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Show 92 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY New Mexico did not look with favor upon overland commerci al relations with the people of the United States. The experience of Lieut. Zebulon M. Pike, when communicated to the American people, seems only to have served to whet the American appetite for trade and even conquest. In New Mexico, as in all the colonies, Spain was extremely jealous of the activities of her rival powers, France and the United States. Feeling was particularly bitter toward the American people, whose enterprise seemed to them a menace to their government and institutions. The official and commercial influence of Chihuahua in New Mexican affairs was supreme. Before the American people succeeded in opening the trade with Santa Fé foreign goods came into New Mexico from Vera Cruz by way of Chihuahua, over a road nearly two thousand miles in length. When these consignments reached New Mexico’s capital they brought prices almost incredible when compared with those of today. Asa consequence the people were compelled to do without many things which others living nearer the coast were able to procure. Indeed, it was a blessing to the New Mexican when the American trader succeeded in opening the commerci dreaded Angloal gates of the province. eT The New Mexican himself soon grasped the opportunities thus presented. Caravans In 1826 the residents of New Mexico began to send over the plains to the Missouri and by the year 1843 had monopolized more than half of the entire trade. The official opposition which was encountered did not, however, deter the American trader from his purpose. He determined to Open the trail to Santa Fé. Strangely enough the trail as established later was approximately the same route which had been purmed by the early Spanish explorers at various periods during the preceding two centuries. ne Trayeling to the west and south, the trader trod the paths of the Spanish cavalier who, seatchine . : ance ed to me east, carrying the cross of christianity, fo ’ amed Quivira and claiming the country for the Spaniard hed. a. neti Sencendbaits = those savage nomads the Piss Pes pacify, the painted hordes who had give The facts ‘gi : ipo ), Fé trade are sothewhnt enveln ee ‘ingsini the beginnin g yews of the Santa Inbal aher.ien Ped in mystery. | The first expedition of which " count was that of Mallet brothers who, in 1739, with OLD SANTA FE TRAIL 93 six companions, set out from the French settlements on the Mississippi for the Spanish settlements of New BEGINNING OF THE Mexico. They ascended the Missouri river, SANTA F& TRADE believing that their route lay by the headwaters of that stream. Having reached some villages of the Aricara Indians, they ascertained the correct route, and retracing their steps for a number of miles, they went across the country to the southwest, passing the Pawnee villages, and arrived at Santa Fé July 22,1739. In the spring of the following year they started back, three of the party going by the Pawnee villages and the others down the Arkansas and the Mississippi to New Orleans. The first recorded expedition made for purposes of trade, strictly, was made prior to 1763, the exact date not being known. Captain Amos Stoddard in his Sketches of Louisiana tells us that ‘While Louisiana was in the hands of France, some of the French traders from the upper chandize by way Mississippi of the Arkansas transported a quantity to the Mexican of mer- mountains they erected a temporary store, and opened a trade with where the In- dians and likewise with the Spaniards of northern Mexico. The Spanish traders at or near Santa Fé, deeming this an infringement of their privileged rights, procured the imprisonment of the MissisSippi adventurers, and the seizure of their effects; and demanded punishment and confiscation. The cause was ultimately decided at Havana. The prisoners were liberated and their property restored on the ground that the store in question (situated on the east side of the summit of the mountains, and below the source of the Arkansas) was within the boundaries of Louisiana.”’ This store was in all probability located in the immediate of the present city of Pueblo, Colorado, and was the first post known to have been established in that state by white The second trading expedition to Santa Fé was that of Morrison, of Kaskaskia, Illinois, who sent one Baptste La pias vicinity trading ee William ne a French Creole, to find his way thither and carry with him a sma stock of goods with the view of ascertaining what sort of aor existed in the provinces of northern Mexico. La Lande reache Santa Fé in the summer or fall of 1804.°° © History of the American Fur Trade, H. traveled by Mountains, way of and Shon the sent Pawnee some villages, Indians to ascen Santa ee Fé to see t if a he wou ld inbe - |
