http://www.sltrib.com Will Bagley, History Matters Published: 05/06/2001 Edition: Final Section: Utah Page: B1 At the time, it sounded like a good idea. In 1846, adventurer Lansford W. Hastings wanted to open a wagon road across the Great Basin to straighten out the kink in the California Trail that detoured north to Pocatello to avoid the …