Winter Meeting
The winter meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M., Kinsley Municipal Building, Sunday, January 11, 2004. Please circle your calendar for that date. Officers for 2004 will be elected, the Faye Anderson Award will be presented, and dues for 2004 may be paid.

The program will be presented via a videotape documenting the 1804 expedition up the Ouchita River sanctioned by President Thomas Jefferson. The expedition had originally been planned to ascend the Arkansas River to explore the Southwest much as the Lewis and Clark expedition had been organized to explore the northwest. Because of the threat posed by Osages, the president settled for the Ouchita Journey. In 1806, Zebulon Pike's trip to the Southwest was meant to accomplish the purpose of the trip originally planned by Jefferson. Ironically, Pike was dispatched by General James Wilkerson without the knowledge, much less the approval, of the president. This intrigue will be discussed following the viewing of the video.

Minutes - November Meeting
The fall meeting was in conjunction with the Dodge City/Fort Dodge/Cimarron Chapter on October 12 in Dodge City. The chapter voted to install interpretive markers at the Ash Creek Crossing and Sibley's Camp, and a proposal was discussed relative to a tour of the Zebulon Pike route in 2006. Following the business session, George Elmore and David Clapsaddle presented the program, "Chronology and Artifacts of the Santa Fe Trail." President Rusti Gardner thanked the Dodge City ladies for providing the refreshments.

An Article From The Past
The following item was located by Rosetta Graff. Taken from the Kinsley Graphic, July 11, 1912, it was originally published in the Dodge City Globe. While the article is loaded with errors, Rosetta was particularly appalled with the last sentence.

"Santa Fe Trail One Hundred Years Old
From the Dodge City Globe

This year is the one hundredth anniversary of the Santa Fe Trail.

According to Ralph Collins, one of the authorities on the Trail history, it was 100 years ago that the first stock of goods was hauled over the historic trail to Santa Fe.

According to Mr. Collins, it was in 1812 that Captain Beckwell took the first merchandise from the Missouri river through to Santa Fe and thus started the trade with New Mexico. He used pack mules for his transportation and followed the Arkansas river clear to the mountains and crossed over to the Rio Grande valley, reaching Santa Fe via Taos Because of the abundance of water and wood this was the route usually traveled by the pack freighters of the early trail, and many of those who tried to cut across from Fort Dodge to Las Vegas perished of thirst and hunger. The first trappers and traders used it with their mule pack trains one hundred years ago. Captain Pike got lost whenever he left the old trail, and got into jail when he got to the end of it."

Notice
If you have not paid your 2004 dues, please submit, $10.00 to Alice Clapsaddle, 215 Mann, Larned, Kansas 67550. You may include your e-mail address if you choose. A new roster will be sent with the next newsletter.

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