THE Territory of Colorado lies between 37° and 41° N. latitude, and between 102° and 109° W. longitude. It is about 375 miles long, from east to west, and 275 miles wide, from north to south.

The surface of the Territory is mountainous. Here are to be found some of the highest peaks of the Rocky Mountain range, which passes, from north to south, through the middle of the Territory. "The average height of these mountains is 12,000 feet, though many of the peaks rise from 2000 to 5000 feet higher. The foot hills flank the range on either hand to a distance of 50 miles; to the eastward subsiding into the plains; to the westward sloping to the base of other and continuous ranges of lesser height which fill the spaces thence to the Pacific. This majestic range holds within its folds the North, South, Middle, and San Luis Parks, immense areas of level landsurrounded by snowy mountains-each having a soil, climate, and geological formation peculiar and distinctive. The plains imperceptibly slope from the base of the mountains, which rise abruptly from them to the Missouri River; presenting a smooth, undulating surface, destitute of timber, save in the valleys of the water-courses, and upon the high land, which, near the mountains, divides the waters of the Platte and Arkansas rivers."

The Platte and Arkansas rivers rise near the centre of the Territory, and drain the eastern part. From the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains flow the Tampa or Bear River, the Bunkara and the Gunison rivers. The Bunkara and Gunison unite in the western part and form the Grand River, which is a branch of the Colorado.

The Rio Grande rises in the southern part of the Territory and flows southward.

Colorado is very rich in mineral deposits. Gold and silver are abundant in the central part among the mountains. Copper, iron, coal, salt, limestone, and gypsum also exist in large quantities. The gold mines have thus far almost monopolized the attention of capitalists. There is a branch of the United States Mint at Denver, at which large quantities of the precious metals are assayed. "The mountain region," says a pamphlet, published by the Denver Board of Trade, “contains mines of gold, silver, copper, and lead, which are destined, under the influence of capital and cheap labor, to give to the American people for all time the monetary supremacy of the commercial world. The mineral belt extends the whole length of the range, and includes thirty miles of each of its flanks, making an aggregate of 14,000 square miles of mineral land. In the two counties of Gilpin and Clear Creek, alone, not less than 12,000 distinct lodes have been discovered and recorded, and it is safe to say that of this number there are not less than 100 capable of annually yielding, under favorable circumstances, such as the completion of projected railroads will secure, $500,000 each, a total of $50,000,000.”

The Territory is deficient in timber. In the eastern portion are extensive sandy plains, covered with a thick growth of the wild sage and prickly pear. Large herds of the buffalo, clk, antelope, and deer roam over the unsettled portions of the Territory. The bear is also found in the mountains, and along the lakes and marshes are to be found wild ducks and geese.

Hall, in his "Emigrants' and Settlers' Guide," thus speaks of the climate and productions of Colorado:

"The climate of Colorado varies with its height, both as to temperature and the amount of rain and snow. The climate of that portion lying at the base and east of the mountains is not only delightful but remarkably healthy. The frosts come generally early in the autumn, and continue far into the spring months, but they are not severe. On the plains, the snows of winter are never sufficient to prevent cattle of all kinds from thriving and fattening on the nutritious grass, dried up and thus cured by nature in July and August. Throughout the winter months, with rare exceptions, the sun blazes down with an almost tropic glow, little or no snow falls, and although the nights are sometimes sharp and frosty, there is no steady intensity of cold. With such a climate, Colorado could not well be otherwise than healthy. The sanitary condition of the Territory is good, and the number of deaths, considering the labor and exposure to which the great majority of its inhabitants are subjected, remarkably small. In a country so remote from the agricultural districts of the States, and where the expense of transporting supplies is so heavy, the need of home production is necessarily very great. The rather scanty opportunities which Colorado presents as a field for agriculture have been, however, improved to the utmost. An extensive system of irrigation has been introduced, which, it is thought, will relieve the settlers from lack of rain and other dif ficulties which have hitherto limited agricultural progress. As regards the production of grain, the crops on the various branches of the South Platte, Arkansas, Fontain que Bruille, afford encouraging prospects.

"In the southern part of the Territory considerable attention has been paid to the raising of wheat, corn, barley, and other cereals; but the continuance of dry weather presents a formidable obstacle to great success in this direction. The bottom lands of the Platte River and other mountain streams have a rich alluvial deposit, which only requires water at long intervals to promote an astonishing vegetable growth. All the succulent varieties of plants, such as potatoes, cabbages, onions, squashes, etc., attain an enormous size, retaining the tenderness, juiciness, and sweetness which almost everywhere else belong only to the smaller varieties. The wild fruits of the Territory are also numerous and abundant. It is believed that Colorado will, in a few years, be able to supply her own home demand for the necessaries of life. As a grazing and stock-raising region, Colorado pos

sesses great advantages. Near the base of the Rocky ranges, and along the valleys of the streams which have their origin in the mountains, vegetation is prolific. The grasses are not only abundant, but they contain more nutriment than the cultivated species of the most prosperous agricultural districts of the Mississippi valley. These grasses cure standing, and cattle have been known to feed and thrive. upon them throughout the entire winter months."

In 1870, the Territory produced 860,000 bushels of wheat, 575,000 bushels of corn, 825,000 bushels of oats and barley, and 800,000 bushels of potatoes. The entire wealth of the Territory has been stated at $50,000,000. During the year 1870, gold and silver were shipped from the Territory to the amount of $5,454,000. A School of Mines has been established at Golden City.

There is a system of public schools in operation in the Territory, under the supervision of the Territorial Treasurer, who is also the Superintendent of Public Education. The system is yet in its infancy, but gives promise of future usefulness. The Legislature, at its last session, established an Agricultural College.

The finances of the Territory are in a prosperous condition. The annual expenses of the Territorial Government are about $30,000, and are fully covered by the receipts of the Treasury.

The Government, as in all the other Territories, consists of a Governor and Secretary, appointed by the President of the United States, and a Treasurer, Auditor, and Adjutant-General, elected by the people of the Territory. The Legislature consists of a Council of 13 members, and a House of Representatives of 26 members. The judicial power of the Territory is vested in a Supreme Court, District Courts, Probate Courts, and Justices of the Peace. The Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice and two Associates, appointed by the President of the United States for a term of four years. For District Court purposes the Territory is divided into three districts, in each of which a Justice of the Supreme Court holds the sessions. There is also in each district a Clerk of the Court, who appoints deputies for every county. The Supreme and District Courts have chancery as well as common law jurisdiction.

In 1859 gold was discovered in Colorado, in the vicinity of Pike's Peak, and emigrants flocked to the Territory, and by 1860 it contained 34,277 inhabitants. In March, 1861, the Territory of Colorado was organized, being constructed of portions of Kansas, Nebraska, and Utah. The Territory has several times applied for admission

into the Union as a State, but without success. It is believed, however, that its admission will soon take place now.

The principal towns are Denver, Central City, Golden City. and Colorado City.

DENVER, the capital of the Territory, is thus described in the publication of the Denver Board of Trade, from which we have quoted:

"Denver is beautifully situated, on a plain, at the junction of Cherry Creek with the South Platte, 12 miles from the foot of the mountains, with an altitude of 5000 feet above tide level. The population is about 6000. Men from the East gaze with astonishment on this compactly built, busy settlement, with the peculiarities to the full of a large city, standing in the Great American Desert,' 700 miles from what has hitherto been supposed the ultima thule of inhabitable land on the Atlantic slope of the United States.

"Among the public buildings there are 6 churches, several of them imposing brick structures, belonging to the Episcopal, Methodist,

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