The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-08-31
The New State.

Now that Colorado has become State,
the thirty.eighth of the Federal family, q
sketch of its characteristics will be of
special interest to the public. 1t lies in
the Rocky mountain region, between the
37th and 41st parallels of latitudes, and
the 1O2d and 100 meridians of west lon
gitude. Its area is 104, 800 square miles,
nearly 2} times as large as the State OF
New York. Through its centre runs the
Rocky mountain range, some of the peaks
of which rise to the height Of 15,0 900 feet.
The western part of the State is broken
by lateral ranges, and it is upon the
whole, a rough and not altogether pre-
possessing region. East of the "Rock-
les" the mountains gradually subside
into rolling country, until finally, on
the Kansas border, begins the great cen.
tral plain that lies to the west and south
west of the Missouri River. Over all
this district grows luxuriant grass upon
which buffaloes and other animals feed.
The soil of the State is fertile, and ce-
reals and fruits are raised in great abun-
dance. Trees are scarce, except along
the river bottoms, which are we'll timber
ed. Upon the mountain sides the
pine family is found even up to the snow
line.
The agricultural resources are regard
ed as very promising. They are being
rapidly developed, and at no distant day
this will doubtless be among the best
producing regions west of the Mississippi
River. The most important agricultural
production are wheat, corn, tobacco,
wool, potatoes, butter, cheese and hay.
Stock raising at present is one unfailing
resource of Colorado. The climate is
healthful to a remarkable degree. 1t is
clear, dry, pure, and such that many peo-
pie find it a remedy for diseases of the
throat and lungs, after medicines have
failed. The changes of temperature are
not sudden, and rarely does the ther-
mometer fail below 20 degrees or rise
above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The
average annual rainfall on the plains
and in the valleys is about 20 inches, and
this fall is almost entirely during the
rainy season of May, June and July
During several months of every year arti-
fetal irrigation is necessary in order to
promote vegetation, and in some years
for preventing total failure of crops
The farmers in selecting their lands ac-
cordingly look out for natural irrigation.
The irrigating canals are constructed
chiefly with the plow and scraper, and
cost but little compared with their value.
They are frequently 80 or 40 miles in
length, and 10000 or $4,000 acres, each
adjoining farmer paying q proportionate
share of the expense of construction and
maintenance.
The omission of any mention of the
Colorado parks in q sketch of the State
would be noticed, as they are about as
famous as the Yosemite valley of Cali
fornia. They are described as present.
ing the appearance of having been the
basins of former lakes, deprived of their
waters by volcanic agency. Their lowest
depths are about 5000 feet above the
level of the sea. Many of these parks
are small, but many of them embrace
areas ranging each from 1000 to 10000
square miles. Their soil is extremely
rich, they abound in game, and contain
the most delicious water.
The gold and silver mines are confined
to the park and mountain regions. The
total yield of gold annually is about ST.
100000. The silver production is almost
as great. There were 600 miles of rail-
road in the State in 1873, and about
100000 inhabitants.