Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 19.djvu/88

76 Camp, on the latter stream, where the Barlow party cached its wagons, in the winter of 1845-46, is some thirteen miles southeast of Government Camp. The first crossing of the present Zigzag River was some seven miles west of Government Camp. So that, if Mr. Ross is correct, the old name Zigzag was used about twenty miles distant from the old road crossing of the stream that now bears the name. This seems a wide stretch of probability. Names are rarely so readily changed in geographical nomenclature. In fact, names have been known to survive the ravages of time almost as firmly as mountains themselves.

The writer has found the name Zigzag, in its present location, as far back as 1852, in the pioneer journal of John T. Kerns, printed in the Transactions of the Oregon Pioneer Association (1914). For September 29, 1852, the Kerns journal reads: "Descended the remainder of Laurel Hill, drove five miles, crossed one fork of Zigzag Creek, then two miles more and crossed it twice in succession."

The question is, however, not of great importance, and the name is now attached to a well-known stream, where it will remain for all time. The history of the name is unknown. Joel Palmer, in his Journal, who, by the way, explored the course of the Barlow Road ahead of the Barlows and led the way through the Cascade Mountains, uses the word zigzag to designate the manner of descent to one of the streams flowing from Mount Hood. This was in the proximity of Zigzag River, not of Barlow Creek.

The Mullan Road in Montana recently has been marked by installation of eight monuments, and work is under way to mark it in Idaho, a monument having been already placed at Kellogg. This road, originally an Indian trail, was opened in 1859-62, by Captain John Mullan, with Government funds, between Fort Benton, head of steam navigation of the Missouri