MET MANUAL TRAIL EVALUATION – Manzanita Rest Area – Applegate Trail & Harris DLC – 7-19-15

This analysis was based on the Research Principles, Methods and Guidelines noted in the OCTA MET MANUAL, 5th Edition, June 2014

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 uniformity and continuous sequence:
The Applegate Trail surveyed in 1854 and mapped in 1855 is seen on the GLO map (Map #1) and Base Map 1998, USGS, 1998, 7.5 Quadrangle Merlin Quadrangle Map #2.  The ‘Jacksonville Road’ (JA) surveyed points JA3, JA4 and JA5 are in alignment (Map #2).  The Harris House is located by the surveyor’s as being near JA 4 (Map # 1).  

UTM locations of surveyed points:	JA3  T10 0470426 E  -  Located by HETC  from the GLO Map.
						4706005  N

					JA4  T10 0468991 E – Located by HETC from the GLO Map.
						4707622 N
					
					JA5 T10 0469873 E – Located by HETC from the GlO  Map.
						4708093 N

			Harris House	       T10 0470014 E	From the surveyor’s 1854 Survey notes:
						4707684 N	“73.15 Jacksonville Road C’ N & S
								73.15 A house bears N25 degrees E  
									3 cha[ins] dist{ance]”

Surveyors Wells Lake and George Hyde had an excellent reputation for the work they did in Josephine County.

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 Historical information:  From the University of Oregon (UO) Pedestrian Survey, May 27, 2010
“The Harris family arrived in the Willamette Valley (having traveled on the Oregon Trail) in 1852 by wagon train from Missouri.  In 1854 they moved south on the Applegate Trail (Road from Willamette Valley to Jacksonville on the 1856GLO Map) (Map #1) and settled on a 320 acre Donation Land Claim, which covered much of what was then a prairie/meadow.” The patent for the Donation Land Claim was issued December 9, 1865, Certificate No.70, OR 06656, PL167. 

Cartographic:  
See map of AT & DLC location and house location:  Map # 1;  Township 35 S, Range 6 W, Willimate Meridian. 

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.’

Physical:
A possible trace of the Willamette Valley to Jacksonville Road (Applegate Trail – AT) or a shallow ditch designed for water diversion was found. “The swale was first identified by a faint linear tree pattern on a 2006 aerial photograph.  On the ground the swale is slight, but obvious in its northern segment and faint to disappearing in its Sothern section.”  (HETC)   This 390 foot trace shows as a road on the 1855 GLO Map and may be the AT.  This trace also is in alignment with JA3, JA4 and JA5 (Map #2).  

An alternate possibility for this 390 foot artifact is as a drainage ditch.  It has been observed by the UO investigators , “the meadow does not absorb water quickly, so heavy rain produces standing water which runs downhill in almost a sheet wash.  As a ditch it may have served to divert such run-off to Harris Creek.”(UO)

Two low rock mounds are found within 20 Feet of the cabin site which could be associated with the homestead, as rocks from the chimney/foundation or out-building remains.  There is no way to identify them a historic or modern (UO opinion).

Topographical survey of features:
Harris House location is given in the surveyor’s notes (bottom of page 1) and on the GLO Map #1.  

Geomorphic description:
“The landscape is described as Prairie/meadow which is well watered by natural sub irrigation in late fall, winter and early spring creating Harris Creek which is dry in the summer.” (HETC)

Artifacts found by UO which are 75 years old or older:  (Subsurface Reconnaissance of the I-5 Chancellor Quarry Stockpile Project, and Metal Detector Survey within the George and Mary Harris 1854-55 DLC, Josephine County, Paul W. Baxter)

Hand-wrought nails 		to ca. 1840		2
Cut nails			1790 -1820		3
Modern cut nails		1835 ca. 1890	             57
Wire nails			1890 to present	             18
						Total    80

Chinking – burnt earth					1

Lead musket ball fragment	<c. 1870		1
32 short cartridge		ca. 1860+		1
.50-70 Musket			1866-1873		1
12 g. shotgun shell		1867-1911		2
						Total     5

Horseshoes and nails		1 complete & 2 partial  	5 pieces 

Trace Cain and link		1856

Trouser Buckle						1

Snuff tin			1884 manufacturer incorporated 

Aqua glass fragment (heat-altered)      	Historic		1
Olive green glass		Historic			1

Wood specimen (charred) with cut nail

Summary:  145 artifacts are identified.

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

Class 4:  Altered Trail
	Description:  ‘The trail location is verified but elements of its original condition have been permanently altered, primarily by road construction, such as widening, blading, grading, crowning, graveling, or paving.  In some cases, the original trail has been permanently altered by underground cables and pipelines.  In other cases, trail segment, whose location are verified, may have been destroyed by natural events or modern developments, leaving no evidence of its original appearance.’

 YES