The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-03-18

on some wagons, and in these the money
was concealed. The examining officers un-
suspecting such an %artihce, passed them.
Independence Succeeds Franklin
With the beginning of navigation on the
Mississippi, it soon became possible to
shorten the Santa Fe trail by establishing
an Quitting point higher up the river than
~FrankIn, and soon Independence, Missouri,
ten miles east of Kansas City, became the
starting point on the trail.
After peace with Mexico had been estab-
Ilshed, trade on the Santa Fe trail became
extremely active, and every year many
thousands of wagons were sent out from
Independence, which soon became the best
market west of st. Louis for cattle, mules
and wagons. The price charged for haul
ing freight to Santa Feswas $40 a hundred
pounds, each wagon earning from $500 to
5000 a trip on an average. 1t took about
l9O days to make the journey.
Ancient City of Santa Fe
There are few more picturesque places
IN America than the old city of Santa Fe,
at the end of the trail, the date Of whose
rounding lies between 1909 and 1917. The
little village had an arduOus road to travel
during its first 200 years. 1t was con-
4uered by natives and recOnquered from
them by the SpaniardS, and it's population
became a blend Of Castilian and native
blood. During its period of most prosper
GUS trade with the United States, Santa Fe
nad a population of 5000: 1t had grown
up among the ancient Pueblo towns of the
upper Rio Grande, and it is even claimed
by some to have originally been a Pueblo
town, itself.
The old city presented in appearance
nothing In common with a modern Ameri-
can city. The streets seem to have radiated
from a central point along lines of least
resistance, having no pretence of regularity
In direction, width or grade. The Only
marked exception was the Plaza. or nubIic
square, which formed the central common
OF the town. On one side of this square
stOOu' ana sun stands, a long, low, one.
SLOfY building. 6iROi6nd uffh Tho 49, =
? pdLdce' rms probably is the most inter
esting historic edifce in New Mexico and
IA t1e southwest. In it were kept archives
OF OId and forgotten times, which finally
/ were rescued from decay or destruction by
= Americans, and SC there have been saved
: 20 the world from oblivion the annals of
a relatively remote civilization which other
wise would have persisted from the face of
! fthe earth. "0e VI
t The old adobe palace has been the scene
Y OF many stirring events. In it lived and
g LuIeu the spanish eaptain-general, so re-
mOCe and inaccessible from the VicerOyalty
az Mexico City that he was in effect a
= KING, nOminally accountable to the viceroy,
put practically beyond his reach and con-
n troll Here met all the provincial, depart
mental and other legislative bodies thai
nave ever assembled at the capital of New
f 9iexlco. Here have been planned all In
: dlan wars and measures for defense against
S invasion, including the Navajo war of 1S23
s the TeXaS Invasion of 1912, the american
o war OF 1916, and the Confederate invasion
~ @OoAs the Wills OF me n1tQRn
e was imprisoned in 1909 Captain ZebuIoN
P1ke and innumerable state prisoners he.
n tOre ana since. Many a sentence of dealt
naS Deen pronounced there, and the accused
Ieo forth and shot at the Of the
aptaln-general. AT one end Of the ram.
d ping building was the gIardhOuse ant
Prls9n, and fearful stories of torture and
cruelty are connected with the latter.
81 Dangers Of the Trail
There were four distinct stages Of tb,
Journey between Independence and SAINT,
Fe. The first extended to Council Grove
Wnere the caravans were organized. Thi
was 3 WeA-watered prairie country, com
lparatiVely safe from Indian depredatiOns
ana was the pleasantest part Of the route
Lhe second division ended at the ford o
the Arkansas river. Near the beginnin,
OF this stage came the transition from IN
FERTILE prairies Of eastern Kansas to IN
ARD plains Of the southwest, where DANCE
IRON Indians lurked at every step. But
was the third division Of the Foute fins
was the most dangerous and dreaded q
AN. II was the CimarrOn desert, extendin
IRON the Arkansas river to the source n
the CimarrOn. Within this distance finer
Is not a water course or water hole to b
depended upOn during the dry season. III
sITn Is eIy ana hard, with poor vegetation
Ine Indians were most dangerous alOn
Jhls part or the journey and there wa
greater loss of life here than upOn an
other portion Of the trail. The fourth div
sion ran from the CimarrOm desert to SAM
anter.
The entry Of a caravan into Santa Fe
the earlier days was an event Of much ii
terest. It marked the end OF a long an
tedious journey, made under great ment
and physical strain, and the beginning
9 long and luxurious rest, for the life
the wagOn-train employees was a cOntin
ous round Of pleasure, with much feastin
drinking and dancing, and sometimes n
a little fighting.
AS a route Of M the old San
Fe trail closed on the 9th of Februar
1880, when the first train over the Atcl
son, Topeka and Santa Re entered I
tOwn. The once great highway IS nC
only a picture in the memories Of the 4
who have travelled its weary courses. i,
lowing the windings Of the Arkansas riy
and on to the portals that guarded t
lrugged pathway leading to the shores
the Pacific.