PRELIMINARY BIBLIOGRAPHY OF COLORADO HISTORY IO3 



The first few years of the hfe of the Territory of Colorado were 

 passed in an obscurity that has rarely been driven away. Little interest 

 was shown in the territory at the time, or since, and thus few articles 

 have to be recorded for the period. Among the most interesting articles 

 upon the period of settlement is the avowed forgery by "Fitz-Mac," 

 which appeared in the Colorado Magazine, Vol. I, pp. 281-297, July 

 1893. This local magazine, which lived for only five months in the 

 summer of 1893, was far beyond most similar journals in typographical 

 and Hterary character. The article in question purported to be a 

 series of six letters, vn:itten chiefly in the years 185 9-1 860, by early 

 settlers in Denver. Although the author admitted that the letters 

 were an honest fabrication, the descriptive value of the series is great, 

 for "Fitz-Mac" showed an intimate acquaintance with the person- 

 nel and conditions of the short-Hved territory of Jefferson. 



Much of the Uterature produced in these first years was called forth by 

 the various attempts at statehood made in" the Pike 's Peak country. As 

 early as February, 1861, this matter was stirred up by B. D. Williams, 

 who appeared in Washington and sought recognition as a territorial 

 delegate. The memorials which he presented to Congress contain 

 descriptions of the new settlements and a copy of the message of Rich- 

 ard W. Steele, governor of the provisional territorial organization of 

 Jefferson Territory. They may be found in H. Misc. Doc. 10; 36C.1; 

 Serial 1063. The same spontaneous territorial movement is described 

 in a brief paper on "The Territory of Jefferson," by F. L. Paxson, 

 in the University of Colorado Studies, Vol. Ill, pp. 15-18. The origi- 

 nal materials for the period are not copious. The message of General 

 Gilpin, the first territorial governor, is printed in H. Ex. Doc. 56; 

 37C.2; Serial 1131; while in the same month, February, 1862, a six- 

 page report from the Committee on Ways and Means, H. Rep. 36; 

 37C.2; Serial 1144, advocates the establishment of a branch mint 

 in Denver. The great production and use of raw gold, together with 

 the existence of a private mint, were the reasons leading the committee 

 to its recommendation. 



From 1864 to 1867 various attempts to bring Colorado into the 

 United States occupy most of the time." An enabhng act was passed 



