The arrival of Missourian William Becknell's party at Santa F? in 1821 ushered in the era of the annual "Santa F? trade" between the United States and the Mexican settlements to the south and opened the famous route known as the Santa F? Trail. Of even greater significance, but largely overlooked today, is the fact that it also opened a road from the United States connecting with a major Mexican high way, for Santa F? was the terminus of the 1,600-mile...