The Worst Piece of Road

The Worst Piece of Road. . , For 60 years, this prairie soil was torn by the hooves of mules, oxen, and horses, and compacted by the weight of the large freight wagons they pulled. The wagons of a caravan traveled four abreast to avoid dust and to quickly form defensive circles. They moved over when tracks became too deep or muddy, creating additional parallel ruts., Today, shouts and cracks of the bullwhackers' whips, and the rattling of the harness and wagons have fallen silent. The depth of the ruts has dwindled due to wind and rain, but their continued existence attests to the thousands of people, wagons, horses, mules, oxen, and carriages that used this great highway., "Sunday, September 11, 1825. , Morning calm and cool....The Waggons were obliged to turn out into the High Prairie, and go round a considerable distance to get past this rugged Bluff....Altogether, I believe this is the worst piece of Road we have had since we left Ft. Osage." , - George Sibley , U.S. surveyor of road to Santa Fe, Look for long, wide depressions, different vegetation, and water courses running at odd angles at places where "bridges' in the path span ruts. They are easiest to see when the sun is low.