Omaha daily bee., 1915-08-08
Stories of Nebraska History : By = z: Sheldon

point they united and followed up the
south bank OF the Platte to Denver. The
route from Omaha to Denver was up
the north bank of the Plato to Shinn's
ferry in Butler county. where It crossed
! to the south side. and continued up the
river to Fort Kearney. There WIS also
road from Nebraska City up the south
bank OF the Platte, which was Joined
by the Omaha road after II crossed the
river. II was called the Fort Kearney
and Nebraska City road. A new and
more direct road was laid out In 1859
from Nebraska City west through the
counties of Otoe, Lancaster, Seward.
York. Hall and Kearney. This was the
shortest and best road to Denver. II
was called the Nebraska City Cutoff. II
became very popular and during the
years from 1862 TO 1869 was Travelled by
Thousands of immigrants and freighters.
over the Denver trail went the Pixies
Peak immigrants and the supplies and
machinery for opening the mines OF
Colorado.
After a few years the mail and stage
coach and pony express followed the Inn
migrant and freight wagons along the
overland trails. In 1850 the first monthly
mail coaches began running from the
Missouri river 10 Salt Lake and Cali
fornia. The hard winter of lS5S-51
blocked this route for several months.
The California mail cVacn was then
placed on a southern route through Ari-
Eons. but with the breaking out OF the
civil war It was brought north again
and in 1861 the first daily overland mail
began running from the Missouri river
to California This mail at first starteu
from st. Joseph. After few months
It ran from Atchison. Joining tho oregon
trail fow miles south OF the Nebraska
state line. and following Il as far as
the crossing OF tho South Platte near
Julosburg. where It diverged. making a
new road. called the Central route,
through the mountains TO Salt Lake City.
This was said TO be the greatest stage
line in the world. From 1861 to 1896 daily
coaches ran both ways except for few
months during the Indian war In 1854.
Over this line also ran the pony express,
beginning April 8. 1860, and continuing
for eighteen months, until the compile
tion Of the telegraph line 10 San Fran
cisco.
The pony express was a man on horse
back. carrying a mail bag and riding as
and man, covered with dust and foam,
dashed into a station. another man on
horseback snatehed the bag and raced to
the next station. So the bag OF letters
and Dispatches rushed day and night
across the plains and mountains from the
Missouri river TO the Pacific acean. The
quickest tine ever made by the pony
express was In March. 1864, when Preh-
dent Lncoln's inaugural address was
carried from 81. Joseph to Sacramento,
1850 miles, in seven days and seventeen
hours
The old overland trails fell out Of use
with the completion OF the Union Pa
cifc railroad in 1853 Short stretches
from one settlement to another were used
as roads. but they were no longer the
great highways Of travel. The sunflower
and tumble weed settled in their burrows
and for many years these trails could be
traced across Nebraska prairies by
wide ribbon. With passing years the
breaking pillow ran it's BURROWS across the
burrows OF the wagon wheels and the
harrow and cultivator smoothed away
theft wrinkles until over large part of
our state the old overland trails can be
traced only by the records OF the early
surveyors and the Tecollections OF the
few old-timers. In the far western part
OF Nebraska, and especially along the
course OF the Oregon trail on the south
side q the North Platte the old wagon
tracks stu remain and the long ribbons
OF sunflowers still trace the routes of the
old trails across our country.