I visited the Mitchell Pass, about two miles and a half west of Gering. Scott's Bluff is the northern end of an adjutting point of the ancient river bluffs of the Platte. Some distance back of this point, two opposite cañons, one east, the other west, gradually broke down the dividing ridge, separating the point from the main bluff and in time forming a, pass about 100 yards wide, 393 feet higher than Gering and 367 feet lower than the top of the bluff. The road from Gering is a smooth, gradual ascent; and within a mile of the pass the four parallel and deeply worn trails are very prominent. These unite and cross a deep abrupt cañon and ascend to the pass over a smooth track of Arikaree clay. The north side of the pass is cut and worn by wind and rain into little gullies, which forced the travel to the south side where it crossed the summit in a single track. The summit is perhaps two or three rods across, where the western descent is begun.
   At the summit the road is worn down, leaving a bank on the left hand side four or five feet high, and a splendid place for a monument where it can be seen from the east and west.
   Returning from Scott's Bluff, I took particular notice of Chimney Rock, on the south side of the Platte opposite the town of Bayard. The rock was formerly a perpendicular shaft or column, resting upon a bare conical mound, and at the time of the U. S. topographical survey its summit was 489 feet higher than the town of Bayard. I first examined it in August, 1880. It was a perpendicular column then with a flat top. I climbed the sloping

   On August 8, 1864, a coach on the Overland stage line, with Robert Emery driving, was attacked by Indians between Kiowa and Oak Grove stations. The route was known to be infested with Indians, and young Emery volunteered to drive the coach.
   George S. Comstock owned a ranch in the vicinity and lived there at the time of the incident. I had found his address and sent a blue print copy of Root's map, which Mr. Comstock has corrected. I therefore rely mostly on his version. Kiowa station was about twelve miles east of Little Blue station. West of Kiowa station, instead of following the high ground, the stage company made a cut-off to lower ground and passed through young timber, reëntering the main road farther west. At the point where the cut-off began, was a steep bank, and, as Emery started to descend it, he saw the Indians' ponies in the brush. He immediately wheeled the horses and turned back over the road he had just traveled, calling upon his passengers to keep their seats and remain quiet. Emery guided the horses with skillful hands, although surrounded by Indians, yelling and shooting into the coach, at his horses and himself, until seen by Constable's ox train, which formed a corral into which he drove without the loss of life.
   I recommend that when the point where Emery

   In the night of August 7, 1867, a freight train going

   In 1864, Indians attacked an emigrant train in a ravine near Plum creek on the Overland stage line on the south side of the Platte river, and killed eleven persons. Colonel Thomas J. Majors, who was at one time stationed near the place, has promised a description of it, with a diagram. It has not yet been received. I recommend a suitable marker at the proper place.

   In the file of correspondence is a recent letter from Mr. Harold J. Cook, of Agate, Neb., regarding the final resting place of Red Cloud. He says that his father, who had known the old chief very intimately for more than thirty years, was the only white man he visited and sought advice from, off the reservation, and that it was his expressed wish during his last years that he be buried at the foot of Red Cloud Buttes on the military reservation near Crawford. Red Cloud died December 10, 1909. He was the last of the great chiefs of the Sioux nation, and the last great warrior of the Indian race. His generalship, called forth the most efficient officers in the regular army, and finally beaten by overwhelming numbers, he retired to a reservation, refusing to take his allotment until long afterward. He was a native of Nebraska, born near the
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   The defeat in the last legislature of the bill to appropriate $2,000 toward marking the Oregon Trail, from the Kansas line to Wyoming, was a sore disappointment to me, and I am sure it was a greater one to the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. It was their one bill. From it they expected to accomplish a great deal in the way of marking the trail at all the prominent and important places through the state. Two thousand dollars properly apportioned among all the counties through which the road runs would be an incentive to request and receive contributions from counties and citizens of the towns and even farmers along the route, to assist in the work.
   Wherever I have been along the overland trails the farmers take pride in pointing out the old tracks, and when the project of marking them with durable and sightly monuments has been mentioned, it has met with favor. I do not recollect of an instance of unwillingness to contribute; but their approval was generally coupled with the idea that the state and counties immediately interested should assist.
   I hope that the next legislature will view the matter with more favor, but anyway the sites will be marked. We will make citizens go down into their own pockets to contribute, and the school children over the state can be relied on to greatly assist in the work.

   Since I penned my remarks regarding the grave of Mrs. Lamin, I have received a clipping from the Omaha World-Herald from some unknown source, but I think from Mr. Gilder, touching a grave found on a sandy knoll about two miles from Kenesaw. The clipping recites the story of a tragedy of the Oregon trail. In June, 1852, a young man named Hale and his wife, on the way to the gold fields, reached the old government well, about two miles southeast of the present town of Kenesaw, and being very thirsty drank heartily. The Indians had poisoned the well, and Mrs. Hale died. Her husband made a coffin from his wagon box and buried her on a knoll. He then went alone to Omaha for a marble headstone to mark the grave, and then joined another train. The stone became broken in pieces which were carried away from time to time. Another stone was erected by relatives of Mrs. Hale, but it, too, was carried away. The spot is now marked by an ornamental fence erected by a benevolent Sunday school.
   The inscription on the original headstone was something like this:

   A picture of the fence accompanied the clipping. The story shows the same spirit of devotion on the part of the husband as in the case of Mr. Lamin on the death of his bride.
   The federal government has, in many instances, withdrawn from public entry tracts of great scenic beauty and scientific value to prevent their exploitation and de-

   I herewith present a tabulation of my recommendations for suitable markers.

   1. The site of John B. Cabanne's trading post.
   2. Fort Lisa.
   3. The first homestead taken under the homestead law of 1862, by Daniel Freeman, Gage county.
   4. The site of the last battle in Nebraska between the Pawnee and Sioux in Massacre Cañon, near Trenton, Red Willow county.
   5. Fort Independence, on the Overland trail, south of Grand Island.
   6. Lone Tree, where stood the famous cottonwood tree at "Lone Tree Ranch," on the Overland trail, near Central City, Merrick county.
   7. The grave of Amanda Lamin, to bear the original inscription and an addition to commemorate the devotion and fidelity of her husband.
   8. The site of Fort Mitchell in the southwest quarter section 20, township 22 north, range 55 west, near Scott's Bluff, Scott's Bluff county.
   9. The summit of Mitchell Pass, two and a hall miles west of Gering, Scott's Bluff county.
   10. The place on the Overland stage line, on the Little Blue River, where young Emery, the driver of the stagecoach wheeled the coach to avoid the Indians.

   An effort is being made to ascertain the location of tablets, markers, monuments or other memorials erected in the state to commemorate historic places, events, or persons in whom the public have a general interest. During the year the following have been compiled:

   1. Companion bronze tablets, one on the right, and the other on the left of the west door of Grant Memorial Hall, on the campus of the state university, Lincoln, dedicated to the memory of the university students who fell in the Spanish American War.
   2. Two brass cannons captured during the Spanish American war, mounted on pedestals on the university campus.
   3. Lot in Wyuka Cemetery (300 feet long x 100 Feet wide) dedicated to deceased soldiers and sailors of the Civil War.
   4. An infantryman in light marching order at parade rest, heroic size, of sandstone, in soldiers and sailors lot in Wyuka Cemetery.
   5. Monument to General John M. Thayer, in soldiers and sailors lot, Wyuka Cemetery. Cost, $1,250 appropriated by the legislature of 1907.
   6. Two brass Spanish cannon from the Presidio,