COLORADO. 



the rher r creek bottoms. This portion has a 

 rare, dry air, bracing and exhilarating in 



i effects, wanned and softened hv the rays of 



Denial sun, which is seldom shaded by clouds 

 or hidden by storms, subject to frequent changes 

 of temperature, but nearly free from dampness 

 at all seasons, fogs and dews being almost un- 

 known. 



Although many diseases are mitigated or 

 cured by residence in Colorado, the climate is 

 iarly favorable to those relating to the 

 air- passages. The malady called the hay-asth- 

 ma has never been known, and those who suffer 

 nnnnally from this distressing disease in other 

 climates may here escape every symptom of it. 

 Persons suffering from spasmodic asthma here 

 lind speedy relief. The most desirable place of 

 residence for consumptives is upon the plains, 

 within twenty miles of the foot-hills, for this 

 portion is protected from the dry north winds 

 by spurs or divides from the main range ; and 

 furthermore, there is daily an interchange of 

 currents of air between the plains and moun- 

 tains, similar to the land and sea breezes upon 

 the beach. The mountain air is moister, 

 and,mingling with the dry atmosphere of the 

 plains, relieves it of any harshness it may 

 possess. 



The chief source of wealth of Colorado is 

 found in its mines. Recently new mining dis- 



COMMERCE. 



tory. Probably the most productive of the new 

 districts is that known as " Mount Lincoln," 

 on whose lofty and precipitous slopes untold 

 wealth has been unearthed by the exertions of 

 the restless prospector. The deposits are essen- 

 tially different from any of those elsewhere 

 made known among the mountains of Colorado, 



, ,. , 1, , . . , ,. ,, . 



and form a valuable and most interesting feat- 

 ure of its mineral 4 resources. The ores are 

 found in limestone formations which compose 

 the exterior crust of the mountain, and in 

 layers, or strata (dipping to the east and into 

 the mountain at an angle of twenty degrees), 

 making the process of extraction easy, and, 

 from their great extent and richness, highly 

 profitable. The principal mine, and one highly 

 characteristic of the limestone region, is the 

 " Moose " mine. This mine, discovered in the 

 fall of 1871. has produced an enormous quan- 

 tity of high-grade ore, which has given a 

 desirable impetus to the mining interest of 

 Park County. The character of the ore is an 

 argentiferous galena with copper pyrites. 



The Territory has an efficient system of pub- 

 lic schools. The Superintendent of Public In- 

 struction is appointed by the Governor for two 

 years, and receives an annual salary of $1,200. 

 There are 25 county superintendents. Nearly 

 all of the public school-houses have been built 

 since 1869. In 1874 there were 243 school dis- 

 tricts, 180 schools, and 125 school-houses; num- 

 ber of persons from five to twenty-four years 

 of age, 14,417 ; enrolled in the public schools, 

 7,456 ; average cost of tuition per month for 



141 



eai-h pupil, $.1.12 ; average monthly salary 

 paid male teachers, $02; female, $51 ; value of 

 school-boose*, $260,188; average rate of tax- 

 ation for school purposes, 8.77 mills; total 

 s. -hoot-fund, exclusive of bonds issued for build- 

 ing purposes, $187,557. 

 The following railroads are now in operation : 



Kansas Pacific, connecting Northern Colorado with 



Denver Pacific, forminc a connect Ion with the Union 



iJ5S!MSSft22L%!!2 ..... .. 1M 



DenTer & Jiio Gnmu (narrow image) on its way to 



the Mexican coast, connecting Northern and South- 

 * ra Colorado.. ..................................... 



.. 



Kansas Pacifc, Kit Carson & Fort Lyon, opening 



41 



Denver & Boulder Valley, from Denver to Erie 

 Valmont. and Boulder, opening the rich mineral 



ersing the fine farming valleys of Northern Colo- 

 rado ............................................... 



Total 



COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES 

 The number of merchant . ve86e ] 8 and amount 

 of to belonging to the several customs 



districts Ld portfof the United States, June 

 30 1874 shown in the following state- 



^ act of April 18, 1874, canal and 

 boats employed on inland waters* whh 



exempt from 



Maine 



New Hampshire 



Connecticut 

 ew Jersey 



New York 



Pennsylvania 

 Delaware 



SSSsttf biiiiiiii'. 



Virginia 



Georgia 

 tiorida 



Louisiana. 

 Teias 



Total on the Atlantic and Golf 

 asts 



Total on the Pacific coasts... 



Unrigged vessels not reported 



in iA"(lnduding 

 unrigged vessels) ......... 



Increa8e Inlgr4 ever 1878.... 



8^21 



1,124 



6.051 



s.ftss 

 '197 



892 



63 

 887 



678 



8 J <46S , 



! 



1,185 



28,987 

 8^986 



665.&19.59 



96,317.44 



1,026,083.56 



.;..;. .M-.'.H 



28,623.54 



9J291.84 

 9,588.76 





164,418.99 



4,9*4437 78 

 381,'446!oo 





m.8.%.91 



The value of the total imports from and of total 

 exports to the various foreign countries for each 

 of the three years, ending June 80th, was as 

 shown in the following table. (For further 

 details, see FINANCES OK THE UNITED STATW, 

 in this volume.) 



