Postcard form the past: New Stage Route

By Dick Perue

Headlines in the May 27, 1897 issue of The Saratoga Sun read:

The Fort Steele Road – new and shorter route, as viewed by Commissioner Haines and Hon. J.C. Brower

With the following news item: 

County Commissioner Mulford Haines and Hon. J.C. Brewer were taken from this place by C.M. Scribner, the superintendent of the Fort Steele-Saratoga stage line, last Monday morning to view a shorter and better road to Fort Steele and one which would avoid the heavy sand north of the ranch of W.M. Brauer and the heavy hill at the Stone Ranch on Pass Creek.

They returned Tuesday morning after a successful trip and reported they laid out a much shorter and better route than the one at present traveled. 

The new road will leave the old route at Brauer’s ranch on Lake Creek and go due north on the section lines, across a very favorable country, until it comes to the old stage road. There, it turns to the west slightly until it strikes the bridge across Pass Creek, which is about a mile and a half above the Stone Ranch. 

From there, it will follow the road traveled by the Pass Creek settlement for a mile and a half, to the point where it intercepts the present road to Fort Steele.

The route is said to be free from sand and over nearly level country most of the way. It is at least two or three miles shorter than the present route.

It follows along the range line between ranges 83 and 84, almost the entire distance from Brauer’s ranch on Lake Creek to Pass Creek.

Brewer will begin work within a day or two with his road machine, and within 10 days, the road will be ready for travel. There are no deep draws or coulees to bridge or rocks to hinder its construction. 

The new route will be of great advantage to ore teams and heavy outfits, as well as stage coaches.