The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-02-05
MY COUNTRY
'TISOF THEE
By S. J. FULLWOOD
COLORADO


Mountain states we shall write
about in this series OF articles, is
bounded on the north by Nebras-
ka and Wyoming; on the east by
Nebraska and Kansas; on the
south by Oklahoma and New Mex
leo; and on the west by Utah.
Eastern Colorado is plains-like in
topography, whereas the central
and western portion Of the state
is very mountainous.
The early history of the state
reads like historical romance.
One Of the little known facts con-
corning Colorado is this: all of
that state did not become the
property of these United States
at the same time; NOR was it all
conveyed in the same manner or
by the same nation"
Like some Of it's sister states
in that section of the country,
Colorado became the property Of
these United States ut the time
of the Louisiana Purchase. 1t was
a territorial football between
France and Spain between 1853
and 1901. At the former time,
France was the owner Of this vast
territory, and France coded it to
Spain. In 1901 France regained
the ownership of the territory.
an 1906 Lieutenant Zebulon
Pike carried the Stars and Stripes
to Colorado SOIL"
An interesting item Of note is
told about Lieutenant Pike. As
most of Us know, Pixies Peak was
named for this man. But actually,
in his explorations north Of the
Mexican border, Pike never got
as far north as Pixies Peak; con-
sequently never saw the peak
which bears his name.
In 1876 Colorado was admitted
to the union. 1t is known as the
Centennial state. Colorado comes
from Spanish word, and means
"red". Anyone seeing the enor--
nous masses of red rock and red
clay in certain portions Of this
state, will note how well the state
has been named.
The writer has been given the
following description Of the seal
of Colorado, which was determin-
ed by statutory enactment OF
1861.
at (the seaD shall be two and
one-half inches in diameter with
the following inscribed. thereon:
An heraldic shield bearing the
chief, or upon the upper portion
of same upon a red ground, three
snow-capped mountains; above
surrounding clouds, upon the low
err part thereof, upon the golden
ground, a miners badge as pre-
scribed by the rules of heraldry;
as q crest and above the shield
as scroll, the Roman fasees,
bearing upon band Of red, Whit,
and blue the words, Union and
Constitution; below the whole the
motto Nil Sine Numine', the
whole to be surrounded by the
words State Of Colorado and the
figures 1876" 90 -.
The motto spoken in the above
paragraph "Nil Sine Numine'
means Nothing Without Provi-
dence."
The state flower Of Colorado is
the ,Columbine. The white and
lavender varieties of this flower.
Colorado has one day each year,
usually in April, which is set aside
as "Columbine Day." These flow
ers grow in great profusion over
the state, and are beautiful TO
behold wherever found. =:
/ Colorado has a state bird. 1t Is
the Lark Bunting. Seldom are we
given such minute description,
of a bird, Of q state, rs we ma
! given US from Colorado. The tech
nical name for the Lark Bunting
! is "Calamospiza Melano o Us
Stejneger." 1.-THE Lark Bunting IS
six to seven inches in length, with
a stout conical bill and pointed
wings. The male has black feather
with white edgings on the tail and
wings and the female is brown
| with white edgings." A peculiar
| characteristic Of the bird Is the
method of its flight. 1t rises al
| most perpendicularly from the
ground-like q gyro-areoplane--
and invariably sings as it mounts
upwards. 1t is noted as a singer.
The flag Of Colorado has four
different colors in it's making;
and each color stands for particu-
lar meanings. Description: :,
Red-Meaning color; Coiora-
| do" in Spanish. ~
White-Greatest silver state,
eternal mountain snow Zone 90
lumbine color). -, ~
Gold-Greatest gold state, an
the-year sunshine, one more color
than U. S. flag. Ill.,
Yale blue-All-the-year blue
sky, one Columbine color (coior
Two cords of silver and gold
one, of each color. o
widely diversified, this being que
for the most part to the wide
range Of climatic and altitude
conditions existing in the state.
In the sections of the state that
are depended upon irrigation, we
| find the ground extensively cult
waited; and such crops as sugar
beets fruits, potatoes, vegetables
are grown .profusely. In the hign.
or attitudes, the San Luis valley
for instance, where. the altitude ude
IS is in the neighborhood of 5000
feet above sea level, Hegetaolsss
are grown and highly euiilva u 70