The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-06-24
BLAZING THE OREGON TRAIL
Ezra Meeker Visits GoOding In His
Old Time Prairie Schooner
Marking the Old Trail

Quietly and unOstentatiously an
old-time prairie schooner drawn by
two oxen came into Gooding last
Saturday morning. The driver drew
up at the corner of Main street and
Third avenue, unyoked the oxen and
in few minutes had pitched tent
on the commons in front of the Her.
aid office. Main street was filed with
wagons unloading the circus that had
arrived during the early morning
hours, and for time the quaint old
wagon and its occupants were un-
noticed.
When the tent flap was thrown
PACK, disclosing a venerable man with
hcW1ng locks of white hair and long
beard of the same color, the passing
throng paused. 1t was soon learned
That the visitor was Ezra Meeker, the
trail blazer, whose name is known the
nation over because of his work in
reVlving interest in the old Oregon
trall-the highway characterized as
one OF the great battlefields of the
country. The presence of this aged
traVeler-Who admits to being "eigh-
W years young"-and looks it-and
MS conveyance reminiscent of early
pioneer days brought wildly to the
minds of the onlookrs the trails and
v1cissitudes of the men, women and
children who suffered untold hard
ships and met death unflinchingly in
Drawing the unknown dangers of
crossing the plains some three-score
years ago. To the younger genera
lion IT AFFORDED a glimpse into the
past that was interesting, instructive
and yet hard of realization; while to
some of the older ones it recalled
memories of other days when they
passed through the same experiences.
among the visitors to the camp of the
trail blazer during his stay of two
days were few who had crossed the
plains during the COS, and one man
who came across in 1858. Mr.. Meek
ers trip was made in 1862. and a
perusal of his book telling the story
OF this trip is as interesting and eX-
citing as fiction.
The work to which Mr.. Meeker
is devoting the declining years of his
life is a labor of love and sentiment.
He seeks to mark for all time the old
trail made long years ago and now
IN many places lost or blotted out
Dy the onward march of civilization.
In retracing the trail he is locating
the spots where the roads of today
cross 1t and at these spots he would
erect monuments bearing the words,
"Orgon Trail" so that all NAV know
in after years the path the pioneers
trod. To his end bill has been in
troducd in Congress providing for the
erection OF monuments and markers
over the entire length of the trail.
only last month a despatch from
said that the House COM
mlttee had favorably reported the
Humphrey bill authorizing the mark
ing of the Oregon trail, and authoriz-
sd the appropriation of $25, 900 as
he governments contribution toward
me cost of the undertaking. The bill
IS amended to permit the secretary of
var to receive contributions from any
source to fund to be known as the
oregon trail fund, which money shall
)e used, in connection with that ap-
oropriated by congress, in the erec-
ron or suitable monuments along the
oregon trail. In reporting the bill the
committee said:
The Oregon trail was one of the
great battlefields' of the country
The committee quotes the following
lramatic description written by Ezra
decker, of Puyallup, Wash, who was
me of those who went over the trail
more than half century ago and
yho speaks from personal experience.
lie has by his own efforts, and large
y at. his own expense, marked the
rail, and to him more perhaps than
o any other individual is due the in
crest in the subject that has led to
is consideration by congress-
Made possible by the discovery in
1924 of that wonderful gap in the
,ocky Mountains known as the South
ASS, the Oregon trail did not become
national highway until Bonneville
nd Wyeth in 1882 and 1888 traver-
ed the whole length from the Miss