The Raymer enterprise., 1921-10-06

Into the Grand canyon at the bend below the Lit
tie Colorado on June 20. He named the canyon
Puerto de Bucareli tBucarers pass) In honor Of
the then yiceroy
Grand river, both above and below its junction
with Gunns0n river. was named Rio San Rafael
by Fathers Domlniguez and Escalante In 1778. To
the south branch the present GunnIson river, they
gave the name Rio San Javler tXavier) and re-
ported the Ute Indian name as Tomichi In this
area Pixies maps. lsO5O7, like other early maps
are difficult to interpret. His "RIo de los Animasr
(as Animas) Is much more like Grand river than
his "R'o San Rafael" In 1s43 Fremont lettered
1t Grand river, as did Captain stansbury In 1s49.
But for long years the maps showed great di.
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 It was called Grand,
Bunkara. Blue and North Fork Of Grand river Gun.
nixon river was named variously Eagle. Eagle Tall,
South Fork Of Grand. Grande and Grand river.
In after years Captain GunnIsons 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 small
south branch Of the latter In Summit county,
Colorado.
Green river was called Rio de San Buenaven.
tura BY DomIniguez and Escalante In 1776 and
Escalante says (Diario. Sept H. 1718), that It
was so named in 1763 by Fr. 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
the River Buenaventura became the famous "ghost
river which for years haunted the maps Of the far
West Pike 18OS07. mapped II with headwaters
In the position Of upper Green river, having an
atfiuent Rio de San clemente tEscalante's name
II - -.
err, and flowing southwest into Sevier lake (name-
iess) Before 1911, however. upper Green river
was known to be connected with the Colorado.
The Astorlans called 1t both Spanish river and
Colorado river It was called Rio Colorado nv
Jetietiah s. Smith In 1924 and Rio Colorado of
the West by william h. Ashley In 1925. Bonns.
VILE, 1887, ettered It Colorado Of the West on his
map Of the territory west OF the Rocky Mountains.
The name Green river dates at least a. far
back as 1924. Dale refers to a news item In the
Missouri Intelligencer, June 25. 1925. Of q party
leaving Santa Cruz In November, 1924 to trap on
"Green river" Fremont says that the Spaniards.
contrasting rIts timbered shores and green wooled
Islands with Its dry sandy plains" named II RIO
Verde (Green river): Bancroft speaks Of an en-
ployee of Ashley's. "Mr. Green who gave his name
to Green river: and Chittenden advances the
theory that the name may have been suggested
By the color Of the water.
The act Of congress providing for the organixs.
ton Of the territory Of Colorado was approved
February q, 1881. As introduced and as passed
by the house. the bill named the proposed new
organization the territory Of Idaho-"Idaho" hav.
Ing been selected from many names proposed. In
the senate on motion Of Senator Wilson Of Mas
sachusetts. the name Of the territory was amended
by striking out Idaho and inserting "Colorado
This was done At the suggestion Of Delegate VII.
lIams, for the reason that the Colorado river arose
In Its mountains, hence there was peculiar ft-
ness In the name. Bancroft, however. says that
"The name Colorado was given to It at the sur.
gestion Of the man civilian Gilpin) selected TO.
Its first governor; and he quotes from manu-.
script Of Gilplns as follows: "Some wanted It
called Jefferson. some Arcadia. l 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 'Ah.'
said he (wilson Of Massachusetts). that Is II !;
and he named II Colorado"