USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume I > Part 65
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105
THE STATE ROADS
The total mileage of roads in the state on January 1, 1918, was approximately 40,000, of which about 7,100 is state highways. There is available for work on state and county roads in 1918 a total of $800,000, together with the proportion- ate sum from the counties. The Internal Improvement funds and Internal In- come funds total $110,000. The half mill state levy for roads amounts to $600,- 000. The auto license fund is approximately $150,000.
Under the Federal act of July 11, 1916, for ten years of Post Road building Colorado will receive the following amounts: 1917, $83,690; 1918, $167,300; 1919, $251.070; 1920, $334,760; 1921, $418,450.
The State Highway Commission, under the supervision of T. J. Ehrhart, commissioner, and J. E. Maloney, engineer, has during the past five years car- ried out and greatly extended the system planned in the previous three years. Originally the plan was for 3,000 miles of state road construction. This has now grown to 7,100 miles, for the first time in the past few decades outdistanc- ing railroad mileage, which today is approximately 5,800.
The most important of the state roads built during these years was the road now known as the "Great North and South Highway." This goes from Cheyenne to Raton, New Mexico, passing through Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont, Den- ver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Walsenburg, Trinidad, and over the Raton Pass to Raton.
The entering roads from the east are first of all the Platte River road, com- ing in at Julesburg. This is along one of the old overland routes and follows the Platte River through Sterling, Brush, Fort Morgan, Greeley, Brighton and into Denver. This now is the Colorado branch of the Lincoln Highway.
There are six main roads, including the above, from the east to the moun- tains. The others go as follows : one via Holyoke, joining the river road at Ster- ling : another by the old trail via Wray and Akron, joining the Lincoln Highway
583
HISTORY OF COLORADO
at Brush; another is via Burlington, following the old K. P. survey, running from Burlington to Limon, branching there to Colorado Springs, and on to Den- ver. This is now known as the Golden Belt road, also as a part of the Pike's Peak Ocean to Ocean Highway, and also as the Kansas-Colorado road. The next entrance from the east is the road via Cheyenne Wells, coming via Hugo to Limon, where it joins the Golden Belt Highway. The next is the old Santa Fé Trail, following the Arkansas River by way of Holly, Lamar, Las Animas, La Junta, Rocky Ford, Manzanola, Fowler, to Pueblo. The present state highway from La Junta to Trinidad, joins the North and South Highway at Trinidad. From La Junta to Pueblo the road is known as the new Santa Fé Trail.
There is another entrance to the state via the Missouri Pacific, going through Eads and Ordway, and joining the Santa Fé Trail at Manzanola.
The Midland Trail from Denver goes through to Grand Junction and Salt Lake City, following the Lookout Mountain trail through the Denver Mountain Park system to Idaho Springs, then over Berthoud Pass to Hot Sulphur Springs, Kremmling, over the Trough to Wolcott, and then following the Eagle and Grand rivers to Glenwood Springs, Rifle, and Grand Junction, west to the state line.
A state road branches at Rifle, going up to Meeker, thence west to the "K" ranches at the state line, then via Vernal to Salt Lake City. Another road from Denver is by way of Morrison and Turkey Creek, following the old Leadville road from Conifer to Fairplay, then to Buena Vista and along the Arkansas River to Leadville, crossing Tennessee Pass and following the Eagle River to Wolcott, where it merges into the Midland Trail. The connection from Colo- rado Springs is by way of Ute Pass into the South Park district, joining the Leadville road just beyond Hartsel, thus connecting with the Midland Trail. From Pueblo the road follows the Arkansas through Florence, Canon City, Salida, to Buena Vista, connecting there with the road above mentioned and known as the old Leadville road. From Pueblo to Salida is part of what is known as the "Rainbow route," which runs from Salida across Monarch Pass into Gunnison, following the Gunnison River, then crossing the Cerro Summit and dropping into Montrose. From there it runs by Delta to Grand Junction, connecting there with the Midland Trail. South from Montrose it runs to Ouray and Silverton. From the North and South Highway at Walsenburg the state road runs south through La Veta, over La Veta Pass to Fort Garland and Alamosa. There it follows the Rio Grande River through Monte Vista, Del Norte to South Fork. A short branch runs up through Wagon Wheel Gap to Creede. From South Fork sta- tion the road follows the south fork of the Rio Grande over Wolf Creek Pass, dropping into the west fork of the San Juan River, thence to Pagosa Springs and Durango, Mancos, Mesa Verde Park, Cortez and the Dolores into the Montezuma Valley. This road, known as the Spanish Trail, also leads into a picturesque section of Utah, that containing the natural bridges and scenic wonders. This was the old region of the so-called lawless characters. This is now part of the road to California by way of New Mexico and Arizona, which is under con- struction.
Between Durango and Silverton the state highway is now being constructed. This will finish the western North and South Highway, giving the people of the western part of the state easy access to northern and southern points. Work is
584
HISTORY OF COLORADO
also under way on the road from Dolores to Rico, giving another outlet in this section.
In addition to these there are main state highways connecting every county seat in the state.
In the early 'Sos the Government built a road to Pagosa Springs from Ala- mosa, going along the Alamosa River, crossing Ellwood Pass a short distance from the old mines at Summitville, then dropping down Timber Hill and the east fork of the San Juan to its junction with San Juan, thence to Pagosa Springs. This was used for transporting troops and supplies quickly into regions made dangerous by Indian raids. The west portion of the old road was washed out by the flood of 1912, and is not now used. The Wolf Creek Pass road is now a better road to the same section.
CHAPTER XXX
EDUCATION IN COLORADO
EARLY SCHOOL LAWS-STANDARDIZATION- OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL-EARLY HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS IN EACH COUNTY OF COLORADO-PRESENT ATTENDANCE, VALUES, ETC.
EARLY SCHOOL LAWS
Among the acts passed by the first Legislative Assembly of Colorado, held at Denver in 1861, was a very comprehensive school law, similar in its provisions to that then in force in the State of Illinois. This law provided for the appoint- ment, by the governor, during that session, of a "Territorial Superintendent of Common Schools," who was to enter upon the duties of his office on the first day of December, 1861, and to continue until his successor was duly appointed and qualified; he was to receive an annual salary of $500. The duties were minutely prescribed and were similar to those now imposed on the state superintendent of public instruction, with the additional duty of recommending to the several school districts a uniform series of text-books, to be used in the schools thereof. As a matter of course, the superintendent could accomplish but little. The impulses of the people were in the right direction, but the essential elements of success- children-were wanting. Some of the first school districts organized were as large as states, while the school population numbered less than a score.
It may be interesting to note that the first effort to give the youths of this part of the country some educational advantages was made by O. J. Goldrick, later county superintendent, who opened a private school in Auraria in 1859. The school started with an enrollment of thirteen children-two Indian half- breeds, two Mexicans, and nine whites.
The law provided for the election, biennially, of a county superintendent in each county, and in its general features was not essentially different from that of the present.
At the second session of the Legislature, begun at Colorado City, July 7, 1862, and adjourned to Denver, July 11th, the ordinary school revenue was sought to be supplemented by enacting "That hereafter when any new mineral lode, of either gold bearing quartz, silver, or other valuable metal, shall be discovered in this Territory, one claim of one hundred feet in length on such lode shall be set apart and held in perpetuity for the use and benefit of schools in this Ter- ritory, subject to the control of the Legislative Assembly."
This law seemed at the time to promise much for the schools, but the results proved to be insignificant ; not one per cent of the thousands of claims so located
585
586
HISTORY OF COLORADO
ever contributed a dollar to the school fund; a few were sold at prices ranging from $5 to $25.
By virtue of the provisions of the law of 1861, W. Curtice was, by Governor Gilpin, appointed "Territorial Superintendent of Common Schools" and entered upon the duties of his office December Ist of that year.
The pioneers and immigrants of other new regions-Michigan, Illinois, Kan- sas, etc .- were families, seeking permanent homes, while those of Colorado were fortune-hunting men only, whose wives and children were left behind, whose highest ambition and only intentions were to remain here long enough to gather wealth.
Mr. Curtice resigned his office in 1863, and William S. Walker was appointed to the vacancy. Mr. Walker left no records of his doings, and the presumption is that little or nothing was done in the office, probably from the fact, as above stated, of an insufficiency of working material.
At the fourth session of the Legislature, held at Golden City, in 1865, the school law was amended, making the territorial treasurer ex officio superintendent of public instruction, with an annual salary of $500, and also fixing the compen- sation of county superintendents at $5 a day for actual services; prior to this the superintendent had been paid "such a sum as the county commissioners saw fit to allow." By this last enactment, the superintendency fell into the hands of A. W. Atkins, territorial treasurer. There are no reports of his official work. The same may be said of his successors in 1866 and 1867. At the fifth session of the Legislature, begun at Golden City, January Ist, and adjourned to Denver January 2, 1866, a law was passed making it a misdemeanor to jump mineral claims that had been set apart for schools, or for failing to relinquish such claims as had previously been pre-empted ; also, providing for the sale and leasing of school claims, and the investment of the proceeds in United States bonds ; also, for giving to the colored people a pro rata share of the school fund for the maintenance of separate schools.
In December, 1867, Columbus Nuckolls, by virtue of his office as territorial treasurer, became superintendent. His deputy, E. L. Berthoud, evidently set out with a determination to bring order out of chaos; still but little was accom- plished.
The chaotic condition of school affairs continued until 1870. It was no un- common thing for the school funds to be misappropriated by both county and district officers. The burden of the songs of nearly all, who were by law required to make reports, was about the same: "Lack of interest," "My predecessor in office has left no records," "I hope to get matters in shape so as to render a com- plete account next year," "School matters here are in a very bad condition; for the past two years the County Commissioners have neglected to levy a school tax, hence we have no money," etc., etc.
The advent of the railroad in 1870 seemed like a new birth; the effects of the success of the smelting works at Blackhawk, which had been in operation two years, were being felt. Confidence and stability began to supplant doubt and makeshifts ; it had been completely demonstrated that Colorado was to become more than a mere mining camp, or a series of them. The favorable results of irrigation had demonstrated beyond a doubt that farming was, ultimately, to play an important part in the settlement of this region. Irrigation canals of great
587
HISTORY OF COLORADO
extent were projected, colonies were founded, immigration increased, and all cir- cumstances tended towards the upbuilding of a great commonwealth. Costly public schoolhouses sprang up as if by magic. Following those of Central City and Blackhawk, were the still finer structures of Denver, Greeley, Golden, Colo- rado Springs and Georgetown. Private and sectarian schools and seminaries kept pace with the public schools.
The Legislature of 1870 made provision for a State School of Mines to be located at Golden City, and also established the office of superintendent of public instruction. The act provided that the governor, "by and with the consent of the Legislative Assembly, should appoint a suitable person to said office, who should hold the same two years and receive a salary of $1,000 a year."
By virtue of this enactment, Governor E. M. McCook appointed Wilbur C. Lothrop superintendent of public instruction. Superintendent Lothrop published his first report December 20, 1871, covering the years 1870-71. Mr. Lothrop was reappointed to the office by Governor Elbert, in 1872, and continued until July, 1873, when he resigned, and Horace M. Hale was called to the vacancy. In 1874 Governor Elbert reappointed Mr. Hale, and in 1876 Governor Routt con- tinued him in the office, which he held until November, 1876, when Joseph P. Shattuck, who had been elected by the people under the provisions of the state constitution, assumed its duties.
The complete list of superintendents appears in the roster of state officials in the chapters on State Government.
With the advent of statehood the schools, both city and country, became thoroughly modernized, culminating in the standardization, particularly of the schools of the second and third class, and in the development of consolidated or "Union" schools in country districts. The latter plan has brought the curricu- lum of the country schools to a plane with that of the graded city schools.
STANDARDIZATION
A standard school, what is now known as the Colorado plan, means one that has earned sufficient credits to be recognized by the State Standardization Committee and the State Department of Public Instruction as worthy of special commendation.
Credits are given for the proper heating and lighting and ventilating of the school building. A condition of ideal cleanliness is required. A minimum of two hundred cubic feet of air and a minimum of fifteen square feet of floor space for each pupil is necessary. The building must be well designed, well painted, the site must be convenient, healthful and beautiful. The school build- ing must be equipped with thoroughly modern furniture and possess a good library, musical instruments, good pictures or other art agencies, and tinted walls and well finished woodwork. A minimum of one acre of ground must surround the school building. Playground apparatus, lawn, shrubs, trees, and other fea- tures of æsthetic and economic value must be present. The school district must either provide a teacherage or make itself responsible for securing good places for the teachers. The school must be a community center and the teacher a com- munity leader. A high grade of teacher must be provided and good salaries paid.
538
HISTORY OF COLORADO
These are the requirements of standardization, and their fulfillment is recog- nized by the presentation of a tablet, beautiful in design, which declares the grade of standardization attained by the school.
The first Standardization Day was observed on February 25, 1917, although 21/2 years of work had gone to prepare the way for this great educational and civic holiday. In 1918 there are 305 standard schools in the State of Colorado, 17 of which are "Superior," 115 "Approved," and 173 "Probationary."
Among recent methods of securing the betterment of rural schools, standardi- zation has come to be considered one of the most practical and efficient. It re- quires no legislation to effectuate this form of school improvement, the constitu- tional authority of the state department of education being amply sufficient to put it in operation. It appeals to local self-respect and pride in the local school and community and it stimulates local initiative. It includes no denunciation of present conditions, but holds fine aims before the minds of teachers, pupils, tax- payers and school patrons generally. It stands for practical idealism in school work, energizes the higher motives, and makes definite requirements which must be met by all who care for the schools.
OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL
In the city its culmination has been the creation of a system of splendid man- ual training schools and of what is now known as the "Opportunity" school, the credit of which must go both to the creator of the idea, Carlos M. Cole, superin- tendent of the Denver schools, and to Miss Emily Griffith who has so successfully developed the new school that it is now attracting the attention of educators all over the country. It was the idea of Mr. Cole to establish a school in which the three usual elements of school control were to be eliminated. It was to have no definite hours, but was to begin and end daily according to the needs of its pupils. It was to have no age limit and it was to have none of the usual educational re- quirements for admission. It was to be a people's school in which trades for men and women could be acquired, and in which elementary education was to be at hand for men and women who had lacked early opportunities. The Denver "Opportunity" school begins at 8:30 a. m., and closes at 9 p. m. During these hours it often serves as many as three thousand individuals.
EARLY HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS BY COUNTIES
Early attempts to open schools in what was part of Arapahoe County and what is now Denver met with but little encouragement. A private school con- ducted in 1859 had but nine white pupils. But in October, 1862, under territorial enactment the first election for members of boards of education was held and two districts organized. The first public school, with three teachers, was con- ducted by the second district officers on the upper floor of a roomy two-story brick building on Larimer between Tenth and Eleventh streets. A few days later the first district officials opened the Bayaud School on the present site of the American House.
In 1868, upon the demand of some of the patrons, a separate school for
589
HISTORY OF COLORADO
colored children was opened temporarily at Sixteenth and Market streets, and a German private school was reorganized as a public school.
The first official records show that in 1870 there were ten school districts in Arapahoe County, having a total school population of 1,122 persons and an ap- propriation for the year of $18,096.55.
At the close of 1880 there were thirty-two organized districts in the county and 12,046 persons of school age. The apportionment for the year was $70,- 606.31.
The decade 1880-90 shows an unprecedented increase in school affairs. The school population was more than doubled, the number of schools more than trebled, and sixty-five new districts were formed.
During the next decade no new districts were formed. There was a gradual growth in school population and a proportionate increase in school accommoda- tions.
In 1903 the consolidation of the districts was completed and the supervision placed in the hands of Superintendent Aaron Gove, assisted by L. C. Greenlee and C. E. Chadsey.
The superintendents in succession were: L. C. Greenlee, C. E. Chadsey, and William H. Smiley, and the present superintendent, Carlos M. Cole.
On January 1, 1916, there were in Denver 73 schools with 871 school rooms, 63 school libraries and all valued at $4,549,753. The enrollment was 4,916 in high schools, 4,194 in rural schools, and a total of 41,781 enrolled in the public schools.
The first high school of the county was established in District No. 1 in 1874. The Arapahoe School, situated on Arapahoe Street, between Seventeenth and Eighteenth, was used for this purpose until 1881, when the present high school was finished. District No. 2 opened a high school in 1881, but had no separate building until 1893, the date of the completion of the present high school.
District No. 17 organized its first high school in the Ashland School in 1883; District No. 7, the South Denver section of the city, in the Grand School in 1892, and District No. 21 in the Villa Park School in 1895.
At the time of the consolidation of the districts there were eight high schools in Arapahoe County, including the five mentioned above, one at Brighton, one at Littleton and the Manual Training, established by District No. 1 in 1897.
At present there are in existence the East Side high school, the Manual Train- ing high school, the North Side high school, the Denver School of Trades and the West Side high school.
In Adams County, which was part of Arapahoe, the school enrollment in 1916 was 2,479. The enrollment in the high school at Brighton was 143; in rural schools, 965. There are 65 school buildings, with 94 schoolrooms, in the county.
In Arapahoe County, separated from Denver, there are 45 schoolhouses, with 86 schoolrooms. There are high schools at Englewood and at Littleton, with an attendance January 1, 1916, of 159. The total enrolled in the public schools of the county on that date was 1,842.
Archuleta County .- School District No. 5, of Conejos County, was detached from this county May 20, 1885, and known as Archuleta County, and F. A. Byrne was appointed county superintendent of schools.
The first schoolhouse was a frame building 22 by 30 and 12 feet high, one
590
HISTORY OF COLORADO
room, with wooden benches, one stove, poor ventilation, and no school apparatus. Thirty pupils were enrolled on the teacher's daily register.
In 1888 and in 1903 new schoolhouses were built.
The county contains a large per cent of Mexican children, which causes a slower progress in the teachers' work, as they must learn the language over and above what the American children do.
Baca County .- What is now Baca County was part of Las Animas County until April 16, 1889, when it was organized into a county under the present name. Prior to this there were thirty-two school districts.
During the rapid settlement of the county in 1887 and 1888, ten school dis- tricts were organized in 1887 and twenty-one districts in 1888.
There are now forty-three districts, and a school age census of 1,879.
Bent County .- There is a record of a private school established in what is now Bent County in 1869 at Las Animas. Bent's early educational history is that of the counties from which it was segregated. On January 1, 1916, there were forty-five school districts in the county, with a school age census of 2,205. The attendance of the high school in Las Animas was 135. The total attendance in the public schools of the county was 1,295. It has thirty-four schoolhouses, with sixty-one rooms, and a total school property valuation of $72,211.
Boulder County .- Robert J. Woodward, superintendent in 1868, reported thirteen districts and 439 persons of school age. The first public school was opened in 1860, with A. R. Brown as teacher. Mr. Brown had taught a private school the winter before. The first schoolhouse was built in the fall of 1860. This is claimed to be the first schoolhouse built in the territory-a one-room frame building, which was used also for town and church purposes.
On January 1, 1916, Boulder County had eighty-two schools, with 196 rooms, with a total county school valuation of $537,462. The high school enrollment was 810, and the total public school enrollment was 3,428. There are high schools at Boulder, Longmont, Louisville and Lafayette.
Chaffee County .- This is one of the counties created after statehood. On January 1, 1916, it had thirty-five schoolhouses, with seventy-four rooms, total valuation, $138,400. In the high schools at Salida and Buena Vista the enroll- ment was 228. The total enrollment in the public schools on January 1, 1916, was 1,698.
Cheyenne County .- This is another of the eastern counties segregated after statehood. On January 1, 1916, there were forty-eight pupils enrolled in the high school at Cheyenne Wells. The total enrollment in the public schools of the county January 1, 1916, was 796. There were in the county sixty-six school- houses, with seventy-five rooms, and valued at $63,410.
Clear Creek County .- In 1869 there were twenty-five school children in the county, and they occupied a schoolhouse which had cost $2,300 to erect. During the gold excitement there was a considerable growth in school population. On January 1, 1916, there were sixteen school houses, with forty-two rooms, and valued at $94,256, in the county. The enrollment in the high school was 118, and the total public school population was 837.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.