Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 19.djvu/353



Ox-team pioneers found the Cascade Mountains the worst obstacle in their journey to Oregon. The Columbia River gorge through the mountains was too difficult, dangerous and costly a route for transport of families, wagons and cattle. The opening of the Barlow Road south of Mount Hood, in 1845-46, afforded an avenue of transit, although full of hardship. Next came the Scott–Applegate road between Rogue River and Klamath Lake, in 1846, and then the Naches Road to Puget Sound and the Middle Fork Road of Willamette River, both in 1853.

An article by Professor W. D. Lyman, of Whitman College, entitled "The First Roads Across the Cascade Mountains," appearing in The Walla Walla Union of December 15, 1918, suggests this brief review of mountain highway beginnings in the Pacific Northwest. Professor Lyman does not mention the Southern Oregon road of 1846 or the Middle Fork road of 1853, although their hardships and achievements fully equalled those of the Barlow Road and the Naches trail. It is pleasing to note that Professor Lyman gives a full measure of praise to Joel Palmer for leadership in the Barlow Road enterprise of 1845. Palmer went ahead of the Barlow party to lay out the route and did this work with perseverance and precision. His energy took him high up the steeps of Mount Hood to view the mountain contours, in this venture being probably the first precursor of the present-day Mazama mountain climbers. Viewing with alarm the rapid approach of Winter (October, 1845), he pressed the party forward without the wagons and brought to it relief supplies which Willamette Valley settlers had provided. This recognition of Palmer does not disparage the work of Samuel K. Barlow, the organizer of the main party and the chief builder of the road. And it may be important here to record the name of the man who