The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-12-15
ERA OF THE MOTOR
TOUR OF mud HEN
A Wonderful Automobile Journey From
New York to San Francisco
And Return.

/ ihoA 6tON III VI tue duLuuOD4iE GFs
marks the final elimination of the darl
and impossible places of our continent
is being demonstrated daily, and per
haps in no section of the country more
so than in the west, rich in its history
of dangers, lawlessness and heroisn
of even our fairly modern times. L
needs only tours, such as the Ohio
Mud Hen" is now completing from
New York to San Francisco and return
to emphasize the wonderful strides
that civilization has made in the pas
hundred years, and how during the
past decade portions of this country
that even the railroads had brought in
close touch with other sections, now
are being united by the persistent and
almost perpetual hum of the up-to-date
motor car
During the past week the Ohio Mud
Hen" has been traversing the famous
Santa Fe trail, which was laid out
nearly one hundred years ago, taking
as its original course an Usage Indian
trail, and being subsequently straigh.
tened out by Col. Nathan Boone, son
of Daniel Boone, the trail" extend.
ing from Missouri, through Kansas and
a part of Colorado, into New Mexico.
For years this trail" was used by
transcontinental pioneers, many of
whom lost their lives in combats with
red sayages or savage white man
and today cars like the Mud Hen
glide peacefully over these same miles,
unmolested by redskin or outlaw, and
being reminded Of those stirring hap
penings of the past only by the ruins
of some frontier landmark, some mem
orial erected by the Daughters of the
Revolution to mark some historic spot,
or a tombstone, crude perhaps but ex-
pressiye. telling of lives sacrificed in
the fight for the upbuilding of new
country.
Thomas w, Wilby. the United States
government representative. who is di-
recting this ideal scenic and historic
tour, writes from Garden City, Kans..
When the Mud Hen reaches Kansas
City rest of day will be made in
order to meet prominent members of
the d. A. r., the organization which is
racnopcihIa fo, tha pIa ctuo ~ s.,arI~....
on the Santa Fe Trail which so great
ly aid automobilists touring across the
country in keeping on the historic
And on leaving Kansas City
we shall still continue on the trail, as
1t now is part Of the so-calIed Missouri
Cross-State Highway, which is better
known as Boone's Lick Road and the
Santa Fe Trail Ii is recorded that
some of the earliest traders, heading
for the Far West, followed an Usage
Indian trail, having Old Franklin, Mo-,
as starting point. and this eventu-
ally became the road to Colorado and
New Mexico The first expedition over
this road started 80 years ago-in
lS21-under the command of Capt
William Becknell, who is known as
the Father of the Santa Fe Trail
Ruins and other reminders of the his
Lorieal points of interest such as
taverns, camps, etc, still are to be
found along the old road, which was
marked and Strengthened by
Colonel Nathan Boone, from st.
Charles to Old Franklin. Mo. i'm 1915.
The first stage coach line was estab-
ished over the road between these
points in 1919 Later the stage coach
ines penetrated farther and farther
westward, and eventually all the road
hat now sees daily passages of auto
mobiles was traversed by these pio-
leers Of transportation.
From Ia Junta. Co. to Kansas City
We have the generous assistance of
members of the Santa Fe Trail Associ-
ttion, who, acting as pilots with their
'ars, are guiding us across this beau
iful country, We have had as many
rs three pilots in one day, and in
very instance they have been of the
greatest assistance to us in making
)ur tour easy and pleasant After |
eaving Kansas City the latter part of |
his week, we will hurry with all speed !
n order to reach Cincinnati within
week of the time we leave Kansas
1ity
After leaving Cincinnati the Ohio
Mud Hen will proceed to Washington
md thence to New York. thus com
'leting the round trip from coast to ,
oast on which the start was made in |