Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 25.djvu/36

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26 AMOS WILLIAM HARTMAN to the Sink of the Carson River and the great emigrant road. 23 This was not exactly the route followed by Cap7 tain Simpson but it did not deviate from it to any great extent. Between Salt Lake City and Carson City, on the Carson River, there were twenty-one mail stations in 1860. 24 This new route was about one hundred and forty- five miles shorter than Chorpenning's route of 1858. 28 However, both these mail routes and the emigrant trail were closed by snow during the winter, at least until the route was lined with mail stations furnishing fresh mules at regular intervals. As a result, a southern route was opened up. San Bernardino was founded in 1851 by a party of Mormons on the site of the old Spanish mission in Southern California. It was intended partly to act as an outpost for Mormon immigrants enter- ing Utah from the west. Some time between 1851 and 1855, the southern trail was opened. It was used by the mail carrier, occasional emigrants and Mormon traders. In summer it was impassable, hence it was used only in winter and early spring. From Salt Lake City this trail led down the Jordan river to Lehi and along the eastern side of Lake Utah through Provo to Springville. Inclining somewhat to the west of south it passed through Payson and Nephi, crossed the Sevier River and struck across a desolate stretch of country to Fillmore, the capital of Utah Territory. Con- tinuing its way it passed through the towns of Beaver and Parowan to Cedar City. Just beyond the latter town was Panther Creek—in 1856 the last settlement on^the road to California. Beyond Panther Creek the trail crossed the rim of . the Great Basin and encountered the head waters of the 2S Ibid. , p p. 443-496.

  • Hbid. , p p. 511-513.

26 Senate Executive Documents, 35 Cong., 1 sess., Vol. Ill, Doc 2 Ser. No. 1025, p. 850. 2e Bancroft, History of California, Vol. Ill, pp. 52-21 . 27 Kenderdine, A California Tramp and Later Footprints, pp. 126 -138; also Remy, A Journey to Great Salt Lake City, Vol. II, pp. 306-377.