Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/402

 out 700

The Immigration of 1849 about 400

The Immigration of 1850 about 2000

The Immigration of 1851 about 1500

The Immigration of 1852 about 2500

Making a total of about twenty thousand persons in ten years."

THE GREAT TRAIL

The Oregon trail, or as the Indians termed it — -"The Big Medicine Road" — is entitled to consideration in this connection. The great mass of people not familiar with Oregon history have the idea that the Lewis and Clark Expedi- tion of 1805 opened the trail to Oregon. As a matter of fact and history, that expedition did not locate any part of the Oregon trail. Lewis and Clark pro- ceeded west on the proposition of ascending the Missouri river as far as possi- ble with boats and canoes, and then crossing over the Rocky mountains to the nearest branch of the Columbia river, and then descending that branch in canoes to the ocean. That plan carried them to a crossing of the mountains three hundred miles north of the route pursued by the Hunt party six years later. The Hunt party went as far north as they dared to for fear of trouble with the Blaekfeet Indians; and did not commence to locate any part of the Oregon trail until they reached "Fort Henry" on the south branch or Henry branch of Snake river. But from that point on to the Columbia river the route of the Trail was located by Hunt and members of his party. The reader wiU remember that in describing Hunt's troubles in the Snake river valley that after he found the Snake river was not navigable he sent out three parties — MeKenzie to go north and find another branch of the Columbia river; Crooks to go down the west side of the Snake river, and Hunt, himself, with the balance of the party, to go down the east side of the Snake river. These parties determined the fact that the Snake river could not be navigated through its great canyon, nor traveled on land through that canyon. This discovery forced Hunt and Crooks to return to the route which nature had made through the Blue moun- tains, where Baker and La Grande are now located, and where the Indian guide piloted them through to the LTmatilla river. That experience selected the route of the Trail that far. Then, in five months after Hunt reached Astoria in January, 1812, he dispatched a party under the lead of Robert Stuart to carry a report back to Astor as to the condition of affairs at Astoria. Stuart had six men and on this return trip had the benefit of the experience and observa- tions of Hunt on his trip form the Missouri to the Columbia.

And profiting by such experience and advice crossed the Rocky mountains going eastward through the celebrated "South Pass." From that point to the Missouri river, down the Platte valley, it was plain sailing, for that part of the route had been traveled by trappers for years. It is historicaaly correct to say that the route of the Oregon Trail was located by Wilson Price Hunt and Robert Stuart. But they traveled with Indian ponies and left few marks or traces of their route except at camping places.

They found and followed the route marked out by the maker of rivers, plains and mountains.