BROOKINGS HARBOR PILOT, BROOKINGS. OREGON
THURSDAY. DECEMBER 22. 1949
"Pioneer Trails Of Coos and Curry"
Emil R. Peterson, Historian, Coos-Curry Pioneer
Association, R. 1, Box 528, North Bend, Ore.
Men have always been known
to go far and undergo extreme
hardships and hazards to reach
gold and women. For some 20
or 30 years, beginning in the
early ’50s, gold mining was in
its heyday, along the Rogue.
early ’80s, the supplies reached
Roseburg from Scottsburg, where
they had been brought by ships
from San Francisco.
From Roseburg, one trail led
southwesterly through Looking
Glass, Camas valley, then into
the forests, over ridges, and
across creeks, by way of Cold
Springs Camp, Big Meadows and
on down to the place where Mule
Creek flows into the Rogue riv
er. This is the present site of
Marial, some 55 or 60 miles up-
stream from Gold Beach-
Game was plentiful in the for
ests and the streams w’ere alive
with fish. Wild Berries also could
be obtained in season. But men
must have flour, salt, sugar, ba
son, plenty of plug tobacco, bed
ding, clothing, tools to work
with.
John Billings was one of the
As men went farther inland
early
pack-train operators. His
from the seaports, or from the
son,
Tom,
when old enough,
old-established routes of travel,
the supplies had to be packed| sometimes went with his lather
in over many miles of mountain and later, Tom took an active
trails, from distributing centers, part in the packing. Now, past
Roseburg was one such place SO years of age, Tom still re-
from which trails radiated out sides at Marial, where ho was
in different directions.
Before instrumental in getting a post
the coming of the railroad in the | office established 46 years ago.
It was named for his daughter, on the map. to a point showing I
Marial. Marial Billings Paddock the end of the road that comes
now has her residence at the in from Coquille by way of Pow
place where she spent her child ers. This point, not named on
hood days. Susan Billings Dilley, the map, is where Agness is lo-
now in her 86th year, told me cated. Now take a straight-edge
that her father. John Billings, and run a line east from Ag-
had as many as 35 pack animals ness, about three quarters of an
in his operations.
inch on the the map. This will
After the S. P. railroad came bring you to the river, upstream,
up from Portland, headed south in the vicinity of Marial. From
through Douglas county, Rose this point, turn your straight
burg ceased to be the distribut edge in a northeasterly direction
ing point for the Mule Creek to Roseburg, draw a line, and
portion of the Rogue River min- you will have, roughly, the route
ers. A station was established of the old Roseburg-Mule Creek
West Fork in Cow Creek can- trail.
J on. between Riddle and Glen-
Now, returning to Marial on
dale. The distance from West
Fork to Mule Creek was only the map, extend your first line
about a third as far as it was from Agness. through Marial, on
to Roseburg. Naturally, West. east to its intersection with the
Fork became the shipping point, road between Roseburg and
both in and out for the Mule Grants Pass. This will bring you
Creek territory, and the pack somewhere in the vicinity of
teams transferred to the new
route.
If you are interested in get-
ting a better picture of this old
pack trail, I suggest that you
pick up a map (free) recently
published by the Oregon Coast
Association. (It bears no date).
This is one of the best road maps
of Western Oregon that has
come to my attention. You should
be able to find one at any serv
ice station, auto court, hotel or
chamber of commerce. If you
don't find one otherwise, write
to me and I'll see that you get
one of them.
Lay down the map before
you. Run your finger down the
coast to Gold Beach; then up
the Rogue River about an inch
ad
194'?
HAPPY HOLIDAY
W
4
gilí'
Dr. Silvia Chailoner
to all of you
Osteopathic Physician
On Hwy 101
May no cloud
At State Line
\
.
appear to disturb
BEST WISHES
1949
Coast Freight Lines & Geo. Shipley
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The World's Best Climate
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May the
season shower
you with
excellent gifts of gladness.
From
Peggy
and
Mickey
GOULD'S SHOE STORE
Hours 10 a. m. to 5 p. m.
Mail Address
Smith River California
PAGE THRE1
West Fork. You will see that
West Fork is only about third
as far from Marial as the dist-
ance to Roseburk. (I ll be glad
to hear from anyone who can
give more detailed and accurate
information of these old pioneer
trails.—ERP.).
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of the season
is surpassed only
in the toy it brings
jto the hearts
of men
Merry Christmas.
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