Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-01-31

luS NlloSOull IifOi " lhS
mouth of the Columbia, follow
f. ing the route of the old Ore
gon Trail is the ambitious pro-
ject 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 dream
but 1t Is Of the kind OF dreams that
come true.
Although the old Oregon Trail start
ed at Independence, Mo-, and proper
ly 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
tance 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 1850 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
glimpse of the famous Inland EN-
pire" of eastern Oregon.
From st. Louis, the Pioneer Way
will follow the Missouri to Independ-
ence. Thence it viii go UP the Little
Blue river, reaching the Platte at
Grand Island. For $50 miles 1t 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 unirhabited and un-
inhabitable, the old Oregon Trail is
just the same today as 1t was SO years
ago, with the exception that the thou
sands who then traversed it have dis
appeared, and that 1t has relapsed
into its 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 depth
Of 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
that stream is followed for forty miles
to Soda Springs, 1,170 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
forty y-niners-diverged 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
er Salmon falls, down Boise river, up
the seemingly impossible face OF the
Blue mountains, through the pleasant
glades Of great pine forests, across
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 1t is pent between rock walls
from 100 to 200 feet wide, and where
no plummet has ever sounded it's
depth. Here is literally river
turned on edge"
Pleads for the Old Trait.
Present day interest in the Oregon
Trail is attributed solely to the er-
forts of Ezra Meeker Of Puyallup,
Wash, who for five years has devoted
himself to a unique campaign to Sc
cure the speedy marking and ultimate
boulevarding of the old highway. He
went to Oregon in 1852, when he be- |
came prominent figure among the
pioneers, and made and lost several
fortunes. On January %, 1906, he |
started on what he calls his Oregon
Trail Monument Expedition. AS an
object lesson to the vest majority,
who know prairie schooners and bull
teams" only through the medium OF
books and pictures, he drives team