History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 45

Author: Hall, Frank, 1836-1917. cn; Rocky Mountain Historical Company
Publication date: 1889-95
Publisher: Chicago, Blakely print. Co.
Number of Pages: 791

USA > Colorado > History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV > Part 45

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).

The Rio Grande river has many tributaries in the mountains which contribute largely to its volume. For example, Hot Springs creek, Goose ereek, South Fork, Pinos creek. San Francisco, John's, Raton, Piedra, Bellows, Beaver, Bear, Em- bargo and other streams. Some of the largest canals in the West have been taken from the Rio Grande for the irrigation of millions of acres of farming lands. The Rio Grande, Mosca, Farmers' Union, North Star, Citizens' (now Colorado val- ley), San Luis valley, Empire and others. Hence the valley is literally threaded with artificial waterways that traverse it like little rivers. "The Del Norte,* now the Rio Grande, is the largest irrigating canal in the United States. It is 65 feet wide on the bottom at the headgate, carrying water 5} feet deep, with side slopes 3 to 1, making the top width at water line 98 feet. Four miles from the head it is bifurcated, the larger branch being 42 feet wide on the bottom. There are about fifty miles of main channel. It carries something over 2,400 cubic feet of water per second, and is calculated to irrigate over 200,000 acres. It is located in the San Luis valley, takes its supply from the Rio Grande river, and covers the land in the northern end of the valley. It cost over $300,000. The peculiar feature in the construction of this canal was the rapidity of its construction, the entire work being accomplished within four months. The preliminary surveys were begun December 10th, 1883. and the canal was completed by the first of the following April. More than 1,400,000 cubic yards of material were excavated to form the channel, requiring between 4,000 and 5,000 laborers and 1,200 teams. Two hundred and twenty thousand feet of lumber used in the structure of the canal were cut from the mountain sides, sawed, framed and placed between the first of January and first of March. The haste in construction was occasioned by the necessity of com- pleting it in time to preserve the legal rights and franchises. The Citizens' canal is in the same neighborhood, taking its supply from the Rio Grande river, eight miles below Del Norte, and on the opposite side of the river. It was designed to

* Report of the American Society of Civil Engineers, annual convention 1886.

298

HISTORY OF COLORADO.

irrigate the lands in the southwestern part of the San Luis valley. It is 40 feet wide on the bottom; depth of water 52 feet; grade varying from I in 1,760 to I in 10,560; side slopes 3 to 1; capacity about 1,000 cubic feet of water per second. It covers 120,000 acres; is 42 miles in length, and cost about $200,000." The mag- nitutde of these enterprises will indicate to the reader the extent to which tillage of the soil is being carried on in this section of the country. The crops produced are wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, all manner of vegetables and some fruits, both small and standard, and everything in luxuriant abundance and of the finest quality. These together with the mining and stock-growing auxiliaries are chiefly the result of the past decade. "A fair held by the Southwestern Colorado Industrial Associa- tion at Del Norte in October, 1887, at which stock and agricultural produc- tions of that section were exhibited," was conceded to be the most successful effort of the kind ever made in the southwest. Its position is such as to command trade from the mining, agricultural and pastoral sections of the southwest, and must eventually become a place of great importance.

Del Norte enjoys the prestige of being the home of Hon. Thomas F. Bowen, ex-soldier, politician, lawyer, judge, representative and United States Senator, a man who has labored diligently and effectively for its interests, especially its mining interests, and has given the place something at least of its fame. Bowen has had an intricately checkered career, more than ordinarily filled with grotesque and pictur- esque adventures, and manifold variety of experiences. He is of the type who leave the imprints of their feet and deeds upon the times and places in which their lines are cast; one of the sprightliest, most winning, interesting and companionable fellows living. A native of Burlington, Iowa, born October 26th, 1835, he was well educated, studied law, and at the age of eighteen was admitted to the bar. In 1856 he was elected to the House of the lowa legislature. In 1858 he moved to Kansas; in 1861 he entered the Union army, first as captain in the First Nebraska vol- unteers, and was subsequently promoted to the colonelcy of the Thirteenth Kansas, a regiment which he raised and commanded for some time, closing his military honors with the rank of brevet brigadier-general, at the head of a brigade in the Seventh Army Corps, serving till the close of the Rebellion in 1865. He was a member of the Republican National convention in 1864 from Kansas. At the end of the war he was stationed in Arkansas, where he remained as a citizen. He was president of the constitutional convention convened under the Reconstruction Act; was a justice of the supreme court of that state for four years; was appointed gov- ernor of Idaho Territory by President Grant, but soon afterward resigned, returned to Arkansas and ran for the U. S. Senate against Stephen W. Dorsey, by whom he was defeated. He came to Colorado in January, 1875, settled in Del Norte and entered upon the practice of law. In 1876 he was elected judge of the 4th judicial district, which before the close of his term he resigned to engage in extensive mining enterprises in Summit district. In the fall of 1882 he was elected to the House of Representatives of the General Assembly, and during that session (1883) was elected to the United States Senate for a term of six years. At the expiration of his term in 1889 he returned to Del Norte and again engaged in mining. Quite recently he acquired interests in what is known as "Creede's Camp" mining district which indicates that there lies the source of much wealth as a support to his future, whatever it may be. He has found and expended one or two fortunes in Colorado, and let us hope that this last venture may not only exceed the measure of his hopes, but prove the staff and shield of his declining years.

Following are the present officers of Rio Grande county (1890-91): Com- missioners, Charles Olson, Henry M. Dyer and C. N. Shakespeare; sheriff, John B. Hocker, Jr .: clerk and recorder, William D. Zook; treasurer, Orlando Bonner; county judge, James H. Baxter; assessor, J. J. Hasselkus; coroner, W. A. Packard;

299

HISTORY OF COLORADO.

superintendent of schools, Jesse Stephenson; surveyor, James M. Gardner; clerk of the district court, John B. Haffey.

Schools. - By the census of 1890 the school population of the county was 919. There were seventeen districts, and a like number of school houses with 898 sit- tings; valuation of property $25,520. There were enrolled in the graded schools 456, and in the ungraded 361, total 817, with an average attendance of 507. Eleven teachers were employed in the graded, and twenty in the ungraded.

Property Valuations. - The assessed valuation of taxable property in the county has advanced from $673,952 in 1877, to $1,484,618 in 1890, which shows less than 50 per cent. (as in all other counties) of the actual cash valuation. In the list for 1890 we find 128,628 acres of agricultural land, 2,964 horses, 235 mules, 8,873 cattle, 9,856 sheep and 590 swine.

ROUTT COUNTY.

GREAT STOCK GROWING REGION-STEAMBOAT SPRINGS-HAHN'S PEAK GOLD MINES- HOW AND BY WHOM DISCOVERED-MELANCHOLY FATE OF JOSEPH HAHN-PERISHED IN A FEARFUL SNOW STORM-FINDING HIS REMAINS-TERRIBLE SUFFERING- SETTLEMENTS AND RESOURCES OF THE COUNTY.

This county, commonly known as the North Park, was segregated from Grand county, and organized by an act of the General Assembly approved January 29th, 1877. It was named in honor of John L. Routt, last governor of the territory and first of the new state. It is bounded on the north by the state of Wyoming, south by Rio Blanco and Eagle, east by Larimer and Grand, and west by the Territoryof Utah. As the boundaries indicate, it occupies the extreme northwestern part of Colorado. Its area is 6,000 square miles, much the largest subdivision of the state, and by the census of 1890 its population was 2,369, an increase of 2,229 in the preceding decade. It includes Egeria Park in the southeastern portion, Twenty-mile Park and the fer- tile valleys of the Yampa (called Bear by the early trappers, from the great number of bears in that region), Snake, Williams' Fork, the Green, Elk Head and Fortifica- tion creeks. It is by far the largest grazing section of the state, and the better por- tions, along the mesas and strips bordering the various streams, have long been occupied by cattle and sheep growers. By virtue of the number and magnitude of its rivers and creeks, it is quite thoroughly watered. There are many lakes and groups of springs which form the sources of these streams. The larger are the Yampa, Green and Snake. The high lands are the Danforth hills, Piñon and Mid- land ridges on the south, the great Yampa plateau and Escalante hills on the west, and in the northwest the Vermillion Bluffs and O-Wi-Yu-Kuts plateau. It is somewhat difficult to reconcile the old nomenclature of the several divisions with the numerous changes that have been made in recent maps.

The county seat is located at the town of Hahn's Peak, where the county officers and placer miners reside. It has been a center of gold mining since 1866. There are no railroads in the county.

Steamboat Springs, so called from the peculiar puffing sounds emitted by them, and reminding one of large river steamers in full action, eighty in number, comprising almost every known variety of medicinal and curative waters, and in tem- perature ranging from very cold up to 75°, 80°, 103° and the highest 156º Fahrenheit, are situated on the Yampa, near the eastern boundary of the county. Here are won- derful resources for one of the great sanitariums of the world, and some day in the

300

HISTORY OF COLORADO.

future, when they can be reached by railway, this place will attain very great renown. While Colorado is abundantly provided with all manner of medicinal springs, it is unquestionable that this group forms one of the most remarkable combinations ever known. This is also the principal center of population, the town of Steamboat Springs having 400 inhabitants, three general stores, a bank, millinery store, drug store, tin shop, bakery, saddlery store, two weekly newspapers, three hotels, two livery stables, one hardware and implement store, a jewelry store, two meat markets, two churches-Congregational and Union-and a fine two-story school house of four rooms.

The Hahn's Peak gold placers lie in that part of the Continental Divide known as the Park Range, which forms the eastern wall of division between Grand, Larimer and Routt counties. In Hayden's report for 1876 will be found some inter- esting descriptions of this country, which at the time of his exploration was almost wholly unoccupied. His expedition entered the Yampa from Rawlins, Wyoming, and the country between the White and Yampa is first deseribed. The Snake River valley is broad, fertile and inviting; the stream, 75 feet in width and 15 to 18 inches deep, is clear and pure, bordered by rich bottom-lands fringed with splendid . cottonwood groves, where a number of farmers are settled. "Southeast from our point of crossing the Snake river rise the Elk Head mountains, a formidable range, with numerous sharp peaks and a deeply eroded drainage system, while the forest- clad mountains to our left rose with majestic grandeur, affording a highly pleasing aspect. The country to our right, on the contrary, consisted of a high-rolling, monotonous sage prairie, with no distinct characteristics as to orographic features. The road keeps close to Fortification creek after crossing a low divide which con- nects the undulating sage plateau with the Elk Head mountains. For many miles north of the Yampa river the country slopes very gradually toward the river; the features are those of a mountainous, wave-like plateau country, with a covering of sage as its chief vegetation. The only prominent topographical object in this region is an elevated and flat-topped butte, named 'Fortification Butte,' which stands like a rocky island in the sage-covered, waving prairie. The Yampa is a fine, clear stream of perhaps 100 feet in width and 18 to 20 inehes deep." The section between the Yampa and White rivers is "diversified or broken, first by three transverse ridges having an east and west trend and running parallel to the Yampa river; and, secondly, by the Cañon valley of the Williams Fork of the Yampa. The axis of the northern ridge, or the one lying between the Yampa and the Williams Fork, terminates near the junction of the latter streams. The second ridge, the one lying between Williams' Fork and Axial Basin, extends its axis twelve miles further to the west than does the former one."

Hayden does not describe the eastern part at all, and only in brief terms the central division, as his explorations were projected toward White river and the Indian Agency. The eastern and southeastern parts of Routt county are oceu- pied to greatest extent, and it is here that most development has been made. Here we find broad valleys and grazing lands, with many well-cultivated farms.

Hahn's Peak, in the Park Range, is 12,000 feet high. From Mr. Herman Lueders, now secretary of the State Board of Capitol Commissioners, who is familiar with all the principal details attending the discovery of gold placers at the base of this promontory and its christening, the facts which follow were obtained by the author:

In 1864 an old man named Capt. Way started out alone from Empire, in the upper Clear Creek valley, on a prospecting trip. He crossed Berthoud Pass, toward Middle Park and the Gore Range, and finally reached the base of Hahn's Peak, which was not so designated, however, until two years later. There he found gold in paying quantities, but his stock of provisions being soon exhausted, he returned to Empire and remained with Paul Lindstrom that winter. Lindstrom

301

HISTORY OF COLORADO.

owned and operated a sawmill about one mile west of Empire, and in his employ was a German named Joseph Hahn, to whom Capt. Way related the discoveries he had made, describing the locality and the route thither. The next spring Hahn and a comrade named W. A. Doyle, a miner from Black Hawk, in Gilpin county, resolved to explore Capt. Way's placers. Passing over the course designated, they reached the spot and prospected the several gulches which converge at that point; satisfied themselves of the extent and excellent qualities of the diggings and then returned to Empire. In the winter of 1865-66 they organized, as quietly as possible, a select force of about forty men, and, supplied with sufficient provisions for the mining season, mining tools, etc., started across Berthond Pass in May, 1866. The snow being very deep-four to six feet-they were compelled to shovel out the trail for the passage of the sleds and pack animals, a long and fatiguing task. It may be stated, in passing, that the author of this history, together with Gen. O. E. Babcock, of General Grant's staff, Mr. Chas. G. Chever and Lewis N. Tappan, who had been in Middle Park, and were just coming out, met these miners at the apex of the pass, and there dined with them in the midst of a howling snowstorm. Mr. Herman Lueders was among them, and they were guided by Hahn and Doyle. They reached the new placer grounds in June. Passing Charley U'tter's cabin, on the Grand river, en route, he joined them. U'tter was a noted prospector, hunter and trapper who occupied a cabin in Middle Park. It was at his place that the party I accompanied was entertained during its stay in that region.

The first steps taken, after by panning they had assured themselves of the richness of the gold mines, were to organize a district in the customary form. Hahn was elected president, and the peak and district named in his honor. Doyle was made recorder of claims. They next proceeded to build cabins and whip- saw lumber for slices, after which some mining was done with very satisfactory results. Soon after they commenced operating, the Ute Indians, under Colorow and Washington, came in force and demanded to know why they were there, and what they proposed doing. Utter speaking their language, and withal a great favorite among them, made the necessary explanations and they were left unmo- lested. But winter came early that year, and all except Halin and Doyle left the district. Early next spring (1867) these two started on snowshoes for Empire to obtain needed supplies. They had a very severe trip, and when crossing the Gore Range, in Middle Park, were overtaken by a fearful snowstorm. Snow fell to the depth of two or three feet. They succeeded in reaching the Muddy river, a tribu- tary of the Grand, but becoming bewildered and lost in the terrible storm, they sank down in the snow, wrapped themselves up in their blankets and so passed the night. In the morning Hahn said he was too weak to travel, really unable to rise. Doyle, being somewhat stronger, left him and started out in search of relief. After wandering about all day without discovering food or any human being, he staggered back to his companion, only to find that he was dead. He lay down by the body, and, being utterly exhausted, slept till daybreak, when, shouldering Hahn's blankets, tools, etc., together with his own, he again began the weary search for an inhabited cabin. At this time John C. Sumner and Ashley Franklin were living in Mr. W. N. Byers' house at Hot Sulphur Springs. Having some cattle and horses down in the park, after the great storm had subsided they went out to find them. In the course of their travels they came to the cabin of John S. Jones, where they remained that night. Next day they renewed their search for the stock, and, to view the surrounding country, ascended a cone-shaped hill on the north side of the river. In looking about they discovered in the distance an object floundering in the deep snow. At length they recognized it to be a man, and concluding that he had lost his way and was in need of assistance, they went to the spot and there found W. A. Doyle, who had become snow-blind and literally crazed by his sufferings. They took him to Jones' cabin and there fed

302

HISTORY OF COLORADO.

and nursed him to recovery, when he related the story of his wanderings, and of poor Joe Hahn's death, insisting that the body lay twenty miles or more up the Muddy. Sumner and Franklin made diligent effort to find it by following Doyle's directions, but in vain.

About the first of November following, Wm. N. Byers, while going into the park, fell in with a man who had been sent by Paul Lindstrom to recover Hahn's remains and give them proper interment. He had been informed by one Capt. Horn that while fishing on the Muddy the previous October he had discovered the bones and clothing of the missing man. Byers and his comrade journeyed to Hot Springs, where they found Capt. Horn, and after hearing his account, the next day were guided by him to the place, where they found the skeleton and clothing, with other evidences which completely identified them as those of Hahn. These they collected and buried, planting one of his snowshoes at the head of the grave. To show how utterly bewildered Doyle had been when rescued the pre- vious spring, it may be stated that instead of twenty miles from the place where Sumner and Franklin found him, Hahn's body was less than a mile distant on the Muddy, half a mile above its mouth. The proper name in German was Henn, but had been corrupted to "Halin" by his American associates.

Thus wretchedly perished the man for whom "Hahn's Peak" was named, the leader of the expedition that opened the gold placers of that region.

The next authentic account of operations there, though others may have inter- vened, is that in the summer of 1874 the Purdy Mining company, Hopkins, Harris, Dunbar & Co., Lambert and Wm. Bell, with others, went in and opened these mines on quite an extensive scale. Finding large rewards, operations have been continued to the present by various individuals and companies. A number of quartz lodes also were discovered and located.

In 1874 about 150 men were engaged there, and it was reported took out $10,000 to $12,000. Subsequently a new organization, called the Halin's Peak Gold and Silver Mining company, came into possession and worked the ground with satisfactory results. Certain portions of the ground are still being worked.

The first actual settlement in Routt county was made by James H. Crawford, July 25th, 1874. at Steamboat Springs. He made the first filing of a claim in the U. S. land office, and the first patent was issued to him. The first survey of lands was executed in October and November, 1875, by Fred A. Ingersoll-town- ship 6 north, range 84 west, embracing the Steamboat group of springs.

The town of Hayden, named for Prof. F. V. Hayden, chief of the U. S. Geo- logical Survey, was located and settled in the fall of 1875 by Porter M. Smart and sons. It is now simply a post office station.

Craig, named for the Rev. Bayard Craig (of Denver), its founder, is thirty- five miles west of Steamboat Springs and ten miles west of the old town of Hayden, and has about 100 inhabitants.

Coal. - A large part of the county is underlaid with coal of various kinds. I am informed by Mr. James H. Crawford that beds of superior anthracite have been located at a point twelve miles from Steamboat Springs, and that ten miles west of the latter point there are many fine oil springs, with indications of extensive oil fields.

Owing to the remoteness of Routt county from railways and markets, the development of its agricultural resources has been confined to the demands for local consumption. The assessment roll for 1890 shows 11,703 acres of agricultural land, valued at $70,221. Other trustworthy intelligence informs us that the lands along the borders of the large streams yield abundantly of grains and vegetables. The only outlet for any surphis that may be raised are the towns on the Union Pacific railway in Wyoming; therefore, whatever of resources it may possess are

303

HISTORY OF COLORADO.

tributary to that state rather than to Colorado, and will be until a railway is built from Denver into that country via Middle Park.

The one really great industry now carried on there is stock growing, to which the country is admirably adapted. In the returns to the auditor of state for 1890 we find 10,543 horses, valued at $315,410; 80 mules, valued at $4,215; 31,606 cattle, valued at $329,143, and 3,249 sheep, $6,498. The total assessed valuation of taxable property for that year was $1,094,039, of which amount $644,553 was in cattle and horses. Until within the last decade immigration was retarded by the hostility of the Ute Indians. Many of the carlier prospectors and settlers were killed by them.

Schools. - By the census of 1890 the school population of the county was 495, with an enrollment of 338 and an average daily attendance of 169. There were fifteen school districts and a like number of school houses, but they are scattered over the vast area of this great county. The gross value of the buildings was $3,000.

The fact that in the past ten years more than 2,000 people have settled there, and, further, that the assessed valuation of property has advanced from $84,698 in 1877, the year of its organization, to about $1,100,000 in 1890, shows some- thing, at least, of the advantages of the country for settlement. The most rapid growth occurred since 1885, when the total valuation was $576,448. In 1886 it mounted to $1,050,029. During the next two years, however, there was a small decrease, but in 1889 the highest total was reached, namely, $1,248,620. This was due to the greater numbers of cattle and sheep pastured there. In that year there were listed 46,768 cattle and 10,449 sheep.

The first county officers in 1877 were: Clerk, James B. Thompson; treasurer, S. D. N. Bennett; county judge, James II. Crawford; sheriff, Jos. Morgan. We have no list of the other officers.

Those for 1890-91 were: Clerk. C. E. Baker; treasurer, S. D. Wilson; county judge, J. Walbridge; assessor, J. E. Kellogg; sheriff, H. C. Seaton; coroner, Francis M. Haughey; superintendent of schools, J. A. Campbell; surveyor, E. Shelton; clerk of the district court, R. G. Wallace; commissioners, R. P. Williams, Harvey Woolery and Robert McIntosh.

SAGUACHE COUNTY.

EARLY PIONEERS AND THEIR ORGANIZATION-ORIGIN OF THE NAME-PRINCIPAL INDUSTRIES-SAGUACHIE AND VILLA GROVE-IRRIGATION-BONANZA MINES-BACA GRANT NO. 4-GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

The county of Saguache was created from the northern part of Costilla county by an act of the territorial legislature approved December 29th, 1866. The moun- tain chain near by, the county, the principal water-course and the capital town all bear the same name, Saguache, commonly pronounced "Si-watch." It is bounded on the north by Chaffee and Gunnison, south by Rio Grande and Costilla, cast by Fremont, Custer and Huerfano, and west by Gunnison and Hinsdale. Its area is 3,240 square miles, and according to the census of 1800 its population was 3,313, an increase of 1,340 in the preceding decade. During the latter part of 1800 and during 1891 it received material accessions of agricultural settlers, so that its population is about 4,000.

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.

History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 45

Author: Hall, Frank, 1836-1917. cn; Rocky Mountain Historical Company Publication date: 1889-95 Publisher: Chicago, Blakely print. Co. Number of Pages: 791

Author: Hall, Frank, 1836-1917. cn; Rocky Mountain Historical Company
Publication date: 1889-95
Publisher: Chicago, Blakely print. Co.
Number of Pages: 791