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<br /> <br />R. <br />.ra' 8 <br />(south of the divide between the Great Qasin and Colorado River Basin) <br />continued in use linking Salt Lake City and Los Angeles by Mormon <br />wagon traffic. The name was changed though to the Mormon Trail <br />(Hafen and Hafen 1954). In 1847 and again in 1849 Jefferson Hunt <br />led a party from Salt Lake City to California over the Mormon Trail <br />demonstrating its feasibility as a wagon route (Crampton 1972, <br />Woodbury 1950). <br />6righam Young in 1848 sent Parley P. Pratt leading the "Southern <br />Exploring Company" to find suitable Land for settlement along the trail <br />to California. They travelled as far south as the Virgin Valley but <br />found it desolate and unattractive. Along the Santa Clara River they <br />were met and guided by Paiutes. On their way back into the Great <br />Basin they found suitable land, iron ore and coal near Cedar Valley. <br />Mormon leaders decided to colonize the area; under the leadership of <br />George A. Smith, Parowan was established in 1850 marking the beginning <br />of white settlement in southwestern Utah. Mormon missions were <br />established on the Santa Clara River (1855), at Harmony (1852) and <br />later at Fort Harmony (1854)-on Ash Creek. In 1855 it was-discovered <br />that cotton could be grown along the Santa Clara River prompting the <br />Mormon Church to send more settlers into the area known as Utah's <br />"Dixie" (Crampton-]972, 4loodbury 1950). (Fora detailed account of <br />the settlement, see Larson 1961.) <br />Increased white settlement of southern Utah led to trouble with <br />the Indians which resulted in the Walker War (Joseph Walker was chief <br />of the Utes) of 1853-i854. Mormon catt]e overgrazed the land and <br />displaced deer,-bighorn, antelope and rabbit which the Indians <br />hunted. Eventually the white men brought to the area more food and <br />