DENVER & RIO GRANDE WESTERN ROUTE. 



63 



the United States Congress and consequently never had any legal 

 status. The episode is interesting as giving an early indication of 

 that " push " which is generally regarded as characteristic of the 

 people of Colorado. 



call for a general election on May 9 

 of delegates to a State convention to 

 organize the State of Jefferson. 



The delegates met in Denver City 

 June 6, 1859, and appointed commit- 



propositions to the voters. The elec- 

 tion was held on September 5 and 

 resulted in the decisive defeat of the 

 proposal for statehood and in favor of 

 a Territorial form of government. 



101° 



Figure 14. — State of Jefferson, as proposed in 1858. 



tees to frame a State constitution and 

 to report at an adjourned meeting on 

 August 1. Before the time for this 

 adjourned meeting the people began 

 to realize the great expense of a State 

 government, and many decided to favor 

 a Territorial form. The result of this 

 difference of preference was a com- 

 promise resolution to submit both 



On October 3, 1859, a call was sent 

 out for an election of delegates to a 

 convention to organize the Territory 

 of Jefferson. Many of the partici- 

 pants in this movement fully realized 

 its illegality, so in order to be on the 

 safe side they prepared a county 

 ticket, to be voted on at the same time, 

 providing for the election of officers of 



