The newspaper., 1907-12-13
The Early History Of Colorado.
BY MRS. MARGARET MAXvILLE.


Coronado, a Spaniard, is the first white sup
posed to have set foot the soil OF the present state
of Colorado. In 1911 he is said to have crossed the
treme southeastern In 1776 Spanish Priest,
Escalante led an expedition which traversed the
western and southern portion There also other
Spanish expeditions but they made settlement and
left few traces OF exploration.
The first organized exploration was in 1906, about
100 years ago. 1t was conducted by Pike His report
contains the first authenticated record OF the extent
and value OF the region. About the same date, 1906
The Sante Fe Trail which connected the Missouri
River District and New Mexico, established. 1t
crossed southeastern Colorado. The next expedition
by Major Stephen $. Long in 1873. He explored
the territory from Long Peak to the Arkansas River
After his report the region for 800 miles east OF the
Rocky Mountains represented as The Great
American Desert on the maps During the next %
there lots of travel across Colorado but no
exploration This brings to 1872 65 years ago. AT
that time John C. Fremont began series of explora
tons, five in ALL in search of practical Railway Routes
In the first three of these expeditions Kit Carson
acted guide, and in the second VIM Gilpin after
ward the first Governor of Colorado, was member.
The fourth expedition suffered greatly eleven dying
from exposure in the mountains In 1858 Captain Gun
nison surveyed the of the Santa Fe and d. X.
g. Railways
In 1858, the date, "a years ago W. Green Rus
sci and party of Georgia miners, discovered gold
They guided by small band OF Cherokee In
dians. who had discovered Indications OF gold some
before. This party met with little success, but
gave such exaggerated reports that it led to the
famous "Pikes Peak Bust Expedition in which II
is estimated that 40 900 people out for the
gold regions. About twothrds reached the noun
tains the rest turned back busted Only 10000 stayed
This expedition very fairly represents a 'od' ex-
ctement. MANY called. but few chosen" They
prospected in the sand and gravel of the plains, but
the great deposits found in the mountains. The
first discovery of Importance was made by George
Jackson. OF Missouri Chicago Creek near what IL
Idaho Springs, the second by John Gregory. OF
tieorgia, the present site OF Black Hawk and
Central City. In this way Gilpin County was first
settled.
The Cliff Dweers probably the ancestors of the
Pueblo Indians the Inhabitants OF ofColorado.
When the gold hunters came in 10 was Inhabited by
the Parks and Plateaus and the plains by
the Cheyennes. Arapahoes and minor tribes Intense
enmity ex-ted between the Utes and the other tribes
Before the discovery Of gold few trappers and
Inhabited the state. and afew Forts and stock
AIDES established and used chiefly as trad
ing posts. such established early az 1910
on the present site of Pueblo.
In IsJs two settlements made on the opposite
called Auraria and the other St Charles after
ward Denver In honor Of the Governor of kansas oil
which the original County Of Arapahoe which then
included OF the mountains to the present state
line, was n part In 1850 the two towns united and
took the name of Denver. Golden Boulder and Colo