The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1916-09-07

can to arouse interest in this subject
of legislation for the Oregon Trail"
he said, for it takes active work to
arouse action on the part of congress.
The members of that body all favor
the legislation that we want, but they
have only a general interest in the
subject, and unless their attention is
pinned down to it by the people they
will devote their time and energies to
other things that are pressing them.
"The Oregon Trail is the one which
should be followed and made into a
national transcontinental highway. 1t
lis the logical route. The se-called
Lincoln highway is not as available
and has not the same historic signific-
ance. The victory of Marine was won
by France and Paris saved because of
the fine military roads of France A
great transcontinental military road
in this country is a necessity and
without it there can be 30 complete
preparedness"
Ten years ago Mr. Meeker travelled
across the country with an OK team
erecting monuments along the famous
route from the Missouri river to the
Pacific. His trip attracted nation
wide attention and was the subject of
descriptive articles of permanent
value. Today he travels in a modern
auto selling literature and maps, with
the endorsement of the great national
highway organizations, and advocat-
ing legislation that would result in
the making of this trail through Twin
Falls and to the coast one of the
worlds great thOroughfares.
Mr.. Meeker says that the danger
! from Indians when he crossed the
plains in 50 with his wife, was of rel
atively little Importance, but that the
danger from desperate white men was
real.
His lecture on the trip has become a
classic and the following part relat-
ing to his journey through Idaho and
eastern Oregon is we'll worth repro
ducing and preserving:
I'VE strike Snake river, then down
the left bank past American Falls,
Twin Falls, ShOshone Falls well
named the Niagara of the West), on
down past the two Salmon Falls, up
per and lower, and near by, where we
follow the track of the decimated
thrOng across the river to the north
bank, over to and down Boise river.
then back again across the Snake,
soon to be left until its waters are en-
cOuntered mingled with the waters of
the Columbia. We are still on the
trail that leads us up the Burnt river,
the toughest piece of road yet encoun-
tered. On and on to the Grand Ronde
Valley of pleasant memories, and up
the seemingly impossible face of the
Blue Mountain and into the welcome
glades of the pine-covered forests.
and then another stretch of dust and
thirst to the broad Columbia, more
than a milo xxrida hut W To- -,
its grandeur of width and rushing in
its greater grandeur of power through
that chasm known as The Dalles, with
a breadth of channel less than two
hundred feet-a roaring torrent of un-
known depth, river turned on edge. -
The old pioneer proposes to call
the modern route, the Pioneer way
and this plan has been endorsed by
all organizations that have been form
ed to secure legislation for its per-
manent establishment. In regard to
this phase of the subject Mr.. Meeker
says:
"One hundred and fifty enduring
memorial monuments now line the
Oregon Trail as a result of nine years
efforts to rescue it from impending
obvilion and to honor the memory OF
the pioneers who made it.
"All the while the promoters of this
work had in mind the greater monu-
ment, a memorial road to be known
as Pioneer Way
in continuance of this work to re-
trace the Cumberland road and Ore
gOn Trail, and to report to the con-
gress conditions and probable cost OF
building a national rans-continental
military highways the object of this
across continent trip in a Pathfinder
l2-cylinder car with the old-timC
prairie schooner top of pioneer days
thus combining the old and the new.
AS measure of preparedness fol
war or defense of vital Importance.
for developing the resources of the
nation; to honor the pioneers who op-
ened the way, first to the middle west
followed by conquest of the farther
west Pioneer Way will stand unique
in history.
First traversed by hardy men or
foot and alone; followed later by the
OK team and the stage coach; now
destined to be thronged by automo-
biles, history records this as the
greatest world thoroughfare of record
You can aid in reviving this anci.
ent way by casting your influence tC
induce congress to pass the bill now
pending, providing for inaueuratins
the work for a great national highway
as measure of preparedness, of de
velopment and of duty to perpetuats
the memory and to honor the pioneer:
who first opened the way"