Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-07-09

Resolved by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives OF the United States of America in Con-
gress assembled, That the highway extending from
independence. Mo-. and from Council Bluffs. Iowa,
to Seaside. Ore, and to Olympia. Wash, through
the States of Missouri, Kansas Nebraska, Wyo-
ming, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. and vari-
ousy known the Overland Trail, the Mormon
Road, the Emigrant Road and the Oregon Trail,
and coincidng may be with the system
OF federal-aid highways through said states, shall
hereafter be known the old Oregon Trail.
Section 2. That the road herein designated as
the Old oregon Trail shall follow, as closely
economic and topographic conditions will permit,
the travelled by pioneers in their journeys
westward to the Oregon country said trail,
and shall extend through Kansas City, the State
of Missouri; Kansas City. Gardner, Lawrence To-
peka Rossville Louisville and Frankfort, In the
State of Kansas; thence through Fairbury, Hebron,
Grand Island, connecting with the road from Coun-
ell Bluffs through Omaha, Fremont and Columbus,
len. Bayard and Scottsblun in the state of Me-
braska; thence through Torrngton. Fort Laramie,
ger, Kemmerer and Cokeville. in the State of Wyo-
ming; thence through Montpelier, Soda Springs
Pocatello. American Falls, Burley, Twin Falls
Bull Glenns Ferry, Mountain Home Boise Nampa
Caldwell, thence a divided trail via Payette,
to Weiser in the State of Idaho thence through
Huntington Baker, La Grange, Pendleton, Umatilla
Hood River, Portland, Astoria and Seaside, in the
State of Oregon; thence through Vancouver and
on to Olympia, in the State of Washington.
The hearings by the house committee on roads
on these senate and house documents were lively
affairs. No less than fourteen representatives
made arguments pro and con-and the end is
not yet. The mandatory language of the act and
the joint resolution raised the question: Is
gress trying to remake history? The attitude of
the pros was shown to be substantially this They
do not wish to belittle the historical Importance
of any other Trail but they claim an imperishable
name for the Oregon Trail because 1t and it's
pioneers gave the nation Oregon, Washington
Idaho and parts of Wyoming and Montana. There
fore they think that the Oregon Trail in relation
TO our national growth stands separate and apart
from all other Trails and that it has peculiar
sentimental and historical significance emitting it
to special recognition by congress.
Suppose the Oregon Trail as designated is his
torically Incorrect in places as was shown by
the cons. What of it? ask the pros. Representa-
tive Elmer 0. Leatherwood of Utah showed that
the Mormon Trail in Nebraska was the north
side Of the North Platte and the Oregon Trail
on the south side of that river. Yet the desgna-
ton proposed would put the Oregon Trail on the
north side and wipe out a long stretch of the
Mormon Trail. Mr.. Leatherwood is not a Nor
months great grandfather Leatherwood travelled
the Wilderness Road hard on Daniel Boone's foot
steps; he himself was born in Ohio and edu-
Gated at the University of Wisconsin and went
to Salt Lake City in 1901 to practice law. All
Utah, you see, has sentimental interest in the
Norman Trail and it's pioneers who made state
out of desert. Incidentally Mr. Leatherwood in
troduced map prepared by the historians Office
OF the Mormon Church and in connection with it
portion of the Historical Record, Vol Tx"
QS9O)-a document not readily accessible to his
tCrians This contained among other things,
diary setting forth in detail the movements day
by day of the Mormon Expedition of 1847 under
Brigham Young which founded Salt Lake City.
More power to the controversy. Long may it
rage to the increase of interest among the people
In the fascinating history of the West and the
establishment of its history on incontrovertible
fact For it opens up the whole history of the trans
Mississippi territory, which is closely linked by
chain of cause and effect Here is a helpful
chronology:
l541-Coronado begins exploration of American
southwest for Spanish; 1905. Qnate POUNDS Santa