, 1921-10-06

into the Grand canyon at the bend below the Lit
tie Colorado on June &c. He named the canyon
Puerto de Bucareli (Bucareli's pass) in honor of
the then viceroy.
Grand river, both above and below its junction
with Gunnison river. was named Rio San Rafael
by Fathers Dominique and Escalante in 1916. To
the south branch, the present Gunnison river, they
gave the name Rio San Javier (Xavier) and re-
ported the Ute Indian name as Tomichi. In this
area Pixies maps, 1S05-07, like other early maps,
are difficult to interpret. His Rio de los Animas"
Gas Animas) is much more like Grand river than
his Rio San Rafael" In 1s43 Fremont lettered
it Grand river, as did Captain Stansbury In 1S49.
But for long years the maps showed great d.
versity of nomenclature. Below its junction with
the Gunnison, this river was usually called Grand
river. rarely Rio Colorado or Grand and even
Colorado. Above the junction 1t was called Grand.
Bunkara, Blue and North Fork of Grand river. Gun
nison river was named variously Eagle. Eagle Tail.
South Fork of Grand, Grande and Grand river.
In after years Captain Gunnison's name became
gradually fixed on the branch which he explored,
and the name Grand on the north or main branch,
while the name Blue river now describes a small
south branch of the latter in Summit county,
Colorado.
Green river was called Rio de san Buenaven-
tura by DomIniguez and Escalante I'm 1776, and
Escalante says (Diario. Sept. II, 1776), that II
was so named In 1903 by FIR. Alfonso de Posada.
Thinking that II flowed TO the west. the map MAX
ers represented II as crossing the Great basin and
flowing into the Pacific ocean. Thus ii was that
III IklNt utilh ~ At i1AhVhE EhoNA
river" which for years haunted the maps of the far
West. Pike. 1S05-07. mapped II with headwaters
I'm the position of upper Green river, having an
afnuent. Rio de San Clemente (Escalante's name
for White river, an east branch Of the Green riv-
err. and flowing southwest into Sewer lake (name-
Iess). Before 1911, however, upper Green river
was known TO be connected with the Colorado.
The Astorinns called 1t both Spanish river and
Colorado river. 1t was called Rio Colorado bv
JededIah s. Smith In 1924 and Rio Colorado OF
tho Waet nv William III. Ashley In 1921. Rome
Vile, 1887, l~ettered II Colorado OF the West on his
man of the territory west of the Rocky Mountains.
The name Green river dates at least as far
back as 1924. Dale refers to II news Item in the
Missouri Intelligencer, June %. 1925, Of n party
leaving Santa Cruz In November. 1924. to trap on
"Green river" Fremont says that the Spaniards,
contrasting "Its timbered shores and green wooded
islands with Its dry sandy plains" named II Rio
Verde Green river) Bancroft speaks of an IN
ployee of Ashley's. mfr. Green who gave his nnme
To Green river: and Chittenden advances the
theory that the name may have been suggested
by the color of the water.
The net Of congress providing for the organiza-
ton Of the territory OF Colorado was approved
February 2S. 1861. As introduced and ms passed
by the house. the bill named the proposed new
organization the territory OF Idnho-"Idaho" hav.
ing been selected from many MINES proposed. IN
the senate. on motion Of Senator Wilson OF Mas
sachusetts. the name of the territory wns amended
by striking out Idaho" md Inserting colorado "
This was done at the suggestion OF Delegate VIII
linms. for the reason that the Colorado river arose
In its mountains. hence there was n peculiar at-
ness In the name. Bancroft. however. says that
"The name Colorado was given TO II at the sug-
gestion of the man Cwllllam Gilpin) selected for
It's first governor; and he quotes from n manu-.
script OF Gilpin's NJ follows; "Some wanted II
called Jefferson. som Arcadia. | said the people
have to a great extent named the states after the
great rivers of the country. and the great feature
Of that country Is the great Colorado river. Nh
said he tWilson Of Massnchusetts). that Is It,;
and he named II Colorado"