BEALE WAGON ROAD & THE CAMEL CORPS

In 1857, Beale was called upon by President James Buchanan to survey and build a 1000 mile road across the southwestern desert of the United States. The Gold Rush of 1849 had sparked a huge westward migration, and the highway would follow original postal routes from Oklahoma to Amarillo, TX, as well as the Trans-Continental National Trails Road from St. Louis, Missouri—“The Gateway to the West"—all the way to Los Angeles, CA.

In 1858-59, the Beale Wagon Road was constructed using a corps of camels. E.F. Beale claimed that the idea (presented in a book he had been reading by E.R. Hue) came to him while exploring Death Valley with his friend Kit Carson. After presenting the idea to current Secretary of War Jefferson Davis, Beale received authorization to send for a team of camels from the northern coast of Africa.

While most people scoffed at the idea, Beale found the camels to be "the most docile, patient and easily managed creatures in the world, and infinitely more easily worked than mules... Kneeling down to receive his load, it may be put on without hurry at the convenience of the master..." He noted that camels weren't prone to panicking or kicking the way mules were, and their ability to travel for days without water in blistering desert heat made them ideal. Most surprisingly, camels were able to carry up to 1000 pounds; some special hybrids (a cross between the camel and the dromedary) could carry 2200 pounds!

After completing the Beale Wagon Road--which eventually ran from Ft. Smith, Arkansas to the Colorado River (on the border between Arizona and California), Beale's camel team was disbanded. He personally kept several camels for his Tejon Ranch, while his camel driver Hadji Ali (or Hi Jolly) began a freight business using a few remaining camels. He released the remaining camels into the Arizona desert, which popped up from time to time, surprising local settlers.

Keep an eye out as you cross the Mojave Desert. You just never know what you might see along I-40!