The New York herald., 1876-07-01
Colorado to Come In as the Thirty
Eighth in the Union.
THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD
Rush of Adventures to Pixies
Peak in 1857.
Wonderful Development OF Ter
ritorial Resources.

strings the people of Colorado vote to-day on the
question OF adopting she recently formed constitution
preparatory to her admission into the Union equal
with original Siates There appears TO have
been but litlc enthusiasm in favor of the movement
and fears prevailed among the advocates OF Statehood
that the opposition, though quiet and unorganzed.
would prove strong at the polls These apprehensions,
however, disappeared and doubt is entertained that
President Grant will have the satisfaction At very
carly day OF issuing the proclamation authorized by the
Enabling act of February, 1875 procaimng Colorado
State OF the Union 1t nearly ten years since
any addition made to the roll Of States. Nebraska
early in 1867 Congress having passed the bill
for the purpose President Johnson's veto. The
growth and development Of Colorado since 1866
have been most remarkable Twenty years
ago there not score OF white in
habiiants within its boundaries and there
appeared little prospect OF early settlement OF the
country The discovery OF extensive gold and silver
deposits, extending through belt aity miles wide,
stretching north and south across tho central portion
oflhe Territory, brought to IL population and capital,
ard has made Colorado woalher than was Iowa,
Oregon, Minnesota. Nevada, Kansas Nebraska when
simltcd into the Union. Its chief towns substan-
tally butt with brick structures broad and well
located streets Denver the capital has population
OF over 20 600 souls, Pueblo and Georgetown have
each 600 Genital city, situated in the gold mining
belt, contains 4, 0OO An excellent school system
exists There are 130 churches in Colorado and seven
daily newspapers, over thirty weekly and five maya
published in the Territory Colorado is IN good
financial condition. No Territorial tax levied
1873 and only one mill and a half the year after A
balance OF SIS, 900 reported in the Treasury
coRoSApos EXPEDITION.
The first we'll account Of the discovery
Of what Colorado is the record Of the expedition
sent l54O by order OF the vceroy Mendoza under
Lasn Coron of
$40 Indians. Starting from Culiacan the capital Of
Snaloa ON the borders of the Gulf of California they
reached the sources OF the Gila passed across the
mountains 10 the Rio del Norc, wntered twice In New
Mexico and explored it from the north to the south
Tho expedition afcrward took northeastcrly course
and proceeded as far north the fsrtieh parallel un
der which is tho site Of the present Boulder City.
Finding gold Coronado returned to Mexico The
Spanards did the country till 1884, and it
was left in the undisputed possession Of the
Indians In day the first discovery and
exploration OF the region effected by Zebulons
n. Pike, officer OF the United States Army,
who in 1906 was placed ut the head Of
government expedition TO examine the distant Rocky
Mountain regions The high and towering peak called
after of the party OF the oftest in the
world Dr. James, the surgeon Of the expedition was
the first white man, far known whose foot over
trod the summit of Pixies Peak, name which, twelve
from OF the to the other as the centre
OF I'll Dorado. In 1920 another expedition, under
Colonel S. H. Long. visited the country, and in 1912
occurred Frcmonrs overland journey TO the Pacific.
Rufus B. Sage, with a party OF trappers, about this
period found a few settlements of whites and half
breeds in the Territory. Thorc was then trading post
1t Pueblo tho of the present town of that name,
occupied by ten twelve Americans, who were mar
red to Mexican women ana carrying on brisk bus
ness with the Indians BY this time the existence Of
gold and other valuable minerals was suspected, and
Sages observations during excursions In the noun
tains confirmed him in this belief II was
THE COMMERCIAL COLLAPSE OF 1857,
that set many adventurous spirits the West peering
into the obscurity beyond them for Geld OF
tcrprise party OF Cherokee Indians travelling west
ward to California in 1852 by some means found gold
on the banks of a creek the region, and each year
thereafter parties of cherokees had gone and pros
pectcd the in the vicinity Of what now Den
yer City. At last they obtained a few ounces OF the
glttcring DUST which they carried home in 1857 ex
hbitins il freely they passed through Kansas and
Nebraska The report OF new land of gold spread
like epidemic throughout the Western, Atlantic
and Southern States. The Indians seemed to have
carried their story to their old wigwams the
6nes OF Gulf of Mexico, for Georgians among
the first to seek their fortunes al pixies Peak. W. G.
RUSSELL citizen of that state organized party and
proceeded West In 1855 he found gold on Dry Greek,
about miles south OF Denver. These discoveries
soon became kncw wn far and wide, and stream OF
emigration commenced to pour into an almost uDn-
habed region that for centuries was nearly entirely
unknown TO the civilized world, aud which in less than
twenty years has grown in prosperity, development,
population and influence commercial circles every
quarter of the globe to degree hardly ever paralleed
except in the case OF California.
POLITICAL ORGANIZATION.
DR. Busscll had township surveyed which BIO
iage OF tha, name in Georgia The region within
the boundaries Of Kansas A county was defined and
Delegate al tuis early date was elected to Congress
and instructed To get the Pke's Pcak gold mines set
spar. as new Territory hepbssssso Pre- 20 T zoe
Delegate set oil Tor Washington but Jailed 10 accom-
plsh anything In September, isso convention as
tembled which attended by lt7 delegates, repre-
Benring forty six precncts constitution was pre-
pared and submitted to tho people, but rejected by
them being considered that the time had not yet
arrived for Colorado to assume the dignity OF State
hood. A scheme Tor a provisional government had
been concocted In view OF the result irst stated.
Another convention met which determined TO declare
Pixies Peak Territory to be known as the Territory o
Jefferson Horace Greeley visited Denver in 1862 and
liter examining the various muing operations pre-
1lcted vast future for Colorado. he advocated the
formation Of a new State. and trusted might be
made and brought into the Union without going
through the troublesome and undcmocrac form OF a
Tcrritoria organization The act Congress organic
iss1 iss e'''' -'' : : - -
Since that period there has always strong party
IN of admission into the UE.on State. Peti-
tions have come along to Washington yearly asking for
INC ptsstSe tooS1uS 10 thhe trsuie i"
enabling passed for Nevada, Nebraska and COL
prado, under which th$ lormer became states,
though Andy johnson hterposed his veto OF the meas.
BY lapse OF timd Colorado failed to b. admitted
The bill again submitted 10 Congress and passed
both houses and twice vetoed by the Prcsi-
dent Ii moro presented in 1874 and finally
The 30th OF March, 1879 An act TO enable She peo-
Die OF Colorado TO i6rm State govern
and the 9misson said state into the Union
equal iooti1g with the original States was ap-
proved by Gene Jai Grant Under provisions
vcntion assembled Denver the 10th OF Dcccmbcr
last and perfonsd allotted duty The election for
the adoptonor rejection OF the instrument was liked
for July congress very generously paid the salaries
the dele Yates expenses of the Convcntionan un
usual trau faction In such cases.