[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 14 (Thursday, February 14, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S854-S855]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LOTT (for Mr. Campbell (for himself, Mr. Domenici, Mr. 
        Bingaman, and Mr. Allard)):
  S. 1946. A bill to amend the National Trails Systems Act to designate 
the Old Spanish Trail as a National Historic Trail; to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources.
 Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I am introducing 
legislation to designate the Old Spanish Trail for addition to the 
National Trails System.
  In 1995, I worked to commission a study of the Old Spanish Trail to 
assess its historic significance and determine whether it should be 
included in the National Trails System. That recently published study 
discussed the Trail in great detail, recognizing it as a benchmark of 
the Old West.
  I would like to commend the Department of the Interior and National 
Park Service's scholarship in producing the ``National Historic Trail 
Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment'' of the Old Spanish 
Trail.
  The Old Spanish Trail has been called the ``longest, crookedest, most 
arduous pack mule route in the history of America.'' Linking two quaint 
pueblo outposts, Villa Real de Sante Fe de San Francisco, now known as 
Santa Fe, and El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora La Reina de Los Angeles, 
present day Los Angeles. This 1,200 mile route was a critical 
crossroads in trade and culture 150 years ago.
  American Indians lived for thousands of years throughout the American 
Southwest, carving out a network of trade and travel routes. The Utes, 
Paiutes, Comanches, and Navajo peoples used what was known as the Old 
Spanish Trail.
  The Old Spanish Trail played a crucial role as a crossroads for the 
diverse cultures in the West. Indian Tribes, Spaniards, Mexicans, Anglo 
settlers, including the Mormons, and other immigrants used the route 
extensively.
  The traded commodities along the Trail were as diverse as those who 
used it. The Old Spanish Trail supported the fur, mule, horse, sheep, 
and textile trades. Demand for sheep grew dramatically in California 
after the Great Gold Rush. In 1849, a gold-seeker named Roberts bought 
500 sheep in New Mexico for $250, and sold them in California for 
$8,000.
  Beyond traditional commerce, Old Spanish Trail traders also traded in 
American Indian slaves. Tribes would raid weaker tribes and sell 
captives to the Spanish, and later to the Mexicans. The Indian slave 
trade continued as late as the 1860s.

[[Page S855]]

  The trail's rich history marks important events in our nation's 
westward expansion. For example, in 1848, Lt. George B. Brewerton 
recorded his journey over the Spanish Trail and the northern branch. 
The young lieutenant accompanied a party of thirty men including the 
noted scout, Kit Carson. Carson was carrying mail from Los Angeles to 
the East Coast. The party left Los Angeles on May 4 and reached Santa 
Fe via Taos on June 14, forty-one days later. Carson proceeded east, 
reaching Washington, DC in mid-August, bringing news of the discovery 
of gold in California. Carson's news effectively fired the starting gun 
for the great gold rush.
  The study includes numerous accounts of other expeditions, 
experiences, and events marking our Nation's history. Thanks to a 
variety of public and private partnerships, we are learning more about 
the history of the Trail and the region everyday.
  In Colorado, the Bureau of Land Management has worked on documenting 
and interpreting the route with local communities, such as Mesa County 
and the City of Grand Junction. Interested private groups have sprung 
up to recognize the significance of the Trail and work to preserve it 
for generations to come. One such group, the Old Spanish Trail 
Association, founded in Colorado, studies the trail to raise the 
public's awareness of our country's diverse cultural heritage in the 
region. The association has already located wagon ruts and other 
vestiges of the trail's heyday.
  The time has come to acknowledge the national historical importance 
of the Old Spanish Trail.
  This bill designates the Old Spanish Trail for addition to the 
National Trails System to promote the recognition, protection and 
interpretation of our history in the West. By introducing this 
legislation today, we pay tribute to the cultures of the West that have 
enriched our nation and to an important period in American history.
  I urge my colleagues to support swift passage of this legislation.
  I ask that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
  The bill is as follows:

                                S. 1946

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Old Spanish Trail 
     Recognition Act of 2002''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION.

       Section 5(a) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 
     1244(a)) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating the second paragraph (21) as paragraph 
     (22); and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(23) Old spanish national historic trail.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Old Spanish National Historic Trail, 
     an approximately 3,500 mile long trail extending from Santa 
     Fe, New Mexico, to Los Angeles, California, that served as a 
     major trade route between 1829 and 1848, as generally 
     depicted on the map contained in the report prepared under 
     subsection (b) entitled ``Old Spanish Trail National Historic 
     Trail Feasibility Study'', dated July 2001.
       ``(B) Map.--A map generally depicting the trail shall be on 
     file and available for public inspection in the office of the 
     Director of the National Park Service.
       ``(C) Administration.--The trail shall be administered by 
     the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of 
     the National Park Service (referred to in this paragraph as 
     the `Secretary').
       ``(D) Land acquisition.--The United States shall not 
     acquire for the trail any land or interest in land outside 
     the exterior boundary of any federally-managed area without 
     the consent of the owner of the land or interest in land.
       ``(E) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult with other 
     Federal, State, local, and tribal agencies in the 
     administration of the trail.
       ``(F) Additional routes.--The Secretary may designate 
     additional routes to the trail if--
       ``(i) the additional routes were included in the Old 
     Spanish Trail National Historic Trail Feasibility Study, but 
     were not recommended for designation as a national historic 
     trail; and
       ``(ii) the Secretary determines that the additional routes 
     were used for trade and commerce between 1829 and 1848.''.

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, last year I introduced a bill that would 
have designated the Old Spanish Trail as a National Historic Trail. 
When I introduced that bill, we were waiting for the Administration to 
complete its work on a final study. Additionally, Senator Campbell 
wrote a personal note to me asking that I work with him on a new bill 
that incorporates the new study. Today, we introduce that bill. As with 
my original bill this legislation will amend the National Trails System 
Act and designate the Old Spanish Trail; which originates in Santa Fe, 
New Mexico and continues to Los Angeles, California as a National 
Historic Trail.
  Today, more than 150 years after the first settlers embarked on their 
western journeys via the Old Spanish Trail, we honor its historic 
significance and recognize its importance to our past, present and 
future. I am proud to introduce legislation that will help preserve the 
route of the trail--much of which has remained relatively unchanged 
since the trail period.
  The United States of America has a rich history and an exciting part 
of that is the movement of civilization westward. Citizens who settled 
in the West came from all walks of life and have deep rooted cultural 
and historic ties to land throughout the west. Since 1829, The Old 
Spanish Trail has served many, from trade caravans to military 
expeditions. For twenty plus years the Old Spanish Trail was used as a 
main route of travel between New Mexico and California.
  The Old Spanish Trail is also a vital part of Native American 
history. We know that numerous Indian pueblos were situated along the 
Old Spanish Trail serving as trading forums for the trail's many 
travelers. The majority of these pueblos are still occupied by 
descendants whose ancestors contributed to the labor and goods that 
constituted commerce on the Old Spanish Trail.
  The Old Spanish Trail is a symbol of cultural interaction between 
various ethnic groups and nations. Further, it is a symbol of the 
commercial exchange that made development and growth popular, not only 
in the West, but throughout the country.
  The National Trails System was established by the National Trails 
System Act of 1968 ``to promote the preservation of, public access to, 
travel within, and enjoyment and appreciation of the open air, outdoor 
areas and historic resources of the Nation.'' Designating the Old 
Spanish Trail as a National Historic Trail would allow for just what 
the act has intended, preservation, access, enjoyment and appreciation 
of the historic resources of our Nation.
  The Old Spanish Trail has been significant in many respects to many 
different people and its rich history is something that should be 
included in our National Trails System. The intent of this legislation 
is to protect this historic route and its historic remnants for public 
use and enjoyment indefinitely.
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