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Show Provo Jr. 7 -r - C ( TOrond Moob j 2 r I X J? O C.dorClly ,Dolor G.org. Y S--- S Du,an J o cy o X Orolbl t! J 1 -V ; z Son.oF.o V Gallup y DOMINGUEZ N o s - ESCALANTE N ROUTE 1776-77 O Hagitaff N Alboquerqo. Zunl ' National Park Service begins study of Dominguez-Escalante trail The National Park Service Ser-vice announced today that a study will be made of the historic 2,000-mile Dominguez-Escalante Trail for possible inclusion in the National Trails System. The Franciscan Fathers Atanasio Dominguez and Silvestre Velez de Escal-ante Escal-ante followed the route through parts of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona in 1776 while seeking a way to California. Califor-nia. The National Trails System Act of 1968 was amended in 1976 to include a study of this trail. It will be evaluated for its potential for preservation preser-vation and for public enjoyment of its nationally significant scenic, historic, histor-ic, natural and cultural qualities. In July 1776, while General George Washington Washing-ton was attempting to prevent British forces from capturing New York City, Dominguez and Es-calante Es-calante set out from Santa Fe, heading a 10-man missionary, exploration party bound for Monterey, the newly established capital of California. Originating in Santa Fe, the trail follows the San Juan, Dolores, Gunnison and White Rivers in Colorado; westerly to Utah Lake, Utah; southward south-ward to Arizona and finally returns to Santa Fe. The major objectives of the expedition were to establish a connection between the New Mexico settlements and Monterey and to bring Christianity to the many Indian tribes along the way. Father Escalante's journal jour-nal constitutes the earliest description of much of the area covered. Don Bernardo Ber-nardo Miera y Pacheco, the expedition's cartographer, carto-grapher, prepared a map which is the first to show significant physical features fea-tures of the area. In an effort to permit public participation in the trail study, the National Park Service is requesting information from the public pub-lic about specific trail locations, prehistoric and historic sites along the trail, concerns about the study and the possible designation of all or parts of the trail as a National Trail. Individuals and organizations organ-izations are invited to send their comments and suggestions to the National Nation-al Park Service at either the Rocky Mountain Regional Re-gional Office, 655 Parfet Street, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, Colo., 80225, or the Southwest Regional Office, P.O. Box 728, Santa Fe. N.M.. 87501. |