The chronicle=news., 1914-07-11
History ofthe j., s..;.
Santa Fe Trail


In writing. this brief history of the
Santa Ee trail, and describing other
trails by which explorers and, trad
ers found their way from the cast
ward and northward to- Santa BE
and. other important settlements of
New Mexico, 1t would ne well for
Us, ia. Understand the location OF the
boundary that separated the :wo
countries and the location of the
frontier settlements of each. and til.
means Of transportation between the
countries. " uu sa 90.
The Arkansas river, from the point,
where 1t intersects the lOOth mesi-
dian OF oflongitude W., was the recox-
nized boundary between the United
settled and rsceiyed its name. LA!
Ciudad Real de la. Santa Fe dc, San
Francisco, which being translated
into English means. THE Royal City
of the Holy Faith of st. Francis"
in 1605.. .. ... ..... ~
Mora, N. NJ, settled In 1903, was
frontier town up to 1916; Las Ne-
gas was an earlier settlement; Taos.
in the Rio Grande valley. was set
tied in 1916. and was frontier
town until after 1910. Until about
1870 the Missouri river marked the
western line of American civiliza-
ton. .
Up to the year 1929 all traffic be-
tween the United States and Mex
leo was carried on. by, means of pack
animals. The maintenance Of a trad
ing post by the Bent Brothers, Will
liam and Charles. from 1889 to 1885,.
at what was called "Ft. William
situated on the left bank of the Ar
kansas six miles below La Iunte: the
establishment Of colony at Pueblo
about 1910, which was maintained
until December, 1859, encouraged
traders to leave the most direct route
for Santa Fe. and travel with their
wagons up the Arkansas to Bcnt's
Fort or Pueblo. where they usually
Transferred their goods to pack ami
mails for Taos. or to Santa Fe by
way Of Taos. ..,
In 1904 creole Frenchman
named La ManGa went from. kas-
NAMED until he died some time aft
er 1850. He Travelled west from a
point on the Missouri river below
Independence. following near the
route where the great trail was att
erwards established. In 1872 n Cap-
tain Beckwell made a successful jour-
ney with pack animals. following tho
trail afterwards travelled by the trad
Lcfs. who tra1icked with the people OF
New Mexico for the next succeed
ing so years as far as the Arkansas
river to a point near the Tooth meri-
dian of longitude w.. where he at
tempted to make a cutoff and avoid
the longer route that followed uE
the Arkansas river. This attempt ~
shorten his journey resulted In
much suffering to himself and his
party. and after wandering without
water for several days. they returned
10 the Arkansas and followed the
right bank Of that stream up the val
ley many miles and ultimately reach
ed Taos. hut without reaching Sam
ia Fe.
In August. 1915. August Z. Cha
teau with his partner established
themselves at Chateau's island on
the Arkansas river at point near
the Tooth meridian of longitude w..
and building stockade on the is
land in the river. engaged In trade
with the Indians. In 1872 from
Mexico, where they had spent about
10 years in prison charged with
smuggling, and organized COM
pany. who. with caravan OF pack
animals. left st. Louis late In the
season. hoping to reach Santa Fe. in
about two months. An early win
ter overlook the party before they
reached the Arkansas. and when
they reached that stream they en-
camped and built winter quarters on
an island known as THE Cache. "
While at that place nearly all their
pack avimals pcrishcd from cold and
lack of food. and when warmer
weather came and they were able to
travel, they had no animals to carry
their Directs and they were Obliged to
cache their goods that is, to bury
them in the ground.)
In 1924 Senator Thomas II. BEN
ton Of Missouri introduced in the
senate of the United States bill
which became a law and received
the approval Of President Monroe.
authorizing the president of the
United States to appoint commits
sion to survey road from the Mis-
souri, river westward, toward. Santa
Fe as far as the western boundary
of the United States, which was con-
sidered to be the Tooth meridian of
longitude west. and thence. with the
consent Of the Mexican government,
over Mexican territory to Santa Fe.
Under this act survey was made as