New-York tribune., 1912-03-10
Wyoming Women Begin a
Movement to Preserve
Identity of Historic
Overland Routes.

-HE cIubwornen OF Wyoming who re-
Gently marked the old stage trail
II near Laramie with a granite shaft
and who put up an imposing monument on
the California trail along the North Platte
at Casper. began movement which in all
probability will b. taken up in other states
traversed oy the stage coaches in early
days.
The rapid ooliteration OF some of the old
stage trails has made II imperative to
hasten the work OF identification. Old
stage drivers have been called upon TO
identify many OF the points OF interest and
the location Of stage stations along the
various trails At JUlesburg, col. the old
station where Jules and Slade had their
combat, a ight which later resulted in the
loss Of Jules's ears, has been identified and
will be preserved. II has been proposed to
have the government set aside lndepen-
dence Rock on the california trail in
Wyoming as national monument This
rock was a famous stopping place in early
days, and is covered with the names of
thousands OF early day transccntinental
tourists, scratched deep into the granite.
Besides the main trails across the con-
tinent, there were many other stage trails
West, but whose course will soon be lost II
some means is not taken to mark them.
The old Smoky Hill staGe trail across
Kansas and Eastern colorado TO Denver is
practically wiped out. owing to the settle
ment of the plains This old trail pene-
trated the heart IF the hostile Indian coun-
try and was the scene OF many exciting
adventures in the sos, but even the old
Smoky Hill drivers have difficulty in trac-
ing the route to-day. TIE same is true or
the several routes to Deadwood, every foot
of which is replete with his><-ic interest
The main line OF stages across the con-
tinent was several times shifted on ac-
count of Indian depredations, The NEST
sweeping change was made in 1867. when
ben" Holiday, the genius OF the overland
stage business. moved the line several nun
dred miles south and effected the change
without missing a mail or delaying pas
senger. The old line followed the North
Platte and the Sweetwater. over South
pass. and the new road led by way OF
Julesburs to Denver north from Denver 10
Fort Iupton, thence across the Laramie
Plains. in Southern Wyoming, and then due
west through Bridger Pass, where the oid
trail was ioinod and the journey continued
10 Salt Lake.
OLD STATIONS ARE IN RUINS.
Most of the stage stations and other
buildings erected along these old stage
trails fell into ruin long ago, but there are
q few structures worth preserving. The
easiest means of identification is by the
natural monuments marking most OF the
trails Chief among these is independence
Rock. which is said to have been named oy
the celebrated explorer Captain Bonneville
on account of its solitary aspect, rising as
II does independent of all other rocks IN
the vicinity Fremont and other explorers
mention the rock many times. When the
tide Of California gold seekers began now
ing across the country the rock vas ia
vorite camping place. As early as lSi'
emigrants gathered at the rock to celebrate
the Fourth Of July, II being on record that
on the Fourth Of that year there we're
about one thousand California and oregon
enigrants gathered there TO celebrate lnde-
pendence Day. Old wagon hubs were lead
ed with powder and placed in the crevices
OF the rock. producing explosions that
sounded like the work Of a battery OF ar
tillery.
Many of those who died on the way