Poverty Bill, SASS# 45790 Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 Howdy, have a nice book for sale. "Destiny Road" The Gila Trail and the Opening ot the Southwest by Odie B. Frank "In the years following the Mexican War, the Gila Trail was truly a "destiny road" for America. Stretching from Texas west to San Diego, it linked the newly acquired California territory with the rest of the nation and became the most famous stagecoach road between the two. Over this route came the precious Overland Mail. And over the same steamed the gold-seakers of' '49, cattledrives, wagon trains, Civil War armies, and later, the Souther Pacific railraod. In the process of crossing the arid Southwest, some of the travelers, workers, and cowboys began to alter their thoughts about the region. It began to seem a suitable home for more and yet more Amercans. So grew the towns of El Paso, Tucson, and San Diego. Destiny Road is the colorful, exciting story of the trail and that first opened this land to settlement, and of the men who built it, followed it, and fought over it. Odie Frank, a recognized authority on the Southwest, writes with his characteristic verve and feeling for this stark, bold landscape. In a compelling narrative, enhanced by fifty photographs, he creates the Gila's vivid array of characters and events. He tells of mutinous Mormons, serving as soldiers under a hard driving commander, who blazed the trail during the Mexican War; border surveys, mired deep in politics, revealing both courage and incompetencein their surveyors; the inexperienced forty-niners who died in the desert country, and the Texas cowboys who followed, driving their cattle before them. The romantic stagecoach route comes to life, with its conflict between opposing factions, physical hardships, and ever present Apache menace; so does the slow and dusty progress of wagon trains, pulled by oxen, and the frofane, strong-willed men who drove them. Faulk also recounts the Civil War skirmishes over possession of the trail itself, with first South and the North getting the upper hand and with Indian bands harrassing each in turn; of transcontinental railraod constructed by Irish, Chinese, and workers of other nationalities. Today U.S. highway 80 follows the outline of the old Gila Trail. With a similar accuracy and continuity, Destiny Road follows one of the most adventurous chapters in western history." copyright 1973 by Oxford University Press first edition 5 3/4" x 8 1/2" tall 232 pages both book and dust jacket are in very good+ condition with some very light shelf wear. $18.00 shipped to you (media rate) in the U.S.A. If you are interested or need more info. please post here on the wire. Thanks for look'n. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poverty Bill, SASS# 45790 Posted April 5, 2011 Author Share Posted April 5, 2011 BTT Please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prairie Dog Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 This is a great book at a great price if I didnt already have one would snatch this up P Dog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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