CHAPTER III.
In 1861 the Kansas officials had disappeared. The Provisional government continued to exercise its partially acknowledged authority until the arrival of the United States appointees for the new Territory. These arrived on the 29th of May. The Federal officers, who then came, with their sealed commissions, were: William Gilpin, Governor; Lewis Ledyard Weld, Secretary; B. F. Hall, Chief Justice; S. N. Pettis, and Charles Lee Armor, Associate Justices; Copeland Townsend, Marshal; James E. Dalliba, Attorney General; F. M. Case, Surveyor General. The Provisional government now ceased. Its laws had been published, but not enforced, and its officers had the honor, but not the pay, of the positions they held.
Governor Gilpin was welcomed with undisguised pleasure. His greeting was a perfect ovation. The people now felt a new sense of security, for the strong arm of the General Government was in their midst. The Governor at once proceeded with commendable energy to discharge the functions of his high office. His first duty was to see the settlements of the Territory, and ascertain the character, condition and wants of the people. This visitation was accomplished with great celerity. Wherever the Governor went, the joy and hospitality of the people knew no bounds. Everywhere he was welcomed with bouquets, balls, congratulations. On his return to Denver, in accordance with his prescribed duty, a census was ordered. The returns exhibited a population of 25,329. The proportion of men to women was nearly five to one. The Governor, qualified July 8th, and was now in the full exercise of his authority. The other co-ordinate branch of Federal Government had now to be established. This was the United States Supreme Court. On July 10th, the Governor assigned the judges to their districts, and the Supreme Court immediately organized. On July 11th, he issued a proclamation, in which the Territory was declared to be one Congressional District, and the Congressional District to be divided into nine Council, and thirteen Representative Districts, and in which the election of a delegate to Congress, and of Legislative Assembly were ordered. The election was duly held on the 19th of August--Hiram P. Bennet was elected delegate to Congress. The Legislature of the Territory of Colorado convened on the 9th of September. They adopted full civil, and criminal codes. They recognized the miners as authority in mining legislation, acknowledged the legality of their courts, adopted their laws, confirmed their decisions, and arranged for the transfer of cases to the regular courts, so that no jarring, nor inconvenience was experienced. Great praise is due to this legislative body for the laws they enacted, and though some have been found faulty, and others repealed, yet they have effectually served the needs of the Territory. When the rebellion had been in progress for several months, Gov. Gilpin issued a call for volunteers. Recruits quickly responded to the call, and the first regiment of Colorado infantry, under Col. John P. Slough, soon took the field. This infantry was transformed into a cavalry regiment, and did good service in repelling the Texan invasion early in 1862. During this year immigration received a strong impetus. It was computed that the daily arrivals, averaging one hundred, added in a short time ten thousand to the population as returned by the census. The city of Denver, including Auraria and Highland, was again incorporated in November, 1861. Among the industries, placer mining was most successfully prosecuted, California gulch alone yielding one million dollars.
In April, 1862, Dr. John Evans superseded Governor William Gilpin. The levy of the second regiment of Colorado cavalry was made this year, and the troops ordered to Missouri. In 1863 they were consolidated with the third regiment raised in Colorado. This body of cavalry did effective service in Missouri, and in 1864 won considerable renown in the movements executed against Price in his last invasion. They took a prominent part in four battles, to wit: Mine Creek, Oct. 22; Westport, Oct. 23; Charlot, Oct. 25; Newtonia, Nov. 4. The quantity of gold obtained by gulch mining this year exceeded any previous yield. H. P. Bennet was re-elected delegate to Congress in September.
In the year 1863 began in the East the stupendous speculation in gold mines. The spirit of speculation had infected all classes of people, and financial schemes were quickly devised to draw millions from the public. Among these Colorado mines prominently figured. On the 19th of April Denver lost, by a severe conflagration, a sum estimated at a quarter of a million dollars. A branch telegraph line was completed from Julesburg to Denver in October, whereby telegraphic communication with the world was established. On the 7th of October a treaty was concluded with the Tabeguache band of Utah Indians, by which the Indian title to all of the settled portions of the mountains of Colorado, and most of the San Luis valley, was extinguished.
The year 1864 was the gloomy period of the rebellion. Speculation became a mania. Stock companies of the most gigantic character were organized on the basis of Colorado gold mines. It need hardly be said that thousands lost large sums by reckless investments in gold mining stocks. In the spring the Indians of the plains, composed of Sioux, Cheyennes, and Arapahoes, combined to carry on a bloody and exterminating war against the whites. They attacked the coaches; murdered, scalped, and mutilated the passengers. Exposed dwellings were surrounded and the inmates massacred. Emboldened by little or no resistance, they admitted no pause to their savage butcheries. This thoroughly roused the people to punish the hostile fiends. Twelve hundred men, under the command of Col. J. M. Chivington, hurried forward to meet the merciless savages, and arrest their work of horrors. They found and suddenly assailed a large troop of Cheyennes, about seven hundred in number, and with hearts steeled against mercy, dealt swift retribution, sparing neither age nor sex, until nearly all were destroyed. This stunning blow checked the Indian outrages. A temporary quiet ensued, and the roads were again animated with coaches and wagon trains. Much credit is due to Captain Tyler, who, with his brave company, opened and protected the line of communication with the States. On May 19th, a more disastrous calamity befell Denver than the fire of the preceding year. An appalling flood swept down Cherry Creek, overwhelming large buildings, and sweeping them and their contents down its destructive current. Twenty persons perished in the ruthless waters. The damages were computed to be a million dollars. Near the close of the Thirty-eighth Congress, a bill was passed, in response to a petition of the Colorado Legislature, enabling the territory to organize a State government and enter the Union. Under its provisions a convention met in Denver July 4th, 1864, and framed a constitution. This was rejected by the people on the second Tuesday of October. In the fall of 1864, A. A. Bradford was elected delegate to Congress.
In 1865 the Indians renewed hostilities, apparently determined to force back immigration. All intercourse with the East was interrupted for a time. Business was paralyzed. Lonely ranches were invaded, and their occupants fiendishly massacred. This second outbreak of the Indians was effectually checked by United States troops. In the spring of this year all parties concurred in another attempt to organize a state. A convention met in Denver in August, and framed a constitution, which was adopted by a majority of 155. A State legislature, and the complement of State officers, were elected November 14th. Ex-Governor William Gilpin was chosen State Governor. Ex-Governor John Evans and Jerome B. Chaffee were chosen senators by the legislature. Application for the admission of Colorado as a state was made during each session of the Thirty-ninth Congress. A strong disinclination to grant the application was manifested. An exigency, however, arose, which changed their disposition. The President, Andrew Johnson, had been impeached. The success of the impeachment was involved in doubt. To secure two senators and a representative, an enabling act was passed to admit the new state. The President, as might be expected, vetoed the bill. Governor John Evans was superseded by Alexander Cummings, who qualified October 19th.
In 1866 a reaction followed the prostration of trade and industry consequent upon the Indian outrages of the preceding year. An unwonted stimulus pervaded the territory. Mining pursuits were followed with fresh vigor. In Denver and other places building was carried on with unparalleled activity. Money became plentiful, and many laid the foundations of large fortunes. George M. Chilcott was elected delegate. Up to this time the bullion deposited in the mint amounted to 12,401,372 dollars, said to be less than half of the real yield.
On May 27th, 1867, A. C. Hunt superseded Governor Cummings. The struggle for statehood ended with the winter of 1867-8, when it was found impossible to pass the bill over the veto. In the fall the Denver Board of Trade was organized, which principally labored to initiate the enterprise of building a railroad to join the Union Pacific road at Cheyenne. Near the close of the year the Union Pacific road reached Cheyenne. The Denver Pacific Railway and Telegraph Company was incorporated November 18th, 1867. During this year the various interests of Colorado were ably represented at the Universal Exposition in Paris. The first gold medal was awarded to the minerals of Colorado. The French Government, moved by Colorado’s display at the Exposition, appointed an Imperial Commissioner, who visited the territory and reported his observations therein for the benefit of capital and science in France. The Kiowas and Comanches, the Cheyennes and Arapahoes were removed to reservations bordering on Colorado and Kansas, where their southern boundary lines meet. By their treaties they stipulate to withdraw opposition to immigrants, settlers, and lines of railroad.
In 1868 A. A. Bradford was again elected delegate to Congress.
On June 15th, 1869, Edward M. McCook superseded Governor A. C. Hunt.
The Denver Pacific Railway Company had been formed in 1867. Its principal object, as stated in the articles of incorporation, was to build a railroad and telegraph line to Cheyenne, and there connect with the Union Pacific road. After some delay the funds were secured, the construction of the road hastened, and on the 23d day of June, 1870, the first train arrived in Denver. On the 15th day of August, the Kansas Pacific Railway, 640 miles in length, was completed. In September, seventeen miles of the Colorado Central were finished. The connection of Golden with Denver was thereby effected. During this year successful efforts were made to plant colonies in choice sections of the Territory. The Meeker-Greeley colony was organized in New York in the winter of 1869-70, and located in the spring. It now has a population of 2,000, happy and prosperous, and distinguished by prohibition laws and devotion to temperance. The town site of the colony is a delta formed by the Cache-a-la-Poudre and South Platte rivers. The Chicago-Colorado colony is largely composed of Western men, and is animated by a liberal progressive spirit. The location of the colony is in every way most desirable. The energy and enterprise of the colonists excite great admiration. They have already a beautiful town, and a large extent of country under cultivation. The German colony may also be mentioned. It occupied Wet Mountain Valley, which lies in Pueblo and Fremont counties. Thus, by rapid transit, the Territory was brought into close communication with the States, and began to fill up with thousands, who, independently, or in co-operative association, settled for the purposes of agriculture. No sign so cheering as a settlement of a country by intelligent, enterprising farmers. Hardy, industrious miners had already crowded into the mountains, and skillful, energetic farmers now collected on the plains, intent to reap from them rich and abundant harvests. In the fall, Jerome B. Chaffee was elected delegate to Congress.
This year, 1871, dates the settlement of the Colorado Springs colony, distinguished for its rapid and prosperous growth. Situated seventy-five miles south from Denver, it became the temporary terminus of the Denver and Rio Grande railway, which was completed to that point during this year. The railroad has since passed on to Pueblo, and thence to La Veta, with branches to El Moro, and Canon City.
In 1872, Jerome B. Chaffee was re-elected delegate to Congress.
In 1873, a large immigration into the San Juan region commenced, owing to reports of rich mineral discoveries. S. H. Elbert superseded Gov. E. M. McCook. Following the custom of those removed from office, the ex-Governor proceeded to Washington to confer with the federal authorities, and in January, 1874, was re-appointed in place of Gov. Elbert. Severe and bitter editorials filled the columns of the press devoted to the fallen regime. A temporary division of the Republican party ensued. A lively contest for political supremacy followed and continued until the usual period for an election to Congress, when the two sides of the party marshaled themselves, the one to rebuke and the other to sustain the administration. The malcontents not only turned the election against the Republican nominee, H. P. H. Bromwell, but gave a large and unprecedented majority to the Democratic nominee, Thomas M. Patterson. This change in the popular vote deeply touched the administration, and it was determined, in order to reconcile the disaffected, to remove the obnoxious appointments, and fill the federal offices with men not implicated in the controversy.
During the year 1874, the South Park railroad was finished to Morrison.
John L. Routt, the successor to Gov. McCook, qualified on March 29th, 1875. He set to work without delay to unite the discordant factions and succeeded. The people in general were now fully persuaded that the time had come for demanding the privileges of Statehood. The Republican delegate, Jerome B. Chaffee, had during the winter of 1874-5, drawn up an Enabling Act with much skill, and by persistent effort and untiring zeal, had, in the face of strong opposition, effected the passage of the bill. Before its passage the Act was amended so as to postpone the date of admission to July 4th, 1876.