The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1911-11-16

from the Missouri river to the
mouth of the Columbia, follow
ing the route of the old Ore
gon Trail, is the ambitious pro-
]ect that has received the indorse-
ment Of automobile clubs, good roads
associations and men prominent in
state and national affairs. AS yet the
project Is little more than a dream
but 1t is of the kind of dreams that
come true.
Although the old Oregon Trail start
ed at Independence, Mo-, and proper
ty terminated at The Dalles, Ore, it is
planned to start its successor Ito be
known as the Pioneer Way at St.
Louis, and to continue it on to the
south of the Columbia, total dis
lance of approximately $500 miles.
When completed, it will be unsur-
passed among the worlds highways
In its historic associations, and in the
variety, beauty and sublimity OF the
natural scenery along the way. 1t
will traverse or enter seven states,
cross the roof of the continent at an
elevation of 7,450 feet, and finally de-
scend to sea level. 1t will pass through
the wheat and corn fields of Kansas
and Nebraska, cross the high plains
Of Wyoming, traverse the newly irri-
gated lands OF Idaho, and give a
pire" Of eastern Oregon.
From St. Louis, the Pioneer Way
will follow the Missouri to Independ-
ence. Thence 1t will 60 up the Little
Blue river, reaching the Platte at
Grand Island. For $50 miles it will
follow the Platte and Sweetwater, to
South Pass-that hardly perceptible
crossing of the Rocky mountains, T.
$50 feet above the sea. For 100 miles
the route lies over an almost level
plateau, 1000 feet and more in height.
On this long stretch, with snowy
mountains in sight for much OF the
way on both the north and the south,
far from centers of population, in a
region absolutely uninhabited and un-
lnhabitable. the old Oregon Trail is
Just the same today as it was SO years
ago, with the exception that the thou
sands who then traverset it have dis
appeared, and that 1t has relapsed
into it's primeval solitude. Mile after
mile of the roadbed Is as distinctly
outlined as ever, worn by the wheels
Of tens of thousands of prairie schoOn-
ers and the hoOfs of millions OF draft
animals and pack animals to a depth
IF from two to fifteen feet. and to
width of anywhere from twelve to one
hundred feet.
Then Green river is crossed. with
Its rocks and palisades. Farther on is
the ford OF Bear river, after which
hat stream is followed for forty miles
% Soda Springs. Ito miles from In
dependence. Here the later Califor-
MIA Trail turned off to the southwest.
The road to Oregon continued on to
the Raft river. where the old Califor-
mia Trail-the one followed by the
aforementioned to the south.
Then down the Snake river ran the
road to Oregon. This will be the
most picturesque and beautiful long
stretch of the Pioneer Way-just as
1t was the most difficult part of the
Oregon Trail. Past American falls,
Twin falls, Shoshone falls (called the
Niagara OF the west). Upper and Low
or Salmon falls, down Boise river, up
the seemingly impossible face OF the
Blue mountains. through the pleasant
glades of great pine forests, across a
dust-cursed desert, and and at last to
the broad Columbia. Where the trail
first strikes it, the Columbia is a mile
wide; but 1t soon reaches the remark
able chasm known as the Dalles,
where it Is pent between rock walls
from 100 to 200 feet wide, and where
no plummet has ever sounded its
depth. Here is literally river
turned on edge"
Pleads for the Old Trail.
Present day interest in the Oregon
Trail is attributed solely to the eff
forts of Ezra Meeker OF Puyallup.
Wash. who for five years has devoted
himself to a unique campaign to Sc
cure tho speedy marking and ultimate
boulevardine Of the old highway He
went to Oregon in 1852, when he be-
came a prominent figure among the
fortunes. On January %. 1906. he
started on what he calls his Oregon
Trail Monument Expedition. AS an
object lesson to the vast majority,
who know prairie schooners and bull
teams" only through the medium of
books and pictures. he drives a team
ii red oxen. hitched to an oId-fash-