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Show 120 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY Mexico, to divert the trade from Santa Fé to Chihuahua direct, A caravan of one hundred men made the trip through Texas, and re turned to Chihuahua in 1840, but the attempt was never repeated, although no serious difficulties were encountered in making the experiment. During this period Governor Armij o imposed a duty of five hundred dollars upon each wagon-load of goods, but the size of the wagons soon brought into use necessitated a return to ad valorem duties, When expeditions were first made from the Missouri river to Santa Fé, the route was up the Arkansas river to the vicinity of the location of the prese nt town of La Junta, Colorado, and then turning south, went first to Taos and thence to Santa Fé. Even after the Cimarron route wag estab lished, traders also used the upper Arkansas trail as there was always a great deal of business in that direction, particularly at Taos. Bent’s Fort was the great stopping place on this branch of the trail Fort was about 530 miles Bent’s from Independence, and in ne of the most important trading posts in the Rocky Mountain ¢o untry . It was the great cross-roads statio every respect was | o | n of the southwest. The north and south route between the Platt e river country and Sa nta Fé, and the east and west route up the Arkan sas and into the | | mountains found this the most natural trading point. This branch of the old trail cross ed the Arkansas very near where La Junta now Stand s, and thence ran south , crossing the Raton Pass, we ~~ h- a>@ ee Ps 28 a eel + tel Se ee Pa a z ee uaPa en | Ca ae Pe ee ofPeal eeeeet hee ereet) and joined the main trail at Santa This branch of the trail has been closely followed railway known as ‘The Santa Fé Route.’’ William Bent and Céran Clara Spring. by the line of St. Vrain maintained this trading post and also one on the South Platt e opposite the mouth of the St. Vrain Forks ees pndig and went far to justify the Sweeping conquest which followed so shortly . ‘This brief sketch of the Santa Fé trade prior to 1843 would be incomplete if we omitted to refer ¢ 0 its supreme importan even then course of (1843) twenty ga hering like a storm years had ce in the war which was on the prairies. The long inter- made our people distances, character thoroughly familiar with ee iM military Operations in that of the country, and the people to be encou ; oa hudntere wate the New Mexicans be quarter. The intercha nge of commer : tter acquainted with our people, had created a friendly feeling toward them, and had routes, effectually pave Miwa for the change of 7 The Bent family was well known : in Missouri. Silas Bent was born 2 allegiance that was soon to follow.’’ Repreg, i Gen, ae ‘Ntative New Alt x Maria Se bE. en : Mexicans of : the American Chavez. 2. Don Gen. Diego Archuleta , . Ramon and a3 Don Luna. ‘ s 7 Manuel Occup Occt ation pati A 3. Pn 7 8. S: Period "ec as Nicolas azar Salaz Pino. | |