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Show > ee ee ee a 2s ms & Ps ee aoe LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY OLD SANTA FE TRAIL 139 ed eee a te ik Oeoe ee 1388 From Independence to Total Ford of Arkansas 20 Sand Cr. (leave Ark. r.) 50 Cimarron r. (Lower Sp.) 8 Middle Spring (Up. Cim. Yr.) 36 Willow Bar 26 3887 437 fe aa a g—8~ a Se ee ee ae ee a oN tel hak at 9 +8 ~~ Saeed 18 Upper Spring (leave Cold Spring Vere : se aed * i ca ee ial a ° A * \ es ed , ce oo oa Cd e-# a oes o- -& E ee ee rt reese a i8-0-8. Pa a— ~s ee ee Pt ee ek ee en Se ee ee he ee ee ed Sd oe te ~ | ee ed ee M. 29 MeNees Creek Rabbit Ear Creek 25 20 445 481 507 525 530 555 575 Round Mound Rock Creek Point of Rocks Rio Colorado Ocaté Santa Clara Springs Rio Mora Rio10 Galli Gallinas (Vegas) Total 8 8 19 20 6 21 22 583 591 610 630 636 657 679 20 699 Oj6 de Bernal (spr) San M. Miguel Pecos Village Santa Fé — 17 is 6. Te 23 25 759 770 - all The most notable landmark of the Santa Fé Trail was at its terminus, the old Fonda, the adobe hotel that still stands, in part, at the southwest corner of the plaza; from THE FONDA AT SANTA FG the very beginning to its close it was the end of the great highway of com- merce. This one-story structure and its great corral, with adobe walls almost as high as those of the hostelry, was the destination of the great caravans of Conestoga wagons which crossed the plains for more than late in the last &-@ os ? * en . —— i. fifty years. It was the rendezvous of the Scouts, pioneers, and plainsmen from the earliest days of the trail down to the building of the great transcon tinental railways, when a new era was inaugurated. Its gaming tables were the attraction that lured the prospectors, soldiers, traders, trappers, and mouttaineers for miles around, and its liquid cheer cane oe to the tenderfoot sojourner all the courage, dash, and dare-devi l spirit of the true son of the desert. When the railway was built into Santa Fé the Fonda fell upon evil days. Its patronage began to decline with the construction of more modern accommod ations and century * ri Pe Le* Ae id, Pe el a * rae) A La >? | ed eo oe ee oeee ee > annually ‘ 7 i ea it was abandoned for hotel purposes. The which in its palmy days contained the entrance to the office habia Meee | das rented or ate ie for a curio store, while the back rooms POrpOReK Finally the walls began 10 | ening, no repairs to them having been made for : ley were propped up with heavy timbers. Soon the oe, oe i ai a and with the present progress in the construction ern buildings in the capital, this old landmark, that has it other quarters and today the historic Fonda 1s withstood the vicissitudes of more than a hundred years and witnessed the mutations from Spanish to Mexican and from Mexican to American sovereignty, will soon be obliterated to make room for a modern business block. As early as 1849 a stage line was established between Independence, Missouri,®°* and Santa Fé. The history of staging over the Santa Fé Trail in itself would fill a volume. THE OVERLAND STAGES At times the Indians were very hostile and guards were furnished the coaches when passing through the Indian country. There were eight of these, in the early days, each armed with two revolvers and a rifle, giving fair protection to the travelers, who, as a rule, were also well armed. 94 Independence and Westport, Mo., were very important trade centers In their day. When the pioneers first came to Jackson county, in the early part of the nineteenth century, they foresaw that somewhere near the mouth of the Kaw founded in river, some 1827, and the preponderance of day would until 1840 trade be built a great city. it gave centered promise of being in Westport, which Independence was the great city; then was established in 1833, and for fifteen years it seemed that this was destined to be the city. Kansas City was founded in 1839, at the river landing, and soon overshadowed both Independence and Westport. The Santa Fé trade began established at Blue Mills on in Independence in 1831 and the Missouri river, six miles a boat landing was distant. A custom house was established here at one time. From the close of the Mexican War to 1857, Independence was an important outfitting point for the western caravans. The manufacture of wagons and other equipment needed by the overland traders was a very important industry. Men of that day engaged in the business were Hiram Young, Lewis Jones, Robert Stone, and John W. Modie. John C. McCoy, an old settler of Jackson county, Missouri, in addressing meeting of the old settlers’ society of Jackson county, gives a most interesting account of the business at that terminus of the Santa Fé Trail. He says: Independence in those early years was selected as a place of arrival and departure and as an outfitting place for trappers and hunters of the mountains It was well worth while to witness the arrival of some and western plains. Before entering they gave notice of their arrival by thea of the pack-trains. and Aull’s store Shooting of guns, so that when they reached Owens Soodly number of people were there to welcome them. men they were. Water surely, was a rare commodity cared for it except with heavy packs to slack their robes of buffalo thirst. and Their peltry. A greasy, with them. animals were Occasionally, they dirty set ot They little down loaded had a small spokes wrapped with rawwagon, which, after long usage, had the felloes and accustomed were they be So 1de to keep the vehicle from falling to pieces. from the their work that it took them little time to unload the burdens The trappers let warehouse. the in goods their cks of the animals and store the merchants attend to the shipping. The arrival in Independence was always and when once safely over it, they are * Joyous ending of a hazardous trip, they They had ‘to their hearts’ content. always ready for a jolly time, which made the welkin ring and filled the town with high carnival for many days. The mountain much larger trade scale. at length Pack gave mules way and to the Mexican donkeys were trade, this being discarded and on 4 wagons |