3rongh- ,rt
tho estima ted value OF which was S4o.-
The monuments which mark the original
course OF the great Santa Fe trail through
Kansas are not large. the majority of
them standing about five feet above the
taken from a quarry in Oklahoma. The
tops Of these stones are squared ana
bear simple inscriptions to indicate that
the trail passed the place marked. The
Atchison. Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad
follows this once famous highway from
Ellinwood in Barton county to Cimarron
in Gray county. distance OF more than
100 miles. At every station between these
points a monument has been erected
As Independence, Mo-. was the point
OF outfit and supply, so Council Grove,
more than 100 miles west. was regarded
as the real point Of departure. There
the trains were made up. the captsin3
and other officers chosen and the final
preparations made for the journey. The
entire length OF the travelled route from
Independence to Santa Fe was 7so miles,
45O OF which were within the present
boundary OF Kansas. The traders TO
Santa Fe, the Mormons to Deeeret, the
emigrants to Oregon, the gold seekers
to California the soldiers OF kearny
to the Mexican frontier-an began their
toilsome journeys on the Santa Fe trail.
1t was estimated that 90,00o persons
passed through eastern Kansas during
the years lS48 and 1850. -,
Two points OF great interest on the old
Santa Fe trail in Kansas are Counoii
Grove and Pawnee Rock. The first named
was the rallying point OF all the wagon
trains bound for the far West. Its pic
turesque location in the valley OF the
Neosho River is commented upon BY every
visitor The @old bell on the hill is stil
opa ~ The ,,,.ppp,apfa vvhiCh mark the