The Santa Fe Trail was a great road about 775 miles long, beginning successively at the Missouri towns, Franklin, Independence, and Westport, and extending westward to Santa Fe. Four hundred miles of its length were in Kansas. Travel began in 1822 for the purpose of trading with Mexico. The first merchandise was carried on pack mules, but wagons began to be used in 1824. The traders experienced much trouble with the Indians, and in 1829 they began going together in big caravans for protection. The gathering place was Council Grove, where they organized and started. A few of the well-known sites along the Trail were Pawnee Rock, Ash Creek, Pawnee Fork, and The Caches. At Cimarron Crossing the Trail divided. The northern branch followed the Arkansas and crossed the mountains over practically the same route as that followed by the Santa Fe Railway to-day. The southern branch was the cut-off across the desert. Another historic highway was the Oregon Trail, sometimes called the Mormon Trail and sometimes the California Road. This Trail crossed the northeast corner of Kansas. REFERENCES Inman, The Old Santa Fe Trail. Parrish, The Great Plains. Pamphlet by Historical Society, Santa Fe Trail. Prentis, History of Kansas, pp. 42-49. Gregg, Commerce of the Prairies. Blackmar, Kansas, vol. II, p. 645. Andreas, History of Kansas, p. 54. Historical Collections, vol. VIII, p. 137; vol. IX, p. 552; vol. XII, p. 253-269. Hunt, California the Golden. Aplington, Pilgrims of the Plains. (A novel.) QUESTIONS 1. What part of the United States did Mexico own a hundred years ago? 2. Describe the city of Santa Fe. How did trade first begin with Santa Fe? 3. Tell about the journey of Captain Becknell. 4. Discuss the use of pack mules on the Trail. When were wagons first used? 5. What was the attitude of the Indians and the traders toward each other? 6. What places were in turn the starting point of the traders? 7. What supplies were usually taken? 8. How did Council Grove get its name? Of what importance was the place? 9. Who was Josiah Gregg? 10. Describe the organization of the caravan. The starting. 11. What occurred when buffaloes were sighted? 12. What is told of Pawnee Rock? 13. How was camp formed at Ash Creek? 14. Describe The Caches. How did this place receive its name? 15. Where did the Trail divide? Describe each route. 16. What experience did the travelers have with the Indians? 17. Explain the occurrence at Round Mound. 18. Describe the arrival of the caravan at Santa Fe. 19. Discuss the Santa Fe trade during the ’40’s.