TOM PEARCE PARK - MET MANUAL TRAIL EVALUATION – April 13, 2015 – UTM location of Carsonite marker placed at the toll booth.  10T 0477609 E
				        4697811 N  Jim Ford

This analysis was based on the Research Principles, Methods and Guidelines noted in the OCTA MET MANUAL.

General Principles Are:
Probability:
‘…the exact location of an emigrant trail segment cannot be verified with absolute certainty.  …however, the trail researcher can strive for a higher degree of probability by utilizing…accepted procedures.’

Analogy:
‘The location of a possible trail segment can be authenticated only by comparing and contrasting it with what is already known about other verified emigrant trail.’  ‘documentary and physical evidence’.

The Cardinal Rules:
For ‘an emigrant trail segment to be considered as verified, it must conform to the following ‘Four Cardinal Rules’.  Where conditions exist that any of these four rules do not apply, the probability lever is reduced accordingly.’

1.  Coherence Rule:
‘There must be a linear uniformity so that trail segments form a continuous sequence; i.e., the trail segment under investigation has to link together (cohere) with the trail segments that precede and follow it.’

Linear evidence:  Although there is no GLO point at Tom Pearce Park the previous GLO and following GLO points are in alinement with the Ford.  See map.  Between these two GLO surveyed points, the only natural location to Ford the river is at the riffle at Tom Pearce Park:  from the Dardanelles through the bluffs.  

2.  Corroborative Rule:
‘There must be confirming documentary evidence of the trail; i.e., the trail segment under investigation has to have valid written or cartographic evidence to support (corroborate) its authenticity.’

Written evidence:  Diary references:  Virgil Pringle Diary – 1846, Friday, October 16, “Cross Rogue River about 4 miles from last camp.  Ford good.  Camp on right bank.” and Lester Hulin Diary – 1847, Tuesday, Oct 19, “In about 1 mile we crossed the river…”   

Cartographic Evidence:
The Terrain matches the diaries:  Lester Hulin Diary – 1847
Tuesday, Oct. 19 – “Passed among the bluffs and camped after a distance of about 12 miles.”  The Dardanelles and other bluffs prevent Fording above Chinook Park.

For maps, see Brochure 2 of Applegate Trail Fords, Brochure Series, 
“JR Ford No. 1:  Rogue River’s Pierce Riffle Ford”

3.  Collateral Rule:
‘There must be accompanying physical and/or topographical evidence of a trail; i.e., the trail segment under investigation has to have some geomorphic or artifact evidence (collateral) to confirm it as an  authentic emigrant trail.’

Topographical evidence:
(See maps of Brochure 2 of Applegate Trail Fords, Brochure Series,
“JR Ford No. 1:  Rogue River’s Pierce Riffle Ford”)
This brochure gives an accurate and detailed description of the Tom Pierce Park Ford.  “Levi Scott 1846 and 1847 wagon train leader, reported the river crossing for the 1846 wagon train:  ‘We traveled down Rogue River about forty or fifty miles, and crossed it at a place where the ford was rather deep and rough.  It is a swift, turbulent, and rapid stream, and there are not many places where it can be forded with safety, even late in the fall when it is at its lowest stage.’”
“Tolbot Carter with Scott on the 1864 train wrote:  ‘…we forded the river, a swift stream with the water in the wagon beds in some places, but all got safely over…’.”  Reminiscence of Levi Scott.

Geomorphic Evidence:  
“The evidence supports the ford location at the head of the Riffle at Tom Pearce Park with travel downstream right bank until Rich Gulch and/or Jones Creek where the route went north to connect with the road that became the 1855 GLO JR of the Trail.” (See Maps in Brochure).  The river corridor and rapids location has not changed over the years, but the river bed, shore line and sand bars have changed which makes it difficult to be confident of the actual location of the entry and exit of the river was Tom Pearce Park.  (See Photos).

4.  Correlation Rule:
‘There must be overall agreement  among all types of evidence; i.e., the evidence resulting from the first three cardinal rules has to mutually support (correlate), and not contradict one another, in order to verify the location of a trail segment.’

YES
Classification:

Class 3:  Verified Trail
	Description:  ‘The trail route is accurately located and verified from written, cartographic, artifact, geomorphic, and/or wagon wheel impact evidence (as rust, grooved, or polished rocks).…  But due to subsequent weathering, vegetative succession, rodent surface digging, or logging, trail traces will not be visible on the surface.  What does remain is a verified trail corridor that has not been directly altered by modern intrusion or development.  Typically this includes trails that once passed through forests and meadows, across excessively hard surfaces or bedrock (such as on ridges), over alkali flats and sandy or gravely soils, through ravines or washes, and other surfaces not conductive to trail preservation.’
Classification # 3