USA > Colorado > History of the State of Colorado, Volume II > Part 41
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Though the period of inflation has passed, never to return, the fame of the district is perpetuated and distinguished above all others by its great productiveness. As many fortunes are being accumulated there as at any former time, but by more legitimate methods. That the process will continue through the present generation of operators, seems highly probable. Further reference to the present condition, epito- mizing its progress for the last decade, will appear in the next volume.
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HISTORY OF COLORADO.
CHAPTER XXIII.
1878-'79-REVIEW OF THE YEAR-RAPID DEVELOPMENT-RETIREMENT OF W. N. BYERS FROM THE "NEWS "-HIS SERVICES TO THE COUNTRY-JOHN L. DAILEY-TRANSFER OF THE "NEWS" TO W. A. H. LOVELAND-DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION- PROPOSED DIVISION OF THE STATE-REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION-F. W. PITKIN ELECTED GOVERNOR-RETIREMENT OF SENATOR J. B. CHAFFEE-ELECTION OF N. P. HILL TO THE SENATE-SERVICES IN THAT BODY.
At the beginning of 1878, ten hundred and thirty-three miles of railway had been completed and put in operation. The crops of 1877 were the largest that had ever been gathered in Colorado. The mines yielded a trifle over seven millions in gold and silver bullion. The exports of live stock were much larger than usual. The wheat crop from the small area cultivated, was estimated at 1,750,000 bushels ; the corn crop at 250,000 bushels ; oats, 125,000 ; barley, 200,000 ; potatoes, 325,000 ; hay, 100,000 tons.
According to the nearest approximate, the coal mines produced 213,077 tons. The wool clip, calculated by the same process, was placed at 5,000,000 pounds. The assessed valuation of property gave a total of $40,882,412.36.
There were 1,552,774 acres of improved lands valued at $7,724,- ·
794.25.
The records of the Surveyor General's office showed that 92,486 acres of land, and 314 mining claims had been surveyed in 1877.
The collections for internal revenue were $79,225.44; the real estate transfers in Denver, as expressed in warranty deeds recorded, amounted to $1,048,250 ; the Denver Water company had eighteen miles of street mains, and in winter furnished daily 500,000 gallons of
pod Darley
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HISTORY OF COLORADO.
water, and in the summer 1,250,000 gallons. Its capital stock was then but $250,000.
The Denver Gas company, with a capital stock of $200,000, had lain nine and a half miles of mains, and manufactured 13,000,000 feet of gas ; two hundred and thirty-three lamps illuminated the streets.
The Denver Horse Railway company had eight miles of track ; twelve cars; thirty-two horses, and eighteen men, and carried 392,420 passengers during the year.
The commercial value of the products of coal, hay, grain, bullion, cattle, wool, hides, etc., and of the manufactured products of the State, was placed at $22,252,705.60.
The English, or High-line irrigating canal, from Platte Cañon, was projected in 1877.
Prof. N. P. Hill, manager of the Boston & Colorado Smelting works, perfected his plans for the re-location of his plant near Denver, and it was removed to the point now called " Argo," in 1878.
On the 5th of May, William N. Byers surrendered his pecuniary interest in, and editorial control of the Rocky Mountain "News," to an organization comprising Kemp G. Cooper, manager ; W. B. Vickers, editor ; William F. Robinson, secretary and treasurer ; W. R. Thomas, city editor, and L. B. France, attorney. Thus, after nineteen years of continuous work, the man who established the first newspaper in the Rocky Mountain region, began and perpetuated the history of Colorado ;. who, in the process of the years, had intelligently explored and graph- ically described, for the benefit of his contemporaries and successors, every portion of the country, traced every stream to its source, witnessed the founding of every town and hamlet ; who had passed through all the storms of the earliest epoch, had led the political and every other form of progressive movement, and from whose writings the world obtained the greater part of its current intelligence of the resources and development of the Territory, and who established, or at least was largely instrumental in locating two of our three great colonies,-passed out of the office wherein he had been a potent counsellor and guide, into
31 II.
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the walks of private life, leaving to other, albeit able minds, the duty of carrying on to a higher consummation the grand work he had begun. Mr. Byers was as much a part of Colorado as the laws that had been enacted for its government ; the embodiment of its annals, the directing spirit of its public institutions and enterprises. The growth of his newspaper had marked and reflected the development of the Territory and the opening years of the State, and to the full extent of his efforts, promoted their advancement. His energy and courage, his unsurpassed knowledge of the entire region, and his well grounded faith in its great destiny, his incessant labors for its welfare, and the success which crowned his endeavors, are known of all men. The Republican party especially, owes much of its long continued supremacy to his sturdy advocacy of its principles and its candidates.
It would be unjust to close this sketch without according at least a word of commendation to his nearest friend, comrade and earnest co-laborer, Mr. John L. Dailey, who seconded and sustained these efforts, and bore no insignificant part in the work accomplished. He entered the firm in 1859, taking charge of the business department, and con- tinuing in that responsible position until a short time before Mr. Byers sold out, frequently, in the meantime, contributing to the columns of the paper. In his public and private life, in the admirable equanimity of his temper, his innate goodness of heart, his strong sense of justice and the uncompromising uprightness of his dealings, Mr. Dailey comes very near realizing our highest ideal of a perfect man. Any person who has passed through the stormy inceptive stages of a Territory like ours, holding a continuous residence of thirty years without provoking hostile criticism, and has stood as a model of his kind, enjoying uni- versal respect and boundless confidence, has certainly lived his life worthily before God and man,-therefore deserves a niche in the history of his country, even though he may not have achieved political or other eminence by which our great men are distinguished. These excel- lencies of character had something to do in shaping the course of the great newspaper. He was to Mr. Byers a strong and companionable
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assistant, always true, safe, self-reliant and efficient, an important feature of the internal organism of a journal that exercised much influence in the land; the force which supervised the details and kept things in working order, like a skillful engineer whose hand directs the intricate machinery of a great power. In the various public trusts to which he has been called, he has met to the fullest degree the confidence reposed in him, and when named for them it has been accepted as the nomination of one who would discharge the duties with scrupulous fidelity.
On the 16th of July, 1878, the "News" was sold to W. A. H. Loveland, and thereby passed from Republican to Democratic control. Cooper, Vickers and Thomas were superseded by Mr. Loveland as proprietor, Captain James T. Smith as editor, and M. J. Gavisk, city editor. The Rocky Mountain News Printing company was then reorganized as follows :
President .- W. A. H. Loveland.
Vice-President .- James T. Smith.
Secretary and Treasurer .- William F. Robinson.
Attorney .- James F. Welborn.
No event of the day excited so much comment as this. To the Republican politicians who had followed it as leader and guide through so many years, it seemed as if the foundations of the city had been pulled out, a general metamorphosis created. Falling as it did on the eve of the State campaign, and of the convention of the Democratic party, it acquired important significance, since it heralded the acqui- sition of a new lever of power for the advancement of that party, and indicated a more vigorous and a more successful issue in the coming election.
The Democrats met at Pueblo on the 17th of July, by the call of Hon. Hugh Butler, Chairman of their Central Committee. M. B. Gerry was elected Chairman and J. D. Henry, Secretary. It was apparent from the beginning that Mr. Loveland would be the nominee for Governor, and T. M. Patterson for Representative in Congress,
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without division. Many ambitious politicians from Leadville attended, to assert their claims to a share of the nominations.
The following ticket was produced :
For Representative in Congress .- Thos. M. Patterson of Arapahoe.
For Governor .- Wm. A. H. Loveland of Jefferson.
For Lieutenant Governor .- Thomas I. Field of Conejos.
For Secretary of State .- John S. Wheeler of Weld.
For Treasurer of State .- Nelson Hallock of Lake.
For Auditor of State .- John H. Harrison of Fremont.
For Attorney General .- C. Yeaman of Las Animas.
For Superintendent of Public Instruction .- O. J. Goldrick of Arapahoe.
For Regent of State University .- Junius Berkley of Boulder.
For Chairman of State Central Committee .- Harley B. Morse of Gilpin.
The political complexion of the "News" having been changed, the "Tribune" became the principal organ of the Republicans. On the Ist of June the author of this history assumed editorial control of the "Evening Times," under R. W. Woodbury, its proprietor. July 22d following, Mr. W. B. Vickers succeeded Major Henry Ward as editor of the " Tribune," thus effecting a general change of writers on the chief papers of the city at the outset of the campaign of 1878.
The action of the Republican convention in 1876, whereby the candi- dates for Representative in Congress, Governor, and for a majority of the State offices were selected from the northern division, and the sub- sequent election of both Senators from the same section by the General Assembly, gave rise to great dissatisfaction in the south,-notwithstand- ing the fact that the result was accomplished through the inability of the delegates from that section to agree,-when certain self-proclaimed repre- sentatives of the people, early in 1877, boisterously declared, that, inas- much as the honors had not been fairly distributed, the State should be divided and a new government established upon the precedent which caused the division of the State of Virginia during the war of the
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Rebellion. This declaration, although advanced by a small coterie of disappointed place seekers, developed, by constant iteration through the public journals, pronounced and aggressive antagonism to the State government as then constituted, taking the form of vicious attacks upon the selfishness and domineering spirit of the north. Until recent years there had been a marked disparity of material growth in the region south of the divide, its rival having outstripped it in railway and other improvements, in the extension of agriculture, mining and general progressiveness. It controlled also the political patronage, State and Federal, which was seen to be the most serious grievance com- plained of. Early in 1877 the feelings of jealousy began to find ex- pression in a demand for separation, and the organization of a new Territory or State, to embrace all the region south of the natural divide, to be called the Territory, or State of "San Juan." While the people at large were far too sensible and loyal to accept this revolu- tionary method of adjusting their political differences, many acquiesced and encouraged the proposition, with a view to forcing the politicians of Denver into conceding to them one Senator, the Governorship, and an equal share of the other important offices in the next nominating con- vention. Acting upon this ulterior purpose, the controversy grew quite animated as it came to be comprehended to what use the agitation could be put toward forwarding the design. The Del Norte correspondents, to whom the discussion was mainly confined, proposed to make that place, then a town of about two thousand inhabitants, the capital of the new State, and urged the people of Southern Colorado to set aside all other differences, and unite en masse in a movement for secession. They
were urged to hold meetings in every town, elect. delegates who should assemble at some central point, and there frame, adopt and sign a memorial to Congress petitioning that body for a division of the State, with certain boundaries, including a portion of New Mexico. Pueblo, though by no means averse to the underlying object of punishing Denver for its arrogant assumption of superiority, ready to foster any scheme, however impracticable, which had that for its main intention,
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rebelled against the proposed seat of government. If the south seceded, Pueblo, and not the little upstart town at the base of the San Juan Mountains, should be the center and directing head, and unless this were conceded, there would be no secession. However, the bellig- erent fulminations continued, but the instigator rather overshot the mark by suggesting as one of the strongest clauses to be inserted in the memorial to be sent down to a radical Congress, the fact that the southern half of Colorado had been settled by people from the late Confederacy, while the north had been peopled by Yankees, and since these radically diverse elements could not be successfully assimilated, an insurmountable fence should be built between them.
Notwithstanding the absurdity of the proposition it gained some adherents, whereupon, Mr. W. B. Felton, editor of the Saguache "Chronicle," a man given to thoughtful consideration of public questions, and loyal to the State as it stood, when the agitation had proceeded far enough to indicate its effect, published a well digested leader, denouncing the enterprise as unnecessary, visionary and chi- merical. He knew of none except the correspondents, who favored a division. As to the claim set up that the people from Manitou to the Raton Range were enthusiastically favorable to the change, it was simply a preposterous fabrication. Nevertheless, the communications multiplied until July 4th, 1877, when the scheme was ridiculed out of existence by an exceedingly clever burlesque procession devised by E. K. Stimson and a party of humorists, who proclaimed the division as an accomplished fact, and that the Governor elect of the new State of San Juan (Stimson) would make his triumphal entry into the capital (Pueblo) at the head of all the people on that day, and be there crowned, inducted, installed and invested with the insignia of rulership, with bewildering pageantry and unheard of ceremonies. Stimson's in- augural, comprising an original Declaration of Independence, and bristling with pungent recommendations for the government of the new commonwealth, being published and scattered through all the southern counties, immediately routed the seceders horse, foot and dragoons, and
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HISTORY OF COLORADO.
no more was heard of them. Two days later the business portion of Del Norte was almost entirely destroyed by fire, and with the devouring flames disappeared the last vestige of this formidable (?) uprising.
Senseless and extravagant as the movement was, it was not wholly barren of important results, since it brought forward in 1878 a distin- guished man for the chief magistracy. In February of that year the name of Frederick W. Pitkin, a resident of Ouray, was suggested from that quarter as the choice of the southern division. It was taken up and constantly advocated by the press of the San Juan country, earnestly seconded by Pueblo, Colorado Springs and the entire southern tier of counties. They had found a candidate, eminently worthy of being presented for the suffrages of all the people. The Republicans of the north, mindful of the importance of conciliating the southern element of their party, instantly acquiesced, though Mr. Pitkin was a total stranger to them, he having been a resident of the State but three or four years, and during that time scarcely known outside of Pueblo and Ouray.
The Republican State Convention met in Denver, August 7th, 1878, J. P. Maxwell of Boulder, presiding, W. H. Bush of Gilpin acting as Secretary. The following ticket was nominated :
For Representative in Congress .- James B. Belford.
For Governor .- Frederick W. Pitkin of Ouray.
For Lieutenant Governor .- Horace A. W. Tabor of Lake.
For Secretary of State .- Norman H. Meldrum of Larimer.
For Auditor of State .- Eugene K. Stimson of Pueblo.
For Treasurer of State .- Nathan S. Culver of El Paso.
For Attorney General .- Charles W. Wright of Arapahoe.
For Superintendent of Public Instruction .- Joseph C. Shattuck of Weld.
For Regent of State University .- Horace M. Hale of Gilpin.
For Chairman of the State Central Committee .- Wm. A. Hamill of Clear Creek.
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HISTORY OF COLORADO.
On both sides the principal interest centered in the nominees for Governor and Congress,-Pitkin against Loveland, Belford vs. Pat- terson. On the 14th of August, a third party known as "Greenbackers" entered the field with the following candidates :
For Governor .- Dr. R. G. Buckingham of Arapahoe.
For Lieutenant Governor .- P. A. Simmons of Hinsdale.
For Secretary of State .- J. E. Washburne of Larimer.
For Auditor of State .- Charles O. Unfug of Huerfano.
For Treasurer of State .- W. D. Arnett of Jefferson.
For Attorney General .- Alpheus Wright of Boulder.
For Chairman of State Central Committee .- D. B. Harris of Clear Creek.
At the election held October 2d Belford was elected to Congress, and this time took his seat without a contest. All the candidates of the Republican party were chosen and inaugurated in January, 1879. Governor Pitkin was a native of Manchester, Connecticut, born in 1837. He was graduated at the Wesleyan University in Middletown, Con- necticut, and subsequently at the law school in Albany, New York, in 1858, whence he moved to Milwaukee, Wis., and there began the practice of his chosen profession, acquiring much distinction for his ability and the thoroughness of his work. In 1872 his health became so seriously impaired as to necessitate a change. He went to Minne- sota, but failing to recuperate there, or in any other of the Eastern or Southern States, he was taken to Switzerland. After repeated attempts to discover in foreign lands a beneficial climate, he came to Colorado, where he improved rapidly, but never mastered the insidious germs of pulmonary disease. He was a lawyer of superior attainments, an effective speaker, and sturdily honest in every detail of his public and private life. He was re-elected in 1880, and at the expiration of his second term took up his residence in Pueblo. Both terms were filled with exciting incidents, which will appear as we proceed.
Senator Chaffee had been for some months suffering acutely from ill health, contracted during the exciting struggle for the admission of
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the State during the Forty-third Congress, and in the spring of 1878 his nearest friends began to apprehend a fatal termination. J. C. Wilson had resigned the chairmanship of the Republican committee to accept the Collectorship of Internal Revenue for the District of Col- orado, and Capt. W. H. Pierce had been appointed in his place. While it was understood that Mr. Chaffee would not be able to direct the campaign of his party in '78, he was still its leader. On the 30th of May he wrote from New York to Chairman Pierce, stating the con- dition of his health, declining to be a candidate for re-election to the Senate, and announcing his withdrawal, for the reason given, from further active participation in the politics of Colorado.
This letter superinduced a new phase of affairs. The managers were filled with amazement by this sudden and wholly unexpected blow, which deprived the party of its champion. They awoke to the con- sciousness that the party was without a directing hand, and they sought in vain for a successor possessing the requisite power of leadership. They had been so long accustomed to relying upon his strength, to moving in harmony with his superior judgment, to leaving the organ- ization and management of campaigns to his tried and true sagacity, it now seemed as if they could not proceed without him. Naturally enough, the Democrats rejoiced over the event, as it removed, as they believed, the chief obstacle in the way of their success.
Efforts were made to induce a recall of his decision, but without effect. In casting about for a leader competent to take up the work which Mr. Chaffee had surrendered, and fit to succeed him in the Senate, the majority finally settled upon Professor Nathaniel P. Hill, manager of the Boston & Colorado Smelting company, a gentleman who had been an active worker in the party, possessed great wealth, scholarly attainments of the highest order, and was disposed to accept the tender, if made with assurances of cordial support. Desirous of ascertaining Mr. Chaffee's opinion of the step and of securing his co-operation and indorsement, Mr. Hill wrote him a candid statement of the case, and awaited his reply before taking definite action.
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On the 8th of July the answer came, expressing the hope that Mr. Hill would be a candidate for Senator, but that he (Chaffee) could not, owing to feeble health, promise him any personal aid, as he would not be in Colorado during the canvass. He had no doubt of the success of his party, but understood there would be several candidates from the South, though it was doubtful if the party would be able to unite upon any person from that quarter. Said he, "The office of United States Senator is a very high position, but I would not accept it for life, if offered. I would be greatly pleased to see you in that position, for personal reasons and for public reasons." After defining his plans for the future should his health be restored, he adds,-" I think a great many of my friends will be yours if you are a candidate, probably a large majority of them. I duly appreciate your friend- ship to me in the past, and hope you may succeed in whatever you undertake."
Upon these assurances Mr. Hill became a candidate for election to the United States Senate, and in that behalf heartily supported the ticket nominated in August, contributing largely of his ample means toward the expenses of the canvass.
About the last of December, and just prior to the meeting of the General Assembly, in which the Republicans had a con- siderable majority, it came to be reported that Mr. Chaffee, having recovered his health and recuperated his fortunes by profitable in- vestments in the Leadville mines, would stand for re-election to the Senate, notwithstanding his oft-repeated declaration that he would not accept the position if offered. It was seen of all men that, after his emphatic declination of May 30th, and his subsequent letter to Mr. Hill, he could not, with honor, re-enter the field. Furthermore, he had revisited Colorado in the meantime, and while here advised his friends to support Mr. Hill, as he (Chaffee) could not under any circumstances permit his name to be used. But it so happened that some of his more ardent friends, who would rather have been represented in the Senate by Chaffee's hat and
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overshoes than by any man whose name had been brought forward, persisted in their determination to elect him anyhow, regardless of protests, and in defiance of his personal remonstrances. It not only placed Mr. Chaffee in a very embarrassing position, but divided his friends, arraying them against each other in deep hostility. The majority of his admirers, who would under other conditions have been only too glad to honor him with a seat in the Senate so long as it might please him to retain it, should their party hold its political supremacy in the State, acting upon his letter, supplemented by his personally expressed desires, had pledged themselves to Mr. Hill, and felt in honor bound to sustain his cause. They comprehended fully that any other course would place him and them in a false and untenable position.
In May, 1878, Prof. Hill having purchased an eligible site for his smelting works, began erecting a large and complete new plant thereon. He had moved his family from Black Hawk to Denver, and was thence- forward to be a resident of that city.
The "Tribune " and "Times" earnestly advocated his cause before the people, and were seconded by a majority of the Republican papers in the northern division of the State.
The legislature convened in Walhalla Hall, at the corner of Curtis and Sixteenth streets, January ist, 1879, and after organizing and effecting the preliminary work, such as inaugurating the Governor elect, counting the votes for State officers, etc., began actively to canvass the candidates for the United States Senate. A majority of the Republican side were unqualifiedly favorable to Mr. Hill. The minority being from the southern districts, had candidates from that section which, for a time, divided the vote. Mr. W. A. Hamill, chairman of the State Central committee, a leading politician and one of the ablest managers in the party, stated that Mr. Chaffee still persisted in holding to his letter of declination. There was but one condition under which he could be induced to permit the use of his name,-an absolute failure of his party to agree upon any other candidate, a contingency so remote it could not be anticipated.
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