Old Spanish Trail Design Approved For Use in 1950 CEDAR CITY The Old Spanish Trail will be ready for. marking by 1950, if an artists drawing can be converted into a road marker early in the year, it was announced by William R. Palmer, Spanish Trail Association president. The drawing which shows Spanish conquistidors and Indian slaves as they probably appeared on the Sparish Trail, has been approved by the Spanish Trail Association for the official marking of the trail. Apparel saddle bags, and accessories are believed to be authentic for the period. The drawing was made by Irvin Shope of Helena, Mont., after research done by the artist and Mr. Palmer was made to have all details of the marker suitable for the period it represents. The drawing will be submitted to firms who specialize in such work so that replicas can be made as road markers. Plans are to have the replicas made in metal with the objects raised in relief so that they can be easily identified by travelers on roads where the trail passed. Traversed 1800 to 1850 The Spanish Trail Association approved the dates of 1800 to 1850 for the dates that the trail was in use, after extensive research done by President Palmer and association members. Although some writers claim that the trail originated at a later date, diaries of explorers of thp region show that the trail was an established by-way prior to 1809. It is an established fact that Father Escalante journied into the area in 1776 and it is believed by trail association members that it is probable that others made the journey soon after, so that the route was established earlier than some writers claim. The marker says. Old Spanish Trail, 1800 to 1850 Erected by Spanish Trail Association, 1950. The trail, extended from Santa Fe, N. M., through southern Colorado, traversed Utah, entered Arizona and Nevada, and ended in California. It lost its identity soon after the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints members came to this area. They took wagons over the trail in 1848, and it became known as a wagon route. One of the factors in having the trail abandoned by the Spaniards was the refusal of the territorial government to acknowledge the business of slaves and their arrest of a party of slave traders. Plans for the making of the trail call for appropriate ceremonies in each of the communities in which the trail passed, with civic groups partcipating in the ceremonies.