The End of the Trail: The Far West from New Mexico to British Columbia

A historical account written in the early 20th century. The book appears to chronicle the transformation and remaining vestiges of the American frontier, traveling from New Mexico up to British Columbia. Its likely topic is an exploration of both landscape and society at the western edge of North America, focusing on how pioneering, settlement, and modern development have changed the nature of the West. This work would interest readers fascinated by the closing days of the North American frontier and the varied peoples and cultures that inhabited it. The opening of the book provides a sweeping introduction to the legacy of westward migration, emphasizing the idea that the American journey has reached its final geographical limit at the Pacific. Powell contrasts romantic images of the “Wild West” with the changing, but persistent, realities of frontier life in the early 1900s, focusing first on New Mexico. The narrative delves into the dramatic transformation of places like Deming and the Mimbres valley, where irrigation and new settlers have reinvented what was once considered barren desert. The author uses firsthand travel experiences—often by motor car or rugged conveyances—to paint vivid pictures of modern pioneers, Hispanic and Native communities, the remnants of cowboy and prospector culture, and the unique social and economic landscapes of the region. This beginning sets the tone for an engaging blend of travel memoir, local color writing, and keen observation of the changing American West.