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Show INITIAL TRIP; MONUMENTAL MON-UMENTAL HIGHWAY Report of the Initial Trip Over the Monumental Highway. (By Dolph Andrus, driver of the Maxwell Roadster that made the pioneer pio-neer journey.) Before starting on the real trip I would like to give a brief sketch of the different situations that brought about the desire to make this trip a-cross a-cross a "hoodoo" wilderness and thus connect up in a chain the best scenery of the west. I grew up in the southwestern corner corn-er of this State (Utah) and early became familiar with its many points of scenic interest. Two years ago I MCpted the principalship offered me by the public schools of Bluff, San Juan county. I thus became acquainted acquaint-ed with the wonderful scenery held by the opposite corner of this state. All that lay between the two corners was a mystery. From the vague reports that leaked through I was satisfied that it was a wonderland. 1 was soon to get u chance to view the little known. In August of last summer, D. D. Rust of Kanab, Utah, arrived in Bluff with a party of New York tourists. They had come by pack train from the (J rand Canyon across the wonderland. wonder-land. They loudly voiced their praises of what they had seen. They went so far as to say that in all their travels in foreign lands they had seen nothing noth-ing to equal it. The tourists boarded an automobile for the ruilroad and Rust prepared to return to Kanab with empty saddles. I hinted for an invitation to return with him; the hint fell on fertile soil and sprang into a warm invitation that ended in my returning with him. The entire trip was full of surprises sur-prises and was full of Interact from start to finish. From the time we crossed the wash of Bluff and started down the San Juan River until we halted under the Vermillion Cliffs of Kanab there intervened not a single dull moment. The eye had more than it could do to keep tab on the swiftly changing panorama that passed before be-fore us as we jogged along the trail. The scenes of that trip and the mystery of the wil-l wonderland went through me like chain lightning and burned out everything except a single idea; the solitary idea that stood out was that a car could be driven across there and the wilderness be opened for the adventurous automobile tour ist, in ine trail oi me venturesome motorist, would come Federal aid and a great national highway would connect con-nect up with the National Parks of Colorado, Utah and Arizona. From then on 1 began to keep watch of the different situations and I found that my little scheme amounted amount-ed to nothing. I discovered that forces were at work that would bring the highway about sooner or later in spite of anything any individual could do or say. Tourists were coming to j Mesa Vcrda Park in southwestern Colorado by the thousands; a few ( ame to Bluff and went to the natural bridges in White Canyon; wealthy eastern tourists were coming to John Wetleiill at Kayenta to be taken by pack train to the Great Rainbow Bridge; the Grand Canyon was the Mecca for all western tourists and was boing approached fron both sides; Little Zion was to be opened in the spring. A glance could tell one that soon someone would jump the gaps and then the thing would be on with a sweep. Li December of 1016, H. Btanl y Heinrich, Chief of the field division U. S. Land olfice, came down to visit the three natural bridges in White Canyon. He brought with him, Dr. W. H. Hopkins and O. C. Hansen of Salt Lake City. I found that they were making inquiries about the same proposition that I was interested ir. After a brief consultation it was agreed that 1 should take the party over the route on their return from the bridges. On their return from the bridge trip, letters were awaiting the Chief which urged his early return to Salt. I ake. However, he consented to go down as far as the Monument Valley This we did in the Maxwell Roadster that was to mnke the entire trip later. The trip was a success and the party was convinced that the scheme was feasible. He assured me though on leaving Bluff that he would return in the spring and make the trip clear through to Little Zion. Then war was declared and the whole plan fell through. 1 was up in the air and did not know which way to turn when Di Hopkins wrote me that he was sti'l game and wanted to know what I was going to do. 1 telegraphed him to come at once and we would tackle I it. The people in Blanding and Bluff ,amo through liberally with the expense ex-pense money. Also a good man of , the trading posts along the way. We came through without a hitch. The trip is past history now. We have proven that it can be done. It is up to everybody to push. It is up to a few who like a little of the wild stuff to take our log and follow our trail. |