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MARKING THE SANTA FE TRAIL iinxcricas Jftgkvay of tivegcs, Wrcry fed offhickSfe faid toffiwellost aljfe iiv. tkeHwxiivfe of iMflbt Tka Old 5tage tatior at 31.uevra.ter (Tke Original AdoU Structure orttfie RigKt) JUST at the moment when the movement to mark the historic Santa Fe Trail 1b reaching Its climax and consummation, by one o thoHo Ironic freaks of fate that so often come to cap the best laid plans of men with an anti-climax the most notable remaining memorial of the old highway Is threatened with Immi nent destruction. This Is the Fonda, later known as the Exchango hotel, which was the southwestern terminus of tho trail from the beginning to the end of the commerce of tho prairies. It stands at the southeastern corner of the plaza In Santa Fe, and was tho rendezvous of all the freighters, scouts, plainsmen, bad men, Indian fighters, gamblers, prospectors, plon kers, travelers, soldiers and settlers In the southwest when Santa Fe was the chief mart and emporium beyond the Missouri. After bull learn traffic came to a close on account of the successful rivalry of the railroad the old hotel fell upon evil days, and soon degen erated into a rooming house for so journers In the City of- Holy Faith. Then the corner apartments were used as a meat market, while the others were rented out for housekeeping rooms. Hut within tho past few months tho old adobe walls havo bc gun to bulge alarmingly, making it necessary to prop them up with heavy timbers. Naturally tho "roomers" sought safer quarters, the butcher moved elsewhere and the hostelry is now vacant. Then an enterprising merchant bought, the property, and has announced it as his purpose to raze the historic block upon tho site This Impending disappearance of the last relic of the Santa Fe Trail re maining In the city of Santa Fe is to lie compensated by the erection of a memorial arch. This will be placed in the plaza, directly opposite the Fonda, at a cost approximating" $1,500. A bill to that effect was passed by the legislative assembly in 1903. It was provided that tho work should bo su perintended by a commission consist ing of tho mayor of Santa Fe, the superintendent of the Territorial peni tentiary, and a third person to be ap pointed by the governor. Nothing has yet been done, but only tho other day Gov. Curry appointed Uradford L. Prince to net as the third member of the commission, and the building of tho memorial will proceed without unnecessary delay. Hy a further pro vision of tho assembly, tho arch must be of stone quarried In New Mexico, and the work must, be performed by convicts from the Territorial peniten tiary. Few Relics Now Left. The remaining bonaildo relics ot this highway to the southwest are few. Through a largo part of Its length, tho trail is now followed by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe rail road. In many places the rails and ties were laid along tho exact lino fol lowed by tho old wagon trains. Cross ing the Haton Pass of Now Mexico, the trail Is distinctly visible from the car windows; and near the summit or Iho divide may bo seen one of the old baiting places a road house on tho old Sputhern Overland stago route. A few miles further on Is Starvation Poak, a landmark familiar to every traveler in the old days, where it Is said that a number of early traders wero besieged by tho Indians until they died of thirst and hunger. As the trade with tho southwest grew In volume and Importance, num erous branches radiated from tho main highway. One of the most Important of these extended south to El Paso and Chihuahua, aud another ran north through Taos. On tho Taos branch, at Alcalde, Is still standing, in an ex cellent state of preservation, the old corrnl and roadhouso, now used as a warehouse Tor a country store. After the discovery of gold In California, tho Santa Fe Trail became a more reach on tho longer Journey to the goldcoast. Some travelers followed the Southern Overland route by way of El Paso and Yuma, and others took tho shorter but more difficult and dan gerous Central Overland route, past old Fort Wlngate. On the Central Overland route there aro still stand ing a number of the old roadhouses. One of these is located at Bluewater, N. M.. a few miles west of the site of old Fort Wlngate. Two more are standing within ton miles of Adamana, Ariz. one seven miles northeast aud tho other about tho same distance northwest. Of the natural landmarks of the Central Overland route, Buzzard Itock, In tho great Mojavo Desert of southorn California, near Barstow, is deserving of mention. Mark Course of Highway. When the relics of the trail have become so few, only a third of a cen tury after the last of tho great wagon caravans traversed the long streaks of white dust outlined In the somber gray of tho plains, It Is evident that overy trace of it is in danger of speedy obliteration. That it may not fade to a mere tradition, the Daugh ters of the American Revolution and other patriotic organizations and Indi viduals have taken steps to mark its course bv means of suitable monu ments and tablets. Wherever it is fol lowed or crossed by the Atchison, To poka & Santa Fo railroad that cor poratlon is providing suitable mark nrs: and the state loKislatures of Kansas and Colorado have grauted ap nronrlations for the same nurnose. In several states contributions have been received from tho children of the pub lie schools,and the work of marking tho trail has now progressed so far that It is certain to be carried to successful end. It is planned to place four granite monuments in each coun tv It traversed, and botween these cement posts will bo placed to mark every mile. Trade routes like trade centers aro determined by nature, rather than by the arbitrary caprices of men. Tho physical features of a country const! lute tho main factor that controls tho upbuilding of Its great cities aud that decides tho direction, character and destination of its commerce. A little knowledge of geography, therefore shows why the Santa Fe Trail player a part ho Important la the develop ment of the west and southwest. lay along tho line of least resistance to trade and travel between tho region of the Great Plains and the region of the Great Central Plateau. To-day it is followed by one of the most im portant of tho world's railroad sys tems. A generation ago it was trav ersed by vast caravans of clumsy wagons, convoying a commerce that reached the high-water mark of $150, 000 In value annually. More than Hf0 years ago It was tho route followed by tho Spanish explorers on their jour noys through the unknown and sav age country that they belloved it was their mission to conquer and to con vert. If wo could lift tho veil that hides tho past history of aboriginal America, It Is probable that we would behold the march and countermarch of armies of painted and plumed sav ages aud hordes of nomads of plain and desert moving on to conquest or fleeing In wild retreat ovor this hoary highway or tho ages. First Expedition Over Trail. Tho first recordod commercial ex pedition from tho east to the west over tho route that afterward became kuown as the Santa Fo Trail way out- Ll''" "'"r --iy K T'i-rfl n I M Tke IToivda.or Exchange. Hotel lAMMninvl 4 -T TnA rVrl Lrai R.oaudfiou$& oivtke. Taoj at Alcalde, N.Moc. fitted by William Morrison or Kas kaskla, 111., In 1 801, and was dis patched Tor the fur southwest in charge or a trader named La lmde. Ho never returned, and it is commonly believed that he reached Santa Fo in safety and there settled down to en joy life at tho expense of bis em ployer. It was a profitable trip for La Lande, if not for Morrison. Two yours later Lieut. Zebulon M. Plko set forth upon his famous expedition. His report revealed to Americans the opportunities for profitable trade with northern Mexico; led to tho estab lishment of tho great and remunera tive traffic over tho Santa Fo Trail, and resulted ultimately In the war of conquest against tho southern repub lic, nnd In the annexation of tho em pire of the southwest to tho United States. Ilefore Pike's expedition lit tle was known of distances, directions, obstacles or opportunities in the great and undefined region called "Kan zas." He mapped the way from the Great Bend of the Arkansas to tho Rocky mountains, aud thence (o Santa Fe and Chihuahua, blazing the trail for the irresistible progress of the American pioneers beyond the .Mis souri. After Pike who was anything hut a trader the first traders to Journey to Santa Fe were those of the Uaird, Mc Knight nnd Chambers party, consist ing of 12 men. who started in ISOti. They were seized, taken to Chihuahua, and cast Into prison, whoro they re mained for nine heart-breaking years, or until tho blossoming of lturbldo's power, when they were set free. On tho return Journoy .icKnlghl. was killed by Indians, but I laird aud Cham bors reached civilization in safety, and in 1822 organized another expodi tion. This was late In starting, so that tho animals froze to death, and tho traders had to winter at the cross lug of the Arkansas. In 1821, William Becknell started for the Missouri river, intending to trade with tho In dlans of tho Arkansas valley; but he was met by some Mexicans, who per sunded him to continue on to Santa Fo. His trip was successful, and tho next year he tried H again, taking throe wagons along. Although he was not tho first to make the Journey, yet he Is known as the "Father or the San ta Fo Trail." That is tho tribute the world pays to success Turning Point of Destiny. Thus was Inaugurated tho first over land commerco by way or tho Santa Fo Trail. The Journey was small In comparison with some or tho trade routes established by the Spaniards long bofore In South America, and nl most trifling compared with that over (hp Oregon Trail that came shortly after; but It was at least three times as long as any commercial journey by land ever before undertaken by tho Amorlcan people, and in danger and hardship It was without previous parallel in our national lire. It marked ono of tho turning points or destiny, because it was tho beginning of the groat drama or the Winning of the West tho great west boyond tho Mis souri. History has not yet. done justice to tho Santa Fe Trail. Tho traffic across S00 miles of dosert , ' JFratvck. of tke, Trail aud wilderness to the inland capital of a foreign provlnco was at first ex clusively by pack train. When Beck nell employed wagons on his second trip great surprise was expressed that, no serious obstacles were encountered to tholr progress. That fact shows how true it Is that the Santa Fo Trail was a natural highway. At tho beginning of the southwestern trado llttlo trouble was experienced with In- dlans. Not until tho Texans and somo irresponsible traders began Indian baiting wero tho redmen provoked to scalp lifting as a measure of retalla. tion. Journey One of Hardship. Nevertheless, tho long distance that had to bo traversed over waterless deserts, tho heat of tho treeless plains and the sandstorms aud tempests that sometimes overtook tho caravans made the Journey, under the most favorable circumstances, ono of diffi culty, hardship and discouragement. When tiie Indians had been goaded into a state of chronic hostility freighting over the trail became any thing but a holiday pastime. In later years, as the traffic grow In volumo and Importance, the dangers aud diffi culties wero lessoned by tho establish ment of military posts at intervals, but these could not nfford perfect se curity. It was not until aftor tho In dians were corraled on reservations, about 1870, that travel became rea sonably safe, and even aftor that oc casional war parties loft the reserva tions and returned to their old trade of murder and plunder. It was tho custom of traders to outfit at Inde pendence, Mo. From thoro the wagons traveled singly to Council Grove, on the Cottonwood, where thoy waited for others to form u caravan of suffi cient strength to be able to repel any probable attack. Often 200 men or more wore thus banded togother. Each wagon was drawn by eight mules or horses or by six or eight oxen, tho white canvas covorod Coneatoga wagons, made In Pittsburg, being em ployed, Alter tho first, tentative years of tho tralllc oxen wore tho proforred draught animals. For better protec tion against the Indians, It was cus tomary for four wagons to travol abreast. In addition to tho drivers, a I number of horsemen always accom- pauled the trains, their duties being to kill buffalo, autelopo and othor game to supply fresh moat to tho com pany, and to keep a sharp lookout for signs of Indians. Beforo the start was made a captain was chosen, and the long journey was made under bis or ders, under something like military organization. Camping places were selected by tho scouts In advance, with a viow to securing plenty ot wa ter aud good pasturago for tho stock. At. night the wagons were arranged in circular form, to servo as a fort in case of attack. Watches and guards wero posted and relieved at frequent intervals. Cooks and scouts wero em ployed, and everything posslblo was done to obviate danger and to oxpedlto tho trip. But in spite of all precau tions, attacks by Indians wero com mon, and It is sometimes said that every rod of tho Santa Fe Trail is marked by a grave. SOME TAX SCHEMES ORIGINAL METHODS ADOPTED BY FOREIGN NATIONS. Seems That Governments Can Usually Be Relied On to Develop Ideas When Raising of Money Is in Question. Some queer expedients havo fre quently been adopted by tho European governments to tax their people. Tho method usually devised Is some so called "public safety" measure, which will bring In money If it Is followed and will still have tho uamo effect If It Is disobeyed. In this class was one which tho Ger man government utilized at one time. It sent out charwomen with instruc tions to inspect and clean the houses of everybody. It tho people objected they wero lined, and If they didn't thoy had to pay a charge for tho services thus rendered. Altogether the nation al funds wero augmented by $5,000, 000 In this way. On another occasion only a certain kind of tooth powder was allowed to be sold In tho stores that kind made In tho government factories. Rather than pay tho high price demanded, tho people preferred not to use any dontl frlce at all, aud the tax railed in its purpose Austria Is another country that has succeeded in raising monoy by rorcing cleanliness upon Its people. Under a penalty of $50 Austria demands that every housoholder shall have his chim ney swopt at least onco a month for fear of lire, the work to bo dono by the government sweep. She found tho measure most lucrative, as 8ho charged a tax of 45 couIb for evory chimney cleaned. Italy has a plan for raising money t hut has been called "a tax on Im beciles." This Is tho Btnto lottery, from which she raises a considerable sum. Out of tho numbers from 1 to 90 every Saturday night five winning unmoors aro drawn. For tho player to win It is necessary to draw one or more of these numbers. If you draw ono right you gain II times what you paid that Is, S5 probabilities In favor of tho gov ernment. If you draw two numbers you gain 2G0 times what you paid. but you havo only ten probabilities In your favor, whllo tho government has 3,250. If you draw three you gain 4,- 250 times what you risked, but whllo the probabilities In your favor aro still ton, those of tho government arc 117,- 470, and tho same proportion Is main- tallied if you draw four or all of tho numbers. Franco succeeds in raising $140,000, 000 yearly out or stump duties. When you visit gay Paris your hotol bills come to you with a stamp on them. Evory check drawn boars an oxtrn receipt stamp, across which you must sign your name. Theator tickets must bo stamped. Even posters on tho boards aro stamped, tho value varying with the size or tho bills. For municipal purposes Its towns also adopt queer expedients. Evory morsel or food, drink or fuel must pay a tax, whllo Paris puts a tax of ono penny on all spirits, besides mulcting landlords with a 2j and tenants a 1 tax. Holland has similarly levied sovoral queer taxes. Besides Imposing a duty of 2 cents on evory person who ontors a tavern beforo noon, sho tised to levy taxes on those who visited places or entertainment, on marriages and on many othor things. ir a person wero burled out of tho district to which he belongod his near est of kin would havo to pay twice the amount that would havo had to bo paid had the burial taken place in his own district. Even hoots and shoes wore taxed, regulated by tho slzo or tho article the smaller the shoo tho smaller the tax. In Switzerland, to be exempt from military servlco, one must pay a tax of $25 a year, no matter whether one be a cripple or an Invalid. Try the Rest Cure. It overworked homemakers whose nerves aro "worn to frazzle edge" would acquire tho habit of sitting or lying absolutely still, rolaxed and mo tionless, for five or ten minutes twice a day, they would soon seo improve ment. The mind must bo relaxed, worrloB dropped, thoughts wandering to pleasant things. You will probably try this Boveral timea before you get It right, but after a little practice you will find that It yields largo returns, far surpassing the sacrifice of tho time it takes. His Difficulty. "You wrong me," said Plodding Pete, "when you say I ain't, wlllin to work. Vm Jos' dyln to work." "Then what's tho trouble?" "I'm too conscientious. Whenever I git a job I'm so anxious to fill it well dat I gltB stago fright." The Considerate Tenants. Landlord Sir, the other tenants will not stay In the houso If you Insist on playing tho cornet. Mr. Toots I'm glad of that. Thoy woro annoying.