The Ordway new era., 1907-01-25
voLv. NO. 4e
Grand River Of "coIor.do.-

tne name OF the Grand river IN tnls
state to the Colorado, by which name
1t is known in Utah, will be interested
in the letter which lie has written the
officers of the chamber Of commerce at
Grand Junction.
There has been considerable objec-
tion to the change on the part OF
Grand Junction people. that city be-
ing located on the Grand river. The
following is part of the explanatory let
ter of Senator Taylor:
las every one knows. the Colorado
river is formed by the junction OF the
Grand and Green rivers. about 100
miles beyond our western border, and
runs thence to the Gulf OF California:
and is in many respects the most pic
turesque and sublime river on this con-
tinent. ] do not know how or when
the Grand or Green rivers got their
names. But they are of comparatively
very recent origin; and why neither OF
them were given the name OF the main
stream / never could learn. But II was
doubtless through lack Of geoSraphi-
cal knowledge. have read that in the
old maps the Grand was called the Col
orado, but I have never verified that
statement
"The Colorado river was discovered
by some Spanish explorers In l5Ao.
The word Colorado. as our school
books say. was Spanish word mean
ing 'ruddy' or blood red The river
soon thereafter took the name OF tho
Rio Colorado. signifying the red water
oh
It's waters. below the red sandstone
hills and Iron stained BLUFFS through
which 1t runs the greater part OF over
l.200 miles. The river was known as
the real Colorado OF tho West for
nearly three centuries.
THE act of Congress passed Febru.
AIRY 2. 1861, creating the territory OF
Colorado. took the name from the
river. Like the Missouri and the Mis-
sissippi rivers. the Green river fork
is twice AS long as the Grand. yet thu
grand flows more water. Is in reality
the main stream OF the Colorado river.
II is the largest and noblest river In
the state. and II has right to and
should bear the name of Colorado from
Its source on the Continental divide
to the Pacific ocean. over 600 miiee.
Il feel that as n matter OF state
The river should come from the state
that bears its name.
Besides. we have Grande river
the Rio Grande-in the southern part
of the state: ard Grand county and
n Grand lake and Grand canon, and
grand mountains and grand scenery.
and even Grand valley; and everything
in Colorado is grand. until the work
grand has no special Significance or
meaning whatever. While the word
Colorado stands for everything to ita
citizens and means world OF possi-
bili;ies to all the inhabitants OF tho
earth. and will have far greater lus-
ter In the years to come.
Il am fully mindful Of the fact that
your prosperous and rapidly growing
city. of which all Colorado is proud.
has spent many years and thousands
of dollars in Advertising Grand juno
ton and the Grand river valley. and
YOU are known all over this country.
But all legal rights are protected In
this bill, and cannot see where ons
dollar of that investment can be lost
On the contrary. the name OF Colorado
is n household word throughout tho
civilized world. and ! confidently be-
lieve that we people In the Grand river
valley can with ten per cent. OF tho
advertising make the Colorado valley
n hundred times better known ana
more desirable for homes and invest.
ments than we ever can the Grand
valley by all the advertising we can
do during the next fifty years. Bc-
cause every intelligent person knows
how easy 1t is to advertise by a we'll
known and popular word.
"The Colorado valley, traversed by
this magnificent state stream from
Glenwood to the state line, would In
n few years with It's power. manufac-
turing, fruit and many other possible
tiles, become famous all over the globe
as the richest, most beautiful and
densely populated valley in the Rocky
Mountain region. l believe the entire
Grand river watershed would be won
derfully benefited. financially by tho
change; while am confident the en-
tire state will heartily approve tho
measure as a matter of state pride
and sentiment II the subject is prop
erly placed before the people by the
press OF this state.
"I have, without consultation with
anyone, introduced this bill on my own
responsibility to call the attention of
the public to, and to obtain an express
sion of opinion on this subject. II
Mesa, Garfield and Eagle counties
disapprove Of the measure, l shall
promptly drop the matter. II they APP
prove of the change, shall vigorously
endeavor to pass the bill; and win
then memorialize the Legislature OF
Utah to likewise change the name OF
that part OF the river In that state:
and I am confident Utah will promptly
and gladly do SO AZ an act Of courtesy
to Colorado.
"The stream not being navisabls. I