George Washington's Grist Mill photo by David Ben-Ariel

I'm very pleased my photo has been selected for inclusion in the newly released eighth edition of the Schmap Washington DC Guide:

George Washington's Grist Mill
http://www.schmap.com/washingtondc/sights_water/p=100081/i=100081_3.jpg



Photo: David Ben-Ariel

Wind Cave Boxwork, South Dakota

Speleothems - Boxwork

Highway Robbery: Illinois Toll Traps?

Having just gone through the state of Illinois from Ohio en route to gladly see the Badlands, Custer State Park and Wind Cave in South Dakota (among other places), it now sadly appears I went through a toll trap state! Why? Today I received an appalling "Illinois Tollway Notice of Toll Violation" demanding $62.60!

In Ohio and other states I've travelled through, it is impossible to bypass a toll. You get off at the exit you want and pay or you come to a complete stop and pay before continuing on. Everybody must stop. It's not that way in Illinois.

Here it appears, driving at night, I bypassed three tolls since I didn't believe they were exits I wanted and kept on driving. I honestly do remember once, undoubtedly the last one bypassed, that it looked like folks were getting right back on but I didn't look back for too long to see for sure since I was driving forward.

I called the toll-free number to question and complain and offer to pay the proper toll but not the outrageous amount they were out to get. I spoke with Tamika who said the tolls amounted to 1) $0.80, 2) $0.80, and 3) $1.00 with TWENTY DOLLARS FINE FOR EACH violation, due to confusion over their system, totalling $62.60!

Unpaid Toll
$0.80
$0.80
$1.00
____
$2.60

Fine
$20.00
$20.00
$20.00
_____
$60.00

Total Amount Due or this or that other threat:
$62.60! $62.60 for $2.60 tolls!

CAN YOU SAY HIGHWAY ROBBERY?

I wasn't out to rip off the Illinois Tollway but it appears this "road rage" - this outrageous and exorbitant fine - is meant to take advantage of drivers unfamiliar with Illinois road ways. It appears the Illinois Tollway have worded the bill to completely cover themselves and offers no understanding or compromise. We'll see. I'll be glad to update folks if it's otherwise and Illinois is found reasonable after all, as I'm sending this published report to them when I request my written hearing. At the very least, I hope I've helped to save some innocent folks money who must pass through Illinois: beware the Illinois tolls!

David Ben-Ariel

Fallen Timbers, Maumee, Ohio (photos and commentary)

Fallen Timbers, Ohio Historical Society
Chief Little Turtle, Fallen Timbers
Indian Warfare, Fallen Timbers
The Greenville Treaty, Fallen Timbers
Indian Monument and Turkey Foot Rock, Fallen Timbers
In Memory of the American Indians
The brave soldiers and Kentucky volunteers killed memoriam (Fallen Timbers)
Blue Skies at Battle of Fallen Timbers
Views of Fallen Timbers Monument
Locust Tree at Fallen Timbers
Fallen Timbers Monument to Ohio Pioneers

The Fallen Timbers Battle Monument is Mad!

Fallen Timbers Monument to Ohio Pioneers

ONWARD IN PEACE
TO THE PIONEERS OF OHIO
AND THE GREAT NORTHWEST

Locust Tree at Fallen Timbers

Views of Fallen Timbers Monument

Blue Skies at Battle of Fallen Timbers

The brave soldiers and Kentucky volunteers killed memoriam (Fallen Timbers)

IN MEMORIAM
ON THE BATTLEFIELD OF FALLEN TIMBERS IN UNMARKED
GRAVES, REST THE BRAVE SOLDIERS OF GENERAL
ANTHONY WAYNE'S LEGION OF THE UNITED STATES
AND THE KENTUCKY VOLUNTEERS, WHO WERE KILLED
ON AUGUST 20, 1794, IN THE VICTORIOUS CONFLICT
WITH THE INDIANS AND THEIR BRITISH ALLIES.

KILLED IN ACTION - 33

(LISTS THEIR RANKS AND NAMES AND STATE)

DIED OF WOUNDS - 11
(LISTS THEIR NAMES AND RANKS)

WOUNDED - 89
(LISTS NAMES OF CAPTAINS, AND THEN NUMBER OF OTHER RANKS)

In Memory of the American Indians

TURKEY FOOT ROCK

ON THIS ROCK ACCORDING TO TRADITION, CHIEF TURKEY FOOT OF THE OTTAWA INDIANS RALLIED HIS WARRIORS DURING THE BATTLE OF FALLEN TIMBERS. HERE HE WAS KILLED. AND FOR MANY YEARS TRIBESMEN MADE OFFERINGS OF TOBACCO ON THIS ROCK TO APPEASE THE GREAT SPIRIT.

Indian Monument and Turkey Foot Rock, Fallen Timbers

IN MEMORY OF
ALL THE AMERICAN INDIANS
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES AT THIS PLACE,
INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE FOLLOWING TRIBES.

CHIPPEWA OTTAWA
DELAWARE POTAWATAMI
MIAMI SHAWNEE
MINGO WYANDOT

DEDICATED
AUGUST 20, 1994
AT THE
200 ANNIVERSARY
COMMEMORATION
OF THE
BATTLE OF FALLEN TIMBERS.



















(BACKSIDE)
ERECTED BY
THE FALLEN TIMBERS
COMMEMORATION COMMITTEE
AND THE AMERICAN INDIAN
INTERTRIBAL ASSOCIATION
1994

The Greenville Treaty, Fallen Timbers

THE GREENVILLE TREATY
TO GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE WHO ORGANIZED THE "LEGION OF THE UNITED STATES" BY ORDER OF PRESIDENT WASHINGTON AND DEFEATED CHIEF LITTLE TURTLE'S WARRIORS HERE AT FALLEN TIMBERS AUGUST 20 1794. THIS VICTORY LED TO THE TREATY OF GREENVILLE, AUGUST 3, 1795, WHICH OPENED UP MUCH OF THE PRESENT STATE OF OHIO TO WHITE SETTLERS.

Indian Warfare, Fallen Timbers

INDIAN WARFARE
IN MEMORY OF THE WHITE SETTLERS
MASSACRED 1783-1794.

Chief Little Turtle, Fallen Timbers

THE BATTLE OF FALLEN TIMBERS
TO CHIEF LITTLE TURTLE AND HIS BRAVE INDIAN WARRIORS

Fallen Timbers, Ohio Historical Society

FALLEN TIMBERS

Resentment by Indians against white encroachment
reached a peak in the 1790's. Encouraged by the British,
they began to raid settlements. Two poorly organized
American military campaigns, led by General Josiah
Hermer in 1790 and Governor Arthur St. Clair in 1791
were soundly defeated by the Indians. President Washington
turned to Anthony Wayne to crush Indian resistance.

Wayne assembled troops at Cincinatti, then moved to
Fort Green Ville where he spent many months creating
a disciplined, well-trained army. By summer 1794, he
was ready to move.

On the march to the Maumee Valley, Wayne met nearly
2,000 Indians here at a grove of trees felled by a tornado.
After hard fighting, Wayne drove the Indians to the
gates of nearby Fort Miamis, where he defeated them.

In the Treaty of Green Ville, signed in 1795, the Indians
surrendered their claims to most of Ohio. The treaty
pacified the frontier for fifteen years and opened
Ohio to peaceful settlement.

THE OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY 1978

Flute Player Petroglyph (Dinosaur National Monument)

Petroglyphs at Dinosaur National Monument

Dinosaur National Monument Rock Art