t 
 
 Library .-f 
 
 V.E.STOLBRAND, 
 
 Fort Collins, Colo. 
 
 Mo. 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
 A HISTORY: 
 
 Greeley and The Union Colony 
 
 OF COLORADO. 
 
 BY 
 
 DAVID BOYD, A. M. 
 
 GREELEY, COLO: 
 
 The Greeley Tribune Press, 
 1890.
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1890, by- 
 ID J^ "V I ID B O "2" ID , 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
 
 
 
 Fl^i- 
 
 o 
 
 ^ RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO 
 
 ijv Mrs. Arvilla D. Meeker, 
 
 The faithful ivife and devoted friend and companion of X. C. 
 Meeker, the founder of our toum and colony, and his swvivor after 
 the White River Indian Massacre, September 29th, I87f), when she 
 nnd their daughter, Josephine, were taken captive's by the Indians, 
 and suffered extreme hardships and indignities for twenty-three days. 
 
 By The Author. 
 
 ,4 
 
 r 
 
 ^^ 
 
 2i]39oU
 
 "I propose to unite with the proper persons in estabhshing a colonj 
 in Colorado Territory." 
 
 N. C Meeker in The New York Tribune. 
 
 "Mr. Nathan C. Meeker for mauj- years connected with The Tribune, 
 as he expects to be many more, proposes to plant a colony in an ad- 
 mirable location discovered by him on his recent trip to the Rocky 
 Mountains. Knowing Mr. Meeker, (Avho is a practical farmer), to be 
 eminently qualified for leading and founding such a colony, we advise 
 temperate, moral, industrious and intelligent persons who would like 
 to make homes in the Far West to read his letter herewith published, 
 and should his plans suit them, write to him, not us, on the subject." 
 — Horace Gtreeley, in same issue of The Tribune, 
 
 " Two classes of events are presented in our colony life, one class is 
 connected with the affairs of individuals, which, even by those con- 
 cerned, are quickly forgotten. It is doubtful if a history of these 
 days, as affecting individuals, ever will or can be \\T:itten — it is 
 doubtful whether it would be of any benefit if it were written. An- 
 other class of events can be readily recorded — these relate to the pro- 
 gress and growth of the colony. Indi\'iduals may rise or fall, may live 
 or die, property may be lost or gained, but the colony as a whole, 
 will prosper, and the spot on which we labor, so long as the world 
 stands, will be the center of intelligence and activity." — N. C. Meeker 
 in first issue of 
 
 The areeley Tribune, November 13th, 1870.
 
 N. 0. MEEKEH.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 LAST summer I wrote a chapter for Frank Hall's Second Volume 
 of the History of Colorado, on Greeley and the Union Colony of 
 Colorado, from the spring of 1871 up to date. The first year had 
 been sketched by the author in his first volume. While enj^a^'tHl in 
 this work, it occurred to me that a more extended view of our history 
 would be desirable in a separate volume, and which could Ix- had at a 
 figure so low as to be within the reach of all. 
 
 The present time appeared to me a favorable one for this work as 
 many of the old landmarks are disappearing, and the data I found 
 were beginning to be difficult to procure. The files of The Trihutw 
 were incomplete, nearly the whole of the first year })eing missing', 
 while The Sim has no files previous to 1885. The tleficient-y al)ove 
 pointed out, is made good to a certain extent by the care of H. T. 
 West w^ho has collected in a "Scrap Book" a large number of news- 
 paper articles relating to the colony during the first three years. Mr. 
 West has been kind enough to put this in my hands together with 
 other valuable documents, some of which will l^e jjrinted in full in the 
 appendix. 
 
 Mrs. N. C. Meeker and Mrs. Skewes, her daughter, have also fur- 
 nished me valuable papers— articles published in The New York Tri- 
 bune from the pen of N. C. Meeker, when he was on his tri]) to the 
 Rocky Mountains prior to the formation of the colony, and also some 
 forty letters from Horace Greeley to Mr. Meeker during the years 
 1870, 1871 and 1872. The greater portion of these last 1 have 
 seen fit to publish on account of their historical value, and to show the 
 deep interest Mr. Greeley took in the welfare of the colony and his 
 friendship for and confidence in N. C. Meeker. 
 
 It may seem to some out of place to pubhsh a history of this length 
 about a place so small in population and so young as Greeley. It is " 
 worth while to remember that the cities which have, and deserveiily, 
 the most celebrity, were not the most populous; and some of the coun- 
 tries which have had the greatest influence on human progress were 
 of limited extent. The area of Attica, the domain subject to Athens, 
 was only 2,181 square miles, the greater part of which was unfit for 
 cultivation ; and that of Latium, for some centuries the only territory
 
 of Rome, was only 4:,601 square miles, while that of Weld County^ 
 when the colony came here, was about 16,000 square miles. 
 
 It is true Greeley has not attained the celebrity of these ancient States, 
 but it has become more widely and more favorably known than many 
 American cities of ten times its population. Its reputation is not only 
 as wide as the United States and Canada, but its fame has penetrated to 
 remote hamlets in Europe. WiUiam Black, in his novel, "Green Pas- 
 tures and Piccadilly," devotes a page or over to a description of our 
 then little town (in 1877) which ends in these words: 'As we think of 
 Greeley — here in England in the depth of winter — it shines for us still 
 in the hght of that summer morning, and the trees and fields are yet 
 green around it, and the mountains are blue under the blue of the 
 sky. Ma}' it shine and flourish forever." 
 
 In its early days no place of its size was ever so well advertised as 
 Greeley. This came not from any attempt to "boom" the place, but 
 from the wide circulation of The Neiv York Tribune, and the reputa- 
 tion that Mr. Meeker, the founder of Greele}'^, had as a writer for the 
 columns of that paper; also from the well known experiment we were 
 making as a co-operative and temperance community. The Greeley 
 Tribune, chiefly, after it was started, became the principal vehicle 
 of information to the rest of the country, and was a journal 
 unique not only in the editorial articles, but by the original con- 
 tributions of many writers here, foremost among them J. Max. Clark. 
 Mr. Meeker was cautious never to overstate the facts as to the 
 advantages of our place ; and the men, mostly farmers, who after the 
 first year had the management of colonial matters, were most pro- 
 nouncedly opposed to all misrepresentation of the actual situation of 
 affairs here. So, too, the most of the people were, free from making 
 noisy demonstrations about our success, and we became a subject of 
 remark on the part of strangers on account of our indifference as to 
 Avhat others thought about us or the place. 
 
 But this history is written principally for our own people. It is not 
 expected that many outside of the colony will take much interest in 
 the greater part of what Avill be narrated in the following pages, and 
 the most interest will be attached to it on the part of the earlier set- 
 tlers. Many of the men and measures which made us a peculiar peo- 
 ple have passed away ; and to many it will seem best that they have. 
 If to be spoken well of, and to be free from derision, is a thing to be 
 desired, the Greeley of to-day is in an enviable position compared 
 with the Greeley of eighteen years ago, for we are no longer the butt 
 of ridicule. Most of the men, who according to the slang of the day, 
 would be called "cranks," and most of the measures, which brought us
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 VU 
 
 into conflict with other communities, have long passed away or been 
 settled. 
 
 In reference to any series of movements of human progress, two 
 classes of statements need to be made— those relating to results ac- 
 complished, and those relating to the instrumentahties by which th»>y 
 are brought about. These latter are for the most part men, and they 
 will become conspicuous in proportion to tlie part th.«y havt' played 
 in bringing about results. The Union Colony was a eo-uiMTativf njove- 
 ment, and the result was in a very important sense the work of all; and 
 hence, so far as possible, all genuine, true workers shall have mention. 
 Even those who only worked for selfish ends and devoted no time to 
 the general welfare in making their own careers suecessful. also to 
 that extent made the colony successful. The writer rememlx-rs that 
 during the first year there was a certain class of men who used to sit 
 around on dry goods boxes discussing whether the colony would be a 
 success, and doing nothing but Micawber-like waiting for something to 
 turn up. At a public meeting in the spring of 1871 the writ<'r advised 
 this class of men not to ask whether the colony was going to be a success, 
 but for each to ask himself, "Am I a Success," or on the way to become 
 anything of the kind? If he thought he was, then he was going to con- 
 tribute his just share to the success he was so eager about ; if not, the 
 sooner he left here the better for both him and the c<iloiiy. It ap- 
 peared to me many took the hint, and either went to work, or U'took 
 themselves elsewhere, for thenceforward these roosting places became 
 comparatively abandoned. 
 
 But even in co-operative movements there must lye leaders, and it is 
 impossible to describe the movement without giving tliem prominence. 
 Of these men N. C. Meeker will necessarily occupy tlu> front rank. 
 He was not only the originator of the movement, but while he livcnl 
 was president of the colony, and more than that, the editor of The. 
 Tribiuie, which was the leader of the intellectual, social and moral 
 life of the people while he lived, and also was to the outsiile world 
 the exponent of the progress of this place. He wrote so nnu-h. and 
 usually so well, that his articles in The Trihnnc are a rich funcl of in- 
 formation in regard to the questions uppermost in imjK:)rtance succes- 
 sively in our history. And here it is worthy of notice what a great 
 advantage the man has in an historical point of view, who puts his 
 thoughts in good form into print over him who only ilelivers them 
 orally to the crowd on the street corners or at tlie postotlic**, or even 
 to more formal gatherings in halls of audience. To the pi'ople dur- 
 ing the first year General Cameron was at least as conspicuous a 
 figure as Mr. Meeker. Not so to the historian even if he was on the
 
 VIU PREFACE. 
 
 ground and heard all the speeches of the latter. Memory is no match 
 for the printed page. 
 
 But the writer may be charged with giving a prominence to the 
 career and thoughts of N. C. Meeker quite beyond the limits of the 
 subject assigned to this work. To some extent this is true, in the case 
 of Mr. Meeker we have seen fit to give a hasty sketch of his life before 
 he undertook the colonial movement, and in regard to others we speak 
 only of them so far as connected with this movement, making no in- 
 quiry as to what they were before coming here. It seems to me well 
 to do this, in order that we should understand why he was led to form 
 the idea of a co-operative colony. So we have seen fit to quote largely 
 from his letters written to the N. Y. Tribune when on his tour 
 to the Rocky Mountains and Plains country, as these give the most 
 natural explanation of what he undertook upon his return. 
 
 Perhaps that portion of his writings relating to his career among 
 the Indians at the White River Agency is most out of place here. It 
 is inserted for the reason that the massacre has given it a general his- 
 toric interest and that we as a people have an especial interest in it, not 
 only because our leader and founder was there, but because nearly every 
 one killed was from Greeley. It has occurred to me when reading the 
 letters of Mr. Meeker to The Tribune during this period, that they 
 furnished the best means of understanding the cause of the massacre, 
 and how far and in what way he was responsible for it. It appears to 
 me that these letters should be put in a fit form for preservation for 
 the use of the future historian of the State when he comes to treat of 
 this matter. 
 
 There is yet another reason why we have reproduced these letters 
 and some others of his so extensively. They are worthy of preser- 
 vation both in a literary point of view and for the light they cast on 
 Indian customs and character ; and it has appeared doubtful whether 
 there ever would be a collection of his writings. Most of them have 
 a local and passing interest. These on Indian affairs are the least so, 
 and appear to me the best worthy of preservation, and it has occurred 
 to me they will be acceptable to the people of Greeley also, as a relic 
 of the founder of the place after those who knew him and loved him 
 or hated him as the case may be. have become only a name, more or 
 less, longer or shorter time, repeated by the tongues of living men. 
 
 In regard to events and facts there has been the greatest care taken 
 to get at the truth, and verify every statement by written records or 
 the oral statements of parties who took a direct part in them. When 
 anything is only hearsay, it is so stated. The numerous misstatements 
 made in Hubert Howe Bancroft's Volume XXV, which treats upon
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 affairs with which we are famiHar show how worthless is history as some- 
 times written. As some of these misstatements He in the Hue of our 
 work we have noticed them. The one that gives the crinlit of foiuidiiif,' 
 the colony chiefly to Horace Greeley we here mention, but not for 
 the purpose of refutation, as the statement of facts as given in the 
 words of the two men themselve-s, show clearly the relative parts they 
 played, and it is noticed in the body of the work. 
 
 For the most part we have treated the different parts topically ; tliat 
 is, while we generally take up the different subjt'c-ts as they hud a f<tin 
 mencement in time we pursue each to its end or up to date. The sul>- 
 ject of irrigation is so vital a one, and the part taken in it by Greeley 
 men so important, that we have treated it at consi(l»>rabli> length with- 
 out however giving it a general treatment. In this matter th»> reputed 
 founders of the colony have played an insignifit-unt part, and we havt* 
 not hesitated to expose the iuadequacj'- and narrowness of their views. 
 The three gentlemen on the Locating Committee were not only desti- 
 tute of experience, but they lacked the habits of mind that fit one to 
 deal successfully with a new subject of this nature. In other words 
 none of them had either the scientific spirit or method that compares, 
 weighs, measures and then exactl}- states the results. They trusted tt) 
 vague general hearsay, and with reluctance would admit the faits that 
 overthrew their fine theories. The colony would have been a ruin 
 within three years if more practical and capal)le men in this line had 
 not taken the real lead. It was the most tlitficult tiling imaginable to 
 convince any one of the three of the utter insignificance of the canal.s 
 they had built for the purposes intended. The salvation of the colony 
 at this time was wrought by such men as J. Max. Chirk, B. S. La 
 Orange, Solon and Henry Martin and E. E. Baker, and .Mr. Meeker saw 
 it, and as we shall see, had the honesty to acknowledge it. Of the 
 three only H. T. West had any business ability, but that was mainly 
 in the book-keeping line, and a knowledge of mere business forms and 
 routine is no* of the least possil)le advantage in handling the subjeet 
 of irrigation in the state in which the colony found it in Colora<lo. 
 Mr. West did the colony good service in the sphere of accountant, and 
 kept affairs from getting into the chaos they would certainly liave 
 fallen during the first three months in the hands of tlie other two. 
 But it may be said that was his business, that was what he was en 
 gaged for, and several thousands of nii'ii could have been found wlio 
 could have done it as well or better. Mr. La Grange, with all his 
 insufficiency and circumlocution of statement, could get at the heart 
 of the exact requirements for irrigating a certain area, or could sur 
 mount the obstacles that were constantly arising during oir early
 
 X PREFACE. 
 
 period of experiments, far better then men whose exact and well 
 arranged speech, give them a great advantage over him in speaking or 
 writing on the subject. But J. Max. Clark had not only sound practi- 
 cal views but also has written so well and convincingly on the subject, 
 that he must occupy the foremost place at least in the early subjects 
 under discussion.* 
 
 On this matter I have collected proof and information from various 
 sources which are usually indicated, and where I played a part I have 
 transcribed the record of it, as I have that of the others. This was 
 necessary to give a complete view of the part taken b}^ our community 
 in this most important question, the contribution of each being needed 
 in a statement of the whole result. 
 
 It has appeared to me fit to give a brief account of the other colon- 
 ial movements made in imitation of ours, and show wherein they failed, 
 as they generally did. as colonies. Besides I have described what I 
 call "outgrowths'' of the colony, which were not colonies but irrigation 
 and agricultural undertakings of Greeley men, especially in the Platte 
 valley. 
 
 While especial prominence is given to the early times an account 
 is also furnished of late improvements and prominent men who have 
 come later and done so much in building up and beautifying the town. 
 In public spirit and generosity, in standing by and defending the tem- 
 perance principles, which the founders endeavored to establish here, 
 many of these later comers equal or surpass the colonists. We have 
 also said a word of the prominent men of early days who have left 
 and live in other parts, or who have passed the gates through which 
 no wayfarer returns, and then a word of recognition for the rank and 
 file of veterans who are 3^et on the muster roll, after twenty years of 
 service. 
 
 *In the above it is not meant to convey the idea that Mr. West did 
 valuable service onh^ as a book-keeper. His business ability was use- 
 ful in many directions, and to him equally with the other two belongs 
 the credit of having selected this site rather than either of the others 
 inspected. As secretary of the town board at the tiaie of its organi- 
 zation he did most of the work in its formation, and since, as will be 
 seen from the list of lown oliicers in the Appendix, Jias served the 
 town frequently. Indeed, Mr. We.st early became a toa-n man, and 
 stood up for what he considered its rights according to the original 
 compact — the New York constitution as against the country — which, 
 meant the enlargement of ditches out of colony funds. That instrument 
 seems to have ignored the creation of a fund for this most vital con- 
 dition of agriculture in Colorado.
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Page 65, line 8, read " 2,300 " for " 2,700." 
 
 Page 83, last line, read " larger " for " louger." 
 
 Page 122, line 31, read *' Denver " for " Boulder." 
 
 Page 147, line 11, read " twenty " for " ten," 
 
 Page 152, line 1, correct as above. 
 
 Page 230, line 4, from bottom, read " $25,000 " for " $2,500." 
 
 Page 248, line 5, read " four " for " three." 
 
 Page 248, line 23, read " 1879 " for " 1876." 
 
 Page 251, line 28, read " F. J. Annis " for " A. J. Wilber." The 
 latter went by his own conveyance and took the part assigned him in 
 the text. 
 
 Page 371, line 23, read "Secretary of the Interior" for "their 
 
 Page 418, last line, insert " make " before the word '' farming."'
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 WHO FOUNDED GREELEY ? — SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF N. C. MEEKER UP TO DATE 
 OF ORGANIZING UNION COLONY MR. MEEKEr's TRIP TO THE ROCKY MOUN- 
 TAIN REGION, AND HIS LETTERS TO THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE. 
 
 THE fact that the town founded by Udiou Colony bears the name 
 of the founder of The Netv York 2Vi5»we quite naturally mis- 
 leads those not acquainted with the facts, into the opinion that the 
 man whose name it bears was its founder. The Locating Committee, at 
 the head of which was X. C. Meeker the president of Union Colony, 
 and the author and projector of the ^^4lole scheme of the colony, saw 
 fit, for wise and sufficient reasons, to name the town after Mr. Greeley, 
 who was only an endorser, and friend, and valuable helper of the 
 scheme, but in no sense its originator. The other two members of 
 tlie committee, R. A. Cameron and H. T. West, proposed, after the site 
 of the town was selected, to call it Meeker. But he was far too modest 
 a man to hear of such a thing, and of course the next name to be 
 thought of was that of Mr. Greele3^ 
 
 It is true that in a technical and strictly literal sense, no one man 
 founded Greeley. The whole Union Colony in its organized cajmcity 
 founded tlie town and settled the adjacent country, and the site of the 
 town and the colonial lands were selected by a committee elected by 
 the colony for this purpose. The colony, according to the scheme of 
 its projector, was a co-operative movement, and the very first sentence 
 in Mr. Meeker's call in The New York Tribune states this, and hence 
 all the colonists who settled here founded the town. This first sen- 
 tence is— 'T pronose to unite with the proper persons in establishing 
 a colony in Colorado Territory." This shows that Mr. Meeker re- 
 garded it as a luiited effort, and hence its name was Union Colony— 
 the honor of first proposing this name belonging to John Leavy. 
 
 But if Mr. Meeke: cannot be said in strictness to be the founder of 
 this town, much less can Horace Greeley or any other one man be so 
 denominated. In conceiving and formulating the colonial scheme Mr. 
 Meeker indirect] ij fonnded the town and colony, and without him there 
 would not have been any such colony or any such town. The town of 
 Evans would have been the leading and perhaps the only town near
 
 12 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 here. Hence the only questiou at issue is, did N. C. Meeker originate 
 and formulate the scheme which brought about the organization of 
 Union Colony ? It appears to me there can only be one opinion about 
 this among persons familiar with the facts, and these are so easily ac- 
 cessible that it seems strange that any one writing on the subject 
 should not give the credit where it belongs. Yet in Hubert Howe Ban- 
 croft's Volume XXV of his voluminous work on the Pacific and Rocky 
 Mountain region, we find the following : "It— (Union Colony) was a 
 direct outgrowth of the advertising which The New York Tribune gave 
 Colorado (in 1859). Horace Greeley ivas its prime mover, and one 
 of its most active agents was N. C. Meeker also of The Tribune" As 
 authority for this he cites Wm. N. Byers' "Centennial State MSS." If 
 Byers makes any such statement it must be from pure mahce, as no 
 other man in Colorado, not a Greeley colonist, was so well acquainted 
 with the facts. The truth is, that although Byers was very friendly to 
 the colony and Mr. Meeker at the start, he got down on both but espe- 
 cially the latter because he opposed and exposed gigantic immigration 
 schemes to Colorado, advocated by Byers, because they appeared to 
 him (Meeker) visionary if not dishonest. 
 
 But while there might be some excuse for Bancroft making a state- 
 ment contrary to the facts, there can be none for the one which is the 
 opening sentence of a circular issued by the Board of Trade of Greeley 
 in 1886. This sentence is, "Greeley was founded in 1870 by Horace 
 Greeley, in whose honor it is named." The writer of the above imi- 
 tates for us those people who, nothing in themselves are constantly 
 boasting of their illustrious parentage. The one who reads the fol- 
 lowing pages will have no trouble from the facts laid before him in 
 deciding who originated the colonial scheme, and who contributed 
 most to make that scheme a success. But in order that the reader may 
 see how naturally it came into the head of N. C. Meeker to originate 
 this co-operative colony it will ba necessary for us here to give a brief 
 sketch of his life up to 1869. 
 
 Nathan Cook Meeker was born in Euclid, near Cleveland, Oliio, in 
 the year 1814. The place is now knosvn as Collamer ; and L, C. 
 Meeker, long a resident of Greeley is now residing on the paternal 
 estate. 
 
 Nathan early displayed literary tastes, and is said, when a mere boy, 
 to have engaged in writing poaius and stories for the periodical press. 
 In early youth he undertook a journey to New Orleans, and accom- 
 plished most of it on foot. Here he succ?3d9d in getting work on one 
 of the city papers, which, however, hardly afforded him a living. He 
 returned to Cleveland in the course of some two years, having met in
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 13- 
 
 his travels George D. Prentice, then the literary ''pundit" of the 
 Southwest. 
 
 On returning to Cleveland he taught school long enough to make 
 sufficient money to carry him to New York city. Here he attracted 
 the attention of N. P. Willis then editing ''The New York Mirror''' 
 For it he wrote poems and sketches. Though the poems were read 
 and sometimes copied, they brought their writer scarcely enough to 
 keep soul and body together ; and he then and there renounced the 
 writing of poetry forever. 
 
 While editing The Greeley Tribune, it will be remembered how 
 little patience he had with this foible in others. In speaking at the 
 Lyceum one evening about his early life, he humorously relates how 
 once faring down the Mississippi on a steamboat, he had on a tall 
 plug hat, the upper story of which was filled with this kind of literary 
 lumber. He happened to trip and fall down one of the hatchways 
 and the well-stujffed hat probably saved him from getting a badly cut 
 crown. This he said was the best turn that his poetry served him. 
 
 We next see the young man turn up in Pennsylvania teaching school 
 as a make-shift while pursuing literarj' studies. By the 3'ear 1S44: we 
 find him back again in Northern Ohio, when he concludes to end his 
 Bohemian life and marries Miss Arvilla D. Smith, the daughter of a 
 retired sea captain. 
 
 About this time was being organized near by, what was known as 
 the "Trumbull Phalanx." This was a branch of the "North American 
 Phalanx." These communities were organized as near as might be 
 according to the teachings of Francois Marie Charles Fourier, a 
 French Socialistic wTiter who died in 1837. He is to be sharply dis- 
 tinguished from the illustrious mathematician and physicist, his con- 
 temporary of the same surname. The views of this eminent French 
 socialist had to his great mortification received but little attention dur- 
 ing his Hfe-time, One abortive attempt had been made in France but 
 with insufficient capital. It is said that the old man, for some years 
 before his death, used to devote a certain portion of each day sitting 
 in waiting ready to receive the visit of some large hearted capitalist 
 who, he was hoping, would come along and imdertake to realize for 
 him his dream of a truly humanized, civilized society. His w-as an 
 earher vision on a smaller scale of Edward Bellamy's year 2000. How 
 nearly our American socialist sails to the Frenchman can be seen by 
 readers of "Looking Backward" from the following extract from 
 Chamber's Encyclopedia. 
 
 " The earth and human society, Fourier taught, are in their crude and 
 infantile state. What we call civilization he considers a false and im-
 
 14 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 perfect condition, with poverty, crime, ignorance, idleness, repugnant 
 toil, disease, wasting wars, general autagouisni, oppression, and misery. 
 He believed in a universal harmony, flowing from and centering in 
 God, the author of all harmonies, and that there is therefore a princi- 
 ple of universal analogy. The community should consist of 401) 
 families or 1800 persons, which number he found included the whole 
 circle of human capacities. These should live in one immense edifice, 
 in the center of a large and highly cultivated domain, and furnished 
 with work-shops, studios, and all the appliances of industry and art, 
 as well as all the sources of amusement and pleasure. When the 
 earth is covered with these palaces of atti'active industry, the associa- 
 tions will also imite in groups and series, under a unitary government. 
 There will at length be only one language and one government, and 
 the only armies will be the great industrial armies, which will drain 
 swamps, irrigate deserts, plant forests, and effect the amelioration of 
 cUmates. The system of Fourier, does not propose to destroy but 
 rather to conserve property, position, and hereditary rights, nor does 
 it war directly with morals or religion. The apartments are to be of 
 various prices, and the styles of living to vary in luxury and cost, but 
 the poorest person in the Association is not only to be secure of com- 
 fort, but his minimum of enjoyments will be greater than the present 
 social arrangements can give princes and millionaires. The economies 
 of the large scale in the Phalanstery reduce by two thirds the expenses 
 of living, while an attractive and scientific industry would quadi'uple 
 the products of civilization." 
 
 Such were the sjjeculations which at this time attracted the attention 
 of some of the foremost thinkers and scholars of America. Among 
 these may be mentioned Hawthorne, Emerson, George Ripley, the poet 
 Steadman and Horace Greeley. The Brook Farm Phalanx was the 
 most celebrated of these attempts. 
 
 Meeker and his young wife now joined the one being formed near 
 Warren, Ohio. In an article read before the Greeley Lyceum, Mr. 
 Meeker gave an account of the workings of this Phalanx and the 
 causes which led, in some three years, to its dissolution. The reasons 
 were first, ague. His second born child George, commenced shaking 
 when it was a day old, and had it steadily for three years. He grew up 
 Aveakly, took pneumonia and finally consumption of which he died in 
 Evans a few days after the location for Union Colony was made at 
 what is now Greeley. Second, many shirked their work. Third, many 
 families were very large and with only the father to work, were con- 
 stantly running behind. Mr. Meeker knew just how this was, as- he 
 kept the books. Fourth, there were rings that undertook to run all for
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 15 
 
 their own advantage. "But if the place had been healthy we would 
 have held out longer, and the idle and improvident would have got 
 more out of the industrious and patient ; but I have no reason to sup- 
 pose that we would not finally have exploded, either in some fight, or 
 at the least in disgust." "Here," "he says significantly," I learned 
 hotv much co-operation people would hear."" He also learned the im- 
 portance of not settling a colony in an ague country. This is one 
 reason he would not hear to the settling of Union Colony in Kansas or 
 Nebraska, as by many he was solicited to do. 
 
 After the breaking up of the "Phalanx," which left him nearly des- 
 titute, he in company with his brothers opened up a small store near 
 Cleveland. He seems to have fairly prospered in this business and 
 was invited by the Campl^ellites to join them at Hiram, Ohio, where 
 they were building a college. This he did, opening up a store there 
 and became for a time the townsman of James A. Garfield who was 
 then a leader of the sect.* 
 
 While here he wrote a book with the title, "The Adventures of Cap- 
 tain Armstrong."! 
 
 *His wife tells me that he joined the sect and was baptised into its 
 connnuuiou. ^ 
 
 +R-^lph Meeker writes me the following about this book of his father : 
 "My father '\\Tote a book describing the life and adventures of one 
 Captain Armstrong, who was supposed to be wrecked on an Island in 
 the South Pacific. With the officers of his ship who were also saved, 
 they began at the beginning, and taught the native-savages all the arts 
 and industries of modern civilization without its vices. The book was 
 devoted to a minute description of how the community progressed ; 
 hoAv the natives were taught to read, to build houses, dig out the iron 
 ore, make iron and steel, machinery, trip hammers, great castings, and 
 fijially steam engines, railways, and lastly ships. The report that has 
 been so often circulated in Colorado and elsewhere, that my father was 
 simply a correspondent of Tlie New York Tribune under Greeley, and 
 that from him he received all his ideas regarding colonization, is ab- 
 surd in the face of the facts. While a young man, colonization was a 
 favorite subject with my father. When my sister Rozene was only a 
 child, lie took her on his knee, called her his Rocky Mountain girl, and 
 told her how he was going some day to establish a settlement in the 
 midst of the Rocky Mountains. When General Garfield was a neigh- 
 bor of ours at Hiram, Ohio, away back in the time of the Crimean 
 War, there was a Mormon elder in our village who told such wonderful 
 stories of the beauties and resources of the Rocky Mountain region, 
 that half the town were talking of going West. About this time my 
 father said he would go to the Mountains and found a community of 
 a few families, removed from the noise and frivolities of society. He 
 said he wanted to call together a few of the best people, who cared 
 more for their minds than for their clothes, and esta))lish homes where 
 they could begin life anew without the annoyances and restrictions of 
 "caste."
 
 16 A HISTOKT OF GREELEY AND 
 
 So far as the writer knows this was no more remunerative than the 
 poetry of which we have spoken. But to WTite seems to have been a 
 part of his nature, whether it brought reward or not. The financial 
 panic of 1857 nearly ruined him and he moved to Southern Illinois, 
 There he opened up a small store near Dongola, Union County. This 
 store his boys ran, and he carried on a small farm, some of which was 
 devoted to small fruits. While here he wrote for the "Cleveland Plain- 
 dealer" and by his articles for this paper attracted the attention of 
 Artemus Ward with whom he formed a cordial friendship. 
 
 When the war broke out Mr. Meeker and his family were subjected 
 to great indignities from the natives of Southern Illinois, nearly all of 
 whom were secessionists. Mrs. Meeker recalls these war times with 
 nearly as much horror as she does the weeks of her captivity among 
 the Indians. 
 
 Some writings of Meeker about this time attracted the attention of 
 Horace Greeley, and he telegraphed A. D. Richardson then at Cairo in 
 the interest of The Tribune, "Meeker is the man we want." He was 
 engaged as war correspondent at General Grant's headquarters then 
 at Fort Donelson, 
 
 At the close of the war, and upon the retirement of Solon Robinson, 
 Mr. Meeker was called to Xew York and became Agricultural editor of 
 The Tribune. Here his reports of the Xew York Farmer's Club at- 
 tracted no less attention than did those of his illustrious predecessor. 
 About this time he wrote another book, "Life in the West." His arti- 
 cles on the Oneida community, written at this time, attracted general 
 attention. This work made Meeker famous wherever The New York 
 Tribune was read, and in general they entertained high opinions re- 
 garding his sagacity and honesty. We have now reached the point in 
 his career when his movements are of especial interest to the people 
 of Greeley. During the autimin of 1869 he started out to make a tour 
 of the West, his final destination being Utah, where he was to write up 
 the Mormons as he had the Oneida community. It may here be said 
 that he was unable to complete this tour and do the thing he was prin- 
 cipally sent to do, the Union Pacific being badly blocked by snow 
 when he reached Cheyenne. 
 
 His first letter to The Tribune is dated Manhattan, Kansas, Oc- 
 tober 11th, 1869. As this letter contains passages in Mr. Meeker's best 
 vein and also gives characteristic views of his upon hfe and manners, 
 we quote from it as follows : 
 
 "Important changes have taken place in Missouri since the close of 
 the war, and nothing is more evident than that the loss of value in 
 slave property has been more than made good by the advance in the
 
 (II .yt, U^<Zyi^^f^^O-l^'
 
 THK UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 17 
 
 price of land, and by the wealth brought into the State by Eastern 
 immigrants. The shabb}^ little stations, the centers and nuclei of 
 which were stores, containing few goods and plenty of whiskj^, have 
 given place to neat villages of the New England pattern. Fruit and 
 shade trees are young, mau}^ of the houses are small, and evidently 
 most of the new comers had little means ; Ijut industry and correct 
 ideas are manifest, and in a few years these places will have an aspect 
 common to those parts of the East where cidture and refinement pre- 
 vail. But let no one suppose that New England or Eastern notions 
 are to be reproduced except in j^art. At St. Louis I attended a meet- 
 ing where a speaker from Boston dehvered an address, but the audi- 
 ence was far from being interested ; this the speaker had the wit to 
 perceive, and only a part of the address was read. A friend from New 
 York sitting near me, remarked that an attempt to engraft Boston 
 notions upon the Avestern mind could but end in failure. When a 
 speaker from Chicago arose, not deficient in culture but ready with 
 words which exactlj^ expressed with point and energy the ideas to be 
 conveyed, the audience was aroused, and although the subject was by 
 no means popular, profound attention and even applause were gained. 
 I would say, then, that valued and dear as XeAv England life may be, 
 and great as the influence of its theology and politics have been upon 
 the country at large, it is nevertheless so deepl}- interwoven with life- 
 less theories that it is incapable of living again in the ^Yest, or of giv- 
 ing any important direction to the development of western society. 
 The reason of this lies in the fact that most of the eastern men came 
 West because they were poor and wished to better their condition ; and 
 they found it necessary- to adopt new habits, and, indeed,[new methods 
 of thinking in order to succeed. To be sure a man coming with 
 money was no exception, but I am sorry to say that money gave him 
 little advantage. A majority lost their capital and had to commence 
 anew ; but geuerall}', then, they took hold with energy, and succeeded 
 in gaining more than they lost. These men are now the sharpest and 
 best men in the country, and there are none who have greater contempt 
 than they for Boston esthetics and trancendentalisms. This is most 
 notabl}- the case in those parts of Kansas settled by Xew Engianders. 
 
 "It is important to note that the progress of towns settled by Ger- 
 mans has been exceedingly slow, and that a large admixture of Ger- 
 mans is far from favorable to rapid development. It is true that they 
 build up a village or town after their fashion, and that they slowly 
 make money ; but they do not branch out into business and manufac- 
 tories. It seems to me by their beer-drinking and convivial habits 
 they are made unfitted for engaging in enterprising industries, and 
 
 2
 
 18 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 incapable of understanding what American progress means. However, 
 when they mix much with western men, and are disassociated to a 
 great extent from their own people, they often imbibe quickly the 
 spirit of the times, and little besides the 'sweet German accent' re- 
 mains.'' ' 
 
 "The southern people and all who sj^mpathized with the rebelhon, 
 are equally incapable of resisting the changes now taking place, but 
 are gracefully conforming to them, and, so far as their natures will 
 permit are becoming absorbed. No people change so little as the 
 Irish ; the}' are the same from Massachusetts to Ohio, to Illinois and 
 Kansas, working for day wages. An Irish mechanic, however, soon 
 improves his condition. He gets land, goes into business, and some- 
 times becomes a leader both of his own and our people. Whether the 
 Roman Catholic church has influence in keeping the great mass in a 
 state of serfdom is, perhaps, uncertain ; but I find the clergy every- 
 where. They are met on railroads and steamboats and wherever a 
 town of any promise springs up, there a Catholic church is built, 
 though there may be not more than half a dozen to attend service." 
 Still the church complains bitterly that a large percentage of the 
 children fall away and are lost ; that is, they come to speak the lan- 
 guage and to have the habits of the people of the country — in short, 
 they are absorbed. The Swedes who are coming into Kansas in large 
 numbers are much liked ; they learn English quickly, their children 
 go to school, and they too, are soon lost. 
 
 " This might}' power of absorption is the most astonishing element of 
 modern times, and, in connection with it, the inherent force of the 
 Anglo-Saxon language, in withstanding, unshaken and unscathed, the 
 assaults of alien tongues constantly surging against it, is equally re- 
 markable. The many millions of foreigners poured into the West 
 have not added a single new word or form of expression to our tongue ; 
 and all European languages, with their usages, authorities, and gram- 
 matical constructions, the growth of ages, and considered worthy of 
 the study of the greatest philologists, here whoUy melt away and dis- 
 appear forever." 
 
 The foregoing is quite characteristic, both of Mr. Meeker's style and 
 his speculations concerning races, social tendencies, industrial progress 
 and the general future well-being of the people. While the close cri- 
 tic will see much that is slip-shod both in language and logic, he will 
 also observe a certain clear sightedness in partial views, and a direct- 
 ness of expression that leaves the meaning transparent even when the 
 rhetoric is faulty. His great ei-ror lies in making general statements 
 based upon hasty or scanty inductions and before he gets through
 
 THE I'NIOX COLONY OF COLORADO. 19 
 
 making admissions that upset his generalizations. His insight about 
 particular things was clear, but both his learning and his knowledge 
 was scrappy, picked up here and there, odds and ends, connected only 
 by a loose association of ideas, not welded together in logical se- 
 quence. This mental attitude and habit of thinking were a natural 
 outgrowth of his education, a glimpse of which we have just had. He 
 had learned what he knew b}- nibbling as he went along the by-ways 
 of knowledge. 
 
 His next letter is dated from Sheridan, Kansas, October 15th. In 
 this we get a vivid description of Kansas towns as far West as Ells- 
 worth, then "upon the verge of civilization." Before at Salina an ex- 
 cursion party from Xew York and Chicago had overtaken Mr. Meeker 
 and he traveled with it as far as the then terminus of the Kansas Paci- 
 fic, which was at Sheridan quite near the Colorado eastern boundaiy. 
 We quote the following : 
 
 "At this place we joined a party from Xew York and Chicago among 
 whom were Cyrus W. Field, M. K. Jessup and wife, J. S. Berry and 
 wife, D. S. Eggleston and wife. E. T. Wells, John Ceurar, President 
 of the Chicago. Alton & St. Louis railroad, James Archer. A. D. 
 Richardson, Col. A. Anderson and General Wm. J. Palmer, with a 
 special train, having attached a costly and elegant Pullman .sleeping 
 <3ar, dining car and everything needful for a visit to the West and the 
 Great Plains.'' 
 
 " During the afternoon buffalo were seen, and about noon the train 
 stopped at Coj-ote, that those wishing might have a hunt. Some 
 wild white men on Indian ponies offered their nags, and four or five 
 of the party went out toward a herd perhaps a mile off. Mr. Jessup 
 and A. D. Richardson rode off in fine style, and in a couple of hours 
 they came l^ack having killed one. At sundown they were seen again 
 on both sides of the track in great numbers. On the left two solitary 
 ones raced parallel with the train, and at less than 200 j-ards distance. 
 Many shots were fired ; they ran about a mile and at last fell. The 
 train was stopped and all went out to take a look at the magnificent 
 game. The sun had just set. The swelling prairie was covered with 
 the short buffalo grass, dead and dry, and the whole scene resembled 
 a broad meadow shaven smooth with a scythe. The imaginative mind 
 might fancy that over the sw^U an orchard and farm house were to be 
 found ; that in the valley below were the village and church spire. 
 But it was more than a hundred miles to a farm in the east, 300 miles 
 to the west and on the north there were none at all except, perhaps, 
 in British America. It was also 600 miles to Texas on the south, with 
 hostile savages intervening ; in fact they were all around us for aught
 
 20 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 we knew. However, no one felt any fear with the bright moon shin- 
 ing high and the stars appearing, and even the ladies walked over the 
 clean sod to the fallen monarchs of the plain. After starting, we sat 
 down to a supper which embraced every dehcacy, while the buffalo, in 
 thousands upon thousands, were running upon either side. Speeches 
 and friendly interchanges, caused us to linger at the table, for the end 
 of the long journey was near, and the party was soon to separate,, 
 some to return, some to go still farther into the heart of this wonder- 
 fid countr}^ of ours." 
 
 Mr. A. D. Richardson was of those who returned to meet his tragic 
 end within a few weeks. Here the two friends separated forever. 
 I remember afterwards hearing Mr. Meeker relate his ominous part- 
 ing words to Mr. Richardson. They were, " We shall meet again 
 at Philippi." 
 
 The next letter is from Sheridan, October 22. Here is his descrip- 
 tion of that place : 
 
 " Sheridan is at present the most remarkable place in America, or in 
 the world; its what Cheyenne was a few years ago, the terminus of the 
 road where legitimate business centers, and where the most reckless 
 men and women gather, in order that in the absence of law and in the 
 unprotected state in which property is necessarily placed, they may 
 reap a harvest of plimder. The town is composed of two half streets 
 some 300 feet apart, the railroad being in the center. There are large 
 commercial houses engaged in the Santa Fe trade, holding heavy 
 stocks of staple goods representing capital ranging from $20,000 to 
 •1500,000. Some of the stores are as much as 150 feet long, and wide in 
 proportion, and I saw one where many tons of Mexican wool were 
 awaiting shipment. Besides these houses there are a few hotels and 
 several buildings belonging to the railroad and the rest are saloons 
 and gambling establishments, more than fifty in number, all open and 
 apparently doing a good business. In almost everyone are women; 
 fiddles and accordeons are playing, glasses jingling ; and there are 
 billiard and roulette tables, and other gambling devices. The men 
 are able-bodied and strong ; few are more than 35 ; the majority are 
 less than 30 years old ; their faces are flushed, their necks red and 
 thick, and they speak as good English as any people in the states, 
 using many common household expressions. But they have a restless, 
 uncertain look and quickness of movement both strange and suspi- 
 cious, and the more so because connected with much that is home-like 
 and familiar. Of course they are well armed and ready in a moment 
 for attack or defense ; but I saw none who were either offensive or 
 aggressive, though I have every reason to beheve that they would
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 21 
 
 commit murder on what we would call the slightest provocation, for 
 they have been so audacious and bold that men of property have been 
 obliged to resolve themselves into a vigilance committee and hang 
 fifteen or twenty. Back of the town is a small graveyard where they 
 have been buried, and only a few days before I arrived, one of them 
 was hanged to the trestle-work a little out of town. For some time 
 past the engineer has been in the habit of moving the morning train 
 slowly over this spot in order that the passengers might see whether 
 any one was hanging there by the neck. Among the aggressive acts 
 of these men, it is related that, at a hotel, one asked a gentleman, sit- 
 ting opposite, to pass the butter, and not being heard he immediately 
 drew a small pistol and presented it at the head of the gentleman, 
 with his finger on the trigger, sajnng, ' Pass the butter.' 
 
 '• Leaving Sheridan in the morning, each with a gun and plenty of 
 ammunition, also with revolvers, two thick blankets for each, a well 
 filled lunch basket and other necessaries, and drawn by four horses, 
 we started for Denver by Fort Lyon and the Arkansas valley, a dis- 
 tance of 35.5 miles, which is a part of the way the Santa Fe route. By 
 the railroad route the distance is about 100 miles less, but this is not 
 traveled by the coach since it has ceased to be a mail route, and the 
 Indians are troublesome. Our party consisted of four : Cyrus W. 
 Field, Mr. Archer of St. Louis, General Palmer, who was in command 
 of cavalry during the war, and your correspondent. Mr. Field is 
 about fifty years of age, with pleasing and benevolent features, and 
 with rather long hair scarcely turning gray. He is a pleasing com- 
 panion on a journey and has endured the many hardships of the 
 travel to this place with apparently little fatigue. * * * * it 
 was manifest that the valley of the Smoky, which is as much as two 
 miles wide, could be irrigated, and that highly profitable farms could 
 be made. The great question arises how in the future shall the up- 
 lands be brought into cultivation. Water is the great want, and I was 
 told that it had not rained since June. * * * Starting again, we 
 started through large ranches with shabby looking houses, we turned 
 to the left and made for the valley of the Huerfano, when we came 
 upon some extensive ranches, at one of which a steam-engine was 
 threshing wheat. Beyond this we came to a telegraph line which 
 leads from Santa Fe to Denver, 450 miles. Afterwards seeing that it 
 led straight through the country, disdaining to turn to the right or left, 
 and being informed that it was an independent line and wholly built 
 by the people of the two named cities at a cost of $90,000, Mr. Field 
 said it was comparatively as great an enterprise as if the city of New 
 York had built the whole of the Pacific railroad. Five miles farther
 
 22 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 on we came to the ranch of Colonel Craig. He is the agent of the 
 St. Vrain grant, and has several miles square, which is his own prop- 
 erty. He has built a large and elegant house and furnished it hand- 
 somely, has a model barn, several hundred head of hogs, vast herds 
 of cattle and a large number of Mexicans as hired help. In many 
 respects he is situated like a baron of olden times. In his garden are 
 all kinds of small fruits ; he has apples, peaches and pears yet too 
 young to bear, while clear streams of water run by foot-paths and 
 around flower beds. When it is to be considered that everj'thing had 
 to be hauled by wagons 600 miles from the Missouri river, and that 
 all these improvements have been made since the war, it must be seen 
 that vast work was required. Westward the Huerfano, at no great 
 distance, comes through a canon of a lower spur of the Rocky moun- 
 tains, looking much like a lofty gatewa}', while peaks and points of 
 rocks high in the air, and sharply and beautifully cut, charm the eye. 
 Eastward proudl}' swelling and treeless hills crowned with rich grama 
 grass spread in grand solitude far as the eye can reach. After dinner 
 Colonel Craig brought out a map of a new cit}^ to be called Las 
 Animas, and located opposite to Fort Lyon, to which the St. Vrain 
 grant extends, where several of the streets received complimentary 
 names, the chief one leading from the bridge, being called ' Cyrus 
 Field Avenue.' As we were in haste Colonel Craig sent us forward in 
 his fine ambulance, drawn by four elegant horses, to Pueblo, twenty- 
 five miles, while the conveyance in which we came was sent back to 
 Fort Lyon, fifty-two miles. 
 
 " Pueblo is a small but growing town on the Arkansas, 120 mile.s 
 from Denver. Here we stayed over night and were joined by Pro- 
 fessor Parry, of the department of agriculture at Washington. Snow- 
 fell during the night, and we started for Colorado City with a carriage 
 and only two mules. Progress was slow, and it was evident we could 
 not get through. We uow ascended the Fontaine Qui Bouille, a beau- 
 tiful little river which has so much fall that water is brought above in 
 ditches upon the elevated plain. Ranches became frequent ; many of 
 the houses were of adobe or sunburnt brick,' occupied by Yankees, 
 but no fences were to be seen. Having a lunch along, we stopped at 
 an adobe house to warm and to eat. Two al)le bodied men, ragged 
 and dirty, were the occupants, a smouldering fire was in the fire-place, 
 a dirty table was covered wdth dirty dishes, and there were several 
 large dogs. A good fire was built, and I swept up the hearth with a 
 stump of a broom ; one of the men sat on the bedside to grind us 
 some cofi^ee, and he hung a tea kettle over the fire ; the other washed 
 the dishes with a small dish cloth and, after squeezing it with one
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 23 
 
 hand, wiped them with it. 1 have noticed that when men do house- 
 work their dish cloths are small, and that while cooking, they smoke 
 a pipe. Three more men then appeared with dogs and guns, and sat 
 on the beds while we ate our lunch. Some of these men were Irish 
 and had served in the Confederate army, or more hkely had deserted 
 from it or the Union army ; others were from the Northern States, but 
 what they came for we did not learn. When asked why they did not 
 marry they said they had wives in the states, that they were waiting 
 till there was peace with the Indians, not to bring out their wives, but 
 that they might get squaws. 
 
 " After traveling thirty-seven miles night came on ; it was impos- 
 sible to go farther, so we stopped at a small house to see if we could 
 get a change of horses or if we could stay for the night. The reply 
 was that they had no horses and there was no room. Mr. Archer went 
 in, and in two minutes we heard a woman say they would do the best 
 they could. The house was about 14 by 16, with a back kitchen, and 
 there were a man and his wife and five grown up young men and 
 women. They were from Iowa and were nice, intelligent people, taking 
 papers and magazines. They seemed to have but two beds, and these 
 were allotted to us, while the family .slept, somehow, in the kitchen, 
 except the young men who spread blankets in our room; and when 
 our blankets were spread the whole floor was covered. It had been a 
 cold, snowy, and uncomfortable day, and though we had expected to 
 see the mountains they had not been visible. Mr. Field arose by the 
 break of day, got a good fire started and made us all tiu-n out. He 
 had slept with Mr. Archer, and in the niglit their bed had broken 
 down, except as to a cross-piece in the middle. So they were sustained 
 like a bridge with its land piers washed away. Word came that the 
 morning was clear, and that Pike's Peak was in sight. We went out 
 and in the dimness a huge hay stack was mistaken for the far-famed 
 mountain, and w^ looked upon it with appropriate wonder; but as the 
 east reddened, the grand peak itself arose in awtul majestv." 
 
 We have given the above extended quotation from the last part of 
 this letter in order to show what was the state of affairs Mr. Meeker 
 foimd in the southeast part of Colorado. Much of the description is 
 fine, and the criticism is sharp and incisive. By some of it he mort- 
 ally offended the old settlers, especially the bachelors, by reference to 
 their dirty habits and the hint that they were waiting to get squaw 
 wives. 
 
 The next letter is dated Denver, October 25, and describes objects 
 around Colorado City and on the way from there to Denver. We 
 have only room to quote the following about the "Divide:"
 
 24 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AST) 
 
 " We passed many Mexican teams, each consisting of a wagon and 
 of three to six yoke of oxen, haulitig lumber to Denver at ten dollars 
 per thousand, although the distance must be fifty miles. I find 
 nothing in this country so cheap as team work. Day laborers get 
 from two and a half to three dollars per day, while servant girls are 
 in demand at from twenty to thirty dollars a month for plain, easy 
 work; while cooks and first-class house- workers get from forty to 
 sixty dollars. This divide is worthy of special notice. It is about 
 twenty-five miles \\ide and seventy-five long, and 7,000 feet above the 
 level of the sea. On the top of this divide we found prairies of sev- 
 eral hundred acres, sun-ounded by pine forests, and we traveled for 
 miles through a beautiful country, well watered and with most en- 
 chanting scenery in view. Here aad there ranches have been opened, 
 and everywhere the soil was rich and deep. It is to be noted in par- 
 ticular that upon this divide irrigation is wholly unnecessary, for rain 
 falls as frequently as in Ohio or New York. The greater part of this 
 country is government land which can be pre-empted or homesteaded. 
 A slight drawback has hitherto existed in consequence of Indian in- 
 vasions, and I was told that last year they drove $500,(X)0 worth of 
 stock out of the country, and that they robbed and murdered within 
 a few miles of Denver. So it may be supposed the people have no 
 romantic notions regarding the Indians; and it is customary to term a 
 Avarrior and his squaw as ]Mr. and Mrs. Lo! which is a contemptuous 
 reference to Pope's words, ' Lo, the poor Indian,' etc. 
 
 " After we began to descend from the Divide farms were frequent, 
 and many were enclosed with good board fences. It was told that in 
 the valleys, parallel with the mountains, there were choice farms in a 
 good state of cultivation. At Kussellville, which is on Cherry creek, 
 where the first gold was found, we staid over night, and although the 
 landlord took The Tribune, I had to sleep on the floor, and got up in 
 the morning rather worse for the wear. The morning ^as raw enough 
 and we rode rapidly through the wind and a beautiful, thinly settled 
 country, and the distance to Denver, thirty-five miles, was made in 
 three hours and a half. Here a nice room, with a fire in it, awaited 
 me." 
 
 Here we may in passing note the mal-adroitness of Mr. Meeker, 
 and the way he made enemies of the old settlers. The landlord at 
 Kussellville takes The Tribune and will be sure to read Mr. Meeker's 
 letter and see the contemptuous reference to himself. But Mr. Meeker 
 believed that he deserved a httle castigation, and could not let the op- 
 portunity slip, whatever the future consequence to himself. It may 
 be said that he did not then foresee the part he was to play in settling
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 25 
 
 Colorado and helping to shape her destinies. This is in part true. 
 But while in the vicinity of Pike's Peak the idea of founding a colony, 
 near where Colorado Springs now stands, occurred to Mr. Meeker, but 
 he had the sagacity not to mention this in his letter of this date to 
 llie Tribiiue, and indeed has but little to say about it as a point de- 
 sirable for settlers. We may here further observe that one of Mr. 
 Meeker's traveling companions, General Palmer, was the man who, in 
 two years from that time, planned, and with the aid of General 
 Cameron, carried out the founding of Colorado Springs. One of his 
 other companions. Colonel James Archer, remained in Denver and 
 became one of its most famous citizens. Both gentlemen were at 
 this time representatives of the Kansas Pacific railroad and had 
 before been in Denver carrying on negotiations looking towards the 
 completion of the road to that city. 
 
 The following is the account that Mr. Meeker gives of the Denver 
 of those days : 
 
 " Denver is on the south bank of the southern fork of the Platte, 
 fifteen miles from the mountains. It contains 7,000 inhabitants. The 
 business houses are well built; none of the early shanties remain; and 
 I compare the place to a first-class interior town in Illinois or Ohio, 
 while it does far more business. In many respects it resembles 
 Chicago. The business men are as sober, as upright and as exemp- 
 lary as in any other city, but they have a brusque rapid way. Every- 
 body is busy, and the clerks look a good deal like boys that have just 
 been washed and liave neglected to comb their hair. As the city is 
 out on the great plains, and below the divide, rain seldom falls, and 
 cultivation would be without reward were it not for the introduction 
 of water from the Platte, which, being taken out of this stream, 
 twenty-four miles above the city, runs along the gutters of every 
 street, and into gardens, and furnishes water for grist-mills. It is in- 
 tended to extend ditches to higher grounds south of the town, where 
 a vast extent of country can be watered, and besides, a water power 
 can be obtained with one hundred feet fall." 
 
 Here he gives an abstract of the report of the Denver Board of 
 Trade, showing the wealth and business of the place to be immense 
 compared to its population, and he then proceeds: 
 
 "This is .said of a town less than ten years old, which once was 
 nearly destroyed by fire, once swept by a flood, once without a mail 
 for the space of three months on account of Indian hostilities, and 
 which even now is surrounded by a country so little settled that a 
 farm house can scarcely be seen, although an uninterrupted view is 
 had as far as the eye can reach."
 
 26 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 Then follow accounts of buildings, manufactories, industries, etc., 
 and we further quote: 
 
 " I was shown some large cottonwood trees, where they used to hang 
 the vililaius, and I might add, in several other towns they show hang- 
 ing places erected by vigilance committees. Crimes now in Denver 
 are rare, and burglary and theft are almost unknown. In fact it is a 
 most law-abiding city. Mechanics of all kinds are needed, and men 
 with capital to engage in all kinds of manufactories. In addition to 
 the water power, coal is hauled ten miles and sold at ten dollars per 
 ton, and the supply is inexhaustible. The variety is a lignite which 
 burns with a light, clear flame, containing neither gas nor sulphur. 
 It is reduced to ashes Avithout a particle of clinker. More than this, 
 when the fire gets low it does not collapse and go out like an anthra- 
 cite fire, but if encouraged it sparkles and glows like the plea.sant 
 laughter arising out of a smile. Those who are tortured with the 
 sulkiness and mephitic deadly gas of anthracite, and with puffing, 
 smudge and smut of bituminous coal, will know how to appreciate the 
 beauties of this lignite, which burns with the pleasing %avilized 
 blaze of a wood fire, and without sending out any black dust to settle 
 on one's necktie or shirt bosom, or ruffles hanging on the clothes-line 
 to dry." 
 
 While at Denver, Mr. Meeker was invited by Governor McCook to 
 to be present at a distribution of goods to the Indians, and his re- 
 marks about the race have a renewed interest on account of his mel; 
 ancholy fate at the hands of these same Ute Indians, hence we quote 
 a part: 
 
 "Arriving at the warehouse, at the designated hour, the Indians 
 made their appearance to the number of 103, riding on ponies. This 
 tribe lives in the heart of the Rocky Mountains and is entirely 
 wild, but for some five years has been at peace with the whites, though 
 at war with the Cheyennes and other tribes. There were about forty 
 men, each man riding; the rest were women and children, two, three and 
 four mounted on one animal. It was a cold, yet sloppy day. and the 
 snow fell fast. A few of the men wore hats, the rest had blankets oa 
 their heads, wearing long, black hair, with little or no beard. I took 
 them to be women, for the dress of both sexes is much alike. Their 
 faces were painted with vermiUion, which gave a brilhaut sunset ap- 
 pearance. Some wore broadcloth, others linen, others black alpaca 
 coats. Some had buckskin leggins, and others wore jeans pantaloons, 
 stitched through and through close to the leg, leaving much of the 
 cloth extending like the back of a fish. They wore buckskin hunting
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 27 
 
 suits adorned A\'ith bead-work, paint and fringe, but there seemed no 
 order or fit to their clothes. 
 
 " The women and girls were dressed much in the same way, but 
 they had rather more clothing, and it seemed to be held together by 
 straps and strings and without an}- regard to shape, cut or fit, unless 
 I except their buckskin leggins and moccasins. When the door was 
 opened they all crowded in, the men seating themselves on sacks of 
 some kind, and in the front of the room, while the women and chil- 
 dren went back, stumbling and tripping themselves on parts of their 
 garments, and seated themselves on the floor around the wall. Part 
 of the children had old shoes, which they had picked up in the 
 streets, and some little fellows were bare to the knees. As many as 
 fifteen women had infants which they carried on their backs in a sort 
 of cradle which fitted the infant's l)ody all around and covered it up 
 as much as a Ijox nailed down tight. The back or bottom part seemed 
 to be a board which extended above the head and ended in a circle 
 like the top of a rounded tombstone, while it projected in a hood. 
 The apparatus was held by a strap passing over the mother's breast 
 and shoulders, and she carried her offspring much as a traveler carries a 
 pack. When the mother sat down she slipped the strap over her head, 
 and brought the baby and its case around in front, and all that could be 
 seen of the little chap was that part of the face included between the 
 eyes and mouth ; and though the projecting hood seemed to prevent a de- 
 sired object from being attained, the}- seemed to get along well enough 
 in this affair. After the refreshment the young person was made to 
 stand in its casket against the wall, when the httle girls, girl-like, 
 crowded around and kissed it again and again. The women were 
 seated Ijack against the wall, the girls in frout, but in front of all were 
 placed the boys, even if they were infants, which was a putting of the 
 best foot foremost. An Indian woman is held in little esteem. She 
 bears burdens, makes fkes, cooks, paints her husband, clothes him, 
 watches while he sleeps, trembles while he wakes, and when he is sat- 
 isfied, eats, if anything is left. There were a few women said to be 
 over a hundred j-ears old. Their hair was gray and they tottered as 
 they walked. I noticed one middle-aged, active, and rather good- 
 looking woman rise to fix her dress. She completed her arrangements 
 by tying around her waist a cord of rawhide, and drew it as firmly 
 and taut as one would tie a bale of goods to be sent on a long journey. 
 In the distribution of the goods Governor McCook disregarded the 
 superior claims of the male sex, for the women received as much as 
 the men and the girls as much as the boys, and if a girl was so young 
 that she could only walk, a l)lanket was thrown over her head, and it
 
 '28 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 was interesting to see her clutch it and press it in her arms. As fast as 
 they received they passed out of the door into the snowstorm, skipping 
 hghtly and smihng from ear to ear. Of the whole tribe none could 
 speak our tongue except the babies, and they cried in genuine Eng- 
 lish. Then we have some speculations upon the physical and mental 
 characteristics ending thus : 
 
 " The extension of a fine, nervous organization is impossible in the 
 Indian, because he is without brain to originate and support it. Only 
 after many ages can a brain capable of such production be developed, 
 and I am free to say when the savage progresses out of his present 
 state the chief work will be done by woman, she will lead the way by 
 giving increased care to the child. It seems to me that it would be 
 impious to assume that in the great hereafter no opportunity is to be 
 afforded for these poor children of nature to rise to a higher state." 
 
 We next have a racy letter dated at Central City, October 28. It 
 gives a description of mines, their management, and the life of the 
 miner, but we must refrain from farther quotation. In the next we 
 have an account of the journey from Denver to Cheyenne, and are in- 
 formed that the Denver Pacific will reach Evans in a month. He 
 gives a short sketch of the country between Cheyenne and Omaha, 
 over which he passed on the Union Pacific railroad, only completed so 
 that travel could be through to the Pacific about one year before.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 MB. MEEKER COMMUNICATES HIS SCHEME OF A COLONY — HIS CIRCULAR OF INVI- 
 TATION, AND ITS ENDORSEJIENT BY HORACE GREELEY IN THE NEW YORK 
 TRIBUNE — RESPONSE TO THE CALL AND THE COOPER INSTITUTE MEETING 
 — THE DRAFTING OF A CONSTITUTION BY N. C. MEEKER AND THE APPOINT- 
 MENT OF A LOCATING COMMITTEE. 
 
 WHEN Mr. Meeker returned to New York, he first unfolded his 
 purpose of founding a colony in Colorado to his wife. 
 She, with her usual courage and confidence in her hus- 
 band's good judgment at last consented, but somewhat reluctantly^ 
 as they were then comfortably situated in a suburb of New York, and 
 having been a pioneer before m two different localities, she did not 
 relish encountering the privations and hardships of a third. The far- 
 ther steps taken in this direction we will leave Mr. Meeker himself to 
 tell, as he did at the first anniversary of the colony, April 5th, 1871. 
 
 "John Russell Young, now editor of The Neiv York Standard, for- 
 merly managing editor of The Neir York Tribune, from which he 
 was then displaced by the machinations of Mr. Dana, of The Sun, 
 having time on his hands, and having also been in Colorado, I men- 
 tioned to him the colonial idea. Being a special friend of mine, and 
 having most engaging manners, he had great influence, not only with 
 financial but with literary men, and he still continued to be a great 
 favorite with Mr. Greeley. He at once considered the plan an excel- 
 lent one, and we agreed that he should mention the matter to Mr. 
 Greeley, for I considered it an important point gained, that the initi- 
 ation of the movement should be made in this manner. It so hap- 
 pened that Mr. Greele}^ was remarkably well informed in regard to 
 Colorado, perhaps he knew more about it than a great many of the 
 citizens. 
 
 "A short time afterwards a press dinner was given, I think at Del- 
 monico's, and being present and in the thic^k of the crowd, Mr. J. B. 
 Lyman, who had become agricultural editor of The Tribune, told me 
 that Mr. Greeley wanted to see me. I would say here what many 
 would like to know, that it is the wife of Mr. Lyman who writes those 
 interesting articles in The New York r/'t&wne under the title of "Home
 
 30 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 Interests" and she is a writer eminently fitted for the place.* 
 
 "Going to Mr. Greeley, I saw he was in remarkably fine spirits, and 
 he said : 'I understand you have a notion to start a colony to go to 
 Colorado.' I said, 'Yes.' 'Well,' said he, 'I wish you would take hold 
 of it, for I think it will be a great success, and if I coidd, I would go 
 myself. Having such powerful backing, I spent the whole of the next 
 day in writing the short article, which first appeared, and in arranging 
 the general plan which afterwards was embraced in the constitution. 
 I then took it to Mr. Greeley and read it to him, when he said he could 
 tell nothing about it till he saw it in print. It was therefore printed 
 and sent to him, when he suggested the plan of having the town 
 divided into blocks of ten acres each, and after being corrected in 
 detail, and kept on hand for more than a week, that there might be 
 due reflection and no haste, it was finally published with an editorial 
 endorsement from Mr. Greeley in the daily, December 14th, and then 
 in the semi-weekly and weekly following. The response was almost 
 overwhelming, and Mr. Greeley said I should hear from over a thous- 
 and people, which I could not believe ; but before two months had 
 passed over, three thousand were written. 
 
 The first and only meeting was held December 23d. When I got 
 into the city in the morning I found quite a crowd of men in the pub- 
 lication office, from various parts of the country, waiting to see me ; 
 and going up to the editorial room on the fourth floor, I met men on 
 the stairs and found them in the various rooms, all of which so con- 
 founded me 1 did not know what to do. Among others was a large, 
 tall man, with a broad brimmed hat, who said he had been in the 
 army where his sight had become impaired ; and that he had had 
 losses and troubles, and that he had published a paper in Indiana, and 
 that he would like to go into the movement. Just then somebody 
 came up, and I did not see him again until at the meeting where he 
 made a short speech, which was received with great applause, and 
 from that day to this he has been a chief supporter and laborer ; in- 
 deed, 1 know of no one who has contributed so much valuable service, 
 and him you all know and will be glad to hear — General Cameron." 
 
 We have seen in the above address of N. C. Meeker, published as I 
 have quoted it in The Greeley Tribune of the 13th following, the part 
 in this matter assigned to Mr. John Russell Young, and we have also 
 seen the part assigned to Mr. Greeley. General Cameron was present 
 as we have seen and introduced most flatteringly by Mr. Meeker, and 
 
 *The Lyman boys now here and Miss Carrie Lyman, who was 
 here some three years, and attended our High School, are sons and 
 daughter of the above.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 31 
 
 in his speech following he in no way contradicts a single statement. 
 The speech is almost wholly a series of exaggerated statements about 
 climate, fertility of the soil, scenery, etc. Fourteen years afterwards, 
 when Mr. Meeker was nearly five years in his grave, G-eneral Cameron, 
 at a mass meeting of the people of Greeley, on the Fourth of July, 
 1885, in his speech on that occasion said, as reported in The Greeley 
 Tribune following : 
 
 "It was in December, 1869, that the first call was made for a meeting 
 for the formation of this colony. It is a question, and must remain a 
 question, who first suggested the idea of establishing this colony. 
 John Russell Youiig (now) minister to China claims it. Mr. Greeley 
 thought he did, and Mr. Meeker thought he did. But it was agreed 
 that Mr. Meeker should write a letter for publication in The New York 
 Tribune, asking those who thought of moving West to escablish a 
 colony with high moral purposes, and temperance platform, to get 
 together in Cooper Institute on the day before Christmas.'" 
 
 We want our readers to mark carefully the statements made in the 
 last sentence about the contents of Mr. Meeker's call, and then com- 
 pare it with the call as we give it below. It will be seen that the 
 General says that this call was for a meeting to meet at the Cooper 
 Institute, when no such thing is mentioned in it. On the contrary, the 
 call, as endorsed by Mr. Greeley, asks those who wish to join in such 
 a colony to write to Mr. Meeker, and not a word is said about the 
 Cooper Institute meeting w^iich figures so largely in the General's eyes 
 because he came there on the scene for th^ first time. If John Russell 
 Yovmg suggested the idea to Mr. Meeker why did Mr. Meeker, in the 
 speech published and probably corrected by him for his paper, not 
 say so, as Mr. Young was no doubt getting the paper, since he was 
 much interested in Colony affairs, and The Stanclnrd which he pub- 
 lished was quoting articles about the colony. There appears no evi- 
 dence that Mr. Young ever made any such claim ; and Ralph Meeker, 
 in a recent communication to the author on this point says : 
 
 "It has been stated that Mr. Yoiuig told General Cameron that he 
 suggested the first idea of locating the Union Colony on its present 
 site. As I have talked with Mr. Young about the matter and seen him 
 probably fifty times within the last year, I can throw some light on 
 this question of location. Mr Young had visited the Cache La Poudre 
 valley and favored it as a location for a colony when my father brought 
 up the subject after he returned to New York. But Mr. Young ^aw 
 the river at the La Porte crossing where the stage coaches ran be- 
 tween Denver and Cheyenne. * * Mr. Yoinig told me emphatically 
 last spring in Loudon, that to Mr. Meeker belonged the honor and
 
 32 
 
 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 glory of originating the Union Colony and founding the town of 
 Greeley. But by this, does any one suppose that my father had no 
 assistance in carrying out the great enterprise of his own projection ?" 
 
 It is needful now to insert in full Mr. Meeker's circular and Mr. 
 Greeley's endorsement which appear to me the best refutation of the 
 assertion of General Cameron that Horace Greeley claimed the honor 
 of having originated the colonial scheme. 
 
 " I propose to unite with the proper persons in establishing a colony 
 in Colorado Territory. 
 
 "A location which I have seen is well watered with streams and 
 springs, there are beautiful pine groves, the soil is rich, the climate 
 healthful, grass will keep stock the year round, coal and stone are 
 plentiful, and a well traveled road runs through the property. The 
 land is either subject to entry under the homestead law, or it has not 
 yet been brought into market; but it can be settled upon without 
 other cost than eighteen dollars for 160 acres. In addition, the Kock}^ 
 Mountain scenery is the grandest, and the most enchanting in Amer- 
 ica. I have never seen a place which presents so man}^ advantages 
 and opportunities. 
 
 " The persons with whom I would be willing to associate must be 
 temperance men, and ambitious to establish good society, and among 
 as many as fifty, ten should have as much as 110,000, or twenty |5,- 
 000 each, while others may have $200 to $1,000, or upwards. For 
 many to go without means can only result in disaster. After a time 
 poorer people can be received and have a chance. 
 
 "My own plan would be to make the settlement almost wholly im 
 a village, and to divide the land into lots of ten acres, and to divide 
 these into eight lots for building purposes; and then to apportion to 
 each family from forty to eighty, even 160 acres, adjoining the village. 
 Northampton, Massachusetts, and several other New England towns 
 and villages were settled in this manner, but some improvements are 
 suggested. Since some outlying tracts will be more desirable than 
 others, a preference may be secured by selling them at auction, and 
 the proceeds of such appropriated to the use of the colony; and all 
 the lots of the village should be sold, that funds may be obtained for 
 making improvements for the common good — such as the building of 
 a church, a town hall, a school house, and for the establishment of a 
 library, by which means the lots will be worth five or ten times more 
 than they cost ; and one of the very first pubHc institutions should 
 be a first-class school, in which not only the common, but the 
 higher branches, should be taught, including music. The town of 
 Lincoln, the cap ital of Nebraska, adopted this plan on a large scale, .
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 33 
 
 and several hundred thousand dollars have already been obtained. 
 
 " Some of the advantages of settling in a village, willl be : easy 
 access to schools and public places, meetings, lectures and the like; 
 and society can be had at once. In planting, in fruit growing and 
 improving homes generallj^ the skill and experience of a few will be 
 common to all, and much greater progress can be made than where 
 each lives isolated; It seems to me that a laundry and bakery could 
 be established, and the washing and baking could be done for all the 
 commimity ; but other household work should be done by the families. 
 In all this, the separate household, and the ownership of property, 
 should be without change; and I only propose that, if there are any 
 advantages in co-operation, they could be secured by a colony. Cheap 
 rates of freight and passage could be secured, while many things, 
 which all will Avant in the commencement, can be bought at wholesale. 
 There are some other advantages which I think such a town will 
 possess, and they ai'e important; but in this commencement I do not 
 tliink proper to mention them; and, there are besides, of course, dis- 
 advantages. 
 
 " Farmers will be wanted, nurserymen, florists, and ahnost all kinds 
 of mechanics, as well as capitalists, to use the coal and water power 
 in running machinery. Inasmuch as millions of acres of excellent 
 grass are in the vicinity, and which for years will lie open. Stock can 
 be kept by each family, and at a small expense it can be cared for by 
 herdsmen, employed by the people. The profit of stock -growing can 
 be considered certain, for the locality is not as far from the Missouri 
 river as Texas, whence immense numbers of cattle are driven. Besides, 
 railroads are nearly completed, and a railroad is almost certain to pass 
 through the land I refer to. The establishment of a colony would 
 hasten the day. 
 
 "After the colony shall be organized, it will be proper to appoint a 
 committee of good men to visit the country and fix on a location; for 
 there are other places, and a choice is to be made. 
 
 " The first settlers must, of course, be pioneers, for houses, mills 
 and mechanic shops, are to be built, that families may come w^ith few 
 privations, and as long as six mouths will be required. 
 
 " Whatever professions and occupations enter into the formation of 
 an intelligent, educated and thrifty commmiit}^ should be embraced 
 by this colony, and it should be the object to exhibit what is best in 
 modern civilization. 
 
 "In particular, should moral and religious sentiments prevail; for 
 without these qualities man is nothing. At the same time tolerance 
 and Uberality should also prevail. One thing more is equally import- 
 3
 
 34 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 tant: happiness, wealth, aud the glory of a state spring from the 
 family, and it should be an aim and a high ambition to preserve the 
 familj' pure in all its relations, and to labor with the best efforts Ufe 
 and strength can give to make the home comfortable, to beautify and 
 adorn it, and to supply it with whatever will make it attractive and 
 loved. 
 
 "This is in the vicinity of the mining region, wliich is destined to 
 be developed more and more for years to come; and, besides silver 
 and gold, there are all other kinds of metals, and the market for every 
 kind of farm product is as good as in New York, perhajjs better. It 
 is decidedly a healthful region ; the air is remarkably pure, summer is 
 pleasant, the winter is mild, with little snow, and agues are unknown. 
 Already consumptives are going there for their health, aud tourists 
 and visitors will find great attractions during the summer. Mineral 
 springs are near, and perhaps on the locahty I refer to. Deer, ante- 
 lope, wild turkeys, prairie chickens and speckled trout, aboimd; but 
 at present there are too many wolves and bears. 
 
 •• I make the point that two important objects will be gained by such 
 a colony. First schools, refined society, and all the advantages of an 
 old country will l)e secured in a few years; while on the contrary, 
 where settlements are made by the old methods, people are obhged to 
 wait twenty, forty, or more years ; second, with free homesteads as a 
 basis, with the sale of reserved lots for the general good, the greath' 
 increased value of real estate will be for the benefit of all the people, 
 not for schemers and speculators. In the success of this colony a 
 model will be presented for setthng the remainder of the vast terri- 
 tory' of our coimtry. 
 
 '• Persons wishing to unite in such a colony will please address me 
 at The Tribune office, stating their occupation, and the value of the 
 property which they could take with them. 
 
 N. C. Meeker." 
 
 In the same issue of The Tribune appeared the following, by the 
 editor of The Tribune: 
 
 " AVe are often tauntingly asked, ' If you are so fond of farming and 
 country life why don't you try them ? ' Our answer is short and 
 simple — We do. Every one of us who can afford it has his home in 
 the coimtry, and spends there all the time he can snatch from press- 
 ing duties, and hopes for the day when he can enjoy there more and 
 more hours of each week, and ultimately all of them. At present, the 
 oldest of our -writers, Solon Robinson, is wintering in Florida, as he 
 has done for several past ^^■inters; the rest of us would gladly do like;
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 35 
 
 wise if we might. But work has claims to which comfort must 
 defer. 
 
 "Mr. Nathan C. Meeker, for many years connected with The Tri- 
 bune, as he expects to be for man}^ more, proposes to plant a colony 
 in an admirable location discovered by him on his recent trip to the 
 Rocky Mountains. It combines remarkable healthfulness, with de- 
 cided fertility, and facility of cultivation, an abundance of serviceable 
 timber, with water in plenty for irrigation, as well as power, beauty of 
 landscape and scenery with exemption from disagreeable neighbors; 
 and a railroad vnW soon bring it \vithin three daj^s of St. Louis, and 
 five of New York. Knowing Mr. Meeker (who is a practical farmer) 
 to be eminently qualified for leading and founding such a colony, we 
 advise temperate, moral, industrious, intelligent men, who would like 
 to make homes in the far west, to read his letter herewith published; 
 and should his plan suit them, write to him, not us, on the subject.' " 
 
 It wiU be observed above that Horace Greeley distinctly recom- 
 mends Mr. Meeker as the leader and founder of a colony in a place 
 discovered by him on his recent trip to the Rocky Mountains. How 
 then could Horace Greeley have any claim to be the originator of the 
 idea ? General Cameron knew all this, for he had read Meeker's cir- 
 cular and Greeley's endorsement and had gone to the Cooper Institute 
 meeting, which was called by Mr. Meeker, through a notice in The 
 Tribune about a week after the issuing of the circular, and after he 
 had received, perhaps, 1000 letters. The writer never heard the claim 
 of N. C. Meeker, as originator of the colony scheme questioned until 
 the General did it as related above, and it thunderstruck him and every 
 old colonist, so far as he knows, who heard it. Of course it was well 
 known that in 1873 the two had quarreled over politics, as will here- 
 after be related, but as the General is usually magnanimous and for- 
 giving, no one was prepared for this insidious thrust at a dead enemy 
 who, up to the time of the dispute referred to, had been eulogized by 
 him on every convenient public occasion. 
 
 The following is a report of the " Cooper Institute " meeting as 
 given m The New York Tribune, reported by Ralph Meeker : 
 
 "Room No. 24, Cooper Institute, was crowded to overflowing, last 
 Thursday, with gentlemen from all parts of the country, to attend the 
 colony meeting which was announced in The Tribune a few days ago. 
 Horace Greeley was appointed chairman. He opened the meeting 
 with a brief address as follows :" 
 
 ''This is a meeting of persons who propose emigrating in a colony 
 to the West. The first thing to be done is to organize. One man can 
 do the work of a hundi'ed. I believe that there ought to be not only
 
 36 A HISTORY OE GREELEY AND 
 
 one but one thousand colonies. Still, I would advise no one who is 
 doing well to leave his business and go West, unless he is sure of 
 bettering his condition. But there are many men working for wages, 
 who ought to emigrate. I dislike to see men in advanced life working 
 for salaries in places where, perhaps, they are ordered about by boys, 
 I would like to see them working for themselves." 
 
 "I do not know that emigration is the best remedy, but I think so. 
 New York is filled with people ; yet there are thousands who want to 
 come hither, never thinking that the cost of living eats up the greater 
 part of their earnings. Mr. Meeker does not wish to give the locality 
 of the place where it is proposed to establish the colony, for specu- 
 lators will flock in and buy uj) all the desirable land. That is the way 
 things are done nowadaj^s." 
 
 "N. C. Meeker, the originator of the colony movement said :" 
 "About one thousand letters have been received, which are filed 
 away. The writers represent all pursuits and professions, and their 
 aggregate wealth exceeds $1,500,000. As to Indian troubles, I think 
 it is an answer to say that I propose to take my own family. Let us 
 look at some of the difficulties. First: In settling in a village, the lots 
 are to be sold for establishing schools and a library, etc. ; but it is 
 impossible that all should have 160 acres near by. Mechanics, pro- 
 fessional men and others, can choose all the way from three to forty 
 and eighty acres, according to distance, and some can have other 
 pieces in addition ; but the aggregate should be equal in value to 160 
 acres farther away and devoted to farming. All the details should be 
 so arranged that one will have no better chance than another. It is to 
 be remembered that the nature of the country is such that, in addition, 
 immense quantities of land can be used for growing stock, which will 
 be a profitable pursuit. Second : In taking homestead land, specu- 
 lators ^v^ll come in as soon as the location is made, and before the rest 
 can come on, and buy the remainder, and then there will be a struggle 
 with land sharks. We must be sharper than this. I think that so 
 soon as the location is made, money should l^e ready to buy all that 
 the members want in a solid block. With agricultural college scrip 
 it can be had at not much over ninety cents per acre. Thirjd : Irriga- 
 tion is necessary in Colorado, excej)t in one place ; and there is not 
 land enough in the locality for so many as want to go ; but it is said 
 there is rain here. There are other places, and time will be required. 
 We should seek, 1st, healthfuhiess ; 2d, a varied and rich soil suited 
 for grass ; 3rd, coal or timber, if possible both ; 4th, iron ore ; 5th, 
 the adaptation to fruit ; 6th, water power ; 7th, beautiful scenery. 
 The interests of so many intelligent, industrious and well-to-do families
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 37 
 
 must not be put in jeopardy for want of thorough investigation on 
 the part of the Locating Committee. The leading object is to have 
 schools, chiirches and good society ; and those who are idle, immoral, 
 intemperate or inefficient, need not apply, for they will not be received ; 
 nor would they feel at home. A man with a family will require as 
 much as $500, and even then there will be privations." 
 
 "Mr Greeley said that he was the descendant of ancestors who were 
 the founders of one of the most noted colonies in the comitry — the 
 Londonderry Colony, in New Hampshire — and to-day some of these 
 descendants own the land on which they dwell. Each man had a few 
 rods on the road, running back a mile, making 160 acres. The Salt 
 Lake plan is good. The Mormons are a clever people. Their plan is 
 to put eight settlers on ten acres, allowing each man l^ acres. He 
 agreed with the remarks made by Mr. Meeker, and he believed in irri- 
 gation. A very little water goes a great deal further than people 
 generally suppose. In California, they use much more than is neces- 
 sary. In regard to emigration, he said a great many people would 
 fuid, when they came to sell their places, that their funds would be 
 smaller than they anticipated. There are numbers of young men who 
 have little money, but they are just as good as those who have more. 
 He would get a deed of the land on which the colonists propose to 
 settle ])efore the village was staked out. All of the settlers will not 
 have the same plans. Some will have children to educate, and they 
 will want to live near schools. Others who desire to raise stock, had 
 just as soon live two or three miles ovit of town. It is impossible to 
 make rules for all. The small tract system will not succeed in a new 
 country, for, when people get out on the prairies, a feehng of expan- 
 sion takes hold of them. He would not have less than 160 acres if 
 he ivere going to emigrate, even if he did not want to use it for several 
 years. A working secretary should be appointed to answer letters, 
 etc. The man wlio wants information ought to ))e willing to pay for 
 it. But a printed circular would answer nine-tenths of the questions. 
 An executive committee and a committee of location should be ap- 
 pointed." It will be seen that, in the report, Mr. Meeker is called the 
 originator of the colony movement, and this in Mr. Greeley's own 
 paper, and yet Mr. Cameron, who knew all this, says that Greeley 
 claimed that he was the originator. Then was the time to have made 
 it. The report says further : 
 
 "A provisional committee was then appointed to nominate officers. 
 The meeting was then adjourned iintil 3 o'clock, when resolutions were 
 adopted in substance as follows : 
 
 "That the colony be called "Union Colony," the officers of which 
 
 2039UD
 
 38 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 ■were then elected, namely : X. C. Meeker, president ; General R. A. 
 Cameron, vice-president ; Horace Greeley, treasurer. 
 
 "Executive Committee : Richmond Fisk, Hoosick Falls, X. Y. ; 
 Arthiu- Murphy. Brooklyn ; X'athaniel Paul, X. H. ; C. O. Poole. Xew 
 York City ; G. C. Shelton, Conn. 
 
 "That each member pay i5 for cxu-rent expenses, and also hold 
 subject to the call of the treasurer. §150 for a purchase fund for the 
 land to be bought, and that no member can l)uy more than 160 acres ; 
 and that said money shall be refunded if the land is not settled with- 
 in a reasonable period, to be prescriljed by the Executive Committee. 
 
 " The nimiber of persons who paid the initiation fee of $5 was fifty- 
 nine. The gTeatest enthusiasm prevailed, and all agreed that they 
 had never attended a more harmonious meeting. Many had come 
 ^vithout money who promised to send it upon their return home. 
 Those wilhng to subscribe to the general plan of the colony as has 
 been stated, and to contrilDute to the locating conxmittee fimd, may do 
 so by fonvarding their address and -fo to the treasurer, Horace Greeley, 
 at The Tribune office. This amoimt from each member is necessary 
 to enable the committee to go West and select the desired location. 
 Farther notice of future movements will be given through the colu mn s 
 of The Tribune:' 
 
 Soon after this, appeared the constitution of the colony, drafted by 
 X. C. Meeker, and when sul^mitted to Horace Greeley and others, as 
 his vdie informs me, was allowed to stand as he wrote it without the 
 suggestion of a single change. This document will be foimd in 
 Appendix A.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE LOCATING COMMITTEE JOINED BY H. T. WEST AT OMAHA VISITS DENVER, 
 
 COLORADO SPRINGS, AND THE COLTS'TRY .^OUT CANON CITY — CANNOT GET 
 INTO SAN LUIS VALLEY FOR THE SNOW — RETURNS NORTH — VISITS BIG 
 BEND, EVANS, POUDRE VALLEY — GOES INTO UTAH — RETURNS TO NEW 
 YORK — REPORTS TO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE — SENT BACK AND SELECT 
 PRESENT SITE OF TOWTST AND COLONY — WHY NAMED GREELEY. 
 
 AX auiiouncemeiit appeared soon after the above, stating that the 
 Locating Conmiittee would start out early in February. The 
 committee consisted of Meeker, Cameron, and a certain Mr, 
 Fisk of Toledo. This committee was selected by the Executive Com- 
 mittee above named, and this Mr. Fisk was not of it, and does not 
 seem ever to have been a colonist. His name is not found in the list 
 that paid at New York .f 150 apiece. He probably only paid the initi- 
 ation fee of five dollars. 
 
 The committee was joined by H. T. West, of Chicago, at Omaha- 
 He had written to Mr. Meeker at New York that he would like to join 
 the copimittee in its tour of inspection, and would bear his own ex- 
 pense, Avhich he did. 
 
 They went by the Union Pacific Railway to Cheyenne, and thence 
 to Evans, then the terminus of the Denver Pacific, where it was build- 
 ing the Platte bridge. Thence they went by stage to Denver. From 
 there they went south with ex-Territorial Governor Hunt, who was 
 well acquainted with the country, and of great use to them. 
 
 They visited first with a view to a choice of the location near Pike's 
 Peak which had attracted the attention of Mr. Meeker, but it was 
 found, as suspected, too small, and the water supply too limited for 
 the large agricultural commmiity which it was now necessary to pro- 
 vide for. The country above Pueblo, on the Arkansas, was next vis- 
 ited, but there could not be found at that place any large l^ody of fann- 
 ing land together, and there appeared to be ditticulties about building 
 ditches greater than were found where the selection was finally made. 
 They endeavored to reach the San Luis Park, l3ut could not for the 
 deep snow on the range north of it. 
 
 They then returned north and met Governor Evans, who advised 
 them to look up the country around the town bearing his name. They
 
 40 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 did so, and more especially the "Big Bend," southwest of Evans, and 
 were favorably impressed with it. Evans was rejected as a town site 
 because there was already at that place the remains of a railroad 
 building population, and the whole site could not be controlled so as 
 to keep out intoxicating liquors by forfeiture clauses in the deeds. 
 
 After this the Poudre valley was visited. We have seen that John 
 Russell Young had recommended it to Mr. Meeker. Also B. H. Eaton 
 had \\Titten a letter to N. C. Meeker at New York, after he had read 
 his circular recommending the Poudre valley. Mr. Eaton tells me 
 that he had in mind the Box Elder valley, northwest of Fort Colhns, 
 as a suitable site for a small colony of fifty families, such as Meeker 
 contemplated when he published his first circular, and not the site on 
 the Denver Pacific railroad, which was selected by the committee after- 
 wards. This laud Mr. Eaton considered too poor and hkely to give 
 out after a year or two of cropping. The committee did not see Mr. 
 Eaton on its first trip, nor until after the selection was made, when 
 he met them at Evans, where he was attending a meeting of the 
 County Commissioners, of whom he was one. Mr. Eaton relates that 
 when he saw Mr. Meeker here, the latter api^roached him cordially 
 and said, " Now, Ben, you have been instrumental in getting us located 
 in this valley and you must stick by us and help us out;" which he 
 most loyally did, but with the apprehensions before narrated about 
 the wisdom of the choice. General Cameron, with his usual inacur- 
 racy of detail and defective memory, says, in this same Fourth of 
 July oration : "At one time I believed we would locate in the Big 
 Bend region, near Platteville. Mr. Meeker was earnest in his desire 
 to locate there, and I liked the location myself. But Ave met a friend 
 and adviser in the person of our honored Governor, Benjamin H. 
 Eaton, who had a good deal to say about the soil and his experience 
 in this country and New Mexico, and his persuasion brought us here 
 to the Poudre vaUe3\" 
 
 It may be that Mr. Cameron here only refers to the letter received 
 by Mr. Meeker in New York, but one would be led to believe that the 
 committee had an interview with him, and that he advised the very 
 location selected. 
 
 However, no selection was made at this first trip, and the committee 
 was sagacious enough not to indicate any preference for fear it would 
 be claimed all around by people here in advance, and so as to be 
 bought out at high figures. Mr. West had gone on ahead to examine 
 Evanston, on the Union Pacific in Wyoming. Some railroad officials 
 in Chicago were desirous of having the colony settle here, but Mr. 
 West found the place, both from altitude and limited area, not desir-
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 41 
 
 able for au agricultural colony. They all went on from here to Utah, 
 and Mr. West, who had been there before and had relatives and 
 acquaintances, made the rest acquainted, and the leading Mormon 
 dignitaries of church and state treated them with mucli consideration, 
 and gave them all the information they could al:)Out crops, fruit cul- 
 tiu:e, irrigation, etc. They visited the Bear river country above 
 Ogden, with a view to location, and liked it much. No selection, how- 
 ever, was now made here or elsewhere. The committee returned to 
 New York and rei^orted to the Executive Committee, West stopping 
 at Chicago, and Fisk at Toledo. So far as I can learn, this latter 
 gentleman took but httle interest in the selection of a suitable site, , 
 and Mr. West, who was not of the board, was much more consulted, 
 and found very useful. Fisk left the committee by mutual consent, 
 and West was put on in his place, but did not join it again until he 
 met the other two members at Evans, he having beerC notified of his 
 appointment by telegraph. The Executive Committee had now sent 
 back these three men to make a permanent selection and the present 
 site was selected, we believe, wisely. So far as I can see, equal credit 
 is due to each of the three, the choice at last being unanimous. How- 
 ever, it was far from the ideal site contemplated by Mr. Meeker and 
 Mr. Greeley in the articles coming from the pens of these gentlemen, 
 and above quoted at length. 
 
 In the first place, the laud all along the river was already settled, 
 or at least in the hands of third parties. It had been expected to 
 settle on government land and buy it with Agricultural CoUege scrip 
 at 90 cents per acre. But the railroad owned alternate sections of the 
 land not settled, and this was held at from S3 to .$i per acre. The 
 area of land purchased from individuals was 2,592 28-100 acres at a 
 cost of |27,982..30 and from the railroad 9,324 6-100 acres at a cost of 
 $31,058.58, an expenditure of nearly $60,000 for less than 12,000 acres. 
 There was a contract made with the Denver Pacific railway for 50,000 
 acres of land, which was to be held for members of Union Colony for 
 three years, the price to l^e $3, $3.50, or $4 per acre according to the 
 respective dates of buying it. Pre-emption filings Avere made, I sup- 
 pose in fictitious names, on the government sections adjoining the 
 railroad land imder contract, and the land office fees paid ])y the 
 colony managers. These filings were supposed to hold these lauds 
 six months, with not a soul on them or near them. They could have 
 been jumped any day but there was but little of this, as it was set 
 domi as a policy of the colony that water from its canals would only 
 be granted to colonists. 
 
 It may here as weU as elsewhere be said, that nearly all the lauds 
 
 /\
 
 42 A HISTORY OF GREELET Aiil> 
 
 whose products have built up Greeley, were these government lands 
 and railroad lands not owned by the colony. The greater part of the 
 lands purchased were of small value. They were scattered along the 
 Poudre from its mouth to a point three miles west of the railroad, on 
 the bluffs south of town and above water, on the Delta so called and 
 about four sections north and east of to\\ai across the river. With the 
 exception of these last named sections and about 2000 acres — a part 
 of the town site — and land immediately west of town, the rest never 
 has l^een good for much. The bottom land is scarcely to-day Avorth 
 more than the colony paid for it — that is about .|12 i^er acre. Some 
 1.200 acres above No. 3 were sold by the colony years afterwards for 
 less than it cost. The same is true of a half section purchased on the 
 Platte below the mouth of the Thompson, and which was mostly in 
 the bed of that stream, of which a wit has said, "it is a river three- 
 fourths of a mile wide and three- foxu-ths of an inch deep." Three 
 eighties, bought near the moiith of the Thompson, were equally 
 worthless, and were given away as a bonus towards building the 
 "Plumb" bridge across the Platte. These latter two tracts of land 
 were undoubtedly bought without seeing them otherwise than on the 
 map, and were in every way a bad investment. Besides, in making 
 purchases from the railroad, some lands were bought from it which 
 had been previously filed upon, and these lands, a later decision of the 
 department of the Interior declared, formed no part of the railroad 
 land grant. So one quarter section west of All^ert Howard's place has 
 been reclaimed by Mr. Butler who originally filed upon it, and he has 
 made good his claim to the total loss of those holding title from Union 
 Colony. Mr. Butler was living in Cheyenne at the time ' the colony 
 settled here, and the land was apparently abandoned. But a decision 
 of the land oiiice that those driven off by the Indians had a right to 
 return, enabled him to reclaim his abandoned claim. 
 
 When a decision had been reached by the Locating Committee to 
 settle here, the utmost caution and dispatch were necessary in order 
 to be able to purchase out the old settlers before they Jinew that the 
 site had been fixed here. W"m. X. Byers, who had been actively en- 
 gaged in helping the committee, advised that some of the old settlers. 
 be let into the secret and be taken in as part sharers in the enterprise. 
 But the Locating Committee would not hear to it. They wanted for 
 colonists, only persons of the character designated in Mr. Meeker's 
 call, and it appeared to them that the old settlers as a body could 
 hardly be considered eligible. When the old settlers understood this 
 attitude of the leaders of the colony towards them, there was laid the
 
 THE UXION COLONY OF COLORADO. 43 
 
 foundation for the future ill-will so generally cherished towards 
 Greeleyites. 
 
 One of the persons especially reconnnended by Mr. Byers as suit- 
 able to be trusted in this matter, paid us a very shal^by trick. This 
 was David Barnes. He was the owner, at the time we are speaking 
 about, of 126 acres which is now a part of the town site of Greeley. 
 Mr. West met him in Evans and offered to buy it of him. He replied 
 that he had just made a present of it to his son Samuel. He had just 
 been in the recorder's office and filed a deed to that effect. But he 
 offered to go in and get the deed which was only filed but not recorded. 
 The clerk allowed him to take it out, and David Barnes made a deed 
 of the property to Horace Greeley for the consideration of $1,269.80. 
 In June, 1872, Samuel Barnes brought suit for possession of this land 
 — MiUer & Markham, of Denver, being his attorneys. We engaged 
 Henry M. Teller. A compromise was offered if the colony should pay 
 Barnes |2,000. The sum was finally reduced to S^1,1(K), which Teller 
 advised us to pay, which we did with Teller's fee of $200. 
 
 The first notice colonists received from the Locating Committee, 
 was in The New York Tribune of April 18th. This abounded in 
 vague general statements, but did not say how much land had been 
 purchased. "The Star of Empire," the organ of the National Land 
 Company, of which Wm. X. Byers was manager for Colorado, sent a 
 circular to the colonists, dated April 14th, giving various information, 
 but keeping colonists equally in the dark as to the quantity of land 
 purchased. But before this, there was issued from The New York 
 Tribune office a circular of the date of April 12th, and signed by 
 Kalph Meeker, secretary. The first sentence of this circular is, "After 
 many difficulties the Locating Committee have succeeded in purchasing 
 70,000 acres of railroad and government land gn the Cache a La Poudre 
 river in Colorado, half-way between Denver and Cheyenne." After a 
 few spread-eagle paragraphs about climate, sceuer}-, fertilit}' of the 
 soil, etc., we come upon this piece of information : 
 
 "The committee have not reported at this date, but the above facts 
 are given from letters written by the President ; General K. A. 
 Cameron, H. T. West and others wiU be on the ground to receive 
 members. The President expects to move out with his family during 
 the summer. About two-thirds of the colonists will go in the spring." 
 
 We find also the following, which must have been delightfid to the 
 old settlers : 
 
 "Much difficulty was experienced in buying up the claims of the 
 squatters ; but this obstacle has been removed, so that members of
 
 44 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 the colony can have full control of all the land purchased by the 
 committee, as well as the station and county seat." 
 
 The last is decidedly rich, as the county seat was then at Evans. 
 
 After the site of the town was selected, then arose the question of 
 what its name should be. Mr. West informs me that General Cameron 
 proposed that it he called Meeker, a proposition that Mr. Meeker would 
 not listen to. It was then unanimously agreed to name it Greeley. 
 Mr. Meeker was far too modest a man to vote for naming a town after 
 himself. If it had been left to the people after a goodly number had 
 come on the ground, they could have appropriately named it Meeker ; 
 but it is far more probable that they would have been guided by 
 policy rather than by consideration of desert, and so would have 
 named it as it was. Another town has been named Meeker for a less 
 sufficient reason than this one would have been, namely, because it is 
 near the scene of the Meeker massacre at White River Indian Agency.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 NEW OKGANIZATION — " UNION COLONY OF COLORADO" — ITS CERTIFICATE OF 
 ORGANIZATION KEPT A SECRET FROM COLONISTS — CONTESTS BETWEEN THE 
 OLD ORGANIZATION AND NEW — EARLY DISCONTENTS AND THEIR CAUSES — 
 EARLY POLITICS — CREDIT DUE TO CAMERON — CIRCULAR ISSUED BY H. T. 
 WEST — 3IISTAKEN NOTION ABOUT COST OF CANALS — ACTUAL COST OF 
 THOSE PROJECTED BY COLONY. 
 
 IMMEDIATELY after determining to settle here, it was thought 
 best to organize as a corporation under the laws of Colorado. 
 The organization, as formed in New York, was not a corporation 
 under the laws of that state. Its constitution was of a loose, general 
 nature, and, I suppose, would have been binding upon those entering 
 into it as a compact or contract; but it had not the definiteness of a 
 corporation whose powers are defined by statute. The principal busi- 
 ness contemplated was the purchase of land, and this was to go into 
 the hands of a trustee who was to deed to the colonists in severalty. 
 When this was done, there would be no further use for the organiza- 
 tion remaining, the town organizing as any other town, and the 
 country managing its affairs as other country districts. But in this 
 view there was no account taken of the building, maintaining and 
 managing of ditches. Indeed, it will be seen that the New York con- 
 stitution is singularly wanting in this most important particular. 
 Hence, these three men saw the pressing necessity of a new organiza- 
 tion radically different from the old, and had the nerve to go on and 
 make it. To do this, Messrs. Meeker and Cameron went to Denver and 
 there consulted and employed Daniel Witter to draft a certificate of 
 organization for a corporation named, "The Union Colony of Colorado," 
 instead of "Union Colojiy Number One." At the last session of the 
 Territorial legislature a statute had been made relating to corpora- 
 tions, and allowing large powers to colonial organizations. This 
 certificate of organization will be found in Appendix B, and may be com- 
 pared with the New York constitution. It will be seen that Mr. William 
 N. Byers, editor of The Rocky Mountain NeMS, and Daniel Witter 
 of Denver, neither of whom had joined the colony, or ever sat at a 
 meeting of the board of directors, were made trustees. This was done 
 so as to have the number five, and at the time this was drafted, April
 
 46 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 15, 1870, none but the members of the locating committee were here. 
 It was intended to have these superseded by colonists as soon as de- 
 sirable members to fill the place should arrive, but, from causes to be 
 related, this did not take place until late in the summer. 
 
 A meeting of the board was held by the three resident members, 
 and organization effected and some by-laws passed before the de- 
 parture of N. C. Meeker for New York, about April 23rd. He returned 
 to dispose of his property and bring his family with him as soon as 
 possible, leaving behind his son George at Evans, where he died of 
 consumption on the 26th, or three days after the departure of his 
 father. 
 
 The business of laying out the town, building ditch Number Three 
 and surveying the lands adjacent to town, now devolved upon R. A. 
 Cameron and H. T. West. They had also to provide for, and receive 
 the new comers. The labors to be performed were numerous and 
 arduous, requiring a variety of ability which few men possess. Cam- 
 eron and West supplemented each other admirably. The former had 
 a quick, Inroad mind capable of taking in any situation at a glance, in 
 its leading aspects, but little acquainted with routine, and inexact; 
 while AVest was orderly in the management of affairs to their minutest 
 details. The tAvo, however, were placed in an anomalous position. 
 They were members of the board of directors of the new company, 
 but being only two out of five, there could be no business done in the 
 absence of Mr. Meeker and the two Denver members. Meeker was 
 absent about six weeks. Besides, they saw fit to conceal the existence 
 of the new organization, and pretended to be doing business as 
 members of the executive committee of the New York organization. 
 There is to me no eAadence that H. T. West ever was a member of the 
 New York executive committee; and if R. A. Camex'on was, it was by 
 virtue of his office as vice-president. According to the constitution 
 the executive committee was " appointed by the colony in session," 
 and as there never was but one meeting of the colony at New York, 
 Mr. West could not have been a member of such committee until 
 there was an election here, and that was not until far on in the sum- 
 mer, as we shall see. Richmond Fisk was the only member of the 
 New York executive committee that ever came here. It w^ill be seen 
 that, acting for the old organization, the president, or, in his absence, 
 the vice-president, could onl}- carrj^ out the instructions of the execu- 
 tive committee; and for several months this consisted, in fact, of only 
 the one person we have named. Instead of fiUing the vacant ranks of 
 the executive committee by an election, through a meeting of the 
 colonists here, Cameron and West proceeded, by appointment, to fiU
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 47 
 
 vacancies with men who suited them, I suppose on the supposition 
 that they were the Colony spoken cf in the constitution. This was 
 one of the causes of dispute between the management and the rank 
 and file of the colonists, and was finally settled soon after the arrival 
 of N. C. Meeker, in June, by an election of an executive committee of 
 nine. This election was held June 13th, and the result was as follows : 
 Meeker, Cameron, West, Plato, Monk, Holmes, Hollister, Pinkerton 
 and Wilcox. Here it will be seen that the three trustees of Union 
 Colony are elected as members of this executive committee, which 
 was on the basis of the old constitution, under the forms of which 
 the colonists insisted that affairs should be managed. The executive 
 committee, which Cameron and West had appointed, was made such 
 by a by-law of the new corporation, which reads thus : 
 
 '' The trustees ma}^ select an executive council of twelve persons, 
 members of said Union Colony, who shall hold their position during 
 the pleasure of the board of trustees." 
 
 The above was a bhnd to make the people believe that they were 
 being governed according to the original compact, when it was being 
 wholly violated; the board of trustees of the new organization sub- 
 stitutes itself for the colony. It will be further observed that the 
 terms, " Members of said Union Colony," are absurd, since the said 
 Union Colony refers to a corporation, and no one was a member of 
 that body until he became a stockholder, which he did not until more 
 than a year after the organization. The colony, as organized in New 
 York, had members, but that and the said colony referred to in the 
 by-laws, were two entirely separate bodies, as the certificate of organ- 
 ization of the Union Colony of Colorado takes no notice of Union 
 Colony Number One. Hence, it was held by good lawyers that it was 
 only the old organization that could legitimately do business, and 
 that the new organization was a usurpation. For it was no long time 
 until the existence of this latter became an open secret, and by their 
 endeavor to keep it a secret, the management lost the confidence of 
 the people. I see no reason why the}^ should have done this, except 
 they felt that they had superseded their authority and were afraid to 
 face the consequences — a thing that they soon had to do with the 
 added odium of attempted concealment. Mr. West says that he was 
 always opposed to this attempt at concealment, and, hence, if this be 
 so, the opprobrium of it belongs to Cameron, since Meeker was gone 
 until long after the secret was openly divulged by a circular published 
 May 16, by R. A. Cameron, \dce-president, and H. T. W^est, secretarj' 
 of the colony. In it the full title of the colony is not given, and we 
 are at a loss to know under what organization these gentlemen were
 
 48 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 acting, but presumably under the old one, as it starts out in this style: 
 " The executive committee of Union Colony submits the following," 
 etc. But at the same time there was no executive committee here 
 nor did they pretend that this document was gotten up by that body 
 at New York. In other words, Cameron and West assumed that they 
 were that body and neither of them was a member of it. 
 
 This circular, which was the work of Mr. West and does him credit 
 for the quickness with which he made it, when a statement of the facts 
 it contains, was demanded a few days before at a mass meeting, is 
 published in this work, Appendix C. We shall have frequent 
 occasion to refer to this document which is kindly furnished me by 
 Mr, West, who says that he would not wish to-day to have a single 
 line altered. In it, it will he seen that the people were informed that, 
 " The organization of The Union Colony of Colorado " was a neces- 
 sity, to enable us to make contracts binding on the colony, without 
 which we could do nothing in regard to irrigation, and many other 
 things necessary to be done in the colony. This organization is 
 simply to do such things as could not otherwise be done; but it is to 
 be distinctly understood that the members of the colony are to con- 
 trol the municipal and all other matters relating to the colony ; accord- 
 ing to the terms of the original organization. 
 
 From the above the new organization was for a long time called the 
 ditch company, and there were two organizations; but instead of hav- 
 ing separate functions and affairs to attend to, they were joint and, as 
 we have seen, the first attempt was to have an executive council, the 
 creature of the colony trustees; but that this was wholly superseded 
 by an elected executive committee of nine, which included all of the 
 trustees, and the supposition was that this body was wholly running 
 the business; but, as a matter of fact, all contracts were made by the 
 incorporated body through its president and secretary. 
 
 At a meeting of citizens, held June 18th, a series of resolutions was 
 passed. Mr, Monk moved, in the executive committee, that the reso- 
 lutions be spread upon the minutes, which was done. They are as 
 follows : 
 
 " The following resolutions have been adopted by the members of 
 the Union Colony as a line of policy for the government of the 
 colony, 
 
 "Resolved, That it is the duty of the executive committee to see 
 that proper titles, with right to water, be properl}^ conveyed to each 
 individual memljer, and that all the rights and powers of the ditch 
 company be handed over and conveyed to the executive committee of 
 the colony.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 49 
 
 "Resolfed, That in the true spirit of colonization, any member 
 entering on his lands, a part or a whole, to build in good faith, shall 
 be entitled at once to his deeds for his business lot, his residence lot 
 and his outlying lands, upon respectively paying for the same. 
 
 '^Resolved, That in making the deeds for the members, a clause 
 shall be inserted forever prohibiting the manufacture or sale of intox- 
 icating liquors, as a beverage, on the land so deeded. 
 
 At the close of the first resolution occur these words : " That all the 
 rights and powers belonging to the trustees of the ditch company, be 
 handed over and conveyed to the executive committee of the 
 colony." 
 
 It will be seen that, in the opinion of those adopting this resolu- 
 tion, the executive committee could go on and legally do everything 
 required, without being a corporate body according to the laws of 
 Colorado. This was the opinion of good lawyers; but there was a 
 conflict of opinion as to the management of ditches, and so it was at 
 length deemed best to retain the corporate organization. Daniel 
 Witter and William N. Byers were notified that they had better resign 
 as members of the board of trustees. There could be no legal election 
 held, as no stock had been issued; but the board temporarily filled the 
 vacancies, electing N. Hohnes and E. C. Monk. But this not being 
 satisfactory, an informal election was held, and those receiving the 
 highest number of votes being N. C. Meeker, R. A. Cameron, H. T. 
 West, Nelson Hohnes and J. H. Pinkerton, these were accepted by the 
 colony board, Pinkerton taking the place of E. C. Monk. So for a 
 while there were two bodies legislating for the colony, the regular 
 trustees, and the executive council, which was gradually increased to 
 twelve. The first regular election was held on the first Tuesday in 
 May, as provided by the by-laws. Preceding this election there was 
 the greatest excitement. Two meetings were held at the Tabernacle, 
 as Hotel de Comfort was now called. We extract the following para- 
 graphs from a correspondent of The News, signing himself " Maple 
 Buds:" 
 
 •'An important colony meeting of the members was held at the 
 Tabernacle Saturday last. It was called for the purpose of getting 
 the sentiment of the people upon the future poHcy of the colony, and 
 for nominating trustees to be voted for at the coming election. The 
 hall was well filled, and the interest evinced was commendable, 
 
 " Captain David Boyd was elected chairman, and Mr. N. C. Meeker 
 was the first to address the meeting. He was in favor of continuing 
 the policy in force during the last year, and had no special reason for 
 any material change.
 
 50 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 "He was foUoAved by General R. A. Cameron, who at once an- 
 nounced his purpose not to be a candidate for re-election as a member 
 of the colony board. This announcement took the audience by sur- 
 prise, as no hint of such a purpose had been made public, and we 
 cannot but feel that the master spirit of the colony will withdraw 
 from the field of action when the able vice-president and superinten- 
 dent permits (if the people allow him so to do) his mantle of author- 
 ity to fall upon the shoulders of a successor. Feeling thus free to 
 suggest wliat should be the future policy of the colony, the General 
 gave a brief but comprehensive summary of the purposes that should 
 be kept in view. * * 
 
 " The meeting prolonged its session until near mitlnight, and then 
 adjourned, having accomplished but one practical result — the appoint- 
 ment of a committee of three to call another meeting, at which nomi- 
 nations are to be made for a full set of officers for colonial, school and 
 town organizations. 
 
 "At present writing the indications are that nearly, if not quite, a 
 new board of trustees will control the destinies of the colony for the 
 coming year. Men may change but measvu-es of vital necessity can- 
 not wholly be overridden or set aside, and the tvise policy of the past 
 must be continued in the future, even with a new pilot at the helm." 
 
 "We quote farther from the next letter of "Maple Buds." 
 
 The second colony meeting to consider the affairs of State, was held 
 here last evening, and after considerable sparring between the factions, 
 it was mutualh- agreed that each party (the administration party and 
 opposition) should meet on Thursday evening to make its own nomi- 
 nations, and then test its strength or the day of election." 
 
 Tlie Greeley Tribune gives the following result of the election, the 
 voting being by shares for colony officers : 
 
 "For trustees — N. C. Meeker, 1,784 ; David Boyd, 1,686 ; J. C. Shat- 
 tuck, 1,246 ; E. HoUister, 1,232 ; N. Holmes, 1,127 ; E. T. Nichols, 713 '. 
 A. J. Wilber, 657 ; W. B. Plato, 550 (five highest being the coming 
 board"). 
 
 "For treasurer — Charles Emerson, 1,875." 
 
 "Executive council (of twelve) — Evan Bea, 1,868 ; Arthur Hotchkiss, 
 1,805 ; Ovid Plumb, 1,721 ; C. D. FarweU, 1,288 ; D. B. Ranney, 1,274 ; 
 J. H. Johnson, 1,267 ; J. G. Cooper, 1,246 ; J. A. Woodbury, 1,092 ; F. 
 L. Childs, 1,071 ; Jos. Murray, 1,036 ; M. B. Knowles, 931 ; James 
 Inman, 910 ; J. S. Scott, 888 ; S. K. Thompson, 847 ; C. A. White, 776 ; 
 H. Marshall, 587 ; J. Leavy, 580 ; J. R. Thacker, 566; M. B. V. Gifford, 
 559 : S. Blodgett, 552 ; J. Max Clark, 503," (twelve highest committee.) 
 
 The five town trustees under the charter, or city organization soon
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 51 
 
 to be established, was as follows : E. S. Nettleton, 147 ; R. A, Cameron, 
 140 ; N. D. Wright, 138 ; Levi Hanna, 126 ; H. T. West, 98. In the 
 town election the vote was personal, before by stock. 
 
 I here give all the names voted for at this our first and most impor- 
 tant of legal elections. Many names will be observed here that after- 
 wards attained local celebrity, while some have passed over to the 
 other side. Of the eight voted for as trustees, the writer is the only 
 one now living in the colony ; while of the twentj'-one voted for as 
 executive council, nine are still living in town ; and of the town's first 
 board of trustees the venerable octogenarian Levi Hanna, is still 
 among us ; while its first secretary, H. T. West, can yet keep as clean 
 and a<icurate a book at the Hunter & W^est bank as he did in the earl}^ 
 days for the colony. 
 
 The executive council was intended as a lower house to play second 
 fiddle to the august board of 'colony trustees. It was soon foimd 
 inconvenient for this large body of twelve to meet as often as it was 
 found necessary, in those days of important pressing colonial ques- 
 tions. Soon they elected four of their number to meet with the trus- 
 tees. These voted with them ; bvit it was seen too that a majority of 
 the legal board were present, and that a majority voted for any 
 measure. After the end of the year for which it was elected, this 
 body was seen to be superfluous and was not re-elected. And soon 
 there followed as much indifference about the election of colony trus- 
 tees as there had been solicitude at the time we are speaking of. Its 
 business soon got into a rut and there was but little left to be done 
 except the routine of improving, maintaining and running the irrigat- 
 ing canals. 
 
 The circular of the 16th of May was called out for other reasons 
 \^n to give an account of the new organization. One was that there 
 was a serious misunderstanding about the quantity of land bought, 
 and the price paid for it. We have seen that a circular had been 
 sent to each of the members, stating that 70,000 acres had been pur- 
 chased, besides contracts, and this by the secretary who quoted the 
 authority of his father the president. There also appeared. May 13th, 
 the following card in The New York Tribune. 
 
 "Union Colony. 
 "N. C. Meeker, president ; Horace Greeley, treasurer : The locating 
 committee, in addition to purchasing 70,000 acres, have secured the 
 refusal of a large tract on the Denver Pacific railroad. The scenery 
 is grand, the soil fertile, and pure water abundant. Members will be 
 received until farther notice, and carried at reduced rates. Those
 
 52 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 writing will give amount of present capital. Womeu received. Seve- 
 ral have already joined. 
 
 "Ralph Meeker, secretary." 
 
 On the other hand, in the card published in The Tribune five days 
 later, and signed by all the members of the locating committee, there 
 is not a word said about the land purchased or its cost, while there is 
 much said about grand scenery, trout in the mountain streams, the 
 clearness, coldness and purity of the water, the healthfulness of the 
 chmate, and the cattle grazing upon a thousand hills in sight. Coming 
 thus informed, was it any wonder that when we came to face the 
 actual facts all were disappointed and grumbled, and that most be- 
 lieved that we had been humbugged into coming here ? It was geuer- 
 all}- believed that the management had countenanced the false rejjre- 
 sentatious of Ralph Meeker, without committing itself explicitly. To 
 this day I know of no evidence to the contrary. Had the locating 
 committee wanted to let the people know before coming here, exactly 
 what had been done, a single sentence, which could very becomingly 
 have taken the place of any of a number of grandiloquent platitudes, 
 would have done the business. I doubt not that tliis omission of the 
 vital truth of the situation was withheld because they thought it was 
 for the good of the colony, and that when members were on the 
 ground, there would be a goodly mimber who would stay and tr}-, and 
 that another large number would not have the means to go back. 
 
 So it appears this wnll sufficiently explain the cause of the great 
 discontent and clamor of those early da3\s, without assuming that 
 those who engaged in it, were unreasonable, turbulent men. 
 
 Some were unreasonable, and notably Lawyer Searles and his Illi- 
 nois friends, among whom we must mention George Augustus Hobbs, 
 editor of the Geneseo, lUinois, Republic, who upon his return wrote in 
 his paper an exaggerated statement of even the worst side of the 
 situation. Xotwithstandiug its extravagant misrepresentations, it con- 
 tains a vein of caustic humor making a part of it at least worthy of 
 insertion here. There is a good deal of repetition and ringing of 
 changes on certain phi-ases which we will endeavor to omit, while 
 quoting the leading points in the indictment. 
 
 "There is one thing we can and will say to our uneasy restless read- 
 ers, don't go to Greeley, Colorado Territory. That is the last place 
 on the face of this terrestrial ball that any human being should con- 
 template to remove to — Greeley, Colorado Territory, is a delusion, a 
 snare, a cheat, a swindle, and the honest (?) Meeker and his long- faced 
 coadjutor know and glory in it — or would do so, had their plans been 
 a little more successful. Greeley, Colorado Territor3% is a graveyard.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 53 
 
 in which are buried heaps of bright hopes aud jojous autieipatious. 
 Two or three hundred (floating population) that have not "dudads" 
 enough to get down to Evans, four miles below ; a board of trustees 
 consisting of honest Meeker, General Cameron, "Judge Hanna," Mr. 
 "West, id genus omne (the ''philosopher" H. Greeley being only a bob 
 to the kite ; several stern-wheel shanties, aud a few one-horse tents 
 compose the . population of the great Union Colony at Greeley, at the 
 present time. Four hundred of the original colonists have been, 
 looked, got disgusted at, and gone, aud the balance will 'ditto' as 
 soon as their friends send them money enough to do so with. That's 
 Greeley, Colorado Territory : 
 
 " Two great works there are in Greeley, Colorado Territory, which, 
 with pride aud satisfaction, the new comer is requested to turn his 
 eyes to aud let them rest on, by the long headed, shrewd and 'honest' 
 trustees — these are the great ditch aud the grave of young Meeker. 
 — the former being a tremendous enterprise ; the other used as a 
 standing witness to the honesty and the sincerity of the trustees, for 
 would Mr. Meeker bury his idolized son here, and let him stay buried, 
 if he did not know that Greeley, Colorado Territory, would be a good 
 deal larger town than Xew York (Mr. Meeker's present home) in less 
 than ten years ? Don't seem reasonable does it ? Perhaps not. 
 
 "It should be remarked for the benefit of the "floating pojDulation" 
 that reads The Republic, that the 'Great Ditch' has turned out a 
 lamentable failure, mostly for the reason that its diggers have not yet 
 hit on a feasible plan to make water run up hill, on general principles ; 
 and also for the additional insignificant reason that there is no water 
 around there anywhere to fUl the 'Great Ditch' with ; but then one 
 ought to see those "trustees" swell out and puff up when pointing to 
 this immense piece of modern engineering — It was as good as a show 
 (the writer has seen it with his own eyes, and still he did not want to 
 be a ' trustee;' — not of Union Colony.) 
 
 "Greeley is located— if there be such a thing as locating a baker's 
 dozen of slab shanties, as many tool chests, a great ditch, and twenty 
 acres of prickly pears — on a barren, sandy plain, part and parcel of 
 the Great American Desert, midway between a poverty stricken ranch 
 and a prairie-dog village on two sides ; and a poverty-stricken ranch 
 and a prairie village on t'other. It is bounded chiefly* by prickly pears. 
 The plucking of this choice plant from the part of their babies" car- 
 poreal frame to which in old times the punitive shoe was wont to be 
 applied, gives the mothers of Greeley constant, if not pleasant, em- 
 plo\-ment. (We would add par parenthesis that on that balm}- May 
 morning on which we regretfullv bid adieu to Greelev, we left the
 
 54 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 men swearing, the women crying, and picking prickly pears out of 
 parts indicated — a lively, if not a soothing, scene to snatch one's self 
 away from on a bright morning in beautiful "May.") 
 
 Wood ma}' be mentioned as a natural curiosity in Greeley, and so is 
 coal, thought to be handy in a successful prosecution of culinary and 
 other domestic affairs. To be sure there is an abim dance of wood in 
 the mountains just back of Greeley. The people call it just back, 
 being only forty miles away. But why the colonists don't get more 
 of it and keep supplied, we are unable to conceive, unless it be that 
 they can't borrow teams of neighbors and have no neighbors to borrow 
 of ; and to tote wood on one's back forty miles is no slouch of a job. 
 
 "President Meeker, 'General' Cameron, 'Judge' Hanna, and the 
 balance of the 'trustees' might sa}-, when they read this brief descrip- 
 tion of their colony, that we cut it thick ; but they are interested wit- 
 nesses, and we are not. Judging from what our eyes have seen and 
 our ears have heard, we should give it as our opinion that Greeley, in 
 respect to peacefulness, harnion}- and sweet contentment, is not a 
 model burg; albeit the 'President,' the 'General' and the 'Judge' would 
 have the world believe exactly the opposite. The fact that all the 
 original colonists who had money enough to do so, have quit Greeley 
 in contemiDt, and that the balance would gladlj' shake Greeley dust 
 from their sandals to-morrow, proves of course conclusively to every 
 mind that nobodj' has l^een disappointed, no strangers taken in, none 
 disgusted, but that all is love, confidence, peace, contentment and 
 harmony at Greelej'. 
 
 "Because labor , finds no emploj-ment ; because there is no capital 
 amongst the colonists ; because no crops of any description (except 
 prickly pears) can be produced at Greeley for the next three years — if 
 indeed anything but pricldy pears and prairie dogs' holes can ever be 
 raised ; because there is no wood, nor coal, nor lumber, nor anything 
 else but disappointed men and weeping women and squalling young- 
 'uns, there, or anywhere about there — notwithstanding these things 
 prove nothing against the future magnitude of the embryo capital of 
 Colorado. But until this happy period arrives, the honest President 
 Meeker tells his colonists that the}* must all go a keeping boarders ( !) 
 but suppose that they have all gone doing so, though we can't quite 
 see where the boarders are to come from, we leave Greeley for the 
 present, repeating the advice to the uneasy, restless readers of The 
 Republic, that if they can't stay where they are, but must go some- 
 where else, don't ever dream of such a wild and foolish thing as strik- 
 ing out for the great colony of Greeley, Colorado Territory.' " 
 
 In those days the Denver press was ready to come to the rescue i
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 55 
 
 case of an attack ou the management of the colony, and in this in- 
 stance the editor of The Netvs "sat down" on Hobbs in a way that it 
 was thought his insolence deserved. The people of Denver, who had 
 voted half a million bonds to the Denver Pacific, were interested in the 
 sale of its lands, and colonial schemes were supposed to hasten this 
 desired object. Hence the many fine flattering things said about us, 
 especially in the News, are to be taken with a grain of allowance. The 
 time was coming when the Denver press could say bitter enough 
 things about us. But this was when we had got down to a straight- 
 forward business way of doing things, and had set our faces against 
 "booming" up the country to stimulate an unnatural immigration. 
 
 Of course, upon the face of it read to-day, we can see the gross 
 exaggeration and misrepresentation of Hobbs. Indeed he so far out- 
 stripped the truth that he did the colony management more good than 
 harm. Still, there was much fire smouldering beneath so much smoke. 
 The fact is that al^out fifty of those who came, returned ; while a few 
 went out into the surrounding country, especially into the mountains 
 above La Porte. Those who stayed did so. for the "most part, not 
 because they were without funds to take them back, as has been fre- 
 quently asserted, but because, when they looked carefully over the 
 situation, they saw a chance of ultimate success. There were a few, 
 no doubt, who would have returned right away after coming here, but 
 they constituted but a small portion of those remaining. This charge 
 has been brought up lately in quarters where better ought to be known. 
 The great bulk of those who came here in those early days were well 
 to do, and could have returned at any time. Those who were able- 
 bodied and willing to work, got employment at good wages, helping 
 to xsurvey, dig ditches, l^uild houses, etc. Some of the young men 
 tha^Bppeared to be without means and who worked steadily, are now 
 men of wealth, living ou fine, well cultivated farms. 
 
 Colonists leaving home with the understanding that 70,000 acres 
 had been purchased, were naturally indignant and blamed the man- 
 agement. If they left their homes with the expectation that there 
 would be 160 acres on an average for each, it was not their fault. It 
 has been said that many expected to get that quantity of land for 
 $150, abutting town. I never saw such a person. But it was naturally 
 expected that this area could be had by going out a few miles. When 
 it was seen that less than 12,000 acres had been purchased, the whole 
 situation was changed ; and if some, so deceived into coming here, 
 shook the dust oft' their feet and bid good-bye to Greeley forever, it 
 was not they who were guilty of bad faith, but the men whose false 
 representations had brought them here.
 
 56 A HISTOKY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 This was the condition of affairs when the writer arrived on the 
 12th of May. On the same train was A. E. Searles, a la^vyer from 
 Aurora, Illinois, and some others, mostly business men from the same 
 State. These men were highly offended with the state of affairs, and 
 went to work to organize an opposition to the management. This led 
 to a series of mass meetings, at which affairs were discussed in no 
 amicable spirit. However, Cameron was usually the master of the 
 situation, and behaved with admirable temper. Still the general 
 demand was, that we should have a statement of what had been done, 
 how much land had been bought, what it had cost, how it was to be 
 divided, what was the general pohey, and this led to the circular before 
 mentioned. 
 
 Besides all this, Mr. Meeker was not here, and wrote us (the members 
 of the colony) not a word of explanation. He was in correspondence 
 with the other two managers, but we had no information of the nature 
 of this correspondence or his attitude in the situation. All was in the 
 hands of two men wholly unknown to more than ninety-nine out of a 
 hundred of the men on the ground. Nor were the personal appear- 
 ance and demeanor of these two gentlemen such as to win immediate 
 confidence. The General looked a good deal hke a seedy, cast-off, 
 played-out, third-rate politician, while West had the air of a sharper. 
 The blaudness of the one told as unfavorably against him as the 
 brusqueuess of the other. In the absence of other testimony as to the 
 character of these gentlemen, we were forced to judge by appearances, 
 and may be we did not "judge righteous judgment." 
 
 It has been quite generally said, and is, I suppose, nearly unniver- 
 sally believed, that the colony would have broken up before the end 
 of two months but for General Cameron. Mr. West, president of the 
 day at the Fourth of July meeting, 1885, on introducing General 
 Cameron, said : 
 
 " While I would not for one moment detract from the reputation of 
 an}' man, j^et I wish to saj^ that it is my opinion that to General R. A. 
 Cameron more than any man, we are indebted for the existence of the 
 Union Colony to-day." The above was quite generally applauded. 
 The ^\Titer most profoundly differs from the above view. He was here 
 when the troubles commenced, and arrived on the 12th day of May ; 
 and Mr. Meeker was here in the course of about three weeks after. It 
 was during this time that the colony would have broken up, if at all, 
 and was prevented from doing so, by General Cameron, if at all; since 
 after the coming of N. C. Meeker, he was president and at the head 
 of affairs. During these three weeks some fifty dissatisfied persons 
 left. Would the rest who staj-ed after Mr. Meeker came, have left if
 
 THE UXrOX COLOXY OF COLORADO. 57 
 
 he had been here earher ? The very reason, as I know, whj- many 
 stayed who would have gone sooner, was because Mr. Meeker was 
 expected to come soon ; and had it been known that for any cause he 
 was not coming back, it would have been a most fatal blow to the 
 colony. I do not think it would then have broken up, for the colonists 
 that had come here to stay and build up a town and settlement, if in 
 their judgment the circumstances were favorable to success, would 
 have taken hold of affairs and put them in shape, and put the right 
 men at the head, if in their judgment they were not. This, in fact, 
 they did do. Those who did stay, had not come to break up the 
 colony. On the contrary they were bound to see that this was not 
 done. It has always appeared to the writer that the management of 
 the first few mouths brought on all the trouble upon itself, by allow- 
 ing the false reports to go out about the quantity of laud purchased, 
 and trying to keep the new organization a secret, and dealing doubly, 
 as we have seen it did, in trying to make it appear that affairs were 
 being run one way when it was transparent they were being rim another. 
 The fact was, the management undertook to run affairs in one way 
 and were forced to run them in another. It tried to ignore the people 
 at large, and select certain favorites ; and it was forced to recede. The 
 people taught the managers that they were its servants. Open, can- 
 did, outspoken dealing, trusting full}- all the people with the situation, 
 would have prevented all the trouble. 
 
 Mr. West, in saying that he was opposed to the attempt to keep the 
 incorporation of Union Colony a secret, condemns those who adopted 
 that policy ; and it appears to me that that man was General Cameron. 
 Knowing as I do, Mr. Meeker, I feel certain that such a thing could 
 not have originated with him. He was blunt and outspoken to a 
 faulty It appears to me that any man, with common sense, must see 
 that a thing that is unacceptable in itself is not made any more pala- 
 table by an endeavor to keep it concealed, when the thing is discovered ; 
 and I do not understand how these men could imagine that it could 
 remain undiscovered. The business required that it be discovered 
 sooner or later. It may be said that it was intended to break it slowly 
 to a few of those who could be trusted. And this is what was done, 
 and with the usual result — all soon knew it. And those who were not 
 trusted felt that they were suspected, underrated, and hence revolted. 
 The new organization was fought against, principally because the 
 locating committee took all the power in its o\\ti hands for more than 
 a year, not only making themselves trustees, but, in the certificate, 
 stating that the trustees make all the by-laws ; when, according to the 
 statute, thej- could have allowed the stockholders to make these. They
 
 58 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 appointed, as we have seen, an executive council of twelve as a blind, 
 when they could have left this for the people to elect, as it insisted on 
 doing and did, in spite of the by-laws of the trustees. All this on the 
 part of the people was not revolutionary^ or destructive, but simply 
 democratic and salutary. 
 
 It ma3% however, be said that for quite other reasons than what may 
 be called political ones, the colony would have broken up but for 
 General Cameron. This was the general distrust of the capabilities of 
 the soil. The appearances were against the soil ; and, what is worse, 
 the old settlers believed and generallj^ told us that the upper bench 
 land was not good for anj^thing for farming. We have seen that tliis 
 was B. H. Eaton's opinion, and that he thought that we*were likely 
 to break up in two or three years. But Cameron believed in the fer- 
 tility of the soil only, in common with the other two members of the 
 committee. The question is, whether, if Meeker had been here instead 
 of Cameron, we would have been less likely to beheve the representa- 
 tions of the former than the latter. To most of us Mr. Meeker, fi-om 
 his writings, was a paragon of perfection in agricultural knowledge. 
 It is no matter if afterwards we got disenchanted. We found that he 
 could write better about farming than farm. But it took us some time 
 to learn this ; and the fact that Mr. Meeker had made this selection, 
 was for us of far more importance than all the exaggerated extrava- 
 gant statements made by a man who was not supposed to know any- 
 thing on the subject. To sober, critical minds these extreme state- 
 ments of the General seemed to prove the unsoundness of his judg- 
 ment and the flightiness of his imagination. There might be a few 
 weak persons led away b}' his fancies, but most men preferred to trust 
 their own judgment and observation. Manj' went wa}' because they 
 had not faith in the capabilities of the soil, others thought it was worth 
 while to wait, and try and see. The few trials that were made the first 
 summer were convincing, of a fair degi'ee of fertihty, but did not come 
 up to the extravagant reports published in The Rocky Mountain 
 News and the Star of Empire. 
 
 In fine it may be said, that while Mr. Meeker was not the best sort 
 of a man to manage men and conciliate them to a bad policy, and 
 that he was incapable of such flights of imagination about the glori- 
 ous opportunities as was the %'ice-president, still, it always has been 
 my candid opinion that, since the colony got along with him quite 
 well for some nine years as its president, it could have got along if he 
 had been here during these tw^o months in place of Cameron. I think 
 the General would have made a better missionary to the Indians than 
 Mr. Meeker ; that is, he would not have pressed things to such an
 
 THE TJXION COLOXY OF COLORADO. 59' 
 
 extreme as to lose his scalp. But the straightforward, eveu, blunt 
 course of Meeker, was more acceptable to the men who came here to 
 farm aud make the town of Greelej a possibility. 
 
 But the most perplexing question which beset us, and one of which 
 neither of our three leaders understood anything, was that of irriga- 
 tion. On this rock the colony was far more likely- to go to pieces, than 
 about who should rule, or how we should be ruled. The error that 
 nearly proved fatal to us, was the ridiculous!}- lo\\' estimate of the cost 
 of constructing the necessar}- ditches to irrigate our lands. In The 
 Star of Empire published by the National Land Company, of which 
 W. N. Byers was the manager for Colorado, we ^\'ere told, that the 
 cost for a farm would range from $50 to $2CX). We have seen that Islx. 
 Greeley, in his Cooper Institute speech, said, "A little water goes a 
 great deal further than people generally suppose. In California they 
 use much more than is necessary." It will be seen that Mr. Greeley, 
 like the newspaper men of our own State, knew much better how 
 much water was needed than the persons engaged in irrigation for 
 years. 
 
 Mr. Meeker, in an article introducing the constitution of Union 
 Colony adopted at New- York, says, " The cost of irrigation is perhaps 
 equal to fencing, and is a work that is to be extended from year to 
 year." This is vague enough, as the cost of fencing depends upon 
 where, and how, it is done. 
 
 With these opinions of those supposed to be informed, before us, 
 we will be prepared for the following statements in Mr. West's circular 
 of May 16th : 
 
 " This land is to be furnished with w^ater for ii-rigation. The colony 
 digs the ditches, and each member of the colony is liable to an assess- 
 nient for keeping the same in repair. It is estimated that the ditches 
 for irrigating the lands of the colony, as stated, will cost about 
 $20,000; for which there is mone}^ in the treasury." 
 
 These lands included about 12,000 acres purchased, 50,000 acres of 
 railroad lands under contract, and the alternate government sections 
 adjacent to these raiboad lands. They were to be watered by four 
 ditches provided for in the certificate of incorporation of Union 
 Colony. The first was to come out of the canon above La Porte aud 
 to terminate at Crow- creek. Hence it would cover nearly all the lands 
 now covered by both the Larimer County and the 'Larimer and Weld 
 County canals. These canals, when the former is completed, will cost 
 some $225,000, This Number One was never touched b}- the colony. 
 Number Two, constructed during the fall of 1870 and spring of 1871, 
 cost for its original construction, $27,000. About 2,000 acres of crops
 
 60 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 were put in under it in 1871, and the greater part of the crops were 
 lost for want of water. Then came one of the sharpest crises in the 
 colony's history. The colony's funds had all l)eu expended in direc- 
 tions which we shall- enumerate hereafter. So that if the canal was 
 to be enlarged at all, it must be done by the farmers under it, at their 
 o^vn expense. We have seen that, in the circular from which we have 
 quoted, it was promised that the colony should dig the ditches and 
 that the individuals would only be assessed for repairs. But a few 
 months taught the managers better. In each water deed it was in- 
 serted that the holder was liable to an assessment for superintendence, 
 repairs and enlargement. The insufficiency of the town ditch. 
 Number Three, had opened the eyes of the trustees, and hence the 
 change of program. Of course this change gave occasion to more iU- 
 feehng and distrust on the part of the rank and file; but it was a 
 necessity, and it probably saved the colony from going into dissolu- 
 tion before the end of the second year. However, it was generally 
 held that the colony shovdd help the farmers out as far as possible. 
 There had been a misunderstanding of the situation all around, and 
 the farmers across the river should not be the only sufferers. One 
 plan was for the colony to borrow money on the lands which it stiU 
 owned, another was to sell these. The latter view was strongly sup- 
 ported by Horace Greeley in letters to N. C. Meeker— now put at my dis- 
 posal by his wife^and hereafter published. He here urges to sell the 
 lands even below cost rather than to borrow. Well, the lands were in part 
 sold, also water-rights imder Xuml^er Two for railroad and government 
 lands. Then there was a tax of twenty-five cents, afterwards increased 
 by ten cents per acre, assessed against the lands holding water-rights 
 under Number Two. This assessment would have amounted to about 
 $9,000, and the amount contributed by the colony must have been 
 about $11,000. There are no records availalile to get at-tlie exact 
 figures. But the two following enlargements cost about $20,000 each; 
 and as this enlargement increased the capacity as much as either of 
 the others, it is safe to say that it cost as much. So we see that the 
 total cost of canal Number Two, after its third enlargement in the 
 fall of 1877, was, in round numbers, $87,000. The year following it 
 was turned over by the colony to the farmers under it, who incorpor- 
 ated as " The Cache la Poudre Irrigation Company." This company, 
 in improvements, have expended about $25,000, making the cost up to 
 date, $112,0tK). The greater part of these latter expenditures have 
 not increased the capacity of the ditch, being largely for checks, 
 which have had to be put in at nearly every point where water is taken 
 out. The slope of the canal was too great for one of its size, and hence
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 61 
 
 it keeps cutting its bed and needs these checks to enable parties to 
 get water out upon adjacent lands. The original cost of Number 
 Three was $6,333. There were three enlargements, in 1871, 1872 and 
 1873. These with dams must have made the canal cost not less than 
 .125,000. 
 
 Union Colony's canal. Number Four, which was to come out of the 
 Big Thompson and water the lands on the bluffs south of town, was 
 never built; but the " Loveland and Greeley" canal covers the land 
 contemplated by its projectors, and cost about $.50,000. So we see 
 that the aggregate cost of the ditches, incorporated by Union Colony, 
 has been 1412,000, while the estimate in the circular before us, was 
 .f20,(X)0 less than one-twentieth part of what the actual expenditures 
 turned out to be. 
 
 Here, however, it had better be said that much as Number Two has 
 cost the farmers who did all the enlarging after the first one, yet it 
 only costs them .$350 per eighty-acre water right, there being equivalent 
 to 320 such rights under the ditch. Eighcy-acre rights in the Larimer 
 and Weld immediately above, cost $1,200 apiece, and do not represent 
 as much water as a similar right in Number Two. So much we gained 
 by co-operation. So much at length was the fruit borne by patience 
 and mutual endeavors. 
 
 We would not here intimate that the authors of the circular were 
 dishonest in giving the above low estimate of the probable cost of 
 the contemplated canals. They were, as we have seen, based upon the 
 erroneous information afloat in the press of the territory. If there 
 had been time, and the books had been available, reliable information 
 could have been had from countries where irrigation had been prac- 
 ticed for centuries. This was especially true of Northern Italy; and 
 Major Baird Smith's work on irrigation in that country, put the ques- 
 ^,ion at rest of how big a canal was needed for a given area, as soon as 
 thai book fell into the hands of our people. This matter we shall 
 discuss farther on in the histor}' of the colony. But here I want to say 
 that the writer had an experience which led him to entertain views in 
 regard to the quantity of water needed and the size of ditches re- 
 quired to irrigate a given area, quite the opposite of those generally 
 disseminated throughout the territory. 
 
 It was his ill luck, so far as peace of mind is concerned, but his 
 good luck so far as valuable experience goes, to be put in charge of 
 Number Three when water was let into it about June 10th, 1870. It 
 was his duty not only to ride the ditch and plug the gopher holes, but 
 also to see that tlie water got around to the two hundred more cr 
 less patches of land in and around town, which, as dry as ash heaps,
 
 (}2 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 had been planted, and were awaiting the water to germinate the seeds. 
 He soon foimd that a "plow furrow would not do the business," "The 
 JStar of Ei}ipire,^'' to the (-ontrary notwithstanding. E. S. Nettleton 
 had taken the levels at different street corners, but not at elevations 
 or depressions between. Armed w4th this chart, he proceeded to fill 
 the depressions, understanding that there could be no cutting as the 
 Avater must reach the highest points. He had to learn for the first 
 time how much earth it took to carry a small stream over a depression 
 of two feet. The north part of town presented the greatest difficulty. 
 The time consumed with the small force of teams to be had, was 
 much longer than anticipated, and the greatest impatience prevailed. 
 He learned afterwards that he was supposed to be an older settler, 
 being confounded with Robert Boyd, who was farming on the banks 
 of the Poudre, three miles west of town, when the colony settled 
 here. The fact that he was put in charge of the ditch, suggested to 
 those not better informed, that lie was employed for this work on ac- 
 count of an assumed experience, which, evidently, had been of very 
 little use to him. He was consequently despised in a manner becom- 
 ing the ignorance and pretention which were supposed to naturally 
 characterize a '' Fifty-niner." It was while engaged in this work of 
 coaxing the water over the streets in the northwest corner, that he 
 first met J. Max. Clark. He was busy working all alone at putting in 
 a grout foundation for the house he still fives in. He had to pump 
 the water to mix his material, and wanted the ditch to get around as 
 quickly as possible. He was under the common impression that the 
 A\Titer was Boyd the ranchman, and having been a fifty-niner himself, 
 he knew just how mean they were and treated the ditch man with be- 
 coming contemx^t. Revolvers were not drawn, however ; on the contrary, 
 he was given the soft answer that turns away wrath — a kind of virtue 
 the WTiter had learned to practice during these frequent encounters. 
 But on the whole it may be said, considering the provocation*, the 
 people exercised large patience. 
 
 There were some two hmidred acres in crop in and west of town 
 and there were some forty miles of laterals in town to be wet up. The 
 ditch was new, and when the water was let in, it took it more than a 
 week to get to the end. As a result, the ditch, which had been built 
 to irrigate 5,000 acres, failed to afford sufficient water for 200 acres. 
 This experience led him, no doubt, to form opinions too high as to 
 the quantity- of water needed, but it nourished in him a very whole- 
 some contempt for parties undertaking to sell lands merely covered 
 b}' a ditch, regardless of its capacity, and by it he was induced to 
 inake a survey of the whole water supply of Xorthern Colorado.
 
 THE UXIOX COLONY OF COLORADO. 63 
 
 August 15th, he was reheved from the management or, perhaps 
 better, the mismanagement of Number Three, and B. S. La Grange, 
 who had lately appeared on the scene, put in the place. This gentle- 
 man, both by his experience in works of this kind and by his natural 
 talents, was well fitted for the place, and although he was only re- 
 tained in this service twenty days, he was employed in the fall to con- 
 struct, according to his own plans, ' Oak street lateral," a work which 
 he did most thoroughly, and which led to his being employed again 
 and again on works of this kind to the great advantage of all con- 
 cerned. 
 
 Number Three had been built by McDonald, as engineer, who had 
 had experience in constructing ditches in the mountains for mining 
 purposes. His theory was to keep the ditch in the ground, neither 
 cutting nor filling. As it ran along the notched edge of the bluff', he 
 had it make angles as sharp as the teeth of a saw, allowing no curving 
 or rounding off of the sharp points. A great part of the impro\ang of 
 the ditch consisted in cutting off, or through, these short bends. 
 When Number Two was laid out, under E. S. Nettleton, the same 
 theory was in part followed, and much work had to be done over 
 again in partly straightening the line. By the time that the " Larimer 
 and Weld " was imdertaken, the true way to build a canal had been 
 learned, and the Enghsh Company having sufficient funds, and the 
 requisite size of ditches to cover given areas being now clearly imder- 
 stood, that work was executed in a manner that established the repu- 
 tation of E. S. Nettleton as an irrigation engineer. 
 
 Perhaps it was just as well that the way before us was partly veiled 
 in darkness, as regards the necessary cost of constructing the canals 
 needed. Had we foreseen it all, we might well have hesitated before 
 starting out on a road so full of difficulties. But once having em- 
 barked, we had to face storm after storm to make our way into a safe 
 Mven. The patience, courage and perseverance of the farmers under 
 ^umber Two saved the dissolution of the colony, and the fruits of 
 their labors were the making of Greeley. This N. C. Meeker heartdy 
 acknowledged. In an article published in The Tribune August 23, 
 1876, and repeated for many issues, when speaking of the work done 
 under canal Number Two, he says, " For all this I take no credit. It 
 was the farmers themselves who took hold of the work and carried it 
 on in a most admirable manner. I only claim as founder of the 
 colony, to have provided for a system of co-operation, within limited 
 bounds, by which these things became possible."
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 WOOD, LUMBER, COAL — MILL POWER CANAL — FLOURING MILLS OF GREELEY — 
 
 DAIRY AND STOCK ASSOCIATION TROUBLE FROM LOOSE STOCK — COMMON 
 
 FENCE ADVISED BY H. GREELEY — HISTORY OF FENCE IN LEGISLATURE — 
 ILL FEELING OF STOCK MEN TOWARDS COLONY — POUND BROKEN, GUARD- 
 ING POUND — FENCE HISTORY CONCLUDED — SKETCH OF CATTLE BUSINESS. 
 
 OF the Other desirable things named by the projectors of the 
 colony, in their descriptions of its ideal site, may be men- 
 tioned timber in the near vicinity. 
 
 It was supposed that timber could be floated down the river for 
 lumber and fuel at a trifling cost. The summer before we came here 
 hundreds of thousands of ties had been floated down the Poudre for 
 the Denver Pacific railway, and it was held by the "General" that this 
 would be a profitable business for our men that wanted a job to engage 
 in. So Captain Coon, Gilchrist, Henry C. Watson and others went up 
 into the mountains, and cut logs for some 100,000 feet of lumber. But 
 the season was one scant of water. The drive could be brSught no 
 farther than Openchain's mill, just l^elow the canon of the Poudre. 
 The rest deserted Mr. Watson and he sunk his last cent, some $1500, 
 in the enterprise. He went back to Omaha and worked at his trade 
 to get a new start, and was back soon and stayed. 
 
 In the winter of '71 and 72 a wood company was formed, and the 
 unemplo3"ed men in Greeley were set to work in the mountains cutting 
 fire Avood, ties, etc. It was a good year to float, but there was no profit 
 in the business, and no more attempts have been made in that direc- 
 tion. 
 
 Sawmills were erected in two different localities, the one b}^ W. F. 
 Thompson and the other by a Mr. Hill, from the Michigan lumber 
 region. They each made two successful drives in favorable years, but 
 the business was wholly abandoned in 1874, as the numerous dams of 
 the irrigating ditches made it all but impossible to drive, and it was 
 also found that the head of water in the stream at high water was 
 very irregular for the different seasons. Since then we are wholly 
 dependent alike for wood, posts, poles and luiiiber on the railroad, 
 except occasional wagon loads brought down by the mountaineers.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 65 
 
 It was supposed, and the report circulated at the time we came here, 
 that the whole comitry arouud was underlaid with coal. A com- 
 pany was formed in the fall of 1870 to prospect for coal, but made no 
 discoveries of any near that was good for anything. Professor Hay- 
 den soon told us that the Poudre vallej^ was eroded below the lignite 
 coal deposit, which is in the tertiary, while we are on the cretaceous. 
 No depth of digging would find coal under us as we have found to be 
 true in drilling our artesian wells, one of which was put down 2,700 
 feet and no coal met. 
 
 From all this it happens that we are unfavorably situated for manu- 
 factories, so far as making cheap steam by wood or coal is concerned. 
 But there was supposed to be all the power we needed to turn machin- 
 ery from the water of the Poudre. This was one of the features of 
 our location that was dwelt upon, in the first reports of our location, 
 with peculiar satisfaction, and one of the enterprises which was early 
 projected was a mill race. Unfortunately the leaders could not be 
 diverted from this undertaking, and about $10,000 were very unwisely 
 put into this work which should have gone into the irrigating ditches. 
 
 It is to the credit of Horace Greeley that he was opposed to the 
 construction of this work. In his letters to N. C. Meeker he again and 
 again advises against building this canal ; says that we will need all 
 the water soon for irrigation, and that steam is the only power that 
 can be relied upon to do constant good work. The farmers were also 
 opposed to putting money into this work, which they plainly- saw 
 ought to go into irrigating ditches. They said it is foolish to make an 
 expenditure for grinding wheat into flour before there is any wheat 
 to grind. When there is plenty of this, a mill will come without any 
 subsidy. But the theory of the colony was that we must have a n ater 
 powor and run machinery, and so the canal was built, during tlie sum- 
 mer of 1871, at a cost of .$10,000. There is httle doubt that if the 
 trustees \)f the colony had foreseen the many evils this canal brought 
 upon us, they would never have undertaken it. It was built as a town 
 imjjrovement from moneys received from the sale of town lots, and 
 proved to be a town nuisance. It swamped the lots which had been 
 laid out below it, and the colony had to give the parties others in their 
 stead ; and where houses had been built, the colony had to be at the 
 expense for removing them to other lots and pay all damages. It 
 recjuired tlie greatest patience and sagacity to keep the colony from 
 getting into interminable lawsuits. Not only were the lands below 
 turned into a swamp, but the water rose in all the cellars in the busi- 
 ness part of town, and a petition was signed b}' the merchants to have 
 it suppressed as a luiisauce. One-fourth of it was donated to S. S. 
 
 5
 
 66 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 Kennedy & Co., as a bonus for putting up a flouring mill. This firm 
 was allowed to use the whole power free of rent. Through their care- 
 lessness a breach was made, and the company demanded that the 
 colony bear three-fourths the expense of putting it in repair. In lieu 
 of this it was finally agreed that the company put it in repair and get 
 another one-fourth for the sum of §200, the company thereafter to 
 stand all damages. In addition, the town or colony had to build and 
 maintain a number of bridges. The remaining one-half was pur- 
 chased by the mill company for $2000. So the colony sank, in this 
 enterprise, S7,800, besides the damages we have referred to, which 
 must have amounted to several thousand dollars. But during all 
 these years it was becoming worth less and less — the water being 
 needed the greater part of the summer and fall for irrigation. Steam 
 had soon to be put in, and the mill, about two years ago after becom- 
 ing the property of the Colorado Milling Company, was burned down. 
 It had stood idle while the company owned it. The canal still remains 
 one of the woi-st eyesores in Greeley. Water is seldom run in it, 
 while the water stands in it here and thei-e in stagnant pools. So has 
 passed away the early dream of G-reeley manufactories run by water 
 power. Yet the "Snow-Flake" flour manufactured at this mill and 
 marketed in the days of cheap wheat in cities far off as the Atlantic 
 coast, gave Greeley a very substantial celebrity. I suppose this same 
 "Snow-Flake" could hardly be marketed at all in these days of flouring 
 by roller process. So the old order passes, and progress fulfills itself 
 in many ways. Greeley has had another mill for a number of 3"ears, 
 but this plant is becoming antiquated, and most 'of our vv-heat is ground 
 at Eaton or sent to Denver. The big milling trust pays no regard to 
 local pride, or the emijloyment of our home industry ; and, so far as 
 co-operation in milling is concerned, we are the most backward of the 
 great wheat raisrngLJarmiug communities. Fort Collins, Loveland, 
 Berthoud and Longmont, each having independent farmers' mills of 
 the latest improved styles. Yet the genius of co-operation has not 
 completely deserted the community founded by N. C. Meeker and 
 Horace Greeley, as the successfully managed potato pools, on two 
 exigent occasions, fidly testify. 
 
 We might as well here record the failure of another early attempt 
 at co-operation. This was the Greeley Dairy and Stock Association. 
 
 It will he remembered that this was one of the things Mr. Meeker 
 had mentioned in his Cooper Institute speech. We find the following 
 notice of the enterprise in a letter of N. C. Meeker to The New York 
 Tribune of the date November 1st. 
 
 "After holding many meetings, we have finally organized, 'The
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLOBADO. 67 . 
 
 Greeley Co-operative Stock and Dairy Association,' with a capital 
 stock of $10,000. We are to engage in all kinds of business relating 
 to stock, including the supplying of the town with milk and beef. As 
 a start seventy-five head of cows and young cattle have been purchased 
 for $1,100, and the}' make a respectable show Avhen stretched out 
 across the prairie. This herd is to be increased as we find good bar- 
 gains ; and we mean to cover the imoccupied prairie in every direction 
 with our cattle. In connection, the association av^II herd horses, cows, 
 and other stock for the people of the towTi at a given sum per week, 
 and by the same organization the town can ho protected from every 
 kind of stock. This society is entirely distinct from the colom^ and 
 it is our first co-operative body. The next will be a bakery and laun- 
 dry, leading the way., if it shall be found practicable, to the co-oper- 
 ative household. But one thing at a time and slowh'. In the cattle 
 business one man can take care of large herds ; experience and capa- 
 bility can be secured, while we shall have capital sufficient to obtain 
 the breeds best suited to the country. We have labored under the 
 difficulty of not being acquainted with each other, and for a time 
 those of least merit and with glibbest tongues secured great attention. 
 But we are getting over this ; the quiet and worthy are becoming 
 known and gradually rising in esteem, which is the same as elsewhere, 
 every man finally weighing himself to the last grain and penny- 
 weight," 
 
 A. J. Wilber, in a communication to an eastern paper of the date of 
 August 22d, had written : 
 
 ''But the latest opportunity, and it bids fair to be the best, is the 
 new Stock Association. It embraces all departments of dairying, 
 herding and breeding any kind of domestic animals on Avhich profit 
 can be made. It will also butcher, if that is advisable. With the 
 \V^11 known profit of grazers, it can hardly fail to make fine dividends, 
 lisimme is the Greeley Co-operative Stock Association, and it pro- 
 poses to have a stock of $10,000, divided into shares of $10 each. 
 There is no opposition to large investments in it, and there have 
 already been some pretty heavy ones made. It is now in operation 
 with a will, and has nearly relieved us from the incursions of stock." 
 
 These were the high expectations of those engaging in this enter- 
 prise. But it proved to be an illusion. Abner S. Baker was the chief 
 manager, but J. C. Shattuck was its president, and gave much of his 
 time to it. 
 
 One reason for tlie failure was that not enough capital was sub- 
 scribed to make the stock kept on the range pay. Men only were 
 willing to ri.sk small sums. Dr. Emerson was the largest stockholder,
 
 68 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 but he did not wish to risk much. So far as I remember not more 
 than $3,000 were subscribed. Then we encountered the bad winter 
 of 1871 and 72, in which some parties k>st nearly all their stock. The 
 association did not lose much ; but it cost much to gather the 
 stock and to feed them, as hay reached the enormous price of $40 
 per ton. This high price of hay, and the general high price of grain, 
 also made the dairying unprofitable. So in the course of some two 
 years the stock was sold out, and we got out of it about fifty cents on 
 the dollar. 
 
 This put a damper on further co-operative movements. No bakery 
 or laimdry was attempted on this basis, mvich less co-operative house- 
 keeping. 
 
 It will be seen from the above quotations that one of the things that 
 were troubling us was the ravages of stock. It had been a policy of 
 the colony not to fence. This had long been a theory of Horace 
 Greeley, elaborated in his book, "What I Know of Farming." His 
 advice to the colonists had been "No fences and no rum." So far as 
 our own cattle were concerned we were going to herd them, and we 
 also proposed that if others kept cattle around our borders they would 
 be compelled to do the same. The stock association had in view the 
 occupying of the whole range in the immediate vicinity, and keeping 
 the other range stock off at a respectable distance. 
 
 There was not much trouble during the early summer months while 
 the feed was good, but as soon as it began to fail and the herds began 
 to roam, they saw our green cultivated spots and moved in to partake. 
 Two herders were employed, the one for the night and the other for 
 the day, and one had to keep constantly in the saddle. In spite of 
 their best efforts, much of what we raised was destroyed. This was 
 the state of affairs about the time Mr. Meeker was starting his paper, 
 and the first use the new type was put to, was printing the following 
 proclamation of war upon the cattlemen. 
 
 Greeley Tribune — Extra. 
 
 [First use of our type.) 
 
 " A colony meeting wiU be held Tuesday evening, October 11th, to 
 adopt measures for preventing the ravages of cattle. It is now ascer- 
 tained that all the laws previously in force, compelling cultivators to 
 build fences, have been repealed, and that whatever damage cattle 
 running at large may do, can be collected of their owners. Having, 
 as citizens of the town of Greeley, submitted quietly through all the 
 past season to what was supposed to be the law, we should now claim 
 our right under the law as it really exists. But since owners of
 
 THE L'XIOX COLONY OF COLORADO. 69 
 
 cattle, and in particulai' members of the colon3% upon having been 
 properly notified of their liability for damages, pay no attention to 
 the matter ; and their cattle still roam through our streets and over 
 our fields eating up the last vestige of our labors as a preliminary to 
 an attack upon our shade trees and their total destruction, it is time 
 that we meet and defend ourselves with the powers of the law. The 
 protection of our strawberry grounds, containing as much as a quarter 
 million of plants alone, demand our organization. This is not so 
 much a question iu regard to fences as in regard to order and decency, 
 for our town and colony will be disgraced by cattle running at large 
 through our streets; shade trees will be impossible, for even fesces 
 themselves will be comparatively useless since there are enough breachy 
 cattle to demolish common fences, the same as in Denver, and in all 
 the ranches of the territory where the vast herds will repeat this year 
 their course of desolation. The law is right in compelling men to take 
 care of their stock, and it is not possible to make stock profitable un- 
 less it is taken care of. N. C. Meeker." 
 
 This was the state of affairs when Horace Greeley visited us, which 
 was on the 12th, the day after the meeting above announced. He saw 
 that our situation was peculiar, and advised Mr. Meeker privately, as 
 the latter afterwards informed the writer, to build a fence enclosing 
 all the colony lands. This accordingly was undertaken next spring, 
 under superintendence of Nelson Holmes, and was prosecuted with 
 much vigor, and the work done in a most thorough manner. It was 
 deemed best to put the fence on the top of the lower bank of the 
 ditches, so that the vast, hungry herds, impelled by blizzards, would 
 be checked in charging the fence by the ditch and its bank. But such 
 a fence was very costly. The posts were large and cost twenty-five 
 cenj;§_apiece, and there was one every sixteen feet, and there were two 
 heavy poles and two smooth wires, no barbed wire being then manu- 
 factured. This wire cost eight cents per pound, by the carload. Such 
 a fence cost $400 per mile. Before we got through we had to build 
 some fifty miles, hence, costing in the aggregate $20,000. It was into 
 this fence that most of the money realized from the sale of town lots 
 went, instead of into the improvements contemplated b}' the founders of 
 the colony. But its construction was no complete protection. We 
 had no right to put gates across the public roads leading into the 
 town and colony. Our first effort in the legislature was to get this 
 permission, and in the winter of 1872 3, we got permission to keep 
 gates shut for the seven summer months. Then the next attempt was 
 to get a law allowing communities to form fence districts, with certain 
 privileges. This Jmeasure was carried at the next session of the legis-
 
 70 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 lature, aud the Poudre Valley feuce district was organized under 
 stringent restrictions, imposed bj the legislature. Among them was 
 the one that the County Commissioners should pass along the fence 
 and determine whether it was a legal one. This Avas not finally ac- 
 complished until July 17, 1876. Two of the three commissioners were 
 stockmen, aud they made our task as difficult as possible, much of 
 the fence having to l^e reconstrvicted to suit their Avhims. 
 
 The construction of this fence, undertaken as a peace offering to 
 the stockmen, was not accepted in this spirit.* In fact most of them 
 
 * J. L. Brush was an exception and worked for our fence bill, 
 whether he was a member of the legislature or not. 
 did not want us here. Thej could easily see that the taking up of 
 lands along the streams, and the fencing of them tip, was going to be 
 the death blow to the stock business in this region. They generally 
 maintained the ^dew that the countrj^ was good for nothing save for 
 grazing, and that we were fools for undertaking to farm it. Hence 
 our fence was ridiculed, and we were accused of Ijeing ])roud and 
 wanting to keep ourselves to ourselves, as a peculiar and very holy 
 people. We were Greeley " Saints " who had fenced ourselves in from 
 the " heathen around about," and the tone of some of Mr. Meeker's 
 letters to The New York Tribune partly supported this view of the 
 case. Take this for instance : 
 
 " Our peculiar case is, we have come in contact with that form of 
 society which existed long ago, namely, the shepherd life; for Colo- 
 rado is little more than a vast stock ranch; and we, having entered 
 upon the work of carrying out latest improvements in horticulture, 
 farming, fruit-growing, and the like, h^re come in contact with a 
 system that cannot harmonize with us. There is no use, however, of 
 making complaints ; we are on the ground and must do the best that 
 we can with the powers bequeathed to us out of the immense difficul- 
 ties of the ages past and gone. The amount of suffering that labor- 
 ing people must have endured in the early ages from scarcity of food, 
 from cold, from ague, from insects, and from rabbits, must have l^een 
 appalling, and there can be no doubt but that the effects of what 
 they endured have been handed down to us in diseases, in the expres- 
 sion of our faces and in the cast of our eyes, giving a species of im- 
 mortality that is to be carried forward to the end of time." 
 
 Mr. Meeker also differed with the stockmen as to how stock should 
 be kept for profit here. On this point we quote from these same 
 letters : 
 
 " Please take note here, that I utterly repudiate the idea that cattle 
 can be grown in this country without shelter and without prepared
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. / i 
 
 winter food, at a profit. It is true that in the stock business, as now 
 carried on, there is no provision for either; and it is also true that cattle 
 live through the winter and look well, though the gi-eat number of car- 
 casses, which we saw last February, is suspicious. I suspect that the al- 
 leged profits of stock-growing here belong more to the future, than to the 
 past or present, for there are no indications of wealth, such as are pre- 
 sented in places where the leading pursuit is profitable. Even if it were 
 as profitable as it is claimed, the wild fife connected with it, ill fits men 
 to save what they earn, and it is of the least consequence how much a 
 man makes if he saves nothing. But grant everything that can hs said 
 in regard to keeping cattle over winter on the range, it has application 
 only to an unsettled country, and where an hundred head have the 
 range of half a million acres; for the business so conducted comes to 
 an end when the vallejjs shall be thickly settled as theij are destined 
 soon to be. The idea I want to convey is, that although Colorado is 
 unequalled as a stock countr}^ the business must soon be conducted 
 in almost the same way as it is elsewhere, if it is to be profitable," 
 
 In predicting this final pushing of the stock business to the wall, by 
 the settlement of the country by farming communities along the 
 streams, Mr. Meeker proved himself a true prophet. 
 
 It is well known that Mr. Greeley held the same views about the 
 barbarous way in which the stock business was managed here, and 
 had predicted that some hard winter would cut them off nearly 
 wholly. So when the severe winter of 1871-2 came, and Meeker wrote 
 him a private letter about the great losses, Mr. Greeley thought it too 
 good to keep, and pubhshed it in The Tribune, to the great consterna- 
 tion of the cattlemen, for it impaired their credit in the east, and they 
 never forgave Mr. Meeker for this.=^= 
 
 * See Mr^reeley's letters on this published elsewhere. 
 
 The resmt of all this was a very hostile state of affairs between the 
 people of Greelej" and the stockmen, and some of these were of our 
 own household. 
 
 After the town was organized in the spring of '71, it was lawful for 
 Greeley to have a pound and impound in it stock running on the 
 streets. This was accordingly done. Now most of the stock that was 
 harassing us belonged to small herds kept by men in, or close to 
 Greeley; so these men formed a league and broke the pound regu- 
 larl3-. These difficulties came in the winter time when the feed was 
 gone and severe storms were raging. It was the general belief of 
 those not keeping stock, that these small stockmen in our midst had 
 made up t)ieir minds to winter their stock at the general expanse, and 
 in defiance of the general sentiment, and to the groat detriment of
 
 72 
 
 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 every kind of property in town. There is quite a general feeling 
 among loose, lawless characters, that law-abiding, peaceable, moral 
 men are cowards; and the old settlers and a few of our own men, who 
 were now affiliating with them, had this opinion of Mr. Meeker and 
 his clan. But all history teaches that when such peace-loving men 
 are thoroughly aroused by injustice and insolence, they become the 
 most determined fighters. So it was found in this case. Many of us 
 had seen service in the late war. Nearly all had brought with them 
 repeating rifles and revolvers. So a number of us banded ourselves 
 together, and, taking turns, kept guard in a vacant house near the 
 pound. It was understood that the rest were to rally to the scene of 
 action upon the first report of the rifles. But no attempt for a long 
 time was made to break the pound. It was now coming on spring, 
 and as most of us were farmers who were doing the guarding, it was 
 deemed best to move the cattle to Mr. Adams' barnyard, then vacant, 
 where they could more easily be guarded, as there was a large barn 
 connected with a small, well-inclosed corral. Here it was believed 
 one man, with a Winchester repeating rifle, would be sufficient. Ed. 
 Williams, an ex-confederate soldier, undertook to guard it against all 
 comers. This the cattle league was well aware of. So one Sunday, 
 when everybody was at church, three men dashed into town on horse- 
 back, armed and masked, broke open the corral gate, and drove the 
 cattle over the hills towards Evans, While this was being done, our 
 guard was asleep, or 2:>retended to be, as most suspected. The wi-iter 
 happened to be in Denver and got home just in time to hear the news 
 that the cattle had been rescued about half an hour before his arrival. 
 Who did the rescuing was kept a secret for a long time, but it is now 
 known who they were and that one of them was a colonist. But this 
 put an end to breaking the Greeley pound. Farther legislation en- 
 abled us to form the fence district above spoken of, and we were now 
 enabled to keep the gates closed during the winter as well as the 
 summer. 
 
 Here we may as well close the history of the Grreeley fence. More 
 than twelv^e thousand dollars were expended in its construction dur- 
 ing the spring of 1871, and the east end was still unenclosed. This 
 was accomplished under great difficulties on account of the exhaus- 
 tion of colony funds during the next year. It was sold March, 1874, 
 to the fence district for $9,000, to be paid in four yearly instalhnents 
 without interest. Many changes had to be made in order to get it 
 legalized. A bill was gotten through the legislature enabling fence 
 districts to issue bonds. Ten thousand dollars of such bonds were 
 issued, and a yearly tax, usually about ten cents an acre, levied, to pay
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 73 
 
 the interest and keep the fence in repair. But now we have come to the 
 end. The district put on a tax last year sufficient to pay off 14,000 of the 
 bonds. The fence is now being sold in sections at, on an average, twelve 
 and a half cents per rod. When this sale is completed a sufficient 
 tax will be imposed to pay off the rest of the bonds, $4,000, and so the 
 celebrated Greeley fence is practically no more. Teiiipora mutantur 
 et nos miifamur in ea. 
 
 Most of the farmers have already individual fences. Barbed wire has 
 wrought a revolution in fencing on the plains. A more efficient fence 
 can now be built for |103 per mile than the colony one was, which 
 cost ItOO per mile. But the colony fence did good service in its day, 
 and was one of the means of saving it from the ruin, which so speedily 
 came upon sister colonies soon after organized upon our plan. 
 
 There were but few imitations of this co-operative fencing. One 
 was at Orchard and another at Sterling, both down the Platte, and 
 organized by Greeley men. And both were successful. The English 
 Company, upon the completion of the Larimer and Weld canal, also 
 enclosed the land under it with a common fence, which, however, was 
 not incorporated, and hence, had no legal standing. But this fence, 
 too, did good service for the farmers under it. It is now virtually 
 a bandoned and most of the lands are fenced in sections. The winter 
 feed now pays much more than interest on fencing, and since the 
 advent of alfalfa, farmers are beginning to keep small bunches of 
 cattle which are herded on the plains in summer and kept on the farm 
 in winter. Just now the business does not pay well, as the price of 
 beef is too low. Dairying is also practiced much more than it was in 
 the early days, when a farmer usually kept only one cow, which was 
 picketedjn the summer and fed corn fodder in the winter. 
 
 Th^^ream from these dairies is usually sold to the Greeley cream- 
 ery. But the produ ction of this cream is not found profitable when 
 all the work has to be paid for in the high wages obtaining in Colo- 
 rado. If a farmer has a robust family of growing-up hojH and girls, 
 and is more anxious to make money than to have them educated, then 
 such a dairy may be carried on profitably, otherwise not; and soon 
 these small herds will be turned into beef producers -the black polled 
 cattle being kept to grade up with. 
 
 Meantime the general cattle business on the plains is undergoing a 
 revolution. Fortunes were rapidly made after the hard winter of 
 1871-2, as no severely disastrous winters have followed since then, 
 and while the price of beef was steadily advancing. Since, the tide 
 has been ebbing, as many fortunes have been lost in the business, and 
 the number of cattle that can be kept safely on the slopes facing the
 
 74 A HISTORY OF GREELEY .\ND 
 
 South Platte is steadily decreasing on account of the continuous line 
 of settlements on both its banks. 
 
 The latest movement is the formation of a great Cattle Trust, in- 
 cluding Texas, Indian Territory, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming. 
 Its capital stock is 13,000,000. It has some ten well-located camps, or 
 headquarters, extending from the north to the south of states and 
 territories named. Texas and New Mexico are to be the breeding 
 grounds, Colorado and Wyoming the fattening grounds. J. L. Brush 
 and Bruce F. Johnson, two of our leading citizens, are among the pro- 
 moters and managers of this gigantic enterprise, and it seems destined 
 to swallow up the general cattle business of the plains. 
 
 This is co-operation on a gigantic scale, and with able and wealthy 
 men at its head; and the rest of the cattle business is likely to be 
 carried on by co-operation of farmers, each keeping a small bunch at 
 home in the winter, and having them herded in common near the re- 
 spective settlements in summer. These small bunches, more or less 
 closely herded and monopolizing the water near the settlements, will 
 keep the large herds of the Cattle Trust far away from the settle- 
 ments, and so long as the natural causes remain, which make Colorado 
 a dry climate, so long there will remain vast tracts open for large herds, 
 and the " Cattle Trust " will find a field for its operations. The old 
 feeling of hostilit}^, that originated so natiu-ally when the colony set- 
 tled here, between the farmers and cattlemen, has long ago died out; 
 and J. L. Brush has done more than any other man to bring about 
 this desirable consummation. May he experience the blessedness 
 promised the peacemaker.
 
 CHAPTER YI. 
 
 ORIGINAL COLONISTS, LIST OF IN APPENDIX CERTIFICATES RETURNED FOR RE- 
 
 DEaiPTION DIVISION OF TOWN PLAT INTO LOTS AND OF OUTSIDE LANDS 
 
 NEAR TOWN — LANDS DEEDED TO HORACE GREELEY IN TRUST — CONVEYED 
 AT LENGTH TO THE CORPORATION, AND BY IT TO INDIVIDUAL JIE3IBERS — 
 SALARIES OF OFFICERS, TRUSTEES SERVE WITHOUT COMPENSATION SEVEN 
 YEARS — REPORT OF AUDITING C0.M3IITTEE — CARE OF TREES — FRUIT-GROW- 
 ING A FAILURE AT GREELEY — N. C. MEEKER ON THE DIFFICULTIES OF TREE 
 CULTURE -^FORCED GROWTH OF GREELEY DURING FIRST YEAR — DIFFICULTY 
 OF SETTLING OVER THE RIVER BEFORE WATER WAS IN NUMBER TWO — CELE- 
 BRATION OF FIRST FOURTH — HORACE GREELEY VISITS THE TOWN NAMED 
 AFTER HIM — GREELEY TRIBUNE PROSPECTUS — COLONY TO BE A MODEL FOR 
 OTHER COLONIES — HORACE GREELEY ADVISES N. C. MEEKER TO SELL OUT 
 THE TRIBUNE TO THE "COLORADO SUn" PEOPLE — HORACE GREELEy's LOAN 
 TO N. C. MEEKER AND THE OUTCOME OF IT. 
 
 IX Appendix D (a) will be found a list of the names with postoffice 
 address of those wdio joined the colony in New York up to 
 about April 1st, 1870. More names must have been taken during- 
 the month of April. This list contains onlj^ the names of those who 
 paid the full membership fee of .$155. Many paid only the initiation 
 fee of $5, and di-opped out. 
 
 Old settlers will see that of the 142 on this list, less than 200 ever 
 irade^eir appearance here. Some sent on their certificates and had 
 friends "locate"' them. Others who had heard evil reports, and be- 
 lieved them, held their certificates until the end of the first year after 
 the location was made — April 5th, 1871 — and then sent them on for 
 redemption. It was a part of the original contract that, if lands were 
 not selected according to the rules and regulations adopted by the 
 executive committee, then the colony should paj' back the $150 with 
 interest at seven per cent. So far as I can make out from the books, 
 about ninety»were held back for redenijition. Only those issued at 
 New Yoi"k were so redeemable. Those bought here must be exchanged 
 for lands of the colon3^ 
 
 The redemption of these certificates became a matter of great em- 
 barrassment to the colon}'. Much of the money coming in from the 
 sale of town lots, during the spring of 1871, was used in this way
 
 76 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 instead of going towards town improvements. But many were not 
 presented now, and when they were, could not then be paid. This 
 brought the colony into ill-repute, being charged with repudiating its 
 debts. However, it was always the intention to pay these ol^ligations, 
 although they could not have been collected on account of statutory 
 hmitation. When, at length, the colony fence was sold to the "Poudre 
 Valley Fence Company," in the month of March, 1874, provision was 
 made for paying them off with interest up to date of settlement at 
 seven per cent, per annum. 
 
 The colony at last was able to meet every obligation it incurred, 
 either in law or equity, and so the fair fame of its founders has been 
 maintained inviolate. 
 
 Tliere were issTied in all, as near as I can make out from the book, 
 687 one hundred and fifty-five dollar certificates, the proceeds from 
 which would he .f 106,-485. In addition to this, many paid an extra 
 $75 for water rights to eighty acres of government land, which they 
 were allowed to take on their certificates by paying this sum— the 
 certificate itself being paid for by the selection of one of the minor 
 subdivisions of colony land.* 
 
 The names of those who took certificates out, and not found on the 
 above list, together with those who bought old certificates and got the 
 original deeds from the colony, will be found in Appendix D (b) 
 
 This list foots up within two of three hundred. This, would make 
 in all 740 members ; but a number of these bought certificates whose 
 original purchasers appear on first list. 
 
 The town was laid out, as near as possible, a mile square. The lots 
 Avere fi'om 25 to 200 feet front, with a depth of 190 feet, except the 
 two tiers of blocks on each side of Main street, which were 115 feet 
 deep. The colony lands on this side of the river, outside of town, 
 were divided into five, ten, and twenty acre lots, and those on the other 
 side, except near the river, into twenty and forty acre lots. On one 
 certificate could be entered one business and one residence lot, to be 
 paid for at $50 for corners and |25 for inside lots. A small subdivision 
 of the colony lands satisfied the certificate if one did not choose to 
 take other outside land, but an additional railroad eighty could be 
 bought and the water go with it, or a water-deed for a government 
 eighty could be had for an additional $75. This was cheap Avater, if 
 it had been sufficient to irrigate the whole. But it was not, even after 
 the first enlargement, sulficient to irrigate more than twenty acres of 
 an eighty acre lot. It really meant that it gave each one a propor- 
 
 * The total amount received from all sources by the Colony was 
 a)x)ut $175,000.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 77 
 
 tionate share in the ditch, with the privilege of going on and making 
 it large enough as they became able. The first enlargement of Num- 
 ber Three was provided for by putting a tax of 12.50 on each town 
 lot and $5 on each subdivision of outside land under it, and this sum 
 was added to the cost as first agreed upon, and must be paid before 
 the deed could be granted. This, too, made ill feeling on the part of 
 some, but whether considered just or not, its necessity was seen, and 
 what came on all alike and benefited all taxed, could not be far from 
 right. 
 
 The land had all been deeded to Horace Greeley in trust, who was 
 to deed it to the individual members as directed by the executive com- 
 mittee. But this was found to be an inconvenient way of doing busi- 
 ness, and it, was deemed better to have Mr. Greeley deed it to Union 
 Colony as a corporate body. There was a grave doubt on the part of 
 some lawyers whether the colony could, luider the laws, own and con- 
 vey real estate. Denver lawyers were consulted, and it was found that 
 it could, and the conveyance was made ]:>efore any deeds were made 
 to individuals. 
 
 We have seen that one of the resolutions of the IHth of June, was 
 that the executive committee should serve without compensation 
 except for actual services rendered by the president, superintendent 
 and secretary. This Avas meant as a blow at the three last-named 
 officers who had been receiving regxilar salaries. In the "West" cir- 
 cular it had been stated : "Regarding the salaries of officers we 
 would say that the executive committee in session at New York deter- 
 mined that Mr. Meeker, president, should receive the sum of IIBO per 
 month for his services while actively engaged for the colony ; that his 
 son, Ealph Meeker, as assistant secretary, should receive $50 per 
 month, until the business was closed in New York, which has already 
 been ordered done. It was also agreed that Mr. Cameron, vice-presi- 
 dent, should act as superintendent, and, after the location of the lands, 
 should remain on the ground to receive the people and attend to their 
 wants, and that for such actual services he should be paid |7 per day; 
 until relieved by the executive committee. Upon Mr. West being ap- 
 pointed secretary it was agreed that he should be paid |6 per day for 
 actual service, until relieved by the executive conmiittee." 
 
 These salaries, it was contended, were too high, and that, after the 
 first settlement, the three officers should not be receiving continual 
 salaries at these extravagant figures. The New York executive com- 
 mittee had no existence any longer, only one of them, Richmond Fisk, 
 had ever appeared on the ground. That if there was anybody having 
 a right to suspend and regulate that matter, it was the executive com-
 
 78 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 mittee just elected. These officers claimed (except Sleeker) that they 
 had left higher salaries to attend to the business of the colony ; to 
 which it was replied that we had all left our former business, and 
 must expect to lose a year's time in getting things started. The 
 advance in the value of real estate it was expected would compensate 
 for this loss of time ; and that the officers would be gainers in this as 
 well as the rank and file. It was not denied that a reasonable com- 
 pensation should be paid for time devoted to the service of the colony, 
 but steady salaries at these high figures ought not to be tolerated. 
 
 From the books I find that the follomng sums were paid these 
 officers : 
 
 N. C. Meeker, for services rendered, .^650, the time being from Jan- 
 uary 3d to May 4th. 
 
 R. A. Cameron received for serxnces .S563, commencing at same date 
 and ending August 15th. Hence the General seems to have charged 
 only for time actually spent. At this date the office of superintendent 
 was suspended. 
 
 H. T. West received for services .1H45 his time presumably com- 
 mencing when he joined the locating committee, and terminating July 
 15th. 
 
 At this date Mr. West offered to do the work of the secretary free, 
 provided an assistant secretary was engaged to do the principal part 
 of the work. Frank M. Babcock was employed to do this work at $3 
 per day, and he was afterwards engaged as regular secretary at same 
 figures. This was the sum regularly paid the secretary for time 
 actually spent, imtil Mr. Shattuck took it for five per cent, of disburse- 
 ments. The colony board served without compensation until June 
 30th, 1877, and from then they received one dollar apiece per session, 
 provided there were not more than six sessions in the year. No one, not 
 having served on this board, has any adequate idea of the time thus 
 given away, and the mental anxiety that it cost during the first years. 
 Sessions were frequent, and were often prolonged beyond midnight. 
 This devotion and self-sacrifice on the part of the trustees were among 
 the chief causes that enabled the colony to pull through the dark days 
 that followed the spring of 1871. 
 
 The last of the resolutions of June 18th. was, " That the executive 
 committee be requested to appoint an auditing committee of three, 
 not of their own number, sufficiently competent for the purpose of 
 examining and auditing the colony accounts, and that it make a re- 
 port to the colon}' monthly." 
 
 Such a committee was appointetl, but it never made any report to 
 the colonij. Hence there was general dissatisfaction; and about the
 
 THE UNION COLONT OF COLORADO. 79 
 
 first of September, a colony meeting took the matter into its own 
 hands, and elected an auditing committee of five, whose names were 
 E. T. Nichols, James H. Johnson, William Foote, Jr., W. E. Pabor 
 and David Boyd. The executive committee was requested to hand 
 over all books and accounts to this committee, which it did. A week 
 was spent in tliis work. The accounts were found to be substantially 
 correct, and thence the honesty of the officers vindicated. But it 
 was found that of .$100,160.00 received, .$87,814.79 had been expended, 
 and some of it, it was deemed, not wisely. Only a little over 112,000 
 was in the treasury, and of the sum expended, only about .$6,000 had 
 gone into ditches. The estimated cost of Number Two was $20,000. 
 There were some -$3.5,000 due in the spring for town lots, but this, it 
 was contended, according to the original agreement, was to go into 
 town improvements. The question of sufficient water for ii-rigation, 
 was now coming home to the farmers, and there now arose two parties, 
 a town party and a country party. The fu-st had the original 
 agreement in its favor; the other the exigency of the situation, and 
 could easily show that there could only be an insignificant town if 
 agriculture proved a failure. 
 
 The expenditures itemized, were as follows : Cost of lands, $61,- 
 882.68; sun-ey of laud, .$1,804.15; cost of ditch Number Three, $5,- 
 966.24; cost of bridges, $263.-59; survey of ditch Number T^^o 
 $458,67; fuel, shelter and sundries, $3,125.31; expense account to 
 July 9th, $1,198..39; cost of town survey, $762,45; town improvements, 
 $2,557.05; tree account, $1,490.90; Colony HaU, $1,,500; New York 
 general expense account, $2,595.41; Greeley general expense accoimt, 
 $3,819.38; sundries, $395.65. In aU, .$87,814.79. 
 
 The committee was unable to get a balance sheet from the treas- 
 urer, Hoi-ace Greeley, and his bookkeeper never could fiirnish one 
 that would balance b}^ some two thousand dollars. This was always 
 attributed to the looseness of the way in which the business had been 
 done, and not to dishonesty on the part of Mr. Greeley. If dislionesty 
 there was, it must have been on the part of his employes, as Mr. 
 Greeley was known to be incapable of even entertaining the thought 
 of appropriating the funds of the colony to his own use. Various 
 attempts were made to get at the root of the difficulty, but without 
 satisfactory results. J. Heron Foster spent more than two months in 
 the luidertaking, but never reached au}^ end. 
 
 One of the most injudicious expenditures was the purchase of a 
 carload of trees, partly shade and partly fruit, from the Bloomington 
 Nurseries, by N. C. Meeker. It cost, witk freight and incidental ex- 
 penses, over $1,400. These trees came long before water was in the
 
 80 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 ditch, and they had to be heeled in near the river. After water was 
 brought into town and eondiicted along the streets, it was well on in 
 June, and the trees were then set out under great disadvantages. 
 However, the work was well done, and most of them made a start,, 
 but the great bulk of them died the following winter. The maples 
 along Main street ditch, and the few elms in the park, are the rehcs of 
 this early shade tree planting. As to the fruit trees, I do not 
 believe one of them was alive two years afterwards. It never oc- 
 curred to Mr. Meeker or the other members of the locatmg committee 
 that this could be other than a fruit country. This was one of th& 
 great expectations in which we were doomed to be disappointed. But 
 nothing had then been done here to enable them to decide the ques- 
 ■ tion one way or another. They went upon what they saw in Utah, 
 and supposed that the conditions here were identical. Not only did 
 they think that apples could be grown here, but also cherries, pears, 
 peaches, apricots, and all kinds of grapes. Some locahties have 
 proved suitable for the apple, but unfortunately ours seems to be one of 
 the worst in this regard. The locating committee had looked over 
 the very spot near Canon City that has turned out the best fruit district 
 this side of the range. But there was nothing then there to indicate 
 this, except the fact, which Mr. West tells me they were apprised of, 
 namely, that here the freighters were in the habit of turning out their 
 broken-down animals to recover through the winter, thereby showing 
 that here the winters were unusualh' mild. 
 
 Many other locahties are found favorable to the production of the 
 hardy standard fruits, but I believe that in every instance those places 
 are nearer the mountains than we are. Some still keep hoping and 
 planting, believing that long cultivation and irrigation will so im- 
 prove the conditions that we will at last succeed. But so far the 
 results have been most discouraging. Dr. Shaw would hardly admit 
 that there was anything in the natural surroundings insuperable, and 
 seems to blame us rather than them. But I beheve there never was 
 a people so set their hearts upon having orchards, laden with fruit,, 
 adorning their premises. When we foimd that standard apples could 
 not be relied upon, we planted whole orchards of the finer Kussian. 
 crabs; but only to see them struck with the blight and die at the top. 
 These orchards now all lie prostrate, and the vernal air is no longer 
 scented with their delicious perfume. 
 
 Mr. Meeker advertised in his paper for a number of years for con- 
 tracts to plant trees for absentees. In all these undertakings he was 
 as unsuccessfid as he Avell could be. In The Tribune for March lith, 
 1877, he makes a clean breast of it in the following words :
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 81 
 
 " When we located in this valley of Colorado, we had no kind of 
 idea of the difficulties attending the culture of many kinds of vege- 
 tation. The great variety of forest trees which grow in the states 
 without any trouble, many of them as spontaneously as w^eeds, can 
 here scarcely be made to live when brought hither with the greatest 
 care and cultivated with the utmost attention. Thousands upon 
 thousands of evergreens and larches have been set in this town and 
 vicinity, and now we know of one larch that is alive, and which per- 
 haps grows an inch a year ; and there are not more than a dozen ever- 
 greens. Perhaps twenty barrels of black walnuts, butternuts, and 
 hickory nvits have been sown, and there can be foimd a few^ Ijlack 
 walnut trees two and three feet high, which, during some winters, 
 freeze to the ground. Chestnuts live about as well as bananas would. 
 Of the vast number of ajjple trees obtained the first year, it is doubt- 
 ful whether twenty are alive ; and pears, cherries and plums have gone 
 the same way. The hardiest sorts of apples, usually ironclads else- 
 where, have been carefully nursed and watched, and they have grown 
 into nice trees, but the fierce cold wdnds have struck them to the heart. 
 Our experience seems to be, that what we can save from the winter, 
 and we can do a good deal in this way, the grasshoppers seize ; they 
 eat out buds and blossoms, cut off leaves, even gnaw Ijark, and do dis- 
 gusting work. It is likely we shall he able to conquer these creatures 
 in some way, for it seems now probable, while it is in our favor that 
 we never have such crowds of them as come down over Kansas, Ne- 
 l^raska and Minnesota. A gentleman of the latter state assured us 
 last fall that the grasshoppers covered fields in his neighborhood six 
 inches deep all over, a thing apparently incrediljle, but he was a 
 truthful man." 
 
 It is worthy of remark that we at length learned how to grow^ ever- 
 greens, and many beautiful ones now adorn our lawns and sidewalks, 
 and that Mr. Meeker kei:)t planting until he, among the first, succeeded. 
 About larches, I suppose the same wovdd be true had we kept on try- 
 ing, for J. Max. Clark has a few beauties. The da}- may come when 
 the hardier apple trees will also succeed. 
 
 During these first four months money was plenty, and was spent 
 with too lavish a hand. There was too much of a tendenc}- to push 
 things in a magnificcMit style, and have a cit}^ spring as by magic 
 from the bosom of the naked plains. The favorite figure of the 
 " General " was to have the " desert blossom as the rose." It is true 
 that, under the forcing process adopted, we had a sort of a town 
 grow up in a hurry. But it was at first only a mushroom growth. 
 If one took lots in town, it was required that one of them be built
 
 82 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 upon within a year, and before deeds could be got; and building on 
 one's outside lying lands would not answer the same purpose. So it 
 happened that those who did not intend to make the town their per- 
 manent place of abode, just put up such shanties as would secure 
 their deeds. Most of these inferior buildings were at length moved 
 out into the country, but for a long time a part remained unoccupied, 
 the glass in the windows nearly all broken out by the bad boys of 
 the town. 
 
 This arbitrary requirement of the management to build in town, 
 was always, in the mind of the writer, a great mistake, and was 
 abandoned by the board later on. It will be seen from the resolu- 
 tions, from which we have already quoted, that a majority of the peo- 
 ple at that time was opposed to it, holding that each individual had 
 a right to build on any of his parcels of ground he might select. In 
 this I believe the masses were wiser than their leaders. 
 
 From this it happened that when Horace Greeley visited us, 
 October 12th, he found the settlement all town and no country--a 
 state of affairs he very much disliked. It is true that it was now next 
 to impossible to settle on the lands over the river. No benefit could 
 have come from it and much privation would have been experienced. 
 There was no bridge, there was no ditch, and no one knew how deep 
 one w^ould have to dig before getting water. When experiment was 
 made, it was found to vary from fifty to seventy-five feet, and then it 
 was in most places undrinkable from alkali. When these circum- 
 stances were set before him, he Avas appeased. But this did not 
 apply to small tracts on this side of the river, where people should 
 have been allowed to build if they wished. 
 
 Mr. Greeley had been expected to be here on the Fourth of July 
 and deliver an oration at our celebration of that day. The state of 
 his health did not permit this. Indeed, from his letters to N. C. 
 Meeker, it can be seen that he was breaking down from overwork, and 
 he was s.ighing for the time when he could retire, and expressed the 
 wish that he could spend the evening of his day amongst us. 
 
 But the Fourth was celeljrated in grand style, nevertheless. There 
 was an oration by General E. M. Lee, of Cheyenne, a poem by Willie 
 E. Pabor, read by J. G. Cooper; the reading of the Declaration of 
 Independence, by H. T. West; response to the toast, "Our Country, 
 the Hope of the World," by Governor Evans; to toast, " The Declara- 
 tion of Independence," by E. C. Monk, with music by the military 
 band from Fort Russell, etc. 
 
 When Mr. Greeley did arrive in our town at the date named, he was 
 met at the depot by nearly the entire population, and received Avith
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. * 83 
 
 three rousing cheers. He was escorted to The Greeley Tribune 
 building, where it was arranged he should address the people at 1 : 30 
 o'clock. A hasty stand was constructed in front of the office, and 
 from this he talked to the people in a calm, fatherly way, giving them 
 what he believed good, practical advice. He spoke in praise of irriga- 
 tion compared with rain, for successful farming; advised herding the 
 stock rather than fencing; found fault that so little had been done 
 in the country compared with the town, and advised them to form a 
 Farmers' Club, and other associations, for information and amuse- 
 ment. He gave the Colorado cattlemen a good hit, when speaking of 
 the drouth in some of the eastern states, on account of which many 
 cattle were dying, they having not 3'et learned that grass, after it was 
 dried up and eaten off, was still good feed for cattle. 
 
 While here he wrote a letter for The Tribune, which is quite inac- 
 ciu-ate in many of its statements. He had only heard the side of the 
 officers, and his own observations were hasty and superficial. 
 
 The first number of The Greeley Tribune was issued November 
 16, 1870, and from that day to this it has been a power in Greeley. 
 The following is its prospectus : 
 
 The Greeley Tribune is printed at Greeley, Colorado, and its ob- 
 jects are, 
 
 " First. To give full particulars of whatever relates to the Union 
 Colony, of which the town of Greeley is the center, and to show the 
 advantage of colonization on our plan. 
 
 " Second. To call attention to the attractions and wonderful resour- 
 ces of the Rocky Mountain countr3% of which httle is yet known by 
 the American people. 
 
 " Third. To teach that the highest power that man can exhibit 
 grows out of mental culture, and at the same time, out of well estab- 
 lished habits of industry connected either with the cultivation of the 
 soil or with some mechanical pursuit. 
 
 " Fourth. To enforce the doctrine that the foundation of all pros- 
 perit}', whether of nations or individuals, is based on the family rela- 
 tion as maintained in civilized countries, and that the highest ambition 
 of a famil}^ should be to have a comfortable and, if possible, an 
 elegant home surrounded hj orchards, and ornamental ground, on 
 lands of its own.'' 
 
 In regard to the first of these objects, it may be said that no news- 
 paper was more intensely local than The Greeley Tribune as con- 
 ducted by N. C. Meeker. It was, however, the intention of both 
 himself and Mr. Greeley to make this a model for many colonies to 
 ioUow its general plan, and settle the rest of the arid plains suscept-
 
 84 - A HISTOEY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 ible of irrigation. It was to be like Arthur's " Round Table," " The 
 beginning of a time.'' Hence the organization as originally named 
 at New York was "Union Colony Number One." So we see that not 
 only was it designed to have others follow as independent movements, 
 but that others should be organized by the leaders of Union Colony 
 and under its auspices. When Mr. Greeley returned to New York, he 
 pubhshed in his paper answers to a series of nineteen questions relat- 
 ing to Union Colony. This is one of them : 
 
 "'Would you recommend the formation of more such colonies?' 
 ' Yes, ten thousand like this, or as much better as can be devised.' " By 
 the way, this series of questions and their answers are pifblished in this 
 first number of Tlie Greeley Tribune, and here we will quote one 
 other : 
 
 "'Will the colony live and prosper?' 'That depends upon the 
 people. I do not see how it can well contrive to die, unless its mem- 
 bers should take to drink or some kindred folly, and so squander their 
 magnificent opportunities.' " 
 
 In accordance with this general colonization scheme, when there 
 was a caU for the first meeting of the Chicago Colony, Meeker and 
 Cameron went from here and attended it, and took a leading part in 
 shaping its policy. This was the colony that founded Longmont, but 
 of it we mean to treat farther on. 
 
 As regards the second object of the paper— the gixing information 
 about the Rocky Mountain region — it is to be noted that N. C. Meeker 
 never was a "boomer" of this or any other country; he stated what 
 he believed to be the exact truth, and when there was a gigantic effort 
 made about two years after, to induce a wholesale immigration to 
 the state without any adequate preparations, he raised his voice 
 against it, and so incurred the enmity of the leaders in this scheme — 
 notably, William N. Byers. 
 
 In regard to the third : It was well known how highly Mr. Meeker 
 prized the industrial life when combined with intelligence and sterling 
 character, and how steadily he kept before the people the aim of aspir- 
 ing to this noble combination. 
 
 As for the last, Greeley has been called the citv of homes. It has 
 been one of the chief aspirations of the great majority of our people 
 to make for their families comfortal>le and beautiful homes, and much 
 elegance of taste, as a general rule, has prevailed in planning the 
 buildings and surroundings. If the orchards and more delicate orna- 
 mental trees are wanting, it is not, as has been shoxni, for want of 
 earnest endeavor on our part. It is here worthy of note how prom-
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 85 
 
 inent Mr. Meeker made this at the start, and liow strenuously he set 
 himself to lead the way. 
 
 In this first issue of The Tribune we have an article on " Fruit pros- 
 pects," in which he gives his own well knouai sanguine expectations, 
 and attributes the failure, so far as tried, to the negligence and ignor- 
 ance of the old settlers in these matters. 
 
 There is also a long discussion of the cattle question, in which he 
 takes issue Avith Dr. Latham, and defends opinions with which the 
 reader is familiar. 
 
 Two articles are upon the liquor question, one about how a Gentile 
 vender of this article came to grief through the action of the Mormon 
 authorities, and the other relates the story so often and widely told, 
 of how the Dutchman from Evans, who undertook to sell whisky 
 under our noses in defiance of the universal sentiment against it, was 
 burnt out, not himself, but his sod hut, whisky, barrels, and bedbugs. 
 
 Many of the business notices are worthy of mention here. 
 
 Mr. Meeker advertises as in the real estate business with William 
 E. Pabor. Cameron is postmaster and has a drug house in company 
 ■with his father-in-law, J. B. Flower. A. Z. Salomon is established 
 w4th a large stock of goods in the spacious store built on the corner 
 where Union bank now stands, and has in a full column advertise- 
 ment. The firm of Emerson, West & Buckingham was for some time 
 doing a banking business in the grout building, erected by H. T. 
 West, and which is now occupied by the real estate firm of Sanborn, 
 Phillips & Company. Corydon W. Sanborn and W. F. Thompson 
 were doing a magnificent lumber business. William H. Post was 
 doing business in books and stationery in a brick building just fin- 
 ished, and now occupied by Mr. Green as a second-hand stoi'e. Near 
 by in another brick building Mr. Perkins was selling furniture, while 
 on the corner, now occupied by the Oasis, Mr. Root was keeping the 
 " Greeley House," then the only hotel in the place; but across the 
 road from Tlie Tribune office Mr. Rogerson had nearly finished his 
 hotel, named the " Colorado House." Mr. Russell Fisk was doing a 
 general mercantile business in the lower part of the " New York Ex- 
 change," the upper story being " Colony Hall." The colony had fur- 
 nished $2,500 towards the erection of this building, and was to have 
 the use of the hall for two years, when the colony was to be reim- 
 bursed by Fisk. E. C. Monk ct Companj' were doing a dry goods 
 business on north side of Main street, while E. T. Nichols was doing 
 a general mercantile business on corner known then as Barnum Block, 
 but now Park Place. Jacob Welch »fc Son had built the one-story 
 brick, now oAMied b}- F. E. Smith & Company, and there was doing a
 
 86 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 flourishing general business. F. L. Chikls was running the only bakery, 
 and had about finished building the house now standing west of 
 Graham's hotel. J. Leavy advertises as nurseryman and florist, and 
 was then preparing the grounds which have so long been adorned 
 with his greenhouse and flower borders. H. Boettcher was selling 
 hardware, and B. F. Pinneo and J. C. Abbott were each running meat 
 markets. 
 
 We will close this notice of the first issue of The Greeley Tribune 
 \\\i\\ the following prophetic utterance of the editor : 
 
 " Two classes of events are presented in our colony life, one class is 
 connected with the affairs of individuals, which even by those con- 
 cerned are quickly forgotten. It is doubtful whether a history of 
 these days, as affecting individuals, ever ivill or can be written — it is 
 doubtful ivhether it would be of any benefit if it were written. An- 
 other class of events can be readily recorded — these relate to the 
 progress and growth of the colony. Individuals may rise or fall — 
 may Uve or die, property may be lost or gained, but the colony as a 
 whole will prosper, and the spot on which we labor, so long as the 
 world stands, will be the center of intelligence and activity. Great 
 social reforms leading to the elevation of mankind move as if directed 
 by destiny. It is the vast future more than the brief present which is 
 to be benefited; hence sympathies and feelings are of little moment, 
 and the cause moves on with irresistible power as if animated by a 
 cold life of its o\vii "' 
 
 As we have said, The Tribune was a great power in the hands of 
 Mr. Meeker, and his writing in it has done at least as much to make 
 him famous as any other of his undertakings. In a pecuniary sense 
 it was a losing business. AYhen, for reasons which Ave shall hereafter 
 recite, it v.as resolved by those opposed to Mr. Meeker to start as their 
 organ The Colorado Sun, Mr. Greeley, in a letter to Mr. Meeker, ad- 
 vised him to sell out to the party proposing to start the new paper, as 
 the place could not support both. Mr. Greeley knew the fuiancial 
 embarrassment in which his friend was placed. He also saw that he 
 • had too many irons in the fire, and was working himself to death. 
 However, I do not doubt that Mr. Meeker was wiser not to take his 
 friend's advice. However much hardship his work on the paper 
 brought to himself and family, the competency he might have earned 
 in other employments he woidd have regarded, at best, but a poor 
 offset for the influence upon the destiny of his people which he would 
 have lost thereby. It is the life of noble effort that brings with it its 
 daily blessings, and not the pecuniary reward of this effort. Of this 
 joy of the workman conscious of doing good, honest, needed work, Mr,
 
 THE UXION COLONY OF COLORADO. 87 
 
 Meeker was au abundant partaker.^ He would have felt it " dull to rest 
 unburnished, not to shine in use, as though to breathe were life." 
 
 Knowing these financial straits in which Mr. Meeker was environed, 
 Mr. Greeley loaned him $1,000 with tlie understanding that he would 
 not be expected to pay it imtil he had gotten his feet well under him, 
 and that no interest would be exacted. But upon the death of Mr, 
 Greeley his administrators were informed of the loan, and a demand 
 was made on jNIr. Meeker for its payment. The latter did not deny 
 the loan but stated the conditions of it, and that then he was in worse 
 eircimistances than when his friend had so generously relieved him. 
 He said that Mr. Greeley had really donated this to the cause, and 
 had he lived he would never have exacted it of him until able to pay 
 it without injury to himself and family. However, the matter was 
 brought into court. Mr. Meeker deeded as a basis of settlement forty 
 acres of land which the colony had donated him on account of services 
 rendei-ed ^\'ithout pay for years. But there was an unsettled remainder 
 left, and to liquidate this and other indebtedness, as both he and his 
 wife have informed the \witer, he undertook the White River Indian 
 agency. Such is the devious path in which the noblest are often led 
 to their fatal end.* 
 
 The above mentioned forty acres were donated by the colony board 
 to N. C. Meeker in obedience to a resolution offered by R. A. Cameron, 
 and adopted by a mass meeting of citizens, and during the absence of 
 Mr. Meeker. The General and he had quarreled before this, but 
 Cameron said he made this motion because he knew Mr. Meeker's 
 services deserved it, and he did not want to hear it being repeated 
 that we were so uugi-ateful as not to pay even sentimental debts. 
 
 * When Mr. Greeley's daughters came to the estate they ordered 
 the proceedings stopped in court.
 
 CHAPTER YII. 
 
 IBRIGATION — ITS IMPORTANCE TO TOWN AS WELL AS COLONY — QUANTITY OF 
 WATER NEEDED TO IRRIGATE GIVEN AREAS — ^VIEWS IN FARMERS' CLUB ON 
 THIS SUBJECT — IRRIGATION IN ITALY BY J, MAX. CLARE IN REPLY TO H. T. 
 
 WEST CLARK AT IRRIGATION CONVENTION AT DENVER FRED 31. STANTON 
 
 BEFORE THE SAME — CLARK's REVIEW OF STANTON's ESTIMATES — W. J. 
 
 rand's reply to Clark's article — the capacity of clear creek 
 from state engineer's measurements — review of the rocky moun- 
 tain news of the proceedings of irrigation convention, and j. max. 
 Clark's rejoinder — big canal projected from platte canon and 
 
 THE report of IT IN ''neWS" — CRITICISM OF THIS SCHEME BY THE 
 AUTHOR. 
 
 THE importance of success in irrigation to our town and colony 
 cannot be over estimated. Upon this rock the whole enter- 
 prise came near splitting. It would be saying, perhaps, too 
 much to assert that if we had failed to develop agriculture by irriga- 
 tion there would now be no town where Greeley stands. There would 
 have remained, after failure in that direction, a small trading post, the 
 headquarters of sheep and cattle men, but whether it or Evans would 
 have become the county seat would be doubtful, or rather, not at all 
 doubtful, as with the greater outside vote which Evans had, it would 
 have been sure to beat Greeley in the race ; and with the county seat 
 would have gone the greater portion of the people, and the few that 
 would have lingered here would have been those not interested in 
 prohibition. Hence the water question has precedence in the Poudre 
 valley. The quantity of land under cultivation was very small when 
 the colony settled here. That actually under crops did not exceed 
 1,000 acres. This was all first bottom land. Near Greeley Robert 
 Boyd was the only cidtivator who in 1870 had in a crop of about 200 
 acres. B. H. Eaton, some ten miles up the creek, had in crops 160 
 acres. The rest was scattered along from there up, but largely near 
 La Porte. 
 
 When we come to the question of establishing priority of appropri- 
 ations, we shall see the enormous claims made for this small area of 
 cultivated land. Meanwhile we will review the part taken by Greeley 
 men in reaching definite and precise views as to the quantity of water
 
 THE UNIOX COLONY OF COLORADO. 89 
 
 needed, tlie capacity of ditches to cany given volumes, and the pro- 
 bable capacity of the South Platte and its tributaries, and the maxi- 
 mum quantity of land that can be irrigated from the latter. 
 
 This subject engaged the attention of the Greeley Farmers' Club. 
 In a report of a meeting of this body contained in The Greeley Tri- 
 bune, February 19th, 1873, we find the following : 
 
 "The Chairman, D. Boyd inquired as to the amount of land in 
 Colorado capable of cultivation, taking into account the water supply. 
 His own opinion was that most of the estimates were fallacious. 
 
 "A. J. Wilber said that he considered the water falling on the 
 eastern slope of the mountains as capable of supphing all the lands 
 for 100 miles east of their base. Mr. Boyd estimated that the Cache 
 La Poudre would not irrigate over 100,000 acres, the Big Thompson 
 and St. Vrain 150,000 acres, and the Platte above the mouth of St. 
 Vrain's 250,000 acres more. This would be 500,000 for Platte and 
 tributaries." 
 
 This estimate, it was said, was made without taking account of reser- 
 voirs which could be made to considerably increase this area. This 
 would not be a strip more than twelve miles wide from the canon of 
 the Platte to that of the Poudre, and this would leave fifty miles on 
 the north, over sixty on the south, half way to the canon of the Arkan- 
 sas practically unprovided with water. So it will be seen that this 
 latter estimate gives only an average strip of five miles from the 
 Wyoming line to half way Ijetween the Platte and Arkansas canons as 
 the capacity of the South Platte and its tributaries, while Mr. Wilber's 
 gave a hundred miles through the whole extent. 
 
 The chairman gave as the capacity of the Arkansas and Rio Grande 
 in Colorado, as only 500,000 acres. This, from present knowledge, is 
 too low, and was only a vague guess, but we shall see that for the 
 average year the estimate of the South Platte is not far from the truth. 
 The Greeley Tribune, for September 17th of same year, contains 
 an article on irrigation in Italy, by J. Max Clark. The article Avas 
 called out by one of H. T. West, in a previous issue, which took the 
 groimd that with some work done on the first three miles. Canal Num- 
 ber Two was large enough to water ail the land under it. It will show 
 our readers the vigor and intelligence with which such subjects were 
 handled in those days. 
 
 "It has been our great drawback in agriculture from the beginning 
 here, that parties not engaged in the business, and having no pra(-tical 
 knowledge of irrigation, and nothing but a sort of theoretical itching 
 interest in the farm, have continually sought to advise us as to what 
 might, could or should be done, while those practical men who have
 
 90 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AXD 
 
 for years been engaged in the pursuit, have lacked either the abihty or 
 the incHnation to tell us what they know. And now, after quite a 
 goodly number of us have been making this system of tilling the soil 
 our exclusive business for the past three years, and have sought to 
 obtain all the knowledge we could by close observation, repeated ex- 
 periments, and the most careful study of all availal^le sources of in- 
 formation, here comes a banker, who, hi the intervals of business hours 
 has found time to do a little not very successful tinkering in a garden, 
 and has sunk a little money in non-resident farming over the river, 
 and proposes, at one fell sweep to uxjset all our careful calculations as 
 to our necessities and resources, and tells us, at one guess, more than 
 all we know upon the subject. * * * * * * * 
 
 " Now a word about the system of irrigation in Utah. It may be said, 
 that while the Mormons have practiced it a little longer than we have, 
 they know very little more about it, and except, perhaps in the city of 
 Salt Lake, they resort to very little more system than we do. They 
 have, so far as I have been able to learn, contributed nothing to the 
 world's store of knowledge on the subject, have written no books, ad- 
 vanced no new theories, recorded no new facts, and when, some three 
 years since, the Farmer's Club of this place corresponded with some 
 of their principal men upon the subject, with a view to ascertain facts 
 of importance for our own application and use, they wei-e able to afford 
 us nothing of any practical value. 
 
 " It is quite fortunate for us that in Italy they have practiced this 
 art for centuries. They have there such costly appliances, such exten- 
 sive works in the shape of dams, sluices, water-gates, head-gates, 
 flumes, reservoirs, etc., and such a perfect system withal as we may 
 not expect for years to come. They have, for us, what is more import- 
 ant still, extensive treatises on the subject, containing valuable infor- 
 mation as to the effects of the system upon the soil after hundreds of 
 years of trial, statistics as to the amount of water required, and re- 
 cords of the size and capacity of their canals, and the number of acres 
 cultivated under them, which cannot fail to be of infinite advantage 
 to a people proposing to practice the art in other lands. And now let 
 us see what, with all this wealth of apphance, all these centuries of 
 experience, these people only a few years since were able to accomplish. 
 The canal Caluso, from the Oreo river. Piedmont, Italy, is more than 
 three hundred years old. It is twenty miles in length, is twenty six 
 feet A\-ide at its head, is six feet deep, and has a fall of seventeen feet 
 to the mile. Our canal is twenty feet wide at its head, has never 
 carried more than a depth of three feet at the first flume, has a fall at 
 the greatest of only three feet to the mile, and must have less than
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO, 91 
 
 one-fifth of the capacity of the canal under consideration ; and j^et this 
 canal of which it is said it should water 19,000 acres, has never been 
 made to water more than fifteen." 
 
 Then follows a similar description of five other Italian canals, and 
 the writer proceeds as follows : 
 
 " When we consider that in these districts the economy of water has 
 been the study of the people and the government for centuries, two 
 conclusions are inevitable from the facts. 
 
 " First, That though quite young in the business, yet considering 
 that each year's tillage embodies a considerable portion of land which 
 has never been before really wet, since the great waters of the ocean 
 receded from the plains, we make about as. good use of the means at 
 hand — our water supply— as these people who have been so long skilled 
 in its use. 
 
 " Second, Our canal requires to be enlarged to many times its pre- 
 sent capacity, H. T. West to the contrary, notwithstanding, before it 
 will be capable of irrigating even the fair lands lying under it. 
 
 " When in the article referred to. I put the capacity of our canal at 
 from five to six thousand acres, I did it on this showing, and was 
 fully satisfied that this could only be done with the best management 
 possible. There are under Canal Number Two, 35,000 acres of laud. 
 We have obliged ourselves to furnish water under certain conditions 
 specified in the deeds for 21,000 acres. Now assuming that water will 
 never be required for more than 20,000 acres, we should require the 
 canal to be not less than thirty-five feet wide at the head, half that 
 ^vidth at the terminus and at least six feet deep. We ought, if possi- 
 ble, to enlarge the ditch immediately to the capacity of watering 10,000 
 acres. To do this would require the ditch to be at least thirty feet 
 Avide at the head, fifteen feet wide at the lower end, and four feet deep. 
 
 " We liave thousands of acres of splendid land under our ditches 
 lying idle because people with good reason distrust the capacity of 
 our canals. If our property is ever going to appreciate in value, as it 
 should in time, it must largely result from the successful prosecution 
 of agriculture. Successful agriculture depends mainly on an abund- 
 ant supply of water ; and though the question of reservoirs must soon 
 become an important one, our supply of water for tlie present depends 
 upon the size of oiu- canals. We do not expect to be able to enlarge 
 Canal Number Two sufficiently this time ; it is now a question of our 
 immediate wants. The way to effect anything is for all to take hold 
 with a will and do something." 
 
 Now, although the estimates of the capacity of our canal to irrigate 
 the lands under it turns out in our experience to be somewhat larger
 
 92 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 than needed, yet it was a wholesome view of the case aud was based 
 upon the only reHable data that ever was put before our eyes, and we 
 owe the author a debt of gratitude for bestowing this thorough research 
 to a matter so vital to all, during days filled with severe labor in the 
 struggle to make ends meet, under the discouraging circumstances of 
 the first 3^ears. 
 
 Armed with statistics like these, Mr. Clark attended the Irrigation 
 Convention held at Denver about the middle of September, 1873. To 
 this convention were invited delegates from all the States and Terri- 
 tories interested in irrigation, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, 
 Kansas aud Nebraska. The main object was to get up a petition to 
 Congress to donate half the government land to the building of 
 ditches, watering the same. This was done, but met no response. It 
 was to be in fact a tail to the immigration kite which the year before 
 had come down so disastrously. Thousands had been induced to 
 come to the State by lying circulars and pamphlets, sent out by the 
 Immigration Commission appointed by the action of the last year's 
 Legislature. Men came here, without adequate means or organization, 
 to build the ditches needed to make the land available for cultivation, 
 and they went back cursing the country. The editor of The Rocky 
 Mountain News, Wm. N. Byers, whilom trustee of Union Colony and 
 the counselor of our locating committee, was deeply into this immi- 
 gration scheme, and seeing the mistake of the year just past, projected 
 the scheme of an extensive irrigation movement, aud through his in- 
 strumentality chiefly, the irrigation convention met. Now Bj^ers either 
 had, or pretended to have, magnificent views of the extent of country 
 that could be watered from the Platte and its tributaries. It is not 
 possible to determine whether this gentleman and his coadjutors l^e- 
 lieved that the vast areas they spoke of could be watered by these— -^ 
 streams, or whether it was intended to cover these lands with ditches 
 to sell them to tenderfeet, pretending that there would be sufficient 
 water to irrigate them. Plenty of this kind of thing was undertaken 
 in these days, and the sequel will show that the leaders in this matter 
 are to be suspected. 
 
 Foremost on the side of the magnificent view was Fred M. Stan- 
 ton, an Englishman, who called himself an engineer. He read a mag- 
 niloquent address upon the capabilities of the rivers of Colorado. He 
 says in this address" Twenty-five millions of acres can be reclaimed 
 to Colorado by a system of irrigating canals." He says the Kansas 
 Pacific has 1,150,000 acres of land that can be covered by a canal 
 taken out of the Platte canon. To do this, he says : " Suppose that a 
 canal of one hundred miles long, tivelve feet wide and three feet
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 93 
 
 deep will cost, etc. Th3 Platte river can more than supply the water; 
 store it iu reservoirs, while the water is not needed for consumption; 
 when it is, draw on the sand creeks, which the canal will cover in its 
 passage or, if this is not enough, tap Chicago lake, the Twin lakes and 
 numbers of others which can be made available with very little engineer- 
 ing cost and skill." 
 This is but one part of his mighty scheme that is to cover 25,000,- 
 
 000 of acres in Colorado, but it is sufficient for our purpose. At this 
 stage of the proceedings Mr. Clark, charged to the muzzle as he was 
 with facts and figures, appears on the platform, and reads the follow- 
 ing paper : 
 
 '' Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Convention : I am a farmer. 
 
 1 till the earth with my own hands. I am accustomed to carry the 
 mud of the waters of irrigation on my boot heels, and the brown dust 
 of the desert in my hair; and when I read in the report of the pro- 
 ceedings of the Farmers' convention of last June, what all the ex- 
 governors, judges, lawyers and politicians had to say on the subject 
 of irrigation, it occurred to me that if in this meeting there should 
 mingle in with all that hopeful, enthusiastic, profoiuid, professional 
 thought ujaon so important a subject, a little more of the thinking of the 
 practical, plodding, calcidating element of the farm, it might not be 
 inappropriate or amiss in a farmers' movement. * * * We have 
 seen the area of our arable land estimated all the way from four to 
 ten millions of acres, when we don't believe there are two millions; 
 and we have read with fear and trembling how the Hon. Fred Stanton, 
 enthusiastic upon tlie almighty resources of our common country, and 
 the agricultural resources of Colorado in particular, is proposing to 
 cut a great gash in the earth, from South Platte canon to Kansas City, 
 and water all the land on both sides of the ridge. These things nuist 
 ' give us pause,' and herein is the ' respect ' which we fear ' will make 
 calamity' of all our business. There are some things which are 
 better imderdone than overdone as for instance our porridge and our 
 prayers; and it seems to us this business of irrigation is one of them. 
 If we have too much water, how easy to run it off; but if we have too 
 little, how difficult to run it on. 
 
 " Taking an average over the whole irrigated district of Italy, it re- 
 quires a discharge of a cubic foot of water per second to irrigate 
 sixty-six acres of land; and supposing Mr. Stanton should only pro- 
 pose to irrigate an insignificant strip of country two miles wide the 
 whole length of his district, and iu round numbers say 750,01)0 acres, 
 he would require a discharge of 11,362 cubic feet of water per second 
 during the wliole irrigating season, a volinne of water, k^t me sav, I
 
 94 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 do not hesitate to believe equals, if it does not exceed, the entire mean 
 discharge of all our streams, including the Platte north of the Divide, 
 from the middle of May to the middle of July, in any ordinary year. 
 (To carry this great volume of Avater Mr. Stanton would require a 
 ditch two hundred feet wide, nine and a half feet deep, with a 
 current running at the rate of four miles an hour.) * * It is 
 •fortunate that the most extensively irrigated country on the globe in 
 point of size compares favorably with our own. The Kingdom of 
 Italy contains 140,000 square miles, while the territory of Colorado 
 contains one hundred and foiu-teen thousand. 
 
 " But while the two countries are al^out equal in point of size, the 
 river system of Italy is much more extensive than our own. The 
 whole discharge of her rivers is estimated at sixty-five thousand feet 
 per second, and in the two districts of Lombardy and Piedmont they 
 actually utilize twenty-four thousand feet per second, or twice as 
 nuich as the total mean discharge of all our streams north of the 
 Divide from the middle of May^to the middle of July. And yet this 
 enormous water supply, and after hundreds of years of experience in 
 the art of irrigation, a few years since when an examination was made 
 into the workings of their system, it was found that their actual irri- 
 gated surface only eqiialed one million, six hundred thousand acres. 
 
 " I have said that the mean discharge of all our rivers north of the 
 Divide for the irrigating season did not more than equal the eleven 
 or twelve thousand cubic feet per second which Mr. Stanton would 
 require for his big ditch." 
 
 Then follows his data and estimate of the average capacity of the 
 Poudre for the two months beginning May fifteenth. This, in cubic 
 feet per second, he gives as fifteen hundred, according to Italian 
 experience, which gives sixty-six acres as the duty of water would 
 give one hundred thousand acres in an average year as the capacity 
 in irrigated acres of the Poudre. At this time there was no gauging 
 station, and Mr. Clark had to make his estimates from sectional area 
 of the stream and estimated velocity. We shall hereafter see how 
 close an approximation this non-professional, quick-witted farmer 
 made. 
 
 The other main tributaries of the Platte he could not estimate 
 from so well observed data, but gave what he considered close ap- 
 proximations, and arrived at the conclusion that for the average year 
 the whole area might be put in round numbers at half a miUion acres. 
 His estimate for that portion of the state south of the Divide is a 
 quarter-million. Here his knowledge was deficient, and he made a 
 worse g-uess than the chairman of the Farmers' Club had made a few
 
 THE UNIOX COLONY OF COLORADO. 95 
 
 years before. However, the actual caijacity of these streams is not 
 yet ascertained with any degree of definiteness, as we shall see 
 farther on. 
 
 In his conclusion, Mr. Clark says : 
 
 " First. In no country in the world has an}- system of irrigation 
 been devised and practiced, which has utilized more than two-thirds 
 of the actual water supply. 
 
 *' Second. Reservoirs cannot to any great extent increase the mean 
 capacity of the streams, the}^ may lengthen out the ]Deriod of irriga- 
 tion; but, as all grain crops require from one to three apphcations in 
 June and Jul}^ and all at the same time, making the demand for 
 water in the early part of the season, they can add but little to our 
 capacity for grain farming at least. 
 
 '' Third. The country — Italy — from which the basis for these esti- 
 mates is taken, has an annual rainfall of thirtj^-six inches, or three 
 times that of Colorado. 
 
 *' Before closing this address, I wish to say that by this exhibit I do 
 not design or wish to discourage. No man in this coimtry feels a 
 greater interest in the future of Colorado than myself. I am actively 
 engaged in the cultivation of her soil, propose to make the territory 
 my home for aught that I know, during the remainder of my lifetime, 
 and am full of hope and confidence for her future greatness and suc- 
 cess as a state. I sympathize heartil}^, too, with the effort ))eing made 
 to secure for us a sound, practical, economical, just system of irriga- 
 tion ; one which will insure to us the most perfect development of our 
 agricultural resources, one which will tax all the lands to be benefited 
 by our canals with the cost of their construction, their maintenance 
 and repairs; and above all things one that shall insure the ownership 
 of the water wirh the people, among the settlers of the soil." 
 
 Of course the above bomb exploding, threw the camp of the specu- 
 lators into consternation ; and as no answer from men without experi- 
 ence would be equal to the occasion, so another farmer who could tell 
 what he knew, or thought he knew, about irrigation, had to be found. 
 The proper person to rejoin was found in Mr. W. J. Rand, of Clear 
 Creek, before whose experience that of J. Max. Clark sunk into utter 
 insignificance. Let us hear him : 
 
 " Mr. Chairman and (xentlemen : Like the gentleman who read a 
 paper last evening, I am also a tiller of the ground, and also carry 
 mud on my heels from irrigating ditches; but I fail to arrive at the 
 same conclusions which J. Max. Clark, of Greeley, arrives at in regard 
 to irrigation. He says that all the streams north of the Divide have 
 a capacity only of watering half a milhon acres of land. I claim that
 
 96 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 Clear Creek, one of the smallest tributaries of the Platte ri\^r, is 
 capable of irrigating half a million acres. There are some twentj 
 ditches now in operation, taken out of Clear Creek, and watering 
 fifty thousand acres of cultivated land, and there is no perceptible 
 difference to the eye in the volume of Clear Creek in consequence of 
 it dui'ing the time of irrigation. There are also one hundred thousand 
 acres of laud at least, which can be irrigated, but which are not culti- 
 vated. This in all makes one hundred and fifty thousand acres which 
 can be made available from one side of the Clear Creek alone. The 
 people on the bottoms of Clear Creek want it taken away in ditches, 
 as it overflows and gives them a little too much water. If the stream 
 will irrigate one hundred and fifty thousand acres, and no sign of 
 diminution of volume, how many acres will it irrigate ? I have no 
 hesitation in saying that Clear Creek alone has a capacity of watering 
 more acres than Mr. Clark says the whole of the streams north of the 
 Divide have a capacity for. Take in consideration that Clear Creek 
 is one of the smallest of our streams, not above one-fourth the size 
 of the Cache la Poudre, it will be seen that Mr. Clark has made a 
 fearful mistake in his calculations. I have had twenty-two years ex- 
 p>erience in irrigation — in Utah and CaHfornia ten years, and in Colo- 
 rado twelve years. I think, therefore that I know something of 
 irrigation. Being a practical farmer, I claim that with good and suf- 
 ficient industry and economy, fifty inches will irrigate one hundred 
 acres, but it must not be by turning on the Avater at night, and going 
 to bed leaving it to distriljute itself, as probably 1113- friend from 
 Grreele}' does. My calculations make it a certainty that you must not 
 stand around with your hands in your pockets. In regard to the 
 price of water : in the Golden City and Arapahoe-iiitch the price is 
 one dollar and fifty cents per inch for the season; add to which one 
 dollar per acre for lal^or. Thus it will be seen that the cost of irrigat- 
 ing laud with industry and economy is only one dollar and seventy- 
 five cents per acre, and this will double the crop over land which is 
 not irrigated in other sections of the United States. * * The 
 statement of some gentlemen that irrigation will cost, some say five 
 dollars, some seven dollars, some thirteen dollars and some sixteen 
 dollars per acre, falls to the ground alongside of my experience from 
 the above figures. I cannot see how it is made out. and I would like 
 to have an explanation of it. In regard to the irrigable area from the 
 mountains to the Missouri river, I contend that north of the Divide 
 there is at least three-fourths enough water to irrigate the whole, if 
 applied judiciously, and the balance to be reserved for grazing and 
 pasture lands at any event. I thought it necessary that some answer
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 97 
 
 should be giveu to the erroneous statements of Mr. Clark, as they 
 may seriously injure us upon their publication in the newspapers. 
 He no doubt thinks just what he says, but I am satisfied, in common 
 wuth all the farmers in Jefferson comity, that he is fearfully mistaken 
 in his figures and calculations." 
 
 This is worthy of quotation in more respects than one. It shows 
 the views of an old settler, such as we had for our guidance Avheu we 
 came here, contrasted with those of a Greeley man after only three 
 years' experience. We ma^^ remark that there is a confusion in the 
 mind of Mr. Rand about the price per acre for water, he having in 
 his mind yearly rental, and the others, the cost of construction per 
 acre. At ten per cent, interest his seventj^-five cents rent per acre 
 represents seven dollars and fifty cents per acre invested in cost of 
 ditch. Besides Mr. Rand talks, as all old settlers did, about inches of 
 water instead of cubic feet per second. This inch was ahvays vary- 
 ing. Mr. Rand thought he could water two acres with it. Likely he 
 could if it was maintained running long enough, and he had a variety 
 of crops. It will be also seen that Mr. Rand's only basis of compu- 
 tation v-as that the stream had suffered no visible diminution during 
 the irrigation season by the irrigation of what he estimates at 
 50,000 acres. It is to be noted that the summers of '72 and '73 had 
 very high water compared with the three previous j^ears; and this 
 fact ruined this observation as a basis for making estimates. 
 
 But now let us get at the facts about the capacity of Clear Creek 
 as late experience has demonstrated. In the state engineer's report for 
 1888, we find the water commissioner for that district, number seven, 
 states that the number of acres of alfalfa irrigated during that year 
 was 18,901; of other tame grasses and clover, 18,456; of native grasses 
 irrigated, 3,362. and of all other crops. 23,135. Besides this there was 
 about l,0t)0 acres irrigated to miscellaneous crops under a number of 
 very small ditches. This makes the total area in-igated during 1888, 
 64,854. The number of acres under the ditches which it is said could 
 be ii-rigated he gives as 98,242. It is not said whether the ditches 
 have the capacity to irrigate this surplus — about half that irrigated — 
 or not. The number of cul)ic feet per second appropriated by all the 
 ditches, the engineer gives as 1,180. This at sixty-six acres per foot 
 would give 77,880 acres, which is about midway between that actually 
 irrigated and that which is said could be irrigated. It is to be re- 
 marked that this district gives the highest duty of water of any one in 
 the state, which is owing to two facts— one is that the lands in this 
 district are near Denver, hence very vahiable, and more ditches are 
 in operation than there is water to fill. Many of the crops mentioned
 
 98 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 iu the report no doubt were insiilEciently watered, and some not at 
 all. That all the water was used very early in the season, is proved 
 by the fact that district number two — the Platte below Clear creek — 
 got out an injunction restraining Clear creek district from using all 
 the water, as it was doing about the first of July, 1888. Another fact 
 is the great area of alfalfa and other hay crops, allowing the water to 
 be used in connection with cultivated crops during a long season of 
 irrigation. 
 
 The above showing, clearly sets before us whether Mr. Clark or Mr. 
 Rand was wild in his calculations. However, it enabled the editor of 
 The Neics to make the following report of the proceedings, so far as 
 concerns the contributions of these two gentlemen : 
 
 " Mr. J. Max Clark's address was a wordy bundle of absurdities — 
 the most sophomoric production read before the convention. His 
 opening sentence in which he describes himself as a farmer with the 
 mud of the w'aters of irrigation on his boot-heels, and the brown dust 
 of the desert in his hair, are certainly interesting personal reminis- 
 cences to the reading public, which will entertain the hope that Mr. 
 J. Max. Clark at least blacked his boots and indulged in the luxury 
 of a shampooing before presenting himself before his fellow-dele- 
 gates. The astonishing statements and alarming conclusions reached 
 by this agricultural philosopher, were most completely ventilated by 
 Mr. W. J. Rand, whose paper was given to the convention on Thurs- 
 day evening. Mr. Rand is a practical and successful farmer, and has 
 had almost a quarter 9f a century of experience in irrigation, and his 
 short but pointed rejoinder, bristled with facts and ideas, and com- 
 pletely crushed the gentleman who carried tJle" brown bust of the 
 desert in his hair.' Mr. vStanton's paper was a very important one, 
 and abounded in terse and compact statements of facts and figures, 
 with practical engineering suggestions." 
 
 This commits the editor of The News to the views of both Rand 
 and Stanton, and shows that his reputed wisdom in these matters was 
 amazingly overrated. As before said, he, through his paper, was the 
 recognized authority on these topics when the colony settled here, 
 and we had to learn by the dearest kind of experience that he knew 
 nothing of what he was pretending to give information about. But 
 Mr. Clark was not to ])e put down. In addition to writing the above 
 abusive paragraph, the editor had suppressed that part of Mr. Clark's 
 paper giving the proof of his estimates. Immediately Mr. Clark ad- 
 dressed to the editor a most caustic review of his attitude, of which 
 the following is a part : 
 
 "'In the wordy' paper alluded to, I attacked no man, nor the
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 99 
 
 motive of any man's theoiy. I represent a large share of the 
 farmers of our territory who, as a class, have Httle faith in the vis- 
 ionary schemes of our brethren, the editors, politicians and business 
 men of Denver; and who believe that the fair unvarnished truth con- 
 cerning our chmate, our various productive interests, and particularly 
 the extent of our agricultural resources and the productiveness of our 
 soil, will much better subserve our interests as a people, than bun- 
 combe speeches filled with desert rose bushes, buncomlje statistics of 
 productions that lie, and buncombe ditches on paper that can never 
 be filled. 
 
 " In that paper I undertook to show, by a fair comparison with Italy, 
 an extensively irrigated country, favorably comparing with Colorado 
 in size, that we shovdd probably never be able to bring under cultiva- 
 tion, by means of artificial irrigation, more than one million acres of 
 laud; I showed that the minimum discharge of the principal stream 
 in the great irrigated districts of Italy during the dry summer months 
 exceeded that of the Platte by two or three times; I affirmed, as can 
 be seen at a glance, on any good map of Italy, that their water sys- 
 tem greatly exceeded our own; and I showed that after hundreds of 
 years of practice and experiment in the art, there were under cultiva- 
 tion, in her borders, but one million, six hundred thousand acres of 
 actually irrigated soil. You purposely left this statement out of mj 
 article because it ivas a fact, and because, as a sum total, it did not 
 look well. I showed that Mr. Stanton's big ditch, in order to water 
 the land proposed, would require a width of two hundred feet and a 
 depth of nine and a half feet, with a current flowing at the rate of 
 four miles an horn-; and you left out that statement not because it was 
 personal, for you printed the most personal part of my article; not 
 because you wished to save space, for it did not do so to any extent, 
 which would warrant the omission of so important a statement, but 
 you left it out because it was a statement you could not controvert, 
 which you were afraid could not be controverted, whicli did not look 
 well, and which for reasons of your own, reasons which you had no right 
 to make your guide in the premises, you did not wish to go out to the 
 world. And when I undertook, as you style it, to defend myself the 
 second evening, and stated in my reply to Mr. Stanton that his ditch 
 of twelve feet wide on the Iwttom and three feet deep, in order to 
 water the proposed million one hundred and fifty thousand acres, 
 would require a velocity of current equal to four miles per minute, 
 four times faster than maximum railroad time, you left that statement 
 out for the same reason. 
 
 " Now let me say to Mr. Eand, who estimated that Clear Creek alone
 
 100 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 would irrigate half a million acres, and that the stream north of th& 
 Divide would irrigate three-fourths of the land between the foothills 
 and the Missouri river; and to Mr. Stanton, who placed the water 
 supply as sufficient for thirty millions of acres, that the eastern states 
 have an average annual rainfall of fifty inches; that the thii'ty millions 
 of acres proposed to be brought under cultivation have but an average 
 of ten, leaving a deficit of fort}^ inches to be made up by artificial 
 means. Dit it ever occur to these gentlemen that there is no soiu-ce 
 from which this forty inches is to be drawn ? The case can be stated 
 in a few words : the source of suj^ply is the eastern slope of the 
 snoAvy range, a region two hundred and fift}^ miles long and about 
 thirty wide, and here the aggregate fall of moisture eannot be greater 
 than in the Atlantic states. Besides, not more than one-half of the 
 melted snow can fuid its w^aj' out on the plains — possibly not more 
 than one-quarter — and to furnish the water supply necessary for the 
 proposed thirty million acres, their calculations presuppose, that 
 the mountain regions must receive a uniform depth of rainfall 
 during the summer of about eight feet, and twenty-four feet of packed 
 snow during the winter, and that the grand sum total must reach the 
 plains and the fields to be watered, through long canals without loss 
 by evaporation of melting snow, by sinking in the soil when it melts, 
 and by descending into millions of depressions having no outlet. 
 Suppose, gentlemen, that 3^011 theorize on the facts awhile, and when 
 you demonstrate j^our proposition I will undertake to offer you 
 another. 
 
 * * * " Finall}^ let me encourage Friend Stanton with the 
 remark that the Hon. B. H. Eaton, one of our ^sm^all farmers on the 
 Poudre, v/ho learned irrigation in New Mexico; who raised nine 
 thousand bushels of wheat this year; who has a ditch of his own 
 about three times the size of the one under consideration, and who 
 has probabl}^ constructed more ditches than any man in Colorado, 
 gravely ventures to assert that he would risk the government powder 
 in time of war at the lower end of the hundred-mile, twelve-foot 
 ditch." 
 
 Here it may as well be stated that about seven years after this, the 
 EngMsh Company has taken a ditch out of the Platte canon, and 
 going over a part of the route of the one proposed by Stanton. The 
 capacity of this ditch is 1,180 feet per second, and the company's en- 
 gineer informed the writer that it was never able to get, during the 
 last irrigation season (1889), more than 350 feet per second, and that 
 it requires 100 cul^ic feet per second to reach the lower end of the 
 canal, which is onl}' about sixty miles long. There is no hope of this
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 101 
 
 canal ever being able to get water enough to irrigate one-half the land 
 under it except for a short time in some years of exceptionally heavy 
 snowfall. 
 
 Now as to wliat the Platte and its tributaries can irrigate. In the 
 last report of the state engineer he gives statements by the commis- 
 sioners, of the different water districts of the irrigation division of 
 the Platte, in regard to the crops actually irrigated during the year 
 1888, and it fell short of 700,000 acres. A few districts are not given, 
 but I have credited them with figures proportionate to their size, as 
 compared with the average of the districts reported. These reports 
 of the commissioners, to my own knowledge, are too large in the dis- 
 tricts which have come imder my observation ; and this is to be ex- 
 pected, for the data are taken from statements of the overseers of the 
 different canals, who are anxious to make as big a showing for their 
 ditches as possible. These estimates no doubt include lands on the 
 bottoms, or "seeped" lands not directly irrigated. So it is to be 
 doubted if we have exceeded to-day the half-million acres that 
 thirteen years ago were placed as about the limit by the writer and by 
 Mr. Clark. One element has entered into the calculation that we had 
 no reason to suspect would come into existence, at least to the extent 
 that it does, that is, the large quantity of water that returns into the 
 streams lower down by percolation through the subsoil of the irri- 
 gated lands. This has materially increased the irrigable area, and 
 this source of supply is continually, so far, increasing, but must soon 
 reach its limit. 
 
 There was one other paper read at this convention, which we must 
 not pass over. It was by Bishop Musser, of Utah. The statements 
 in this paper proved both the position taken by Mr. Clark, that the 
 Mormons had done nothing in irrigation that would be of material 
 benefit to us to know, and also confirmed the views of Mr. Clark 
 about the quantity of water needed for irrigating given areas. The 
 Bishop gives statistics of some twenty-five of their largest ditches, 
 and in it reveals the fact that nearly all their ditches are verj'^ small 
 and that the average fall of these twenty-five was twenty-three feet 
 to the mile. He also gives width and depth and fall of each ditch, 
 with the land irrigated under it; and if the editor of The News had 
 known enough to make the calculations from these data, he would have 
 seen that Bishop Musser's statements were as damaging as J. Max. 
 Clark's. Among other things it appeared that only about 200,000 
 acres were then under irrigation in Utah, and that the Bishop thought 
 not more than that much more could be watered. 
 
 Well, the scheme to get the land of the government did not sue-
 
 102 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 ceed, but nevertheless a company was formed about the beginning of 
 1874 for the purpose of taking out the big ditch from the Platte 
 canon. The Rocky Mountain Neivs gives it the following notice : 
 
 " We have l^efore us some interesting facts regarding the proposed 
 enterprise of the 'Colorado Canal, Irrigation and Laud Company/ 
 The length of the main canal will be three hundred and fifty miles, 
 while the lesser ones or branches will be of such dimensions as neces- 
 sity requires. It will he fifty feet wide and six feet deep, and will 
 carry over 2,476,000.000 gallons daily — 7,960 cubic feet per second. 
 It will irrigate about nine and a quarter million acres of gov'ernment 
 land and from one million to a million and a half of railroad land. 
 From observations taken at the Platte canon within the past two 
 weeks, when the Platte is at its lowest stage, it has been ascertained 
 that 1,140,000,000 gallons— 3,665 cubic feet per second — per day, pass 
 this point. During the irrigating season it is a well estabhshed fact 
 that from three to five times that amount flows in the river. No exist- 
 ing vested rights will be interfered with, while the canal will not in 
 the least diminish the supply of ditches now in operation. * * * 
 It is wholly a private corporation; asks no government or territorial 
 aid, and is independent entirely of the plan proposed by the Trans- 
 Missouri Irrigation convention. The News hopes to see these lands 
 brought under cultivation. It would prefer a state control of all 
 irrigation companies, since in this country the ditch owners will con- 
 trol the land, and, consequently all large ditch companies should be 
 controlled at some point by the people. But since the public pro- 
 poses to be frightened by " jobs " we are glad to see private capital 
 and private energy embark in the enterprise^.-and will give it our 
 hearty support." 
 
 Now we would like to know l^y whom and by what means the Platte 
 was gauged in the winter of 1874, gi^^ng a discharge of 3,665 feet per 
 second ? There was a gauging apparatus put into the Platte canon 
 in 1886, and the discharge for the two following years is given in the 
 state engineer's report. The highest rate in feet per second is given 
 for June 21, and 22, 1888, and is 800; while the average for May, June 
 and July of that year is less than 500 cubic feet per second. The 
 record commenced in July, 1887, and the highest mark for that month 
 was 660. In September, 1888, it was 100 feet per second. This is 
 the difference between guessing and measuring. How much the 
 canal would have carried if it had been constructed, we cannot esti- 
 mate with precision, as we are not given the intended slope. But the 
 other dimensions would make it but about one-third longer than the 
 English Company's ditch, which we see only claims an appropriation
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 103 
 
 of 1,180 feet per second, while this was supposed to have a capacity 
 of 7,960, or seven times that of the High Line canal. Assuming that 
 it would have had a capacity of 1,600 feet, it would have been capable 
 of irrigating 105,600 acres at sixty-six acres per foot, or at the Eng- 
 lish Company's standard, fifty-five acres per foot, it would have 
 irrigated 88,000 as against eleven and a half miUions, or less than one- 
 hundredth part. The Greeley Tribune^s estimate was 60,000 acres, 
 which was undoubtedly high enough, considering the length of the 
 line. Indeed, it would have taken more than all the water that the 
 English Company got at the plentiest time last year to run through 
 this 350 mile ditch, as we see that in its experience 100 feet per second 
 were required to run sixty miles. 
 
 It was doubtless information of this kind that led this company to 
 build a ditch whicli it has at no time been able to half fill. But such 
 days of deception are over. The appointment of a state engineer 
 with instructions to gauge the streams, was the death blow to these 
 wild speculations, and the land speculators opposed the legislation 
 that secured this object with all their influence. 
 
 The Denver papers called the editor of The Greeley Tribune an 
 amiable monomaniac on the subject, and the controversy which com- 
 menced during the next summer between Greeley and Fort Collins in 
 regard to rights vested by virtue of prior appropriation, the Denver press 
 took the side opposed to such vested rights. To this we shall return 
 again; meantime we will conclude the controversy about the capacity 
 of the streams north of the Divide in our next chapter.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 IREIGATIOX CONTINTED — PATRICK o'mEARA's IRRIGATION IN NORTHEASTERN 
 COLORADO — REVIEW OF THE SA3IE IN THE REPORT OF THE PROCEED- 
 INGS OF THE LONDON INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS — CAPACITY OF 
 STREAMS IN NORTHEASTERN COLORADO IN 1888 — DEVICES FOR MEASUR- 
 ING WATER IN THE COLONTT — DR. G. LAW, HARVEY TO^'NSEND — J. ilAX. 
 CLARk's two DEVICES; THE LAST A MODIFICATION OF SOLDATl's ITAL- 
 IAN MODULO — MEASUREMENT OF THE MAIN STREAMS BY E. S. NETTLETON — 
 THIS GIVES MEANS OF DETERMINING CAPACITY, BUT STILL MEN EXAGGERATE 
 THEIR CAPACITY — STATE ENGINEER'S REPORT FOR 1887 AND 1888 CRIT- 
 ICISED ALSO. 
 
 PATRICK O'Meara, an English engineer, had been employed 
 by Carter-Cotton to survey and superintend the construction 
 of the North Pouclre Irrigation canal, a work commenced in 
 1880. Being of an inquiring tiu-n of mind, he occupied himself, dur- 
 ing the leisure afforded by his professional duties, with various experi- 
 ments and speculations about the duty of w^ater, the area irrigable in 
 Northeastern Colorado, etc. Upon his return to England, in the 
 spring of 1883, he read a paper on this subject before the " Institu- 
 tion of Civil Engineers, London." The proof of this paper was sent 
 to E. S. Nettletou, state engineer, for review. This gentleman, being 
 busy with other matters at the time, turned it over to the wTiter for 
 comment. His review was published in the proceedings of the above 
 named body in connection w^ith O'Meara's paper, also the discussion 
 which followed the reading of the. paper by members of the institu- 
 tion, more than twenty engaging in it, and representing an experience 
 gathered from nearly every eoimtry on the face of the globe, where 
 irrigation was practiced. O'Meara had studied our water problem more 
 exhaustively than had been done before; but rehable data were wantmg, 
 and he based his calculations of the area which could be irrigated 
 from the assumed rain and snowfall on the mountain water shed, and 
 from the depth to which the soil should be flooded to secure a crop. 
 This latter he put at the ridiculously low figure of fifteen inches, in- 
 cluding rainfaU. From these data of calculation he concludes that 
 with our present extravagantly low duty of water, we should be able 
 to water north of the Divide 2,750,000 acres, but upon the basis of
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 105 
 
 his duty of water, 9,750,000 acres. He admits the iudefmite basis of 
 his calculations, but criticises our wasteful practice of irrigation. In 
 the discussion it was brought out that in most countries, with heavier 
 rainfall than ours, there was quite as low a duty of water. However, 
 it may be said that many of the suggestions of the wTiter of the 
 paper were valuable, and have since been to some extent embodied 
 into our practice. The points on which the v\Titer of this history- 
 differs from the author of the jjaper under discussion are given in the 
 review and it is here deemed advisable to quote from it the following : 
 
 " The first opinion of the author which he would criticise related to 
 the mountain watershed of Northeastern Colorado. The area was 
 given at about 3,500,000 acres. It was important to know at what 
 altitude the author considered the mountain watershed to commence. 
 This datum was not given, and was needed before his estimates could 
 be submitted to mathematical verification. If he took it from the 
 base of the foothills, say at an altitude of 5,500 feet, it would include 
 a large area of scarcely more rainfall than the plains themselves. 
 The heavy precipitation of moisture was confined to the upper parts 
 of the range. The rainfall upon the summit was nearly an unknown 
 quantit}". There is only one point on it where measurements have 
 been made, and that is at the signal service station on Pike's Peak. 
 But this is on an outlying spur of the range and might materially 
 differ from the average of the snowy range. 
 
 " In regard to the depth of 33.6 inches of rain imagined to fall 
 yearh" upon the hypothetical watershed, suppose both the area of land 
 and the depth of rainfall not mere conjectures, but approximately 
 true, what of that ? It was not how much rain fell upon a particular 
 watershed, but how much got into the river bed which drained it, that 
 was of importance for the irrigator to know. The total fall was di- 
 minished by two irregular and indeterminable quantities. These 
 were first evaporation, which increased as the thermometer rose and 
 as the barometer fell, and which dispersed the greater part of the 
 moisture precipitated, except in low polar districts. On the plains of 
 Colorado evaporation dissipated all the rainfall except in rare cases 
 of sudden precipitation. After the melting of the winter's snow, the 
 depth of the moistened earth could be found as definitely as if irri- 
 gated after a six months' drought. It varied from six to twenty-four 
 inches. This melted snow, together with the spring rains, was usually 
 all evaporated b}' the first of June. Upon the southern slopes of the 
 mountains and foothills, nearly all the snow was evaporated, leaving 
 only that on the northern slopes, and more especially what had been 
 blown by the winds into the gorges, to be melted by the warm summer
 
 106 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 weather, and to swell the mountain torrents that feed the streams. 
 
 " In the second place, of the waters left after evaporation how much 
 finds its way into the underlying strata of the mountains and foot- 
 hills? The surface of the ground might be compared to a sieve, with 
 holes varying from the size of the smallest capillary duct to those 
 large enough to swallow up a river. Through these pores and crevices 
 the moisture on the surface was constantly escaping and falling, until 
 it reached an impervious stratum. Over this it flowed, a broad sub- 
 terranean river, the feeder of springs and the secret source of the 
 waters of rivers hmidreds of miles away. In the gravel beds under- 
 lying the plains of Coloraao, there are constantly flowing such 
 hidden rivers which might be tapped at depths varying from ten to two 
 thousand feet. The upturned edges of the secondary and tertiary strata 
 on the lower slopes of the mountains facilitate the entrance of the 
 mountain waters to great depths among the strata of the plains 
 below, while near the surface, in the gravel of each river valley, flows 
 a broad, hidden stream fluctuating in level with its parent river. 
 Colonel Baird Smith, in his work on Irrigation in Northern Italy, 
 shows that this is the case in districts watered by the mountain streams 
 of both the Alps and the Himalayas. 
 
 " After these two large, butimcertain and constantly varying sources 
 of waste are taken into account, how could an estimation be made of 
 the quantity of water reaching the channel of a river out of that 
 w^hich fell on its watershed ? Clearly there were no sufficient data 
 upon which to build even a rational conjecture. It commenced with 
 the unknown, proceeded through the unknown to a conclusion which 
 must be unreliable. There is a much simpler and wholly reliable 
 method, namely, measuring the discharge o^^-any particular stream 
 during the year. If the estimates of a definite watershed were com- 
 pared with this actual discharge, it would be a crucial test of their 
 accuracy. Happily the author had furnished such a test of his esti- 
 mates. He had given a diagram of the flow of water in the north 
 fork of the Poudre for the year ending September 30, 1882. It would 
 be seen that the average flow for nine mouths scarcely reached 4,000 
 cubic feet per minute, but he would assume it to be 5,000 per minute 
 for nine months, and 12,000 for the remaining three months. This 
 would give a total flow of 3,199,200,000 cubic feet during a year of 
 twelve thirty-day months. Now, the author has estimated the water- 
 shed of this stream 250 square miles equal to 6,969,600,000 square 
 feet, or about twice as many square feet as cubic feet, making the 
 depth of the water which actually got into the bed of the river just a 
 trifle over six inches. Hence, either his estimate of 33.6 inches was
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 107 
 
 too great or else nine elevenths of the whole volume escaped into the 
 ground and the air. Thus the available water, on the mountains over- 
 looking the plains of Northeastern Colorado, might be set down as 
 one-sixth of the estimate of the author. But onlv a fraction of the 
 water which, during the year flowed into the river-bed, could be used 
 in irrigation. If reservoirs were made for its storage during the nine 
 or ten months when not used, a large part of this would escape 
 through evaporation and absorption. A portion of that absorbed hy 
 the soil under the reservoirs, would again reach the streams, and 
 might again be taken up and stored in reservoirs or used at the right 
 season directly for irrigation. But at length a hmit of saving would 
 be reached; and a portion only, under the most perfect system, would 
 reach the lands adjacent to the Poudre. Then there was always much 
 waste of water in ditches, laterals, especially in dykes, before it could 
 be applied to the land. In a volume of water of six cubic feet per 
 second flowing in a lateral two miles in length, not less than one-tenth 
 would be lost by soaking and evaporation. Hence, with the most 
 perfect system of reservoirs, not more than one-half of the water 
 which flowed in the channels of the rivers could be expected to 
 reach the surface of the fields for irrigation. But could all, or even 
 any considerable portion of the water now wasted in time of flood, 
 and out of the season of irrigation, be economically stored in reser- 
 voirs ? He is certain it could not. The author has acknowledged 
 that shallow reservoirs are worse than useless. In the mountains a 
 few places afl'orded facilities for the cheap construction of deep res- 
 ervoirs. These would, no doubt, soon be made. But on the plains a 
 reservoir twenty feet deep meant twenty feet loss of head. If the 
 water to fill it was taken from the canal and run into it again, the 
 canal must suddenly drop twenty feet or else the Avater of the reser- 
 voir be carried for a long distance at a less slope, which was great 
 expense and involved loss by evaporation. Few canals are so located 
 that they could bear many such drops, and hence these reservoirs as 
 refeeders of canals were scarce. The one referred to by the author 
 was favorably situated in this respect, because taken out far back in 
 the foothills, commenced at a high level by a deep dam, and thence 
 running high up on the tal)le lands. Another kind of reservoir could 
 be used to an extent limited by the nature of the surface under each 
 particular canal. This was when a basin at a lower level than the 
 canal could be filled from it, and used for the irrigation of lands be- 
 low. All such natural basins were now being utilized where they 
 afforded suflScient economical advantages. 
 
 " The next point where Mr. Boyd would join issue with the author,
 
 108 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 was his condemuation of the flooding system practiced in Colorado. 
 In the cultivation of small grains, no preparation of the surface of 
 the soil into small compartments was admissible. The harvesting 
 must be done with a self-binder or header, and any parcelling off of 
 the lands into small compartments would effectually interfere with 
 the working of these machines. A permanent head ditch was made, 
 and with a double mould-board j)low twenty-four inches wide, ditches 
 were excavated about one hundred feet apart, in the direction of the 
 maiii slope. Six horses and two men with such a plow could furrow 
 out one hundred acres in a day. The harvest was gathered in the 
 same direction as the ditches ran; and if there were any cross-ditches 
 the}' were plowed in before liarvesting. 
 
 As to the duty of water the author had said, " Leaving therefore, 
 the item (meadows) aside, and assuming fourteen inches as a fair 
 allowance for cereals and potatoes, and twenty-five inches for Indian 
 corn, it would appear that the general irrigation duty of water in 
 Colorado ought not to exceed 15.4 inches including rainfall. Now in 
 the first place, the small grains need at least Uvice as much water as 
 corn or potatoes. These are cultivated in rows wliich facilitate the 
 speedy passage of the water and of the two, Indian corn needs the 
 lesser quantity, seldom Avanting more than one irrigation. Again, 
 the rainfall was so irregular that it could not enter much into the 
 computation. Usually it was sufficient to start the young crop, and 
 support the small grains until the first of June, and the cultivated 
 crops to the first of Jul3^ The month of June was nearly always dry, 
 and invariably hot. The problem to be solved by the farmer was how 
 much land he could get over thoroughly with tlie-^ water at his com- 
 mand, before the crop became so badly burned that an irrigation 
 Avould not revive it. On level land, from which the moisture had 
 evaporated, it would be found tliab in beds one hundred feet apart 
 it was inexf)edient to flood the land with less than from six to eight 
 inches of water. This woidd penetrate the soil from twenty to thirty 
 inches and would suffice, if there was no rain, about twenty days. 
 Another irrigation, which would not require more than two-thirds 
 as much water, would be all tlaat was needed. Should the first 
 watering be shallow, as it might be on steep land, or with narrow 
 l)eds, and frequent dams in the furrows, the grain would begin to 
 suffer in a few days and it would need another irrigation. An inch of 
 wat«r stored away in the soil twenty or twenty-four inches deep was 
 worth three inches at or near the surface. It was slowly subjected to 
 the influences that turned it into vapor, and mostly went through the 
 plant, being evaporated from its leaves. This applied to ordinary
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 109 
 
 upland, that had uot become more or less saturated from the vicinity 
 of reservoirs or ditches. Some soils imbilie water as freelj^ as a 
 sponge. It rose through them in the neigliljorhood of reservoirs 
 sometimes to the height of ten feet above their surface. * * *^ 
 
 "In some respects the paper of Mr. O'Meara was a valuable contri- 
 bution to the hydro-mechanics of Northern Colorado. When the 
 author had experimented, he had done valuable service; but where he 
 had speculated he had mostly missed the mark. Especially in the 
 right direction were his measurements of the volume of the flow of the 
 North Fork of the Poudi-e. The state engineer, E. S. Nettleton, was 
 commencing a series of experiments looking to a determination of the 
 flow of water in each of the natural streams of the state. A commence- 
 ment had been made by putting a flume in the Poudre at a point 
 above the head of all the ditches of importance. This would give a 
 definite sectional area. The average velocity at this cross-section was 
 determined at different stages of depths of the river, and recorded. 
 These velocities were ascertained by an instrument resemliling the 
 anemometer. It registered the number of revolutions made by a 
 vaned wheel moved by the water. How many of these revolu- 
 tions corresponded to one hundred feet was determined by dragging 
 the instrument through still water for that distance." 
 
 Here it may be said that the above means of gauging the streams 
 has now been applied to nearly all the natural streams of the eastern 
 slope, and dissipated the fog in which the whole question of water 
 supplj^ was, before its introduction, enveloped. It has demonstrated 
 that the position taken by Greeley writers on this subject was cor- 
 rect, and that those who differed from them were in error by from ten 
 to one hundred times. The greatest discharge of the Poudre was 
 5,600 feet June 28, 188i, while the mean discharge for that month was 
 about ijOOO. The greatest height reached the next year was 3,901), 
 while the average for June of that year was about 3,001). In 188(5 it 
 reached only 2,700 feet per second and averaged for June about 2,000. 
 In 1887 it was still lower, reaching at its greatest height only 2,400, 
 and averaging for June about 1,900. The next year, the last reported 
 records reach only 1,700 at greatest height, and averages for Jiuie 
 only 1,100. 
 
 These gaugings reveal the fact that for the 3'ears where we can 
 make a comparison, the Poudre surpasses in discharge the Platte at 
 the respective canons of both. The gauging' of the Platte only com- 
 menced about the middle of July of 1878, and for the rest of that 
 month a /eraged about 580 feet, while the Poudre for the same period 
 averaged about 800 feet. In June, 1888, the Platte reached at greatest
 
 110 A HTSTOKY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 height only 800 feet and averaged for that month about 600 feet 
 against 1,700 and 1,100 feet respectively for the Poudre. The St. Vrain 
 for its greatest height in June, 1888, gives only 480, and an average 
 for that month of 300 feet. Boulder creek for same year gives an 
 average for June of 250 and Big Thompson 500. So we see that for 
 this scarce year the Poudre equaled during the month of June as high 
 an average as the Platte, and its next biggest tributary, which in this 
 year was the Big Thompson. On the other hand, we find that the 
 Arkansas averaged for June of 1886, 1887 and 1888 respectively about 
 5,000, 3,500 and 2,000 feet. So for June, 1888, the Arkansas dis- 
 charged about two-thirds as much as the Platte and all its tributaries, 
 this being about 3,200 feet, of which the Poudre discharged about 
 one-third. This proportion may not hold good for other years. Ex- 
 periments have been made in the other streams for a much shorter 
 time than on the Poudre, the ditch owners on this stream having taken 
 a lead in this as in all other directions looking to a definite settle- 
 ment of the water question. 
 
 We next naturally come to devices for measuring water to con- 
 sumers from the main ditches, and here especially Union Colony has 
 taken the lead. To settle this question was one of the sorest perplex- 
 ities which vexed the colony board daring the first year. 
 
 The first attempt in this direction was made by Dr. G. Law in the 
 spring of 1872. He invented an automatic contrivance by which the 
 same qxiantity of water could be dehvered whatever the fluctuations 
 of level in the main ditch. A walking beam was supported by posts 
 attached to the sides of the delivery flume, one end of the beam 
 being connected by a shaft to the gate, the o'Oier'by a similar shaft to 
 a float or boat in the flume. These shafts were so adjusted that a 
 certain depth of water flowed over the weir at the tail of the flume, 
 coming in from the ditch under the gate. When the water in the 
 main ditch arose, and the consequent increased pressure sent more 
 water into the flume, it raised the boat which raised the end of the 
 beam attached to it, and loAvered the end fixed to the gate, and with 
 it the gate. 
 
 One of these contrivances was put into a flume of Number Three 
 in the south part of to\\Ti, and worked well. But it was not adopted 
 by the board partly because it would have incurred a considerable 
 expense which it was not prepared to meet, and partly because the 
 question was not how to deliver a steady quantity at any given point, 
 but rather to divide a fluctuating volume proportionately among the 
 consumers. 
 
 Mr. Harvey Townsend next appeared as an inventor and pushed his
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. Ill 
 
 scheme with so much persistent importunity that the board liad him 
 put his contrivance in all the flumes of Number Three. There had 
 arisen a strong impression that a wide opening delivered a great deal 
 more proportionately than a narrow one for the same depth. He con- 
 structed an aperture narrowing towards the bottom so that an inch at 
 the bottom would not discharge more, according to his calculation, 
 than one at the top. Say the aperture is ten inches deep and two 
 Made at the top, it would then discharge twenty surface inches. This 
 aperture constituted his unit of measure, and if more than this was 
 to be taken out, a proportionate number of slots was put in the flume 
 xmder the gate. It proved a nuisance, as many of us suspected; but 
 he had got up a strong party in his favor and a majority of the board 
 yielded to the clamor. It was torn out in less than a year, involving 
 the loss of quite an expenditure. 
 
 J. Max. Clark next appeared with a device for measuring the 
 quantity of water passing through a flume, by means of a spring bal- 
 ance which measured the force it exerted in passing. This it was 
 perceived would be inaccurate, as the force exerted by moving water 
 was not equal to its volume multiplied by its velocity, but its volume 
 multiplied by the square of its velocity. Hence the same quantity of 
 water moving with a great velocity would exert a greater force than 
 the same quantity at a less velocity, for the same reason that the same 
 absolute quantity of water will turn more machinery if it fall through 
 twenty feet than it would falling through ten feet. So this notion was 
 abandoned by its inventor who, however, in no long time ran across 
 the device used in Italy for measuring water. This was the modulo 
 of au Italian engineer named Soldati, and had been used in that 
 country more than two centuries. It consisted of a receiving aperture 
 regalated by a gate next the canal, and a delivery aperture regulated 
 by a side slide at the other end of the flume, the front gate being 
 raised or lowered, as the case might be, so as to keep the water to the 
 same level in the flume and fill the delivery aperture to the top. If 
 less water was to be delivered, the delivery apertui-e was narrowed, 
 but a uniform depth was maintained. This recognized the important 
 principle that flow through apertures of different depths is in pro- 
 portion to the square root of the depth. For instance, take two one- 
 inch holes, the one four and the other nine inches from the surface, 
 their discharges will be as two is to three. 
 
 The principle of the J. Max. Clark flume is the same as that of 
 Soldati, but the material used in Italy for the construction is (juite 
 different to what we use here. There the flumes are of stone masonry
 
 112 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 aud the gates of cast irou or lead. Here our limited means has 
 hitherto compelled us to make them of wood. 
 
 Though this flume was the best that had been devised for measur- 
 ing water up to that time, and though extensivel}' adopted all over 
 the states aud territories where irrigation is carried on, the author be- 
 lieves that the weir adopted by E. S. Nettleton first for the English 
 Company, and invented and tabulated by Francis, of Massachusetts, 
 is more accurate. It, however, involves some additional expense and 
 is not hkely to come into general use. It is disconnected with the 
 main canal and not influenced by its fluctuation, so far as affecting 
 the velocity with which it reaches the measuring aperture is con- 
 cerned. Tables constructed from experiments, made by its inventor, 
 give the number of cubic feet per second passing at different widths 
 and depths. Weirs of this kind are also adopted hj the state 
 engineer to measure the flow of canals taking water from the 
 natural streams, and the number of cubic feet per second passing over 
 each for different depths is tabulated b}' the state engineer for the 
 use of the district water commissioners. The Poudre district was 
 the first to get these weirs in as it was also the measuring device at 
 the Poudre canon, and so we have a record for five years, while most 
 of the districts in the division of the Platte have records for only one 
 year. In all these matters the Union Colony canals took the lead as 
 they have in nearly all affairs pertaining to advance in irrigation. 
 
 With data now before us from the actual measiu-ement of the 
 streams of Northern Colorado, one would be led to beheve that the 
 former exaggerated statements about the irrigating capacity of our 
 streams would no longer appear. But this is far from the case. Even 
 from so unexpected a soiu-ce as the state engineer's report for 1887- 
 1888, we get the following : 
 
 " Let it be considered in connection with the areas east of the Con- 
 tinental Divide, and with the precipitation therefor, that the limit of 
 remunerative farming without irrigation, is drawn at an annual pre- 
 cipitation of twenty-two inches; that the quantity of water passing 
 tlii'ough the canon of the Cache la Poudre river, as measured by this 
 department in the year 1884, was equivalent to a precipitation of 
 13.367 inches over the entire Avatershedof that stream above its canon; 
 that the total precipitation over that watershed, though not exactly 
 known for that year, was about 33.-1 inches; that al^out fort}- per 
 centum, then, of the snow and rainfall over the watershed of the 
 Cache la Poudre river above the canon, flowed through the canon of 
 that stream, and was available for irrigation direct or storage for irri- 
 gation; that the application of this deduction to the precipitation over
 
 THE tTN'ION COLONY OF COLORADO. 113 
 
 the entire area of the mouutaiu lands east of the Continental Divide 
 would indicate that about forty per centum of the mean anuual pre- 
 cipitation over that area would be the proportion available for supple- 
 menting the rain and snowfall on the irrigable lands east of the 
 Divide, and that this would, if it could all be utilized and evenl}^ dis- 
 tributed, afford, with the rainfall, an annual depth of water of twenty- 
 seven inches of 10,200,000 acres of plains and valley lauds." 
 
 Now, with the discharge at the canon of the Poudre before him for 
 five years, why did our state engineer choose the one having the 
 greatest measurement ? The record for that year, 1884, begins with 
 May and ends with October, giving the six months of maximum dis- 
 charge. As will be seen there is a steady fall in the average discharge 
 until the last year. 'If we take the average discharge for the four 
 irrigation months of May, June, July and August, we will find that 
 it was abcut 2,500 cul^ic feet per second, for 1884, while for the corres- 
 ponding months of 1888 it was only about 500 feet. Why not take 
 this latter year as a Imsis of calculation rather than the former "? Are 
 people not more interested in knowing what are the capabilities of our 
 streams in years of least suppty rather than in great flood years ? 
 This basis being adopted, will reduce the ten milions of acres to two 
 millions, and with no reservoirs to save the flow of nine months, it 
 will reduce tlie two millions to one, Avhich is the very most that can be 
 depended upon in such a year as 1888. We had, according to an un- 
 doubted over-estimate, about 700,000 acres irrigated in this year north 
 of the Divide, but it is well known that nearly half the crops perished 
 for want of water, and that all had too scant a supply, reducing the 
 average of wheat to about twelve bushels, while last year, 1889, when 
 we had a f uU supply, it will average thirty bushels. Then it is well 
 known that a great portion of the eastern slope is so situated that 
 the precipitation on it cannot reach it, as it does the Poudre. This is 
 true of that portion lying between the South Platte canon and the 
 Arkansas, from the center portion of which scarcely any water reaches 
 the plains. W^hy, then, will men take this vague hypothetical basis 
 of precipitation on the eastern watershed as a datum for computing 
 how much we can irrigate, when they have before them the actual dis- 
 charge ? It is to satisfy this craving for largeness so congenial to the 
 average mind. Nearly all men prefer the large, vague illusions to the 
 measured, well-determined, actual fact; and it appears to me this was 
 an attempt on the part of the state engineer to satisfy this tendency 
 on the part of the people of the Centennial state to lay it down large. 
 
 The author is sorry to see that our senator, James W. McCreery, 
 in a speech made in the State Senate, at its last session, and
 
 114 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 in support of a bill which we shall mention farther on, should have 
 been led to use the following language : 
 
 " About one- third of the whole area of the state of Colorado can 
 be cultivated land, provided only that it has a sutBcient supply of 
 moisture to make cultivation profita])le. This area exceeds that of the 
 state of Ilhnois, one of the wealthiest states in the Union, in agricul- 
 tural development, and all that is required to make Colorado prom- 
 inent as an agricultural state, is the effective distribution and applica- 
 tion of the waters of the state over the lands. * * * The 
 precipitation, if properly controlled, directed and utilized, is sufficient 
 to supply the larger cultivable area of the state. * * * 
 Add to this the diversity of views as to the duty of water, that is to 
 say the quantity of water required for a given area of land, which has 
 never been agreed upon in practice, or settled by law. Different 
 varieties of soil, different conditions of cultivation, of course, enter 
 the problem of determining the duty of water. But it is now the almost 
 unanimous opinion of those best quaUfied to judge of this matter 
 that the duty of water has been underestimated generally. * * * * 
 It is a common remark in the northern part of the state that a scarcity 
 of water during the irrigation season of 1888 has demonstrated the 
 fact that the duty of a given quantity of water is very much greater 
 than had been before supposed." 
 
 The reader of the preceding part of this work has been led over 
 much of the ground covered l^y the above assumptions, and has our 
 reasons for not accepting them. But there are a few statements here 
 made that need especial re^dewing. The senator says in substance, 
 that it is the general opinion of those best qualified to judge, that the 
 duty of water has beert-tmder- estimated. Who are those best quali- 
 fied to judge ? Are they the men who have been handling water and 
 actually irrigating the soil, or are they the men who have been look- 
 ing on, or driving along the roads, and who if they see a puddle of 
 water in the road, coming from some steep hill-side that is being irri- 
 gated, are prone to cry out, " See what waste. How much land could 
 be irrigated from this waste I " The wTiter has handled water for 
 twenty years. What he is now using costs him 11,200 per eighty-acre 
 water right for first investment. To this is added the construction of 
 laterals, some three miles from main canal, the superintendence and 
 repairing of these laterals, the proportionate expense of the superin- 
 tendence on main canal. The interest on investment at ten per cent, 
 and the additional expenditures amount to about |160 per eighty acres 
 to get the water yearly to eighty acres of laud. This is a rental of two 
 dollars per acre. A man must be imprudent, indeed, if he does not
 
 THE UXION COLONY OF COLORADO. 115 
 
 use what costs so much in the most economical manner possible. In 
 addition to his experience, the writer has read much on the subject, 
 and has also observed what his neighbors are doing. Now he finds 
 that he is doing well if he can irrigate eighty acres per water right, 
 which is 1.-44 culiic feet per second, or a duty of fifty-five acres per 
 cubic foot per second. His land lies the best possible for irrigation, it 
 has a compact clay subsoil, and he has it put into such a variety of 
 crops as enable him to use the water somewhere during the whole 
 irrigation season. Moreover he has more land than he has water 
 rights for, but dares not put any more into crop, depending upon a 
 surplus to irrigate such larger area than the rights actually cover. It 
 is true that if we had a full head for four months, and there was the 
 requisite variety of crops cultivated to allow the continuous use of 
 water for this period, one cubic foot of water du such land as I have 
 described would irrigate perhaps one hundred acres. But in no year 
 can any large canal, coming from any stream in Northern Colorado, 
 expect to run full for more than two months. Even in 1884, the high- 
 est year since the Poudre has had a record of its discharge from the 
 canon, the average for August was only 800 feet per second. Indeed, 
 the period when there is anything like a full supply for all the 
 ditches, is about two months, commencing with May 20th. So all the 
 land you can irrigate is practically confined to these sixty days. In 
 some years like that of 1888 it is much shorter, and more so as the 
 ■canal is later in its appropriation. As before said, the English Com- 
 pany's canal, taken out above the Platte canon, has never been able to 
 get water enough to half fill it. The Larimer and Weld, from which 
 the writer gets water, could run full in 1888 so that we could get full 
 rights but a about a week, and in 1889, a much better year, not more 
 than three weeks. During these three weeks three times as much 
 water was run as during the rest of the season. As the company — and 
 all other companies are like it in this respect — agrees to furnish the fuU 
 quantity contracted for only when there is enough of water appropri- 
 ated by it in the river to fill the canal, and pro rata at loAAer stages, 
 the average quantity furnished during the irrigation season is the true 
 basis for the computation for the duty of water for any year. In 
 such a year as 1888, this quantity for four months would not have 
 been more than one-quarter of the 1.44 culiic feet per second per 
 eighty-acre water right. So while this gives a nominal duty of water 
 at fifty-five acres, it reaUy gives a duty of four times that or 220 acres 
 per cubic foot for a run of four months. But were any such 
 high results reahzed ? This was simply starvation irrigation. Prac- 
 tically neither corn nor potatoes had any irrigation and were failures.
 
 116 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AXD 
 
 The wheat crop had oulj one hght irrigation and was on an average 
 only one-third of the crop of the following year. The same was true 
 of all other small grains, and alfalfa was not more than half the crop 
 in 1888 that it was in 1889. The results would have been even worse 
 in this scarce season but for the stored-up moisture of former years 
 of hea\'y irrigation. If we were to continue this course of starvation 
 irrigation for a few years, we would not do much better than they da 
 in the " rain belt," while we have the added expense of two dollars 
 per acre for the expenses and investment in canals. These expenses 
 and the present price of produce forbid any sane man from investing 
 in canals which can only afford a sufficiency of water to thoroughly 
 irrigate the lands under it one year in five, as must be the case with 
 late canals if all the water thej' can carry with a full river is sold. The 
 Eughsh Company has been honorable enough to stop selHng water 
 which their canals could carrv, but which is not usually in the river to 
 fill them. How insane then to build additional canals to these abeady 
 quarter supplied later ones ! But we fear our senator has been get- 
 ting his figures not from well digested facts, but from the above spec- 
 ulations of our late engineer, who ought to know better, but who 
 seems disposed to flatter our state vanity. Then it is known that 
 some think Yankees are so smart that they can make a less quantity 
 of water grow crops than has ever been used elsewhere. In fact Sen- 
 ator Teller made a statement to that effect, in reply to J. Max. Clark's 
 figures based on Italian irrigation experience; and now I suppose he 
 is about to demonstrate it, since he is building a very expensive, large 
 canal, taking water from the Arkansas. Well, if he can teach us how 
 to make one drop of_jvvater do the work of two, he will confer on the 
 people of Colorado a greater benefit than will aU the measures he 
 has can-ied through the United States Senate in its favor. But in fine, 
 the writer hopes that our outi senator will hereafter not indulge in 
 predictions of quite so wide a spread for our water, and understand 
 that the farmers, who are his constituents, prefer a rational statement 
 of facts, to buncombe. Maybe he thinks with P. T. Barnum that " The 
 American people like to be humbugged, and he hkes to do it." 
 
 To our old friend. General Cameron, we owe another piece of infor- 
 mation on this subject of the agricultural area of Colorado. He has 
 sent the writer a speech made at Fort Worth by the Hon. H. B. 
 Chamberlin, president of the Denver Chamber of Commerce, on the 
 subject of " Building a City." As this is the freshest information on 
 the subject of the extent of our available agricultural land — l^eing 
 dehvered last November — it is of importance to record it before our 
 work goes through the press :
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 117 
 
 " You will form no adequate conceptiou of the gi'owth of Denver 
 without some knowledge of the resources of the state. I speak with 
 becoming modesty before a Texas audience, whose area is an empire, 
 whose merchants are princes, and whose financial men are kings of 
 finance. With modesty I state that the area of Colorado is 66,000,000 
 acres, consisting of 31,000,000 acres of timber and mineral lands, 
 and 32,000,000 acres of arable lands. You will note I speak of arable 
 lands — not sterile. The common opinion that the bulk of Colorado 
 lands is sterile has been dissipated, as water for irrigation has been 
 furnished to it and the desert has been made to blossom as the rose. 
 Quite 2,000,000 acres of it are under cultivation by irrigation. Its 
 crops are 33;^ to 50 per cent, greater than the average of any state not 
 using irrigation. It is expected the entire 32,000,000 area will, some 
 time, be cultivated by irrigation from water stored in the mountains. 
 I call your attention to the fact that the area of Colorado is equal to 
 that of England, Ireland, and Wales, and venture to assert that, in- 
 side of fifty years, we will support a population equal to that of those 
 countries— 30,000,000 people." 
 
 Now there are no 2,000,000 acres actually under irrigation. There 
 may be ditches projected to cover that area or more. But granting 
 that there were 2,000,000 acres, how is he to increase that area sixteen- 
 fold by storing water in the mountains ? Seven hundred thousand 
 acres are all that are claimed under irrigation north of the Divide, 
 and all the water during the four months of irrigation in the last two 
 years, except for a few days of flood water, was used in the Platte 
 and its tributaries by the ditches. The quantity of water running in 
 the Platte and its tributaries, during the eight months when irrigation 
 is not carried on, is quite insignificant. Records are not kept of the 
 flow of the streams during the winter, but it is less than in either the 
 spring or fall; and before May and after August the flow of the 
 Poudre, which may be taken as an example for all, tapers down from 
 an average of four himdred feet to about one hundred feet as it 
 touches the winter mouths. It is doubtful if it flows one hundred 
 feet per second for these eight months on an average. Hence all 
 these months would discharge less than half what is now used in 
 irrigation in the month of June. Any one who has been up our streams 
 into the mountains in the winter knows that there is no water worth 
 mentioning flowing there that could be stored, and that if winter storing 
 is to be done at all, it must be principally upon the plains. In fine, it 
 may be said that not one-fourth the water for the last two years has 
 run to waste in the Poudre, or the Platte and its tributaries, of that 
 which has been used in irrigation, and that one-half of this fourth
 
 118 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 would be wasted if stored in reservoirs before it could be used on the 
 land; and above all, the whole of what can be stored of an ordinary 
 year is needed to complete the suppl}^ during the shortage of the irri- 
 gation season, wathout thinking of using it on new areas. This ap- 
 pKes to the Platte and all its tributaries. This late reservoir " craze " 
 will soon subside, and it can be demonstrated that it has not in it 
 one-himdreth part of what the statement of the president of the 
 Denver Chamber of Commerce makes it. If the prospects of the 
 continued gTOwth of Denver depend upon the growth of agriculture 
 to the extent Mr. Chamberlin indicates, then the " Queen City of the 
 Plains" is extending her suburbs under the stimulus of a grand 
 illusion, and her collapse in the near future will be even more dis- 
 astrous than it was after her period of " booming," based on the pros- 
 pective immigration of 1872. It is to be feared that should Mr. 
 Chamberhn undertake to put his reservoir speculations into practice 
 he will not find the " miUions in it " that he has in real estate specula- 
 tions around Denver. But if Colorado attains to 30,000,000 of popu- 
 lation within fifty years, then we may expect the prediction of N. C. 
 Meeker to be fulfilled, that Greeley would have a population of 100,- 
 000 before some of the children then born should have passed away. 
 If this growi:h depends upon agricultural development, our town 
 should grow at least in proportion to the rest of the state, and as that 
 wiU have to increase sixty-fold we ought to have 180,000 fifty years 
 hence.
 
 CHAPTEK IX. 
 
 IRRIGATION LEGISLATION — DOCTRINE OF PRIORITY OF RIGHTS BEFORE ADOPTING 
 OF STATE CONSTITUTION — DIFFICULTY OF ENFORCING THIS RIGHT — COM- 
 PLICATIONS WITH FORT COLLINS — MEETING AT HALF-WAY SCHOOL HOUSE — 
 STATE CONSTITUTION ON PRIORITY — CALL FOR A CONVENTION TO MEET 
 AT DENVER TO FORMULATE A SYSTEM OF IRRIGATION LEGISLATION — 
 HOSTILITY OF THE OLD SETTLERS — OF THE BAR OF THE STATE, RHODES, 
 DAVID BARNES — TWO VIEWS IN THE CONVENTION AS TO WHAT CONSTI- 
 TUTES APPROPRIATION, DITCHES OR LANDS — COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO 
 DRAFT BILL — CONTENTS OF THIS BILL — CARRIED THROUGH THE LEGIS- 
 LATURE WITH EXCEPTION OF STATE ENGINEER CLAUSE — H. N. HAYNES 
 
 APPOINTED REFEREE FOR THIRD DISTRICT — HIS FITNESS DIFFICULTY OF 
 
 GETTING PROOF — LARGE APPROPRIATIONS CLAIMED BEFORE SETTLEMENT 
 OF COLONY — CLAUSES RENDERING THESE EXCESSIV'E CLAI3IS HARMLESS — 
 OTHER DISTRICTS WORSE THAN OURS IN THIS RESPECT — THE LAW A 
 
 BLESSING DISTRICTS WITHOUT DECREES PETITION THE GOVERNOR TO 
 
 APPOINT COMMISSIONERS IN 1880. 
 
 WE shall next revievi^ Irrigation legislation in Colorado and 
 from this, too, it wall be seen how far in advance Greeley 
 men were of the other irrigators of the state. 
 
 When the colony came here the interpretation of the laws was in 
 favor of priority of appropriation giving priority of right to the use 
 of v/ater. But the laws were loose and indefinite on the subject, and 
 if rights of this kind were to be enforced, it must be in the courts. 
 As there was l:)ut an insignificant quantity of water taken out of the 
 Poudre when the colony came here, the question was not at first a 
 pressing one, and our claim seemed to be the very best. But in no 
 long time the success of our application of water to the higher table- 
 lands demonstrated their great agricultural value, and other ditches 
 were soon taken out above ours. 
 
 The first enterprise of this kind of any extent, was the Lake Com- 
 pan3''s "canal, taken out by B. H. Eaton and J. C. Abbott. In the 
 spring of 1873 this was followed by the formation of the Agricultural 
 Colony located at Fort Collins. This enterprise Avas projected by four 
 of our colonists, B. H. Eaton, R, A. Cameron, John C. Abbott and J. L. 
 Brush in connection with parties living at or near the above named town.
 
 120 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 The ditches of the company were not in a condition to disturb our 
 supply until the summer of 187i, which was also one of scarcity. 
 Before our crops were made, the river was dry at the head of Number 
 Three, and there appeared to be great danger that the trees, small 
 fruits, and lawns of our town would be ruined. There was first skirm- 
 ishing between the newspapers, which finally led to a convention of 
 ditch owners on the Poudre, l^eiug called at the Eaton school house, 
 near where Windsor now is. About forty delegates were present. 
 General Cameron and B. H. Eaton were there, and were conciliatory 
 in their attitude. Their proposition was to appoint some disinterested 
 person for that year to divide the water according to the greatest 
 needs for the present year, disregarding priority. The question took 
 a wide range in discussion, and the Collins parties were told that if 
 their policy of the ditches highest up stream taking what they wanted 
 was the one to be pursued, then we would go above them, and there 
 would result an interminable and exhaustive race in which the greatest 
 numbers and the largest purses would come out the winners. The 
 writer was willing to accept, for that season, the proposal of General 
 Cameron, because he saw that nothing could be done in the courts 
 that year to relieve the present pinch. Most of the Greeley delegates 
 differed from him, but might have been made to yield but for the de- 
 fiant attitude of those np stream. At length patience seemed to him 
 to cease being a virtue, and he hurled back defiance in hot and un- 
 seemly language. They would not hear to moderation and justice. 
 Force must meet force. WiL9'-^t'i'^"i^^^®^^^^ them, and many of us had 
 seen as rough service some ten years ago as we were likely to experi- 
 ence in an encounter with these water thieves, etc. Then some one 
 arose and moved an immediate adjournment. Every man to his tent, 
 to his rifle and cartridges. But gradually voices of conciliation were 
 heard above the storm, Meeker's, Cameron's, and e\<en J. Max. Clark's. 
 It was finally agreed that they would let us down some water to save 
 the most valuable things in Greeley. A promise they did not keep 
 nor mean to keep. They were too intent on running the water out on 
 the cactus plain in order to boom the "Agricultural Colony," which 
 was to be our great rival. A general rainstorm came in about a week 
 afterwards and saved us; but from this day forth we had set our 
 hearts on having some regulations looking towards a distribution of 
 the waters of the state in harmony with the principle of priority of ap- 
 propriation. But nothing of any importance was reached by the legis- 
 lature of either 1875 or 1877. A bill had been passed to enable counties 
 to take out ditches and tax parties benefiteil. But nothing was ever 
 done in this fine.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 121 
 
 Meantime the constitution had been adoi^ted defining priorities, and 
 the difficulties that Greeley felt were beginning to be felt by other 
 early settlements. Fort CoUins also saw other large ditches projected 
 above her own, and was now willing to join hands with us. The con- 
 dition of affairs on the St. Vrain was becoming as critical as our own. 
 So there was a general call for a convention of delegates representing 
 the different ditches, to meet in Denver during the last days of De- 
 cember, 1878, to formulate some scheme of irrigation legislation. 
 
 Many of the old irrigation districts paid no attentiqn to the call, 
 believing that no legislation was needed. Some came, however, to 
 oppose. Boulder, St. Vrain and the Poudre were there in force. 
 L. C. Mead, of Highland Lake, who had just been elected to the 
 house for the coming term of the legislature, was elected chairman. 
 Some who first got the floor were opposed to any legislation. Prom- 
 inent among these was Mr. Rhodes, who had just been elected senator 
 from Larimer county. He said that laws regulating this matter 
 would be too expensive, that the courts could decide questions as they 
 arose more cheaply and satisfactorily. He said that farmers were a 
 set of fools, and did not understand their own interests. At this point 
 he was called to order for using disrespectful language to the body he 
 was addressing. The point was sustained and the senator took his 
 hat and left, vowing vengeance against the party favoring legislation, 
 a vow he kept to the best of his al^ility during the following session. 
 Finally, a committee on order of business was appointed b}^ the chair, 
 and the writer was its chairman. On it, too, was David Barnes vio- 
 lently opposed to all legislation. We had not met before, but he 
 was known to all G-reeley men by reputation. He was a fifty-niner. 
 In his gray hair he stood erect as a j)alm tree, over six feet high, spare 
 of flesh, but probafjly weighing two hundred pounds — splendid speci- 
 men of well-preserved physical vigor. He ungiertook to bully the 
 committee and force dosvu our throats his opinion that no legislation 
 on the water question was advisable. The chair told him that we had 
 met to do business, and that if he had any resolution to offer, or 
 motion to make, iff would be entertained; but if not, he was out of 
 order, and would have to take his seat, and in case he did not do so an 
 officer would l^e called. This brought him down. He offered noth- 
 ing. An order of business was then prei3ared recomai-^nding various 
 points of desirable legislation which should be considered by the con- 
 vention to be brought to the notice of the coming legislature. He 
 and Mr. Harriman, of Bear creek, brought in a minority report recom- 
 mending that there be no legislation. The majority report was dis- 
 cussed at length and brought out the views of the different interests,
 
 122 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 and was finally adopted in spite of the " moss-backs." The delegates 
 from Greeley were B. S. LaGrrange, Joseph Moore, J. D. Buckley, J. 
 Max. Clark and David Boyd. Our men had thoroughly studied the 
 question before and were able to defend their position at every point. 
 Admirable temper was maintained; the violently opposed had left, 
 and those who had come without giving the subject attention were 
 mostly brought over. But among those favoring legislation two op- 
 posite opinions prevailed as regards what constitutes priority of ap- 
 propriation. One party contended that the construction of a ditch 
 entitled its owners to the use of water for all the lands it could mi- 
 gate, and that the appropriation dated from the time work was com- 
 menced in good faith and afterwards prosecuted with diligence. The 
 other party, headed by an able advocate, I. L. Bond, of Boulder,^ 
 maintained that only an actual apphcation to the land worked an 
 appropriation, and that it was not only necessary in order to have a 
 just distribution of water to know the order of the priority of the 
 respective ditches, but also the order of application to the different 
 parcels of land under each ditch. It was contended by the former 
 party that however desirable such a distribution and the record on 
 which it was based might be, it was scarcely attainable, and that we 
 must only undertake what to a sound judgment seemed practicable. 
 Another important point brought out by Dr. Bond was the protection 
 of parties who were yearly renting water from ditch companies. This 
 was one that had not presented itself to the farmers on the Poudre, 
 as they were the owners of the^ ditches that irrigated their lands. 
 
 These points and many more were discussed, but no definite con- 
 clusion reached farther than the appointment by the chair of a com- 
 mittee of five to meet immediately in Denver, and draft the outline of 
 a bill for an irrigation law to be submitted to the legislature. 
 
 The committee consisted of David Boyd, chairman; J. S. Stanger, 
 editor of The Colorado Farmer; Daniel Witter, of Boulder; John 
 C. Abbott, of Fort Collins, and I. L. Bond, of Boulder. It spent a 
 week in the preparation of the draft of this bill, which embraced the 
 following points : • 
 
 First. Dividing the state into water districts corresponding with 
 the regions irrigable from certain natural streams. Eight of these 
 districts were named, all parts of the Platte or its tributaries. No 
 other parts of the state had expressed any desire to have any system 
 of distribution, but provision was made to add such other districts as 
 should apply. 
 
 Second. A water commissioner was to be appointed hy the gover- 
 nor for each district, whose duty it would be to divide the water from
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 123 
 
 the natural streams according to priority as established by a record 
 provided for. 
 
 Third. A plan for the securing of a record of priorities. This was 
 the most difficult problem the committee had to encounter and was 
 impeded at every step by the opposing views of Dr. Bond, who 
 wanted it based upon application to each parcel of land. The rest of 
 the committee held to the other view; but such was the ability and 
 persistence with which he advocated his position that a sort of com- 
 promise was made, illogical as all compromises are. 
 
 Fourth. A provision that where a piece of land had once been al- 
 lowed the use of water by a company selling water, it should never 
 be deprived of that use provided its owner paid the rent, which was 
 to be fixed in case of dispute in all cases t>y the county commis- 
 sioners. 
 
 Fifth. It drafted regulations for the construction of reservoirs 
 which were substantially the law as it now stands on the subject. 
 
 Sixth. It provided for a state engineer and gauging the streams. 
 
 The bill as thus sketched was put into the hands of L. C. Mead, and 
 Ave were fortunate in having in the house on the committee on irrigation, 
 Judge Brownell. This gentleman, unlike most of tliose at the bar or 
 on the bench in Colorado, was strongly impressed with the necessity 
 of legislation on this subject. He spent night and day every spare 
 hour he had upon this bill, and especiall}^ deserves credit for formulating 
 a procedure by which a record could l^e obtained of the priorities in 
 the different districts. This was the only radical change made in what 
 the committee submitted, and was in my opinion a great iinprove- 
 ment, though viewed quite differently hj some of the committee. 
 We also had then J. L. Brush in the house and Judge S. B. A. Haynes 
 ic the senate, both of whom worked well for the bill and got it passed, 
 except state engineer clause. 
 
 The Poudre district was the first to move in the matter of having a 
 referee apj^ointed, and that at the instigation of the Greeley irriga- 
 tion corporations. This was accomplished in the fall of 1879 and we 
 were fortunate in having for that referee H. N. Haj'nes, the son of 
 Judge Haynes, of Greeley. Mr. Haynes, in addition to being a care- 
 ful and painstaking student of law, was also a ripe scholar for one of 
 his age, being a graduate, before commencing the study of law, of 
 Colby University, Maine. It needed a man of scientific and especially 
 mathematical attainments as well as legal knowledge, to understand 
 and get into proper form the evidence on this subject, and these Mr. 
 Haynes had, and it enabled him to prepare a record such as no other 
 district secured.
 
 124 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 To give one instauce of the difficulty of determining the questions 
 that came before the referee, the law provided wisely that the quan- 
 tity of water appropriated should be given in cubic feet per second. 
 Now, in most instances, the owners of ditches had no idea of what 
 cubic feet per second meant, and could only furnish the data for com- 
 puting these, namely, the sectional area and the slope. What these 
 elements were, now could be determined by sending an engineer on 
 the ground; but what the sectional ai-ea was at time of first con- 
 struction coidd only be got at b}^ interested witnesses. In many 
 cases, from these data, the referee had to compute cubic feet per 
 second from complex algebraic formulae. What sad work was made 
 of this in the Boulder district we know, since the appropriations were 
 stated in customary incl\,es, and not in cubic feet per second, and are 
 next to useless for the guidance of the district commissioner. 
 
 It was seen by the people of Greeley and the colony that it would 
 be a most difficult affair to get at the size of the early ditches, and 
 that the longer it was put off the harder it would be to get at the 
 truth. Nearly all the ditches on the Poudre, at the time the colony 
 located in this vaUey, were mere plow f arrows which had been gradu- 
 ally enlarged as the needs of the parties required. Not even the 
 parties themselves knew when these different enlargements had been 
 made, much less what was their extent ; and knowing human nature, 
 we might be sure that in giving in evidence for themselves, most men 
 would give themselves the benefit of the doubt. It was seen that 
 only the present size of ditches could be ascertained with any degree 
 of accuracy. But in order to prevent too extravagant demands, the 
 different interests in and around Greeley employed the writer and 
 also Mr. Dunning, as attorney, to cross-examine witnesses and gather 
 such other information or data as might confine excessive claims with- 
 in reasonable limits. 
 
 This was found to be a most difficult task. It was found impossi- 
 l^le to get rebutting testimony in cases where evidentlj'^ extravagant 
 statements were made on oath, the neighbors of the party declaring 
 that they had no definite ideas as to size or even dates of construc- 
 tion and enlargements. Even the present size of ditches was grossly 
 overstated, and the local engineers appeared to be in collusion with 
 the old settlers. 
 
 It was the custom of the writer to examine in person each ditch on 
 the upper section of the river, and take a section of it, and it was re- 
 quired that the party proving his claims should have an engineer to 
 take and testify as to its slope. But in spite of all these precautions 
 and the cross-examinations of witnesses, it was put in evidence that
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 125 
 
 there liad been appropriated from the Poudre river at the date wheu 
 Union Colony's canal, Number Three, was commenced April 1, 1870, 
 six hundred and ninety-two cubic feet per second, or a quantity of 
 water which, at a duty of sixty acres per cubic foot, would have 
 watered 41,520 acres, nearly half w^hat is irrigated to-day. But how 
 much land was in crops in the Poudre valley in the summer of 1870 ? 
 I have consulted Governor Eaton on this subject, and after a care ful 
 computation, he says aliout a thousand acres. He was farming about 
 the middle of the valley that summer, and knew of every patch be- 
 tween Fort Collins and the mouth of the Poudre. Now it will be seen 
 that the quantity claimed and awarded these early ditches, is more 
 than forty times what they were actually using. To be sure the 
 ditches were in many cases larger than the land actually in cultivation 
 needed — were built for a prospective cultivation of larger areas. But 
 their size could not have been greatly in excess of their needs, and could 
 not have nearly equaled an aggregate size sufficient for the irrigation 
 of the lands under them. This is demonstrated by the faiit that all 
 of them had been enlarged more or less, and some of them to several 
 times their capacity in 1870, between that date and the time of taking 
 the testimony — ten years afterwards. The total claims along the 
 river bottom, which these ditches could have watered, could not have 
 averaged more than half a mile wide, which, estimated at thirty miles 
 long, would give fifteen square miles or 9,200 acres, and the greater 
 part of this waa low, swampy land, and meadow land not needing* 
 irrigation. There were only twenty-three ditches in existence when 
 our Number Three was taken out, and if we take from these four then 
 insignificant ditches, which since then have been enlarged and 
 extended, namely — Pleasant Valley canal, Larimer and Weld, Fort 
 Collins ditch and " New Mercer," there remain nineteen. Now from 
 the state engineer's report for 1888, we find that the total area of crops 
 irrigated under these nineteen ditches in that year was only 5,660 
 acres. Moreover the quantity of water claimed by the four ditches 
 left out of the calculation at the date of the construction of Union 
 Colony Nimiber Three, was onlj^ forty-two cubic feet per second. The 
 area irrigated by the ten largest and virtually latest constructed was 
 for the same years about 100,000 acres. Moreover, it is well known 
 that many of these small older ditches would not carry half the 
 water claimed in the decree when they were gauged by the state en- 
 gineer in 1885, although they had nearly all been enlarged, and some 
 of them several times, between the date of the decree, and this gaug- 
 ing. As instances of the excessive quantity of water awarded ditches 
 under the decree, compared with the crops cidtivated under them, we
 
 126 A HISTOET OF GREELEY AND 
 
 may take the Boyd and Freeman ditch which has 99.38 cubic feet 
 awarded it in 1873, while the crops under it in 1888, said to be irri- 
 gated, were 320 acres, which is, I beheve, all the land under the ditch 
 owned by its proprietors. This would be a duty of less than four 
 acres to the cubic foot per second. Again w^e may take the B. H. 
 Eaton ditch, which was awarded for 1872 forty-one cubic feet per 
 second, and had in irrigated crops, 1888, 330 acres, or a duty of eight 
 acres i^er cubic foot per second. The John Coy ditch is credited with 
 thirty-one feet and irrigated in same years 160 acres, or has a duty of 
 about five acres per foot. So it is pretty much through the end of 
 the list, and so much for the value of interested human testimony. 
 
 Of course this exorbitant claim of nearly 700 cubic feet per second, 
 before the colony ditches can get any, would be ruinous, could these 
 parties demand all this water. But the provision in the decree that 
 a party can only get water for beneficial use, renders this excessive 
 previous apiDropriation comparatively harmless. 
 
 Again, these small older ditches are pretty well up stream for the 
 most part, and are all on the first bottom, so that excessive irrigation 
 from them gets back again into the river and can be used over again 
 by the ditches lower down. It may be farther said that during the 
 year 1888 there were only twenty-six daj^s when the discharge of the 
 Poudre was more than 700 cubic feet per second. 
 
 But bad as this was in our district, it was still worse in the St. Vrain, 
 Here the claims of the old settlers seem to have been allowed to run riot. 
 Up to the first day of April, 1879, 808.58 feet were awarded, while the 
 greatest discharge of that stream for 1888 was less than 500 feet per 
 second, while the average for June of that year was, as we have seen, 
 only 300 feet. But the Boulder district is still worse, since, for April first, 
 1870, there were claimed 2.234 feet. This district has since been divided, 
 but the con^l:ined average of both streams for June. 1888, was only 
 430 feet. The total quantity claimed by this Boulder district before 
 division was 4,842 feet, lor tne Poudre, 4,632, and for St. Vrain, 
 2,854. 
 
 We will conclude this part of the subject before us with the follow- 
 ing apposite quotation from the report of Elwood Mead, assistant 
 state engineer for 1886 : 
 
 " In district number six I was able to gauge twelve out of fifty re- 
 corded ditches of Boulder and South Boulder creeks. While gauging 
 the canals of this district, my attention was very forcibly call ed to a 
 matter to which it seems proper to refer. This is the wide discrep- 
 ancy which often exists Ijetvveen the decreed and actual canying 
 capacity of ditches and canals. So great was this in some instances.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 127 
 
 that the results of the gaugiugs aud the decreed capacity seemed to 
 have no connection with each other. Ditches were met with having 
 dec reed capacities of two, three aud even five times the volume they 
 are capable of carrying, ever have carried, or will probably ever need. 
 Other ditches in the same district have decrees which fairly represent 
 their actual needs. * * * 
 
 "The majority of the decrees of small ditches are based on the 
 testimony of men having no engineering training or experience, and 
 however honest the estimate may have been, it is in the majority of 
 cases, a mistaken one, being almost universally too large. The rem- 
 edy would seem to be to permit no decrees to be rendered until the 
 state had been represented, and an estimate of the capacity of the 
 ditch made by some competent and disinterested engineer, either the 
 state engineer or some one selected by him." 
 
 It may be added that in conversation with the gentleman above 
 quoted, the author was informed that although our district was the 
 least faulty in this respect, and especially so in regard to the recent 
 larger ditches, still plenty of cases could be found among the smaller 
 ones nearly as bad as those reported above. 
 
 Still, however imperfect these decrees, the law as a svhole has proved 
 a great blessing, because it put the distribution of water into the 
 hands of one man, and so prevented the bloodshed that would have 
 been inevitable had things remained much longer as they were. 
 
 This is strikingly illustrated by what happened next summer. All 
 the districts except ours had been remiss in prosecuting the matter of 
 getting a referee appointed, and bringing the evidence before him. 
 The spring of 1880 was one of the driest and windiest in our experi- 
 ence, and water was scarce during the early part of the summer. So 
 a number of these districts that had been so remiss and indifferent, 
 now awoke to the importance of having some better way than every 
 man help himself and the devil take the " down streamer." So the 
 governor was petitioned to appoint commissioners for these districts 
 to go on and divide according to the best of their respective judg- 
 ments and the equity in each case.
 
 CHAPTEK X. 
 
 IRRIGATION LEGISLATION CONTINUED — DISTRICT NUMBER THREE MOVES THE 
 DISTRICT COURT FOR A DECREE — REFUSED ON THE GROUND OF THE UN- 
 CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE LAW — ARTICLE QUOTED FROM " TRIBUNE " 
 ON THIS ACTION OF THE COURT — COUNSEL ENGAGED BOTH IN GREELEY 
 AND DENVER TO CONTEST THIS REPORTED DECISION OF THE DISTRICT 
 COURT — THE COURT AGREES TO HEAR ARGUMENT ON THE CASE, AND DE- 
 CIDES TO ISSUE RULES — DENVER COUNSEL ADVISE REJECTION OF THE 
 RULES AND TO SUE FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS IN SUPREME COURT — THIS 
 ADVICE FOLLOWED AND HUGHES AND BROMWELL VOLUNTEER TO DEFEND 
 THE COURT AGAINST GREELEY PARTIES — THE WRIT NOT GRANTED — DIS- 
 CUSSION OF JUDGE Elliott's action in this matter — his rules never 
 
 USED — NEW LEGISLATION IN 1881 SUPERSEDES HIS RULES — VALUE OF THE 
 LAW E. S. NETTLETON'S OPINION OF ITS VALUE — VIEWS OF COMMISSION- 
 ERS FROM AUSTRALIA — WILLIAM HAM HALL, STATE ENGINEER OF CALIFOR- 
 NIA, ON OUR IRRIGATION LAWS — NEW LEGISLATION NEEDED — SENATOR 
 m'cREERy's bill FOR CODIFICATION, ETC. — COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED 
 FOR THIS WORK. 
 
 MEANTIME District Number Three had its evidence ready for 
 the action of the court in April, and attorneys were em- 
 ployed by the Greeley people to move tlie court to issue a 
 decree. Our attorneys were met by Messrs. Butler and Rhodes, who 
 claimed to act for the Larimer and Weld County Canal (English Com- 
 pany's), and the result was that the court refused to rendei a decree, 
 and our attorney reported to the writer that the court considered the 
 irrigation law luiconstitutional. The reader will pardon the writer 
 _for here quoting his article in The Greeley Tribune of April 21, 1880. 
 on this matter, because it presents the whole subject in the light of 
 that critical hour better than he could do to-day : 
 
 " So Judge Elliott has decided that the irrigation law^ is unconstitu- 
 tional. No doubt he is conscientious in this opinion. But it is the 
 opinion, nevertheless, of a narrow-minded, conservative lawyer, who 
 fears to proceed upon any gi'ound not covered by a precedent. It will 
 doubtless greatly delight all that class of lawyers who had been look- 
 ing ahead to endless fat jobs about to come to them from the wasting 
 and ceaseless litigation likel}' to arise in reference to the establishing
 
 ,_»»ati-.-j:-r-=^ 
 
 UREELEY HIGH SCHOOL.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 129 
 
 of priority of claims to the use of water. The farmers foresaw the 
 same thiug staring them iu the face, and have done the best thej^ could 
 to avert it. A convention was called, and a committee apf)ointed to 
 draft a bill. This bill was presented to the legislature. The commit- 
 tee on irrigation prepared a substitute, deemed to be constitutional by 
 that very able lawyer, Judge Bromwell, v.ho drafted it. There was a 
 little grumbling done by a part of the committee appointed by the 
 Fanners' Convention, chiefly, no doubt, because men don't like to see 
 their work set aside ; but the writer of this article, who was its chair- 
 man, took a different view of the matter, and regarded the substitute 
 as a great improvement on ours. So, graduall}", the bill began to be 
 looked upon by the farmers with favor. Petitions came in from all 
 quarters to Judge Elliott to appoint referees. The Judge appointed 
 these referees without once hinting that the lav/ was unconstitutional. 
 He could then have done so as well as now, and saved us thousands of 
 dollars of expense. Did he not hold this same opinion then ? It ap- 
 pears that he said when he gave his late opinion in reference to the 
 unconstitutionality of the law, that he had always held that opinion. 
 Why, then, was the opinion withheld to this late hour ? Was it so 
 that the reference to a higher court should be delayed to as late a day 
 as possible, and thus frustrate all attempts to settle this matter for the 
 coming season ? Perhaps he can explain or perhaps he will not deign 
 to explain, but he ought to be held to account for this most extraordi- 
 nary conduct. 
 
 But what are the reasons that Judge Elliott gives for the unconsti- 
 tutionality of the law ? Well, I have seen the reasons as copied by 
 our lawyer. It is not an opinion of which he need be i:)roud, either as 
 to the clearness of its views or the ability of its arguments. Indeed, 
 it is the thinnest and dimmest statement imaginable upon a subject of 
 the greatest importance to the whole state. It throws a cloud over the 
 value of millions of dollars' worth of invested property. But for the 
 reasons — or, rather, reason, for there appears to be but one offered — it 
 is this : " That it is unconstitutional to deprive a man of property 
 \\'ithout due process of law." But the law was passed for the express 
 purpose of protecting property, not for the purpose of taking it away. 
 It was made for the express purpose of simplifying the process of 
 protecting vested rights. Who but a crotchety lawyer could construe 
 such a bill into a device for taking away property without due process 
 of law ? It was an act for the establishment of property rights. But 
 the trouble with it is, that it is a little new in its mode of procedure. 
 It does not follow the usual routine. It is said there is no complain- 
 ant and defendant. But does it differ very much from the general
 
 130 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 practice in the United States of requiring people to put on record 
 their titles to real estate ? Indeed, was it anything more than putting 
 on record title to priority to the use of water from certain natural 
 streams ? The part that relates to the duties of the water commis- 
 sioner is only a pohce regulation to carry into effect the just distribu- 
 tion, according to priority, of the rights of parties as defined by the 
 constitution of the state. But before this police regulation can be 
 carried out, we want to know authoritatively the titles of the different 
 claimants. The decree of the court was to fix these titles and put 
 them on record. And any party deeming itself aggrieved by decree 
 of the com-t could ask for f artlier hearing, give in evidence, and ap- 
 peal to a higher court. Now all this would appear to the non-legal 
 mind as sufficient guaranty of the rights of indi\-iduals or corpora- 
 tions, and the parties interested- have accepted the provisions of the 
 bill as the best i^ossible settlement of imijending difficulties. Not so, 
 however, the lawyers. To a logical mind not hampered by legal 
 crotchets and antiquated precedents, it seems to me the numerous 
 statutes of limitations, with which our laws now fairly bristle, would 
 appear far more in conflict with the constitutional clause quoted than 
 would any provision of this law. Has not this constitutional provision 
 acquired a dangerous degree of elasticity in legal construction ? Is it 
 not a weajDon whose point lax^yers are in the habit of using far too 
 freely against new and unusual measures, however just and beneficent 
 in tlieir scope and intentions, while it is blunt and powerless in their 
 hands' against deeply rooted wrongs and time-honored injustice ? 
 
 " But you say, • What are we going to do about it V There appears 
 to be only one course left. This is for all farmers to unite and bring 
 the matter before the Supreme Court of the state, and there have its 
 constitutionality tested. There it must be argued fully, and we must 
 secure the best and most high-minded counsel the state affords. That 
 the ordinary laA\yer will fight the measure tooth and nail is to be ex- 
 pected, because, if it is sustained, a good part of his occupation is over 
 in the rural districts ; and besides, he will fight it because the move- 
 ment commenced among the farmers, a class of men who believe very 
 little in patronizing his profession. 
 
 Should we fail in establishing the constitutionahty of this law, there 
 will be no use in trying to have any farther legislation, for it will then 
 be apparent that the legal quibbler has the whole thing in his hands, 
 being able to set aside the most wholesome and salutary enactments 
 by means of narrowly and professionally interpreted constitutional 
 general statements. It is worth while to note that while lawyers freely 
 admit the impending danger of great complication and inextricable
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 131 
 
 difficulty besetting the establishment of the priority of rights to the 
 use of water by the ordiuarj- procedure, yet not one of them has 
 offered any scheme of legislation to get us out of the apprehended 
 danger. Most of them, indeed, say nothing can be done. We uuder- 
 stand'that Judge Elliott suggests no improvement in the law, but says 
 that we must have remedy by the usual procedure. This shows how 
 Httle he has looked into the matter, and how utterly incompetent he 
 and his class are to adjudicate this affair. To the unbiased mind it 
 would appear that a situation wholly unique could not be met by ordi- 
 nary remedies. American legislation never has had to deal with irri- 
 gation. The same is true of the English, from whence we derive 
 most of our jurisprudence and modes of procedure. In coxmtries 
 where irrigation has been long practiced, the state claims the owner- 
 ship of the water and makes police regulations for its distribution. 
 Indeed, some police regulation for this purpose is of paramount im- 
 portance. When we farmers first took up the subject this was all we 
 contemplated. But we soon found that no distribution could be 
 effected until the titles to priority among the different claimants were 
 established and made matter of record. 
 
 Legal gentlenien, we have laid down a plan with the assistance 
 of one of the clearest headed and broadest minded of your 
 profession. This plan on the %vhole suits us— at least as many of us 
 as have early vested rights to maintain. We ask you to respect it, or 
 suggest a better. If you ouly have the ability to pull down, to criti- 
 cise destructively, you are enemies of the human race and must be 
 superseded by saner and broader minded leaders, 
 
 " It will be seen that the jiriuciple of priority of ai^propriation, giv- 
 ing to individuals and corporations ownership to water taken from the 
 natural streams of the state, places irrigation in this state upon a 
 whoUy different basis from that upon which it stands in countries 
 where the state holds itself to be the sole owner. That Utah is get- 
 ting into hke difficulties is certain, I had a letter, last winter, from a 
 member of its legislature stating that they needed sadly some legis- 
 lation on the su])ject. He had heard that we had here done something 
 wisely and ^vell on the subject, and wanted a copy of our bill. But 
 alas ! the lawyers have proved that we, too, are at sea without com- 
 pass, rudder or telescope. How long, my fellow sufferers, are we to 
 be the playthings of these quibbling lawyers, these men of hidebound 
 precedents, of regular procedures, of blind conservatism, of narrow 
 routine, of crass stupidity ? The toils that bind us must be cut if 
 they cannot be untied," 
 
 Immediately after the publication of the above, a joint meeting was
 
 132 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 called of the colony, town, and Number Two canal company; and at 
 it, it was resolved to bring into the Supreme Court of the state an 
 action for a mandamus ordering the lower court to render a decree as 
 the law provided. The firm of Haynes, Dunning & Haynes was re- 
 tained at the moderate sum of .$200. This was fitting, as the senior 
 member of the firm. Judge Haynes, had managed the irrigation bill 
 for us with admirable tact and ability, and secured its passage in the 
 face of a very determined opposition led by Senator Ehodes, who 
 fought it inch by inch. This made Judge Haynes familiar with everj^ 
 legal phase of the subject, and the junior members of the firm, as we 
 have seen, were occupied upon the law for several months just 
 preceding. 
 
 The president of the Colony Board was put in innnediate charge of 
 the case, and was instructed to go to Denver in company with one of 
 the above-named firm and seelt legal council there, and also get the 
 best terms possible from capable parties wilhng to undertake the case. 
 It was agreed on all hands that Judge Bromwell should be employed, 
 if he could be united with some other able lawyer to assist him. It 
 was also deemed advisal:)le to approach General Hughes on the sub- 
 ject and, if possible, get him to work with Bromwell. The fxeneral 
 had long before received a " retainer " from the Colony in a case 
 which was never prosecuted, and had often expressed to Mr, Meekef, 
 wdth whom he was always on the most friendly terms, a desire to help 
 us in any cavise we might be prosecuting. So the General was seen. 
 At first he expressed the opinion so generally entertained by the bar 
 of the state, that there could be no remedy provided by the legislature 
 superior to the remedies now in existence. He freely admitted the 
 difficulties in the case, argued it over good-naturedly, and acknowl- 
 edged that he had not given the matter all the consideration that it 
 deserved. As to the constitutionality of the law, he would take it 
 under advisement with his junior partner, and consented to an inter- 
 view with Judge Bromwell. The outcome was, that the General con- 
 cluded that the law was constitutional, and a most desirable measure 
 for the adjustment of the impending difficulties. Their terms were 
 •1500 as a retainer, but would put no figure upon their total fees. 
 
 Then Wells, Smith & Macon were mterviewed. This firm beheved 
 that the law could be defended, and was a salutary one. It offered to 
 carry the case through for $500. 
 
 On returning to Greeley and reporting, it was deemed best to 
 accept the offer of Wells, Smith & Macon. This fh-m had great re- 
 pute, and it was quite generally believed here that neither Hughes nor 
 Bromwell were much of lawyers. They were both scholars and men
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 133 
 
 of wide views, but they were both deemed lacking in technical 
 knowledge and cunning, and were supposed, besides, to have become 
 rusty. All of this was, no doubt, partly true; but if the president of 
 the colony board had had it all his own way, he would have engaged 
 these gentlemen, as they had qualifications which fitted them for 
 handling a new and comprehensive subject. Of course there was the 
 question of fees, but these he would have trusted to the knowoi gen- 
 erosity of these gentlemen. As it was, our rejection of their services 
 deeply wounded these men, and they resolved to make us pay for it 
 when the opportunity offered. 
 
 When Judge Elliott read the above article, it nettled him exceed- 
 ingly; 1)ut he did not think of fining or imprisoning its author for 
 contempt of court. Like its writer he had been through the war of 
 the rebellion, and he resolved to " beard the lion in his den," and ap- 
 pointed an extra session of the court at Greeley, where he offered to 
 hear arguments by our counsel. And so the cause was not carried 
 into the Supreme Court as yet. The Judge, after attending to some 
 other insignificant business, adjourned the court for the evening, and 
 delivered an address from the bench to the people of Greeley upon 
 his attitude towards the law. In this, he denied having said that the 
 law was unconstitutional; but it was defective, and in his opinion so 
 much so that the court could not remedy it without stepping into the 
 sphere of the legislature. He also acknowledged that he had been 
 so pressed with business that he had not been able to give the law 
 the consideration that it needed, w'hen he w^as called upon to take im- 
 mediate action ; but now he had taken the time, and was ready to give 
 us a hearing. 
 
 Major Smith had brought about a wagon load of authorities from 
 Denver, but few of them bore on the point, as the Court had 
 abandon 3d, if it ever expressed, the opinion of unconstitutionality. 
 The only point needing to 1)8 argued was the competency of the court 
 to make rules covering in this respect the deficiency of the law. Suf- 
 ficient authorities were cited to convince the court that it had this 
 power, but there arose a difference of opinion as to the nature of 
 these rules. Judge Elliott held that there should be the form of a 
 regular cause at law^, the case of each ditch that wanted a decree 
 being considered as against all other claimants of the district. It was 
 objected that this process was unnecessary and would involve 
 long delay, making the law useless for the present season, when its 
 need was beginning to be felt. But the court was firm in this atti- 
 tude, and it was deemed best to take the matter before the Supreme 
 Court on a writ of mandamus. This was the advice of our Denver
 
 134 A BISTORT OF GREELEY AND 
 
 counsel, and as we had paid them for carrying the cause through, it 
 Avas deemed best, and for the reason that if the method proposed by 
 the lower court was sustained it would remove tlie doubt of its vahd- 
 ity; and, on the other hand, if it were not, it would greatly simplify 
 and cheapen proceedings. It was seen that nothing could be got in 
 shape for the present season, and a temporary commissioner was ap- 
 pointed, upon petition, by the governor. 
 
 It was the nest autumn before the case was taken up in the Supreme 
 Court, and now General Hughes and Judge Bromwell were on hand 
 in opposition to us. They voliuiteered to defend the court through 
 spite, at what they considered the shabby treatment they had received 
 at the hands of the plaintiffs. The result was that the higher court 
 sustained the lower, for the reason that although the rules might not 
 be the best possible, they were sufficient to carry the law into effect, 
 and that the superior court had no right to dictate what the precise 
 form of the rules in this case should be. The lower court had kept 
 as near the usual form of procedure as the unique character of the 
 case would permit, and, although cumbersome, it was perhaps 
 safer. 
 
 Here it ought to be said that we must not charge General Hughes 
 and Judge Bromwell with the inconsistency of defending a cause 
 they had agreed to attack from the other side. The nature of the 
 cause now up was essentially different to the one which they were 
 ready to undertake for us. StiU, it is well kno\vn that Judge Brom- 
 well, in his di'afting of the bill, never contemplated any such cumber- 
 some proceedings in court as the ones adopted. Hence it must be 
 conceded that these gentlemen were led to take the part they did by 
 a feeling of wounded pride. 
 
 Now, as to the attitude of Judge Elliott, whether he declared the law 
 unconstitutional or not at the first liearing, is a matter of veracity be- 
 tween him and our attorney, ^Ir. Dunning. The latter averred that 
 he took down what he said in wi'iting, and we see no reason for a motive 
 of misrepresenting the views of the court. Besides, this was the \iew 
 sustained by Khodes and Butler. There was no final opinion given 
 by the Judge at that time, and when he took the matter into more care- 
 ful consideration, he changed his mind about its unconstitutionahty, 
 and abandoned what was an off-hand and, as it were, an extra-curial 
 opinion. He was being worked to death, and no doubt dishked un- 
 dertaking so much additional labor which would bring no additional 
 pay. In fine, it may be said, that he was never asked to render a 
 decree under his rules. At the next meeting of the legislature, which 
 took place soon after the decision of the Supreme Court, upon the
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 135 
 
 adequacy of his rules, a process of procedure was prepared by Judge 
 Bromwell, and passed by that body, which dispensed with the issuing 
 of summons to all the parties interested. It is, however, quite cum- 
 bersome in phraseology, and its superiority over Judge Elliott's rules 
 is doubtful. 
 
 It is here worthy of remark that Rhodes and Butler undertook to 
 overthrow the irrigation law at their own instance, and were not em- 
 ployed or instructed by the "English Company," whose attorneys 
 they were, and which they were supposed to represent in this matter. 
 This company, in connection with B. H. Eaton, were constructing the 
 Larimer and Weld canal, and since it was the largest and latest canal, 
 and its head well up stream, its projectors were supposed to be un- 
 favorable to the doctrine of priority of appropriation giving priority 
 of right. But both the company and Mr. Eaton had been reticent on 
 the subject. However, as the discussion went on, both appear to 
 have become convinced that it was not only the true doctrine, but 
 that it would ultimately be for the interests of the enterprise in which 
 they were engaged. How completely Mr. Rhodes changed front on 
 this question we will see farther on. 
 
 The political campaign of 1880 resulted in the nomination of James M. 
 Freeman instead of J. Max. Clark, whom the farmers in general had 
 hoped would receive the Republican nomination, and as a consequence 
 he was elected. Much work in the way of irrigation legislation was 
 yet needed. One important feature of the bill of 1879 had been re- 
 jected by the legislature. This was the creation of the office of state 
 engineer. With it had to go the provision for the gauging of the 
 streams. This and other important additions were made to the law, 
 and it was greatly improved. Mr. Freeman was chairman of the sen- 
 ate committee on irrigation, and did good, substantial work. B. S. 
 LaGrange and A. D. Moodie attended at this session of the legisla- 
 ture, and worked for the passage of the law as amended. Other slight 
 improvements have been made since, such as time suggested ; but the 
 essential features of the law to-day, it will be seen, were embraced in 
 the bill brought before the legislature of 1879, and was, in its original 
 form, the work of the farmers themselves, aud in this the farmers of 
 this colony took the lead. They also had to bear the whole of the ex- 
 pense of the contest in the courts above recited. They took the lead 
 in having a referee appointed, aud in prosecuting in every detail the 
 provisions of the law. Of the value of this law and of the advanced 
 step we took, let us hoar from competent authority. 
 
 Says E. S. Nettleton in his report, as state engineer, for 1880 : 
 
 " It is somewhat gratifying to know that non-residents are making
 
 136 A HISTOBY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 favorable comments on our irrigation laws, and the system and 
 methods of administering the laws. The Wyoming legislature, at its 
 last session, framed and adopted a full system of irrigation laws for 
 the territory. In most instances these laws are an exact copy of those 
 adopted by our state, and now upon its statute books. Nevada has 
 wakened up to the importance of the subject, and it is expected that 
 some legislation will be had on the subject at the coming session of 
 the legislature." 
 
 He farther qiiotes from a report of a commission, sent from Austra- 
 lia to this country to look up the subject of irrigation, among other 
 things, the following : 
 
 "As the laws of Colorado are by far the most successful, they may 
 be fairly allotted the first place." Then follows a recital of the pro- 
 visions of our law, of which it is said : " By these and other simpler 
 means a host of difficulties and complexities were escaped ; perma- 
 nence was given to existing works and encouragement offered for the 
 construction of new works. It is not surprising, therefore, that in 
 mileage of canals or in acres irrigated, Colorado more than doubles 
 any other state, or that its works are the greatest and most permanent, 
 and are the most rapidly extending." 
 
 The state engineer farther adds : " The water commissioners gener- 
 ally are of opinion that but little change in our present laws are re- 
 quired,' as well as little need for additional legislation." 
 
 But more important than the above is the following testimony from 
 William Ham Hall, the able and learned state engineer for Califor- 
 nia, In May, 1884, there was held in that state, at Riverside, an irri- 
 gation convention. The state engineer addressed it, and showed his 
 audience the chaos in which claims to water were in Cafifornia. He 
 then goes on to outhne a system of legislation for that state essen- 
 tially the same as ours. He then adds : 
 
 '* We are not without a precedent for the course which I jjropose for 
 California in this matter. 
 
 "■ Colorado is an irrigation coimtry, having larger canals and more 
 of them than California. I have had my state pride as a citizen of 
 this state somewhat taken down of late, by looking into the affairs of 
 irrigation in Colorado. 
 
 " They had there, a few years ago, a perfect chaos with respect to 
 water rights. Litigation reigned supreme as it reigns here. But in 
 1879 they passed a law providing for an examination into the subject 
 of water rights and irrigation, and, in 1881, they passed a law provid- 
 ing for the proper proving up and recording of water right claims and 
 the adnainistration of the affairs of the waters and the streams."
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 137 
 
 He then proceeds to enumerate the provisions of our law, and then 
 •comes to the success of the working of this system. E. S. Nettleton 
 had visited the state just before this convention met, and given Mr. 
 Hall the names of certain parties to Avhom he was advised to wTite as 
 to the success of the system. Among these names happened to be 
 both that of the Avriter and of Senator L. R. Rhodes. As the views of 
 these two, taken in connection, have a peculiar bearing on the subject 
 before us, it is here deemed advisable to give the essential parts of 
 each and the introduction to this part of the evidence of the state 
 engineer of California. 
 
 " I have taken some pains to find out how the people are satisfied 
 with the working of this law, and have entered into correspondence 
 with quite a number of leading citizens there with this view. I have 
 quite a collection of letters in answer to my inquiries obtained indis- 
 criminately from lawyers, judges, members of the legislature and 
 others. Some of these I have with me, and will read extracts as sam- 
 ples. I think they are interesting, and go right to the point of one 
 source of trouble in this state, and indirectly to another. The first is 
 from Mr. L. R. Rhodes, an attorney of very consideralile standing, 
 who has, I am informed, had a large share in the litigation and settle- 
 ment of water- right matters. After giving an account of the condi- 
 tion of interminable and expensive litigation in which the water-right 
 interest was, and of the details of the operation of the law, Mr. 
 Rhodes says: 
 
 " 'Now, as to the results : In all the decrees which have been entered 
 by the district courts in the various water districts, involving milb'ons 
 of dollars' worth of property, belonging to thousands of different 
 parties, there has been but one appeal to the Supreme Court, and that 
 was taken to determine the validity of a grant made by the legislature 
 of Kansas to the water of the South Platte river. The district com- 
 prising the Cache la Poudre river has been acting under these decrees 
 for three years; the water commissioner has had comj^aratively no 
 trouble; not a case of litigation has sprung up; the rights are so well 
 defined, so easily understood; the system of measurement so simple 
 and correct, that each company and individual understands his or their 
 rights or property in wajer the same as in land.' " 
 
 " Here is a letter from David Boyd, President of the State Board of 
 Agriculture, of which I read portions to the point : 
 
 " 'Some six years ago a number of the appropriators of water for 
 purposes of irrigation, became alarmed at the number of large irriga- 
 tion canals at that time being projected. All of these were being 
 taken out of the natural streams above those already constructed and
 
 138 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 in use. It was seen that these would have the advantage of position 
 in times of scarcity, and that it would be extremely difficult for those 
 below, having older rights, to secure their recognition through the 
 courts. Hence, a convention of farmers and owners of canals was 
 called to meet in Denver in the month of December, 1888. Some of 
 the appropriators there met, entertained apprehensions concerning the 
 restrictions of tlieir rights by the operation of an irrigation law. The 
 subject was discussed, and those in favor of the enactment of a law 
 beat the other side at every point. 
 
 '* 'At that time most of the Colorado bar was opposed to the enact- 
 ment of a law recording and defining rights and regulating the use of 
 water. This was no doubt partly due to selfish motives, but was still 
 more due to the reluctance of the legal mind to entertain any projects 
 for which the past has furnished no precedents. The older members 
 of both bar and bench were more opposed to the scheme than the 
 younger ones, while members of broader reading and reflection were 
 generally in favor from the commencement. I here speak of the atti- 
 tude of the bar and bench in order to bring before you the favorable 
 change that has gradually come over the members of the legal profes- 
 sion, for scarcely one of this profession can now be found who is not 
 convinced of the salutary effect of the law. 
 
 " 'I understand that you have written to ex-Senator Rhodes. Of the 
 favorable light in which he will now lay the benefits of the law before 
 you I do not entertain the least doubt. Still, at the first convention 
 spoken of above, Mr. Rhodes, then state senator-elect, made his ap- 
 pearance and opposed any attempt to have a law passed on the sub- 
 ject. According to him, the courts would afford the appropriate rem- 
 edy. He spoke so strongly in the convention that the chair called him 
 to order, and he fought against the passage of the bill at every stage 
 of its progress through the legislature. 
 
 " 'In brief, the individuals and corporations who fought against the 
 measure are now, so far as I know, amongst its warmest friends. There 
 are now no lawsuits pending in the courts about the appropriation of 
 water, save one, which is based upon an old grant made when Colorado 
 was a part of the territory of Kansas.' " 
 
 To this Mr. Hall adds: " The Senator Rhodes, to whom reference is 
 here made in the above letter, is the same gentleman whose letter I 
 first read to you, and who said that the law had turned out to be a 
 blessing." 
 
 Extracts were also read from letters of B. H. Eaton, H. P. H. Brom- 
 weU and B. S. La Grange, all equally favorable to the workings of the 
 law, and afforded the state engineer of California a strong argument
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 139 
 
 for the adoption of a similar one for his own state. 
 
 But, since then, new questions in regard to the rights vested in 
 water and its general management have arisen. At the last session of 
 the legislature many irrigation bills were brought forward, but none of 
 them of material importance became a law, save one, which we shall 
 hereafter quote. Some of these bills had in view state management 
 with a declaration of state ownership of all the waters of the state. 
 The following is the constitutional provision on this point : 
 
 "The water of exerj naturul stream not heretofore apjyrojyriafed, 
 within the state of Colorado, is hereby declared to be the property of 
 the public, and is dedicated, to the use of the people of the state, sub- 
 ject to appropriation as hereinafter provided. 
 
 "The right to divert unappropriated w^aters of every natural stream 
 for beneficial uses shall never be denied. Priority of appropriation 
 shall give better right, as between those using water for the same pur- 
 pose; but, when the waters of any natural stream are not sufficient for 
 the service of all those desiring the use of the same, those using water 
 for domestic purposes shall have the preference over those claiming 
 for any other purpose; and those using for agricultural purposes shall 
 have the preference over those using for manufacturing purposes." 
 
 Now, in the first place, the constitution and all the laws made there- 
 under, refer to water in natural streams, and leave in dispute all wa- 
 ters derived from sources not coming under the definition of a natural 
 stream. Hence, litigation has arisen about the ownership of under- 
 ground water, and also water arising by percolation to the surface on a 
 person's estate. These questions have to be decided according to de- 
 cisions of courts made in countries where no irrigation is practiced, 
 and are very intricate in their nature, requiring the highest legal 
 abihty, combined with broad general information, to handle them. The 
 fact that all the waters of the natural streams north of the Divide 
 have already been appropriated, and that all these sources of imder- 
 ground supply are being brought into requisition by means of pumps, 
 or drifting and piping, makes a law upon this subject of vital import- 
 ance, to prevent wasting and interminable lawsuits. Again, the ques- 
 tion of what is the sense of the term "water for domestic j)urposes" as 
 employed in the state constitution, is one that has led to litigation, and 
 a case coming under it has been for some two jears before the Supreme 
 Court, and at present time of writing is undecided. When Mr. Free- 
 man was in the State Senate he offered a resolution to have an opinion 
 defining the meaning of domestic use by the State Supreme Coiut, but 
 it was not so enacted, and the question is still awaiting solution. 
 
 In addition, there is tlie question of drainage upon wliich Colorado
 
 140 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 has uo laws: and tliis is becoming more important every day, as the 
 area of wet land is constantly increasing. Moreover, all the laws re- 
 lating to water have been passed at different sessions of the legisla- 
 ture, some of the later ones in some measure annulling or superseding 
 former ones, and so those in force need codifying. 
 
 Taking all these things into consideration. Senator James McCreery, 
 of this city, who is chairman of the senate committee on irrigation, 
 prepared a bill for the appointment of a commission of three by the 
 Governor, approved by the senate, whose duty should be to take into 
 consideration the whole water question and prepare a code thereupon, 
 to be submitted to the next general assembty. The second section of 
 this bill sets forth the scope of the proposed law and reads as follows : 
 
 " It shall be the duty of said commissioners, upon their acceptance 
 of said appointment, to jointly enter upon the work of drafting, fram- 
 ing, digesting and codifying a system of law in accordance with the 
 provisions of the constitution, and subject to rights vested thereunder, 
 embracing the whole subject of the waters of the state; whether such 
 waters are derived from natural streams, springs, surface or under- 
 ground channels, artesian wells, rainfall, melting snows, flood waters, 
 percolating and see]jage waters, water collected by drainage, and from 
 any and every source of accumulation and supply; to provide for the 
 appropriation, regulation, distribution, use and economy of the same 
 for domestic, agricultural, mechanical and mining purposes, by canals, 
 reservoirs; drains, conduits, pipes or otherwise: to provide for the re- 
 demption of swamp and seepage lands by drainage, and for the util- 
 ization of the water collected from drainage works, and, generally, to 
 formulate a complete system of laws in relation to waters derived and 
 collected from any and every source, and used, employed and disposed 
 of in the various beneficial uses and disposition to which water is ap- 
 plied under conditions existing in the state, and to provide for the 
 offices, officers, powers and facilities necessary to carry out and enforce 
 the provisions of such a system of law." 
 
 The drafting of such a l^ill as the above proves its author to be a 
 man of comprehensive mind, minutely acquainted with all the details 
 of his subject, and alive to the interests of his constituents on this 
 most vital source of their prosperity. It shows that the senate did 
 well in appointing him chairman of this most important coriimittee — 
 an honor which has alwa3^s been conferred upon the senator from this 
 district — thus acknowledging this community as the leader in this 
 matter. 
 
 The bill was enacted and became a law, and the men appointed were 
 Judge E. T. Wells, J, S. Green— late state engineer— and T. C. Henry.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 141 
 
 The latter is one of the most extensive canal builders and laud specu- 
 lators in the state, and for that and other reasons would apj^ear to be 
 not a suital^le person to have on this most important commission. The 
 other two are amply quahfied for the task, Judge Wells being well in- 
 formed on the subject, painstaking in investigation and accurate in 
 statement; while Engineer Green has had the experience in his office 
 of the last two years, covering all the intricate questions now coming 
 up, and needing settlement. But it appears to the writer that B. H. 
 Eaton would have been a much better appointment than Mr. Henrv, 
 as the former, in addition to being an extensive constructor of canals, 
 is also the most extensive^ engaged in agriculture by irrigation of 
 any man in the state, and has the widest range of practical knowledge 
 on the whole subject, covering a period of some thirty years. He 
 would have at once represented the canal building interest and the 
 agricultural interest properly so called. Now, the latter has no repre- 
 sentative, and we have seen that the whole scheme of irrigation legis- 
 lation originated with men engaged in agriculture, and that their views 
 were sound on the leading questions of irrigation, while those of law- 
 yers and engineers were unsound. 
 
 We have before noticed the sjjeculative views of Mr. McCreery on 
 irrigation, and have held them up as unsound; but we have great con- 
 fidence in his ability and knowledge in relation to the legal aspects of 
 the subject, and he is hkely to head off attempts at retrogressive 
 movements with which every legislature is about to be assailed in the 
 future as they have during recent ones. But it seems highly 
 probable that the commission which this law provides for will not be 
 able to do anything, as there will be no funds left to pay it. Ten 
 thousand dollars were appropriated to pay the salaries and other ex- 
 penses of the commissioners, but as this was homfi(iirl<< not otherwise 
 appropriated, like so many other projects of that legislature, it is 
 more than likely to fall through on account of the failure of the state 
 finances, for these gentlemen are not likely to do the work con amore.
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 AGRIOULTUEE BY IRRIGATION — FERTILITY OF OUR SOIL — " NATIONAL LAND 
 company's" STATEMENT ABOUT PRODUCTIVENESS — WILL AN IRRIGATED 
 SOIL WEAR OUT ? — DOES THE WATER CONTAIN THE ELEMENTS OF FER- 
 TILITY NEEDED BY CROPS ? — IRRIGATION PRODUCES DIFFERENT EFFECTS 
 UPON THE FERTILITY OF DIFFERENT SOILS — DUTY OF WATER ON DIF- 
 FERENT SOILS — ALFALFA AS A FERTILIZER — POTATOES AND POTASH 
 
 SOIL SUITED TO THE POTATO — -RAIN WATER AND RIVER WATER COM- 
 PARED AS FERTILIZERS — WELL AND SEEPAGE WATERS ANALYZED — 
 WATER OF RESERVOIRS — EVAPORATION WHEN IN EXCESS OF RAINFALL, 
 EFFECT ON WATER OF RESERVOIRS — " SEEPAGE " LANDS, HOW BECOME 
 SUCH AND THEIR FERTILITY — DRAINAGE OF SAME — POTATO CULTURE 
 AROUND GREELEY — BEST LAND FOR — THE POTATO BUG — WHAT IT COSTS 
 TO FIGHT IT — HISTORY OF THIS CROP IN NORTHERN COLORADO — ^AL- 
 FALFA AS A CROP — INTRODUCTION TO NOTICE, 
 
 THE questiou of the fertility of our soil when irrigated was 
 even a more important one to the early settler than the ques- 
 tion of water supply, and upon it was found a great conflict 
 of opinions. 
 
 We have seen that the settlements in this valley, before the colony 
 came here, were all made on the fii-st bottom lands, and the upper 
 bench lands were generally regarded by those who were engaged in 
 farming at that time as next to worthless. 
 
 On the other hand the newspapers, which were sent to the colonists 
 before coming here, contained the most extravagant accounts of the 
 fertihty of Colorado soil. Of course so far as these statements were 
 based upon facts, they related to crops raised on first bench lands, 
 which fact, however, was carefully concealed by the writers of these 
 newspaper articles, who were all agents of the " National Land Com- 
 pany," whose chief business was to sell the lands of the Denver 
 Pacific railway. 
 
 The following paragraph is taken from The Star of Empire, pub- 
 lished by the above named company and sent to every colonist at the 
 time the location was made here : 
 
 " In return, the farmer, having insured his crop by providing for its 
 irrigation, may count upon an average yield of wheat of twenty-six
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 143 
 
 or twenty-eight bushels to the acre; or, if he will give it extra care in 
 plowing and planting, he may increase that return to forty, fifty, 
 sixty, or even seventy bushels to the acre. His oats will yield from 
 forty to eighty bushels; barley, thirty to sixty; potatoes from one 
 hundred to three hundred, and cabbage ten to twenty tons to the acre. 
 The largest crops mentioned have been exceeded-some of them 100 per 
 cent." 
 
 We have seen that Horace Greeley took this all in, and on his re- 
 turn to New York, wrote in The Tribune that if all the lands of Union 
 Colony should be plowed the coming winter, he believed that they 
 would yield an average of forty bushels to the acre. Now how much 
 of the above have we found to be fact and how much fiction ? 
 
 I think that farmers at large in the colony will agree with me when 
 I say, that the average of wheat on new ' breaking has not exceeded 
 fifteen bushels, and on old ground twenty bushels for the twenty years 
 we have been cropping; that the average of oats on upland, not 
 manured, has not been over thirty bushels, and that of barley, twenty 
 bushels. The year just past has given, in my opinion, the largest 
 average of any year since the colony settled here, and may be close 
 to thirty bushels. But for the two years before, the average was below 
 fifteen bushels. 
 
 That our grain crop of last year was the largest we have raised, 
 would seem to prove the opinion advanced when we came here, that 
 "irrigated land never w^ears out." But this is not really the case. The 
 water supply being so deficient in 1887-1888, the soil did not yield 
 nearly its average crop, and there was a stored-up fertility which be- 
 came available when we had a year of seasonable rains and plenty of 
 water for irrigation, during the small grain season. It was in a man- 
 ner, and in some places completely so, a summer fallowing of the 
 laud. Our experience is that continual cropping, without returning 
 anything to the soil, gradually exhausts it, and especially, if grain 
 crop follows grain crop. This practice has long been abandoned on 
 the lands of Union Colony. The rotation has been wheat and pota- 
 toes, where the latter do well. It was found that much larger crops 
 of wheat could be grown after potatoes than after corn. The latter 
 crop is used in rotation, where potatoes do not do well. This land is 
 usually heavier than that adapted to the potato, and hence does not 
 show signs of exhaustion so soon as if the same rotation were followed 
 on the lighter soils. But following up any of these rotations for a 
 number of years, and the observing farmer can see a diminution of yield. 
 From the nature of things, this must be so, if the water of irrigation 
 does not contain a sufficient amount of the important elements, needed
 
 144 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 by agricultural crops, to restore year by year what is removed by these 
 crops. If we keep tlrawiug eonstautly from our bank account, without 
 making fresh deposits, its depletion must come sooner or later, how- 
 ever large it was on the start. To be sure, there are certain elements 
 in the soil needed by crops that are practically inexhaustible^ while 
 others are supphed by water and air in unlimited al:)undance. In 
 nearly all cases the question is narrowed down to this, " Is there 
 enough phosphoric acid, potash and nitrogen in the soil to supply the 
 yearly drain of these substances? " These are in quite Hmited quan- 
 tities in all soils, but vary in their relative proportions. Perhaps the 
 most important of them — phosphoric acid — may be present in large 
 quantities, but in a state that renders it slowly solul^le, and hence may 
 keep up the needed supply for centuries. Plenty of water would in- 
 crease the quantity dissolved, and would increase the yearly supply 
 for the successive crops. But, if this or the other elements are in a 
 state easily soluble, a large application of water will carry them off in 
 the under-draiuage. Hence, it is found that, in some countries, irri- 
 gation only enables a soil to exhaust itself more rapidly. Porous 
 soils, with gravelly subsoils, needing two or three times the quantity 
 of water that soils with compact clay subsoils need, it will be seen, 
 must soon exhaust themselves if tlie waters of irrigation do not con- 
 tain the three indispensable constituents above named. The lands of 
 Union Colony vary exceedingly in this respect. Take the soil of Lone 
 Tree Valley, or that of Black Hollow, such is the nature of the sub- 
 soil that but very little of the water of irrigation can get through, and 
 the body of the soil is so deep that for a long time it must remain prac- 
 tically inexhaustible, provided that it is not unusually deficient in one 
 or more of the constituents referred to. Take, on the other hand, 
 most of the laud under Xumber Three, especially on the " delta," and 
 we have the other extreme. This is mostly new soil, deposited from a 
 wash from the upper bench lands, which here deposited mostly gravel 
 and sand, its finer particles being carried off' into and down the 
 Poudre. Close beneath, in most cases, is coarse gravel. The duty of 
 water on sucli land is not more than one-third of that on the lands 
 before mentioned. This is the character in general of all second 
 bench land, such as that of the Big Bend of the Platte or that on the 
 same stream below the Plumb bridge. On such land alfalfa needs 
 three heavy irrigations for three cuttings, while on laud with a deep, 
 close subsoil, one irrigation will make three good, heavy cuttings. 
 So, when we speak of the duty of water, it is important to know the 
 character of the soil, as this may make it vary from one to three under 
 the same management. Then, again, over the river, we have soils of
 
 t'NlTED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 145 
 
 light, sandy loam, with compact clay subsoils from twenty to fifty feet 
 deep, before reaching the gravel. These soils require but little water, 
 and the irrigation of them cannot produce any rapid depletion of the 
 elements of fertility. But, upon the immediate surface, these soils 
 are not so jjlentiful in nitrogen, which is mostly found in humus. 
 Hence, we find that oats and corn exhaust these soils, and upon them 
 potatoes and wheat have been the principal crqps. But, one year 
 with another, it is found that the average is falling ofi', and farmers 
 are hauling manure, in some cases, great distances, to restore the lost 
 fertility. Others are keeping more stock on the farm, especially 
 horses, for breeding purposes, to get a home supply of manure. The 
 extensive production of alfalfa has enabled our farmers to do this, and 
 is working a revolution in our methods of farmiiig. Not only does it 
 afford the means of making large quantities of manure, but it is 
 found that, when turned under, it is even a better fertilizer than red 
 clo^'er. M. J. Hogarty, last season, had a large field turned over and 
 planted to potatoes, one part being clover sod and the other alfalfa. 
 He informs me that the yield on the alfalfa was two to one of that on 
 the clover. J. Max. Clark had a piece of alfalfa turned over last 
 spring also, and had it planted to potatoes, while he planted an adja- 
 cent piece heavily manured with stable manure, and the alfalfa sod 
 surpassed tlie manured land two to one. 
 
 The reason that alfalfa increases the available fertility is this: Its 
 roots penetrate the soil, when growai for a nianber of years, some 
 fifteen feet deep, if the subsoil is favorable, as it is on the natural po- 
 tato land we have spoken of. It draws on all this body of soil for the 
 production of its immense top groui:!! of stems and leaves. These 
 latter fall in great aljundance on the soil at each successive cutting, 
 and are rotted on it by the succeeding irrigations. Then, again, there 
 is a great quantity of thick roots, covered with bunches of spreading 
 stubble, the remains of successive cuttings. That all this material is 
 rich in nitrogen there can be no doubt. Alfalfa belongs to tlie legum- 
 inous family of plants, all of which, but the clovers in the most 
 marked degree, have the property of appropriating large quantities of 
 nitrogen from the air, if not directly through their leaves, which is 
 doubtful, then through their roots. This is proved by the fact that 
 soils poor in nitrogen will produce plants of this family better than 
 any other; that these plants are themselves, both in stem, leaves and 
 seeds, rich in nitrogen; and that when they have been groAvu for a 
 succession of years on land poor in nitrogen, it becomes richer in this 
 element. Hence, it is to be inferred, that the chief advantage to the 
 soil derived from this plant is nitrogen. But, in addition to this, it no 
 
 10
 
 146 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 doubt brings up from the lower soil phosphoric acid and potash, and 
 leaves them at or near the surface, where they become available for 
 shallower rooting plants.* 
 
 The demands of the potato on the soil for potash is greater than 
 that of any other crop, and its failure on certain soils in Colorado may 
 be due to the deficiency of this substance in these soils. However, 
 the mechanical conditions of the soil seem to the writer to be of as 
 much imjjortauce as its chemical composition. For its successful cul- 
 tivation, it needs a loose upper soil lying upon a compact clay subsoil; 
 this soil needs to be deeply plowed aud well worked, and made as rich 
 as possible. The soil we have named as natural potato land has the 
 quality mentioned, and the subsoil, wlien turnetl up, becomes as loose 
 as the upper soil, aud is as fertile. 
 
 In all this inquiry we have disregarded the fertility supposed to be 
 brought bj' the waters of irrigation in greater measure, and of a dif- 
 ferent kind, from that brought b}^ rain water. There is nothing can 
 determine this but au analysis of these waters. Ordinary rain, espe- 
 cially after a long drouth, is known 'to bring from the atmosphere 
 ammonia and nitric acid, both good means of supplying the plant 
 with nitrogen. In this ingredient, then, rain water is probably richer 
 than river water, except when the latter carries in it alluvial soil 
 washed av/ay from its banks in times of high water. This would con- 
 tain humus, which is usually rich in nitrogen and all the other ele- 
 ments which alluvial soil contains. This is the character of the Nile 
 mud, and our river water contains the more of it the higher the river 
 is, and the lower do^Ti the stream the ditch heads. But the ordinary 
 water of the river coming from melted snows and flowing through 
 rocky canons and over granite boulders can contain but little fertilizing 
 material. How much it does contain can be discovered by frequent 
 chemical analyses. A commencement has been made in this direction 
 by the experimental station connected with the Agricultural College 
 situated at Fort Collins. 
 
 ^'^An instance of the fertilizing effects of alfalfa on a soil sown to 
 wheat, is furnished l^y a piece of alfalfa sod plowed up some four 
 years ago by Mr. Cuthburtson, near Fort Collins. The piece has been 
 sown three years in succession to the above named crop, aud the re- 
 turns iia\'e been proximately sixty, fifty, and 'forty bushels per acre 
 each successive year. In addition, quite an average crop of alfalfa 
 seed has ]>een saved at each threshing, the alfalfa not ha\ang been 
 quite killed by these three years of plowing. Still, this can be done 
 with the proper kind of plow and at the proper time. The scattered 
 alfalfa plants did not seem to harm the growth of the wheat. The 
 writer has the above from one of the family of the farmer named, 
 whose testimony is above suspicion.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 147 
 
 There is but oue analysis of water coming through the canon in 
 May, 1889. This water was remarkably pure, containing only 6.4; 
 grains solid matter to the gallon, mostly carbonate of lime and car- 
 bonate of magnesia, ivith not a trace of either of the three ingredi- 
 ents needed in a fertile soil. It will be seen that the total quantity of 
 solid matter is here exceedingly small, only about one in nine thousand 
 
 This was taken in May. We are not informed whether early or late 
 in the month. This is important, as we want to know whether it was 
 taken at high or low water, and during this month the change from 
 the one to the other is made. 
 
 The next analysis made of river water was on July 16th, and ten 
 miles down stream from the canon, and gives 68.8 grains per gallon, 
 or more than ten times the quantity of solid matter of former analysis. 
 Of this .solid matter .085 per cent., or eight ten-thousandths, was phos- 
 phoric acid. There is no trace of potash or nitrates. The quantity of 
 phosphoric acid is about that found in a soil rich in that constituent. 
 But this, it will be seen, is only the per centage in the solids, which 
 were in this case about one-ninth of one per cent, of the weight of 
 the liquid. The water analyzed was taken when the river was at a 
 comparatively low stage and well down tlie stream, hence well mixed 
 with return seepage water. It contained about as much carbonate of 
 lime as sulphate of soda, and some carbonate of magnesia. There 
 were also sulphates of lime and magnesia. The salts of these three 
 substances constituted over 97 per cent, of the solid matter, and are 
 worse than useless. 
 
 An analysis of seepage water taken from a drain on the college farm 
 gave 240.4 grains of solid matter to the gallon, with ingredients in the 
 same proportion, but with no trace of phosphoric acid, potash or 
 nitrates, hence was useless as manure. The quantit}* of solid matter 
 has increased four- fold, as compared with the previous sample of river 
 water. 
 
 A sample of well water taken near the foothills, and having a 
 slightly alkaline taste, gave 84 grains per gallon, and has none of the 
 three fertilizing constituents. 
 
 The solids found in these alkali witei-s differ very considerabl}- from 
 the white incrustations found on the soil, the former containing much 
 lime and magnesia, while the latter consists almost wholly of suljihate 
 of soda. One sample analyzed gave considerable chloride of sodium, 
 or common salt. But there is little doubt that analyses of alkali from dif- 
 ferent sections will show marked differences in the constituents. It ap- 
 pears that carbonate of soda is much more detrimental to vegetation 
 than the sulphate. The former is not found abundantly in our alkali
 
 148 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 incrustations, but its presence may be known bj its dark color, which, 
 is due to the sohition of this salt decomposing the humus of the soil. 
 
 From all this it would appear that, practicali}^ there is no fertihty 
 to be derived from either river water, seepage water or well water, 
 while the last two contain constituents that are damaging. If the lat- 
 ter were stored in reservoirs, the evil of impregnating the soil with in- 
 jurious salts from their use upon it would be increased, as it has been 
 found by chemical analyses made on the waters of reservoirs in Cali- 
 fornia that, year after year, their saturation with these injurious salts 
 increases. In some cases, in the above named state, the fish have died 
 in reservoirs from this increased saturation. Analyses of water from 
 reservoirs near Fort Collins, and which have been filled from the com- 
 paratively fresh mountain river water, give, in one case, 52 grains, in 
 another 69 grains, and in a third 26 grains per gallon. We are not in- 
 formed how long these have been in use. It will be seen that, com- 
 pared with the river water taken at the same place, the least saturated 
 has foar times, and most saturated ten times, the quantity of salts 
 that the former has. Farther analyses continued through a number of 
 years will be needed to see whether this saturation goes on increasing,^ 
 which is to be inferred from the fact that the evaporation from the 
 surfaces of these lakes is much in excess of the rainfall, and that the 
 salts contained in this excess remain in the reservoir. However, if 
 fresh mountain water is used, the saturation may never reach a point 
 to make the water materially injurious to vegetation. AYe may con- 
 clude this to be the case, as the Seely lake, filled from Number Two, 
 which takes water from the river some fifteen miles from the foothills, 
 is still fresh enough for fish to do well in it, after fifteen years of use. 
 But there is no doubt that well or seepage water, continuously stored in a 
 reservoir, would, in a few years, become so saturated as to be highly 
 injurious to the soil. 
 
 It should be oljserved that the storing of water in reservoirs, in 
 countries where the annual rainfall is less than the evaporation from a 
 water siurface, has quite different results from those brought about in 
 countries where the rainfall is greater than the evaporation. Experi- 
 ments made at the Agricultural College show that for the months of 
 June and July, 1888, the evaporation was about li.7 inches, while the 
 rainfall for that j^ear was less than ten inches. The total evaporation 
 for the year is about 45 inches, making, in a year of minimum rainfall, 
 the evaporation about five times its quantity. 
 
 On the other hand, in Italy the evaporation is less than the rainfall, 
 and so water stored in that coimtry would not become salter. In most 
 parts of India the rainfall is greatly in excess of evaporation. Some
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 149 
 
 districts have a fall of 120 inches per annum, and in such districts nu- 
 merous reservoirs are filled from the overflow of water fi'om the water- 
 shed in their immediate vicinity. There were thousands of these res- 
 ervoirs in India at the time that the English projected their magnifi- 
 cent system of irrigation for that country, and as the different districts 
 come under the canal irrigation, the reservoirs are being discontinued 
 — the land mider them being of more value for the production of crops 
 than for the storage of water. 
 
 As to the value of river water for fertilizing purposes, it is here in 
 point to quote from the remarks of Mr. Atkinson in the discussion of 
 Mr. O'Meara's paper on " Irrigation in Northeastern Colorado," before 
 referred to. He said : 
 
 " Mr. George Higgins, civil engineer and member of this institute, 
 had stated that nothing is wanted but water (in a certain district of 
 Spain), so that the land would rise to ten to fifteen times its present 
 value, and that the crops would be enormous. An English company 
 bought 4,000 acres of this land, and sent out a set of machinery. 
 They turned on the water, but got no crops. Then, by means of steam 
 plows, they brought up the subsoil and laid it on the top, but that did 
 not answer. Unless the land was highly manured, the wheat plant 
 yielded nothing but straw. He himself went over the farm with 
 Mr. Gregg, a director of the company, who stated that, in order to 
 make the land productive by irrigation, it would require an expendi- 
 ture of $60 an acre for manure. * * * It might be said, with re- 
 gard to irrigation generally, that it was necessary to ^mf into the soil 
 the ingredients needed by the plant, as the icaters of irrigation did 
 not contain them. All schemes founded on the supposition that irri- 
 gation would succeed without manure, and without much extra labor, 
 were fallacious. In new countries, therefore, unless the wa}^ could be 
 seen to future development so that there might be manure in abund- 
 ance, it would be a great mistake to lay out money in exi^ensive 
 works." 
 
 Mr. Atkinson also gave analyses of the waters of certain streams in 
 Spain, showing that they contained absolutely nothing of the three 
 essential constituents needed for the production of agricultural crops. 
 These lands, remember, on which the above experiments were made, 
 tvere old, ivorn-out lands, that were expected to become productive by 
 the application of water alone, or at least with that in connection with 
 deep plowing. Of course it is different on our new, rich, virgin soil, 
 but it is nevertheless true that irrigation, so far from preventing ex- 
 haustion, will only hasten that process, and that manuring is even
 
 150 A HISTORY OF GREELET AND 
 
 more of a necessity under irrigation than where the rainfall is de- 
 pended upon. 
 
 In concluding our review of the capabilities of our soil under irriga- 
 tion, we must refer to the great body of land that has become moist- 
 ened, permanently, from the percolation of water arising in the soil 
 from the icater table, which has been elevated in all districts long 
 under irrigation, and which, in some places, comes near, while in 
 others to the surface. All the water applied to the land, and which 
 does not disappear in vapor from the surface of the ground, or the 
 foliage of the growing crops, finds its way into the subsoil, and 
 reaches at length the gravel underlying this subsoil, which varies iu 
 depth from a few to fifty feet, over the lands of Union Colon3\ The 
 result of this is to raise the level of the water in the underlying gravel 
 until it touches the overlying clay stratum, through which it arises by 
 percolation and reaches the surface, if this clay stratum is not deep. 
 This is the case iu the valley between the different higher table lands, 
 the overlying clay having been worn off these valleys by the erosion of 
 water which, during past ages, made its way to the river down the 
 lowest levels in the contour of the country.* 
 
 In the Poudre valley, perhaps 15,000 acres of 90,000 acres of 
 third bench land, under irrigation, are now wet to the surface 
 throughout the year. In, perhaps, half of this, the water table 
 is far enough from the surface to allow agricultural crops to thrive 
 well, and, when it is so, these lands yield enormous crops. The other 
 half can be reclaimed by under-di'ainage, as has been demonstrated 
 by experiments made last year on the Agricultural College farm. This 
 
 *As an illustration of how water rises under the soil after 
 irrigation, the writer can instance the case of his own land 
 situated under the "Larimer and Weld" canal, three miles 
 south of Eaton. Bef<3re irrigation was commenced from the 
 above named canal, a well was dug through, proximately, twenty- 
 five feet of clay, twenty-five feet of coarse gravel, and twenty-five feet 
 of shale. At seventy-five feet a small flow of water was found, which 
 did not rise in the well until irrigation had been going on for more 
 than two years. Then it made its appearance iu the lower portion of 
 the gravel stratum, and arose steadily in tiiis gravel until it came toits 
 upper surface, twenty-five feet below the soil surface, where it remains. 
 
 On the west part of this farm there is a draw, made by the wearing 
 effects of the water, which has found its way to the river over this de- 
 pression for centuries. Here the gravel is met at from five to ten feet. 
 After irrigation had been going on around and above it for some seven 
 years, this draw began to show signs of moistuess, and some one hun- 
 dred acres of the farm there situated needs no irrigation, and pro- 
 duces enormous crops.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 151 
 
 lowers the level of the water table, and it is found that the incrusta- 
 tion of alkali disappears also from the underdraiued surface.. As 
 there is now being manufactured a good tile, at a reasonably low price, 
 near Greeley, no doubt where sufficient fall can be readily had, it will 
 pay to reclaim these most valuable lands, the fertihty of which seems 
 to be increased by this sub-irrigation. 
 
 I say that the fertility seems to be increased. There is no doubt of 
 the increased productiveness of these soils, but whether this will con- 
 tinue, is quite a different question. To illustrate the point of increased 
 productiveness, let us take the case of a farm five miles nortiiwest of 
 Greeley. This farm is owned by Alfred Baxter, and is in a bend of 
 Number Two canal, where it crosses a valley like those above spoken 
 of. It has been in cultivation for eighteen years. For a number of 
 years, say twelve, it was cropped year after year in wheat, and the av- 
 erage, which had been some twenty-five bushels, sank to half the 
 figure. About six years ago it became moist enough from under- 
 ground percolation to need no more irrigation, the lowest part needing 
 to be drained. Immediately the average of wheat arose to thirty 
 bushels to the acre, and so continues, while immense crops of potatoes 
 are raised on alternate years with the wheat, and aU without manure. 
 For a few years before it became wet, potatoes had been tried, but the 
 soil being adobe, baked badly, and the potatoes were small and 
 scabby. Now, they are large and smooth. The ground wet from be- 
 low keeps mellow the year round. Now, the question arises, "From 
 whence comes this increased fertility, and is it hkely to be perma- 
 nent ? " We have seen that river water contains none of the three 
 needed constituents, then whence does the water which feeds the roots 
 of the crops on this soil get this fertility ? Above this farm there is 
 an irrigated district, some four miles wide, lying between Number 
 Two and the Larimer and Weld canals. Over the whole of this irri- 
 gated belt the surplus water of irrigation is percolating through the 
 deep, rich subsoil into the gravel stratum, which carries the water to 
 this and other farms in the valley. That the whole of this subsoil is 
 rich in plant food, is known from the fact that clay taken from it in 
 digging wells at any depths will grow plants, after exposure to the air 
 and moisture, as well as that at the surface. The water, in passing 
 through this immense body of clay, must dissolve and carry off some 
 of the elements of fertihty, and hold them in a state available for 
 plant food. But this is only a priori reasoning, and seems not to be 
 sustained, or only partially sustained, by the analyses made at the 
 Agricultural College. In one instance we have seen that the water 
 analyzed contained phosphoric acid. This was water taken from the
 
 152 A HISTOBY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 river ten miles down stream, at low water, when there was present in 
 it seepage water. On the other hand, the seepage water taken from 
 the college farm ditch is not reported to have contained any phos- 
 phoric acid. As this is present, if at all, in very small quantities, an 
 analysis made for the determination of other more easily ascertained 
 facts, may have not been exact enough to detect phosphoric acid. But, 
 it appears to me, that farther investigations with the view of ascer- 
 taining this point, will disclose the fact that our seepage water is rich 
 in all the three ingredients requisite to a fertile soil, and it is to be 
 hoped that the chemical department of the experiment station at Fort 
 Collins will keep on in the Hne of investigation which it has so well 
 begun. 
 
 As the potato crop of Greeley has become famous throughout the 
 United States, it deserves here a more extended notice than the inci- 
 dental mention we have made of it in passing. 
 
 The Greeley potato district hes on the other side of the river, north- 
 ward of the to\^Ti, is about ten miles wide from east to west, and has 
 an average width of about six miles. The to^vn of Eaton is much 
 nearer the center of this district than Greeley, and is destined in the 
 future to ship more of the crop than Greeley, The tract is watered 
 about in equal area from Union Colony Canal Number Two and the 
 Larimer and Weld or English Company's Canal, The shipments from 
 both stations for the last five years have run from 1,000 to 1.800 car- 
 loads, the average price during these years being somewhat below 
 $1,00 per hundred pounds, or, on an average, a quarter million dollars 
 a year. The minimum price that potatoes can be raised and delivered 
 sacked at the railroad station is seventy-five cents per hundred. It 
 costs at the average distance from market twentj'-five cents per hun- 
 dred to dig, sort, sack, and deliver at the station. 
 
 The central location of Colorado in respect to the other portions of 
 the United States is a great advantage in enabling us nearly every 
 year to find an outlet, at remunerative prices, for this perishable crop. 
 If a failure of the crop happens anywhere, Ave can supply the de- 
 ficiency at no great disadvantage, as compared with other localities. 
 This year the deficiency was West, and we have shipped train loads to 
 California. Some years the failure is in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, 
 and Iowa, and there is a constant demand in Texas and farther South, 
 The superiority of the quality gives our article a great advantage 
 when brought into competition in distant markets with other shipped 
 potatoes. Hence, there is less risk in cultivating potatoes as a staple 
 crop here than almost anywhere else in the country-. 
 
 The extensive cultivation of the potato crop has made a supply of
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 153 
 
 water as late as- the middle of September, a prime necessity. 
 Perhaps half the area planted during the last three years has 
 scarcely been worth the digging, on account of the want of water 
 in July and August. The areas of seepage laud that are in just the 
 right state of humidity to raise this crop are exempt from failure from 
 the cause above named, and yield enormous crops every year. But, 
 the extent of such lands is not great, and can be doubled or more by 
 sub-drainage. So great is the demand for water for the late irrigation 
 of this crop, that large wells have been dug and steam pumps put in, 
 and in no long time it is to be expected that such pumps will be put 
 in whenever there is a sufficient sujjply of water not too far from the 
 surface. What the effect of \vatering from these wells, which are all 
 quite alkahne, will be upon the land, it is now hard to say. But, 
 where the drainage is good and the soil irrigated in alternate years, 
 when in wheat, with fresh river ^\ ater, there need be no fear of poison- 
 ing it with injurious salts. But, should these wells be depended upon 
 alone, and especially if the water from them was to be stored in reser- 
 voirs during the nou-irrigating months, it is to be feared that the soil 
 would he ruined in the course of a comparatiA'ely few j-ears. 
 
 In addition to this drawback of scarcity of water for the late irriga- 
 tion of this crop, there is the constant presence of the Colorado potato 
 bug. This is its "native heath," and we need not hope to ever get 
 completely rid of it. Should there not be a potato raised for the next 
 five years along the whole Eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains, the 
 bug would live and prosper, as there are two species of solauum, na- 
 tive to the plaius, upon which it feeds, and seems to like even better 
 than the potato. Last year there were sold in Greeley aud Eaton 
 alx)ut 14,000 pounds of Paris green, which at the average price it cost 
 the farmer— thirty cents per pound— amounted to .'^,200; and the cost 
 of the labor of applying it is about as much, making the total cost of 
 fighting this pest for that year about 18,100. This, however, was the 
 worst year in our experience. A warm, open winter seems to preserve 
 more of the bugs over, than a cold one with much snow on the ground. 
 Late flooding of the ground intended to be put into potatoes might 
 appear a remedy, but this can be done to no great extent, and the 
 bugs or, rather, beetles, fly around freely, and would come from other 
 miflooded areas. 
 
 The history of potato culture, in the country watered by the Platte 
 and its tributaries, has been a curious one. When the colony came 
 here, immense crops were raised on the Big Thompson bottom, and 
 continued to be for about three years afterwards. Since then, the
 
 154 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 farmers on this creok are hardly able to raise enough for their own 
 use. 
 
 For the first two years potatoes did well near Greeley, on this side 
 of the riyer. For some twelve years none could be raised in and 
 aroimd town. They did, as a rule, no better on newly broken sod than 
 on old land. Heavy manuring of the land did not help the matter. 
 The vines were struck with a blight, or rust. This fungus made the 
 leaves thick and stiff, and undoubtedly destroyed the sap and pre- 
 vented the leaves from carr3'ing on their function. Meanwhile, over 
 the river, on the tract which Ave have called natural potato land, the 
 crops were generally good, though the same blight for two years very 
 much shortened the crop. As there was a general failure of the potato 
 crops all over Colorado, the price ranged liigh, and some farmers made 
 neat little fortunes in a few years. About the commencement of this 
 period of general failure of the crop, a Mr. Clark had a tract of land 
 near Denver that brought a good crop every year, and he Avas so suc- 
 cessful when everybody around him failed, that he has gone ever since 
 by the sobriquet of "Potato Clark." However, in the course of some 
 five years, his ground also ceased to respond in its wonted manner, 
 and he turned his attention to market gardening. 
 
 Occasionally, al)out one year in ten, there is a general good potato 
 crop over the whole irrigated region north of the Divide, while in that 
 elevated region they get a fair crop without irrigation in a season of 
 heavy rainfall. Some little valleys in the mountains also produce 
 large crops, but the quality is generally inferior, and they are nearly 
 always badly scabljed. 
 
 This disease is also one of the mysteries attending potato culture 
 here. At a time it was charged almost wholly to excessive irrigation, 
 especially, flooding the ground so that it baked hadlj. This, no 
 doubt, aggravates the disease, but we have seen potatoes that were 
 never watered at all, and, where the ground was as loose and dry as 
 an ash heap, badly scabbed and, of course, of no size. The plowing 
 under of large quantities of stubble, or coarse manure, seems to be 
 favorable for the development of the scab, especially if the plowing is 
 shallow. In fine, deep plowing, say ten or twelve inches deep, thor- 
 ough culture, frequent light irrigations between deep ridges, seem to 
 be the best methods of preventing the growth of scab. The potatoes 
 should not be irrigated until they begin to come into blossom, and 
 then the ground should be kejit moist for about a n.onth. Early pota- 
 toes rarely do well, as the ground is usually too hot for the tubers to 
 prosper until late in August. Even in our best potato district, early 
 potatoes are usually struck with the rust; the provoking cause seem-
 
 THE UNION COLONY OP COLORADO. 155 
 
 ing to be a hot sun on leaves tender and moist from the necessary 
 irrigation. 
 
 In fine, it may he said, that the whole matter of planting, cultivat- 
 ing, watering, harvesting, and' marketing has become so well under- 
 stood and systematized, that the Greeley farmers have become experts 
 in all these things, and are hard to compete with in this line of agri- 
 culture. 
 
 We have spoken of the production of alfalfa as a forage plant, and, 
 as an auxiliary in the production of other crops, from its value as a 
 manure. We will now speak of it as a crop itself. On weU-set 
 ground, after the first year, may be confidently expected, year after 
 year, four tons to the acre. It is this year worth U a ton, the lowest 
 it has been so far. It is worth about half the crop at this price to irri- 
 gate it and put it in the stack. This would give a rental of |8 per 
 acre, which is as much as the rent from a wheat crop of thirty bush- 
 els, at average prices, which is about seventy-five cents per bushel. 
 
 A small alfalfa patch was sown in the colony as early as 1872 by 
 P. W. Putnam, and Mr. Von Gohren was the first to put in a large 
 field of it. But its cultivation received but httle attention until J. 
 Max. Clark wrote a series of papers for The Colorado Farmer, on its 
 remarkable value as a forage plant, From that time its introduction 
 became rapid, and it may here be mentioned that it was the reading 
 of these letters that led J. Brisben Walker to purchase some 1.200 
 acres of land near Denver, and seed it all to alfalfa, from which he 
 soon made a fortune, being now worth about 12,000,000, and at that 
 date not worth more than $2,000. Of course, he made the most of 
 this by the advance in the price of the land he bought, still lie made 
 a good start by su]jplying the Denver market with hay, and it may be 
 said that alfalfa has revolutionized the hay market, and made purely 
 hay lands of but little value. These are, perhaps, worth less per acre 
 than when the colony settled here, while agricultural lands ha^^e ad- 
 vanced in price five-fold.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 HORTICULTURE AXD NURSERY BUSINESS — EARLY EXPECTATIONS IN THESE 
 LINES — FIRST ANNUAL REPORTS QUOTED — RESULTS IN GARDENING — NEED 
 OF MANURE — DIFFICULTIES OF RAISING SMALL FRUITS — GLUT OF MAR- 
 KETS — KUNER's PICKLE FACTORY — FAILURES IN NURSERY BUSINESS — 
 RAPID RISE IN THE PRICE OF TOWN LOTS FIRST YEAR — DECLINE AFTER 
 AND CAUSES — THE GRASSHOPPERS — THEIR PERIOD — PREFERENCES FOR 
 CERTAIN CROPS — WAYS IN WHICH THEY WERE FOUGHT — " TRIBUNE " 
 ON THEIR RAVAGES — ARTICLE IN CHICAGO " TRIBUNE " QUOTED IN REF- 
 ERENCE TO THEIR GENERAL RAVAGES IN 1875 — SLOW RESTORATION OF 
 CONFIDENCE AFTER THEIR DEPARTURE — N. C. MEEKEr's LAST WORDS TO 
 THE FARMERS — IS NIAGARA BEFORE US ? — REVIEW OF ABOVE — HIGH 
 PRICE OF FARM LABOR — LARGE AND SMALL FARMS, PROFITS OF — GREE- 
 LEY DISTINGUISHED BY SOMETHING BETTER THAN SIZE — MEEKER ON 
 BOOMING THE TOWN. 
 
 THERE is but little doubt that twice as many of the first colo- 
 nists expected to go into gardening, small fruit culture, and 
 nurseiy business, etc., as intended to go into general farming. 
 It had been held forth that the market would continue high for all 
 products of this kind, and at the same time the yields would })e enor- 
 mous. Ln the first annual report of the colony, prepared by W. E. 
 Pabor, we are informed that, "'Ninety-seven bushels of wheat have 
 been grown on one acre of land on the South Platte, within forty miles 
 of Greeley.'* (Of course, as Hobbs saj-s, forty miles off ' was only just 
 back of Gi-reeley.') "Oats have reached the same number of bushels, 
 and Governor McCook is our authority for the statement that 250 
 bushels of onions have been raised on half an acre." (By the way, 
 that last was not extraordinary, although our poet seems to have 
 penned it with bated breath.) 
 
 '•The average of crops may Ije thus stated: Wheat, 30 bushels; oats, 
 55; corn, 30; potatoes, 250; onions, 300; beans, 30; rutabagas. 30 tons; 
 Jjeets, 30 tons. These figures may be relied upon as below the av- 
 erage. 
 
 " At the Denver State Fair, this year, turnips were on exhibition, and 
 curiosity impelled us to measure the largest; it was forty-two inches 
 in circumference. Cabbages weighing fifty pounds are too common
 
 THE UNIOX COLONY OF COLORADO. 157 
 
 for special mention, and we can easily credit the story of the prudent 
 housekeeper who sent her child to the market for the smallest head he 
 could find, and came home bending under the weight of a forty- 
 pounder." 
 
 We confess it with humiliation that, on our gardens west of Greeley, 
 we have seen acres of cabbage, three-fourths of which were too small 
 to market, and, of those that were marketed, sonje were not bigo-er 
 than a man's fist. We also find in Professor Cassiday's report from 
 the Agricultural College, at which he filled the chair of horticulture, 
 that the average size of the largest kind of late cabbage, on land 
 highly manured, Avas less than seven pounds. This. too. iif heavy clay 
 land, well adapted to cabbage. We quote farther from Pallor's report : 
 *' The time will come, and that in the not far distant future, when 
 vast establishments for canning fruit will be scattered all over the 
 Territory, and the berries of Colorado be the delight of the epicure, 
 and the never-failing resource of the careful housewife, whose ' sweet- 
 meat ' days will be among the events of the past." Mr. Pabor says 
 that he is " indebted in the main, for these facts, to William N. Byers, 
 of The Neivs:' He also quotes W. R. Thomas as authority. This i.s 
 taken from Governor McCook's address at the State Fair: "A savings 
 bank" (that is the land) "crammed with riches since Noah's fiood-- 
 and therefore ready to honor drafts to an unhmited amount; for irri- 
 gated laud never wears out, as the experience of Eastern nations testi- 
 fies." 
 
 Now, Robert Boyd is our most extensive market gardener. He 
 shipped, last year, from his farm, thirty-five car-loads of cabbage and 
 onions. He calls ten tons of cabbage about his average. He has a 
 bottom farm about three miles west of Greeley. He puts oil it all the 
 manure he can get. He keeps a herd of cattle out on the plains in 
 summer, and winters them on the farm for the manure. He informs 
 me that he thinks of having sheep manure shipped from Carr Station, 
 some forty miles, on the cars. He has a switch on his farm. This 
 shows that even irrigated bottom land needs manure in Colorado; 
 and of course upper bench land still more. It might bo here said, in con- 
 nection with the cabbage business, that the price is generaUy about fifty 
 cents per himdred in the faU, and that it scarcely reaches $1 when 
 kept to spring; that cabbage worm and cabbage lice are as bad here 
 as anywhere, and that all injurious insects have now to be contended 
 with the same as East, although this was not the case in the early 
 days; and N. C. Meeker wrote an article to The New York Tribune, 
 about our second year here, glorying in our exemption from all these 
 pests, except the potato bug and locust.
 
 158 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 Well, in reference to Greeley horticulture, we soon found that there 
 was no market to speak of for vegetables. Denver was then a small 
 city, and was supplied for the most part from the immediate vicinity. 
 Small fruit sold well at first, but gradually declined, and last year's 
 raspberries sold for 12|^ cents a quart. The bushes have to be covered 
 for the winter some six inches deep with dirt, and uncovered in the 
 spring, which labor makes a crop at the above price unremunerative. 
 Strawberries have also to be covered and the ground heavily manured, 
 and man}' have stopped raising this fruit on account of the low prices 
 prevailing a few years ago. As a consequence, the price became bet- 
 ter last year* But it is easy to glut the market with any of these 
 small fruits. Currants and gooseberries were an unsalable drug in 
 the market last year, and the currant worm has destroyed all bushes 
 of auv age. Still, Greeley now aspires to the title of the " Garden 
 City of. Colorado/' and it is true much gardening has been done here 
 for the last dozen of years or so, and that irrigation, if you can only 
 get enough of water, is far ahead of rainfall for either vegetables or 
 small fruit. 
 
 A pickle factory was started hei-e last year by the Kuner Brothers, 
 and they got enough of cucumbers to last their trade some two or 
 three 3'ears. Tomatoes they bought and shipped to Denver for can- 
 ning, but lost many before they could be put up. So the firm will 
 handle nothing of this kind here next summer. 
 
 The celery business is now attracting attention. It has been grown 
 in considerable quantities for many years, but only for the state trade; 
 but now it is thought that Colorado can easily supply the trade west 
 of the Missouri river, since we can raise by irrigation, on our uplands, 
 a superior article to that produced around Kalamazoo, Michigan. 
 Like!}' a large area will be planted the coming season. 
 
 As for nursery business, it has been a failure, since fruit is a failure. 
 All the early attempts ii^his line ruined the parties that undertook 
 them. J. H. Foster persevered as long as he had a cent to experiment 
 with. The grasshojjpers in those days made matters worse. Mr. 
 Meeker undertook both gardenmg and nursery business on a small 
 scale, and failed in both. A. E. Gipson succeeded in so far as having 
 his stock live and thrive, but the local sale was small, and his large 
 stock of crab apples became unsalable after the blight attacked the 
 crab apple orchards. He sold out last winter, and went to Denver to 
 engage in the banking business, and his nursery, m which he took so 
 much pride, and on which he expended so much enthusiasm, will soon 
 be a thing of the past. 
 
 We started out by saying that many more intended to go into small
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 159 
 
 fruit raising and gardening than did to engage in general farming, 
 but the idea had soon to be abandoned for the most part, and tho^ 
 who did not wish to farm either left or went into some other business 
 As a result of this, the town lots and smaU parcels of land near town 
 tell in value soon after the spring of 1871, 
 
 During the first year the rise in town property was quite marked 
 that IS to say compared with the prices charged by the colony to its' 
 members This was .|50 for corner lots and |25 for inside ones, wher- 
 ever situated The value of these varied very much, especially in the 
 business part of town, so that some lots costing only |50 each in one 
 year, wei^ worth |1,000. Perhaps the average value of all business 
 lots on Main street, in the spring of 1871, was 1500, while some re- 
 moter less favorably situated business lots were not worth much more 
 than the original colony prices. The business lots remained about 
 stationary for some eight years. Since that time they have steadily 
 advanced untd lately the Union Bank purchased the two lots on which 
 Its present building stands, at 110,000. This is the highest figure at 
 which we know of sales being made. 
 
 In regard to residence lots, there was a very decided falling off of 
 values after the spring of 1871, and this depression lasted untH about 
 1880 As an illustration, the miter bought, in the spring of 1871, an 
 acre lot in the block where he lived for |300. In 1879 he bou-ht the 
 remaining acre lot of the same block for |125, and this latterlot was 
 much better situated for building. 
 
 The reasons for the reduction in value of residence lots were, there 
 were more lots sold by the colony than were needed to accommoda e 
 
 f'vTa': tt' ,^^^--^-«^ inhabitants decreased for a number 
 ot 3^ears, hi.tly, because many moved out of town to their farms- sec- 
 ondly, because many mechanics, who had found work during the'rush 
 of the first years building, were thrown out of employment and 
 moved elsewhere; and, thirdly, the revival.pf the gro'^of Eva" 
 from causes which shall be related, drew away from Greeley ma" v 
 especiaDy old settlers and cattlemen, who would otherwise have made 
 Greeley their home. In fine, the limited development attaineu in agri- 
 cu ure during the first seven years dwarfed the business of thlt^wi 
 and impaired its growth as a whole. 
 
 lu regard to farming lands over the river, it may be said, there was 
 
 remained stationary, or nearly so, while the grasshoppers remained 
 and increased very slowly for some years afterwards. For a nrber 
 of years good eighty-acre lots, not more than three or four n!ile f on 
 town, could be bought for |1,000, with water. This latter, ho ve."
 
 160 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 was known to be insufficient until enlargements should be made by 
 the farmers themselves, and the increased value for the first seven 
 years was largely due to these enlargements of the canal. 
 
 We have spoken of the presence of the grasshoj>pers as one of the 
 chief reasons for the low value of farming land during the time of 
 their visitations, and here it were as well to relate our experience in 
 regard to these pests. 
 
 When the colony' came here, the people were informed that the 
 country was liable to occasional inroads of these insects, but from 
 former experience, it Avas to be expected that the}^ would make their 
 appearance only about once in five or seven years, and there was no 
 reason to believe that their stay w ould be continuous, or renewed year 
 after j^ear. They had been here in 1867 and had done a good deal 
 of damage where they found any crops in those days. There had 
 been no farther visitation when we arrived here, nor was there until 
 the autumn of 1872 when they came in considerable numbers, and 
 laid their eggs, which hatched out the following spring, and destroyed 
 much wheat. In the autumn of 1873 they appeared in still larger 
 numbers, and earlier, destroying not only corn but late oats; and in 
 the spring of 1874 they hatched out in still larger numbers. This 
 continued imtil the autumn of 1876 when immigrants made their last 
 voyage through the air to us, and in the spring of the following year 
 only a few sickly ones hatched out, and these mostly died before they 
 had time to get wings and fly away to pastures fresh and green in 
 Kansas or Missouri. 
 
 With tlie living ones that came from the northwest in the fall, little 
 or nothing could be done on large farms, but a continuous smudge 
 kept to windward of a garden might save it, and John Leavy in this 
 way succeeded in saving some of his precious vegetables and flowers. 
 But the main crops were usually harvested when they put in an ap- 
 pearance; and some crops they liked less well than others. They 
 would leave a potato field alone if a field of corn was near it. Sor- 
 ghum they had no taste for, and it matured uninjured when every 
 other green thing around it was destroyed. They had a peculiar 
 fondness for onions and resembled their human brethren in their par- 
 tiality for tobacco. They preferred cabbages to tomatoes; in fact, un- 
 like the potato beetle, had a contempt for the solanum genus of 
 plants, while they delighted in its sister genus the nicotiana. But 
 there was a time when it w-as doubtful whether the man or the locust 
 was the fittest to survive on these plains, and had the race of locusts 
 retained its pristine vigor there is no knowing to what extent its pro- 
 digious reproductiveness would have baffled our destructive ingenuity.
 
 PARK COXGREGATIOXAL CHURCH.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 161 
 
 But, by, I know not what, immoral conduct on its part, the vitality of 
 the race became impaired, fewer young made their appearance, and 
 these wasted away before maturity. That this decay of the vitality 
 of the red-thighed migratory Rocky Mountain locust may continue 
 until it becomes a species only known to history, " is a consummation 
 devoutly to be wished," but through years of suffering it may be re- 
 stored to its primitive energy and be enabled to re-enact for us the 
 scenes of the last four 3^ears of the first century of the American Re- 
 public. However, some fourteen years have elapsed since it has been 
 able to leave in any apprecial)le numbers its native breeding grounds 
 in Dakota, Wyoming and Montana, and we have no signs of its recu- 
 peration. Though having a great liking for nearly every cultivated 
 species of legume it turned aside in disdain from peas. 
 
 The writer having early observed these characteristic tastes in his 
 enemy turned his attention principally to the cultivation of peas and 
 sorghum. He discovered that sorghum was a very exhaustive crop, 
 if it immediately preceded wheat, but that a fine crop of peas could 
 be grown after it, and following that, a wheat crop twice as large as 
 if it had followed the sorghum. The peas were fed to hogs and so in 
 this way we partially out-generaled the grasshoppers. 
 
 But a more direct attack was made along the whole line against 
 our evil angels before they had grown their wings. Fire, water, kero- 
 sene, coal tar, and various devices of traps were all used in waj^s too 
 numerous to mention, and before the end of the four years fight, we 
 had learned how to meet the unfledged hordes at least on the borders 
 of our fields, and hold them at bay until they got wings, when they 
 preferred to retire immediately from the scene 'of their early con- 
 flicts. 
 
 An amusing incident occurred during the locust contest here in 
 Greeley. A. Z. Salomon offered the best suit of clothes in his store 
 to the man who would bring him in a million grasshoppers. John 
 Templeton, a canny Scotchman, who was farming a .place adjoining 
 that of the writer, using a trap, caught what he estimated to be a 
 million or over. He counted an ounce and weighed the rest. 
 When he brought them in, about a bran sack full, Salomon 
 refused to pay for them because they were dead. But notiung 
 daunted, Templeton filled another sack with live ones, when the njer- 
 chant insisted that he should count them. Templeton said that he 
 would have to empty them out to do that, and as it was night tiiis 
 would have to be done in the clothing store. Then Salomon gave ,n, 
 and the canny Scott thereafter went around Sundays in a suit of tlie 
 finest blue broadcloth.
 
 162 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 In some portions of the states east of here, the locust was more de- 
 structive than in Colorado. In the summer of 1875 they were the 
 worst and created general apprehensions. The governor of Missouri 
 appointed a day of fasting and praj^er for the purpose of invoking 
 divine aid in averting the plague. Bishop Clarkson, of Nebraska and 
 Dakota, had a special form of prayer prepared for his diocese, to read 
 at both morning and evening service for the summer of 1875, with 
 especial reference to the locusts. We quote : " Grant us such deliv- 
 erance from destructive insects, that the earth may in due time yield 
 her increase for our use and benefit. * * Avert the dangers 
 that threaten the harvest from the terrible scourge of the locust." 
 
 The issue of The Greeley Tribune for June 2nd of the above year, 
 is principally devoted to the subject of the locust. It says, " During 
 these days The Greeley Tribune is a grasshopper paper, and we mean 
 to print all that is interesting on this subject, that those numbers may 
 form a reference useful liereafter, and that our readers abroad may 
 know how much of an obstacle the insect is to living in this country. 
 The present record of destrucbion is : All gardens that were planted 
 are destroyed, save peas and young corn. Currants and gooseberries 
 have but a few leaves and their fruit buds are eaten out. Raspberries 
 and blackberries that have been watered, and which are in a thrifty 
 condition, are blossoming and «'ill probably bear. Strawberries that 
 were watered promptly will bear perliaps half a crop, and the fruit 
 is now a quarter grown. Grapes are not injured to anj^ great extent. 
 Pie-i:)laut is all eaten down. Most Idnds of quite young forest trees 
 have suffered badly, but the box elder, though badly trimmed, is pull- 
 ing through triuinphantly. People are now planting cucumbers, 
 melons and squashes, with the hope of haA'ing gardens. Tomato, 
 cabbage, and other plants are yet kept within doors or under glass. 
 Captain Boyd has fought the grasshoppers successfully with his 
 machine, but then he did not have the crowds others have had. Ben- 
 jamin H. Eaton is fighting the enemy vigorously, and expects to save 
 as much as two hundred acres of wheat. But as fast as the grass- 
 hoppers eat down a few acres, tiie plow is turned in, and corn is im- 
 mediately planted. We must have as many as seven or eight inventors 
 who have brought into use as many different kinds of machines for de- 
 stroying the grasshoppers. 
 
 This same number also quotes an article from The Chicago Tri- 
 bune on the '• Grasshopper Plague." This is well worthy of preser- 
 vation, both on account of its style and contents. So we give it : 
 
 " Will the grasshopper be a burden to the east, as it has been a 
 curse and a pest to the west ? After iloods, tornadoes, blizzards and
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 163 
 
 the rigors of a winter projected far into spring, are we now to look for- 
 ward to a summer whose green promises are to be bhghted, and 
 nipped down to the very roots by those Hvely travelers who were 
 John the Baptist's favorite article of diet, washed down with wild 
 honey. Having already eaten everything worth eating west of the 
 Missouri, they have crossed it and are seeking new fields to conquer. 
 It seems to be the universal testimony of grasshopper experts that 
 these milhons of billions of heads are all pointed this way, and that 
 in a month or two at the latest they will settle down on the prairie 
 farms of Eastern Iowa and Missouri, and cross the Mississippi into 
 Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio, as the flies covered Egypt. 
 The fine theories of the entomologists, that the severe cold of last 
 winter would kill their eggs, seems to be thoroughly exploded. The}- 
 have risen from their winter burial with immeusel}^ increased num- 
 bers, and the most vigorous ajopetites. There seems no reason to 
 doubt that the crops which have been sown are destined only to be 
 food for grasshoppers, 
 
 " Our reports show that Missouri is completelj^ overrun with them. 
 They have left the wheat fields bare, have stripped the fruit trees of 
 leaves, buds and blossoms, and swept even the grass from the pas- 
 tures, as if an army of mowers had been through them. The farmers are 
 panic-stricken. The cattle are dying; even the earth in flower pots has 
 resurrected clouds of them, and yet no power cometh to help us. The 
 sprouting fields of grain in Nebraska have already been stripped bare 
 to the earth. Millions have already made their appearance, and more 
 millions yet remain inthe ground to come out eventually. Kansas is 
 in the same plight as Nebraska, and whatever the grasshoppers may 
 happen to leave, the chinch bugs are waiting for, which is not a verj- 
 hopeful outlook for the corn. From Northwestern Iowa comes the 
 same story, also from various portions of Minnesota. The prospect, 
 therefore, is simply pitiful, and full of distress and discouragement 
 for the farmer. It is an element of destruction against which he can 
 make no provision. He cannot destroy the pests in sufficient numbers 
 to materially reduce their ravages. He cannot reheve the situation 
 by changing the crops, for nothing yet of a vegetable character has 
 been discovered which the grasshoppers will not eat. He is con- 
 demned, after using all his energy and invention in destrojang them, 
 at last to stand idly ])y, and see millions upon millions of them la^- 
 waste his acres and destroy his cereals, his grass and his fruit, leaving 
 nothing in the fall for himself or his stock. The farmers have 
 hitherto contested the situation with resolute courage. They ha^-e 
 fought these insects with fire and water. They have gathered them
 
 164 
 
 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 into trenches, and crushed them by thousands with rollers. They 
 have plowed in the eggs so deep as to make resurrection seem hope- 
 less. They have turned in hogs and poultry to feed upon them; but 
 all their efforts have been of no avail. Where one was killed a hun- 
 dred came to the funeral. While the farmers fight them in one spot, 
 the air becomes clouded with millions of new arrivals settling down in 
 other spots. There is a small gleam of hope comes from Nebraska in 
 the annoimcement that a small red bug has made its appearance there,, 
 and feeds upon hopj^ers in bulk, and is more than a match for every 
 grasshopper he tackles. We are not inclined to place over much con- 
 fidence in this bug story; at least until we have heard further details 
 from him. As there are millions upon millions of grasshoppers to be 
 eaten there must be millions upon millions of bugs to eat them. Even 
 granting that the red bug may succeed in devouring the grasshopper, 
 how can we tell that he may not turn about, and go to work on the 
 crops next, for a bug that will eat a grasshopper is possessed of an 
 appetite equal to devouring and digesting anything vegetable, animal 
 or mineral ? Again we are not informed as to the locomotive powers 
 of this red bug. Your grasshopper is a good traveler and does not 
 stop long at his way stations for refreshments. If it should happen, 
 therefore, that the red bug is not a lively traveler, of course the grass- 
 hopper will not remain to be eaten, but pack up and leave his antag- 
 onist far in the rear. * * * Among all these thousands 
 of sons and daughters of Ceres somebody should have wdt enough to 
 contrive some method of destroying them. What is done, however, 
 must be done quickly. The vast army is headed this way. The buz- 
 zing of its wings will soon be heard all about us, and then in very 
 truth he will be a burden, which must be borne with such equanimity 
 and philosophy as can be summoned. It is evident that some antidote 
 must be found, or else the victims must look out on their broad acres 
 stripped bare, and console with that thinnest of all consolations, that 
 everything was created for some good purj^ose." 
 
 AVell, if the red bug did not do the business to any great extent, the 
 ichneumon fly is generally credited ])y the entomologists with destroy- 
 ing or demoralizing our enemy. This insect seems to have the desired 
 activity in getting around, and keeping up with its prey; not that it 
 wanted the locust for its dinner, but only for a suitable nidus in which 
 to lay its eggs. These hatched out, and became maggots in the backs 
 of the hoppers, which soon took on a sickly look, and died in great 
 numbers. This enemy attacked the young hoppers just before they 
 got wings in the early part of the summer of 1876, and since then we 
 have had no trouble to speak of. If this is the sole cause of the re-
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 165 
 
 duction of the numbers of the locusts, it may be expected that this flj 
 will, ere louo\ fall l^efore some enemy more powerful than itself, in 
 the struggle for life which is going on in nature, " where each slays a 
 slayer and in turn is slain," and that then the Rocky Mountain locust 
 will again flourish for another cycle. 
 
 The disappearance of the locusts and the completion of the enlarge- 
 ment of Number Two canal happened about the same time, and from 
 then we may date the commencement of the rapid progress of agri- 
 culture in the colony, and with it the town, which is the center of this 
 agriculture. It is true that it took some years to restore confidence. 
 We were every fall, for a number of years, fearing a return of the 
 locusts; the matter of priority of rights to water had not been settled 
 by statute, and when we did have abundant crops, the prices were low 
 These facts led N. C. Meeker, when he visited the colony for the last 
 tmie in August, 1879, to write his famous article for The Tribune, "Is 
 Niagara Before Us ?" As these may be considered his last words to 
 us, and, as they illustrate the situation near the close of the first de- 
 cade of the history of the colony, they are appropriately inserted here: 
 " Dunng the last week I had occasion to visit a wide portion of the 
 farming region over the river, and, as two years had passed since I 
 visited that section, and as previously my acquaintance with it and the 
 settlers was certainly quite thorough, I think it important to state 
 what have been the results, and to endeavor, if possiljle, to forecast 
 what IS to be the destiny of the proprietors and creators in the near 
 future. In this connection I may add that a leading farmer gave me 
 remarkably full particulars, and I have not the least reason to suppose 
 that he exaggerates; the results are of the most astounding nature, 
 and they are such as to cause profound reflection and discussion' 
 among political economists and statesmen, and also among all who 
 :n any way are interested in social science. 
 
 " Of course, all concerned in making a settlement of this vaUey, had 
 great expectations, both as regards benefits to arise, and as regards 
 success m making beautiful homes over the river, and elegant homes 
 in this town, both being the exclusive property of one people; and 
 probably no one anticipated a brighter future than the writer of these 
 lines. 
 
 " And now it is to be said as to these expectations, that it seldom 
 falls to the lot of mortal, short-seeing man in this uncertain world to 
 have his hopes and views so completely reahzed— or, to tell the truth, 
 earned out so far beyond what he had reason to expect, as is exhibited 
 m the wide area of Greeley farms, and is actually beheld during the 
 last week. I am sure I am a good judge of such things, for, in the
 
 166 A HISTORY OF GREELEY .\ND 
 
 way of duty and busiuess, I have visited and critically examined the- 
 finest farm regions of our country, as in Central and Western New 
 York, in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois, and not excepting 
 the fairest portions of the Southern States, and among all these I have 
 nowhere beheld a more unexceptionable presentation — nowhere have 
 seen wheat of greater average yield, corn of cleaner culture, jjotatoes 
 of finer promise, clover of better stand; in short, I may say, that I 
 have never seen the equal in clean and nice preparation, and in cul- 
 ture, wherever I went, and there was presented au unbroken and ajD- 
 jDarently boundless scene of the highest order — the result of intelligent 
 rural industry. Further, it is to be especially noted, that all the work 
 is performed by the aid of the latest and best labor-saving implements 
 and devices; sulky plows turn the soil, seed drills do the work of many 
 hands; combined reapers and binders cut the grain, and, in places, 
 steam farm engines do the threshing, so that with all these appliances 
 the work of perhaps a thousand human hands is cheaply performed, 
 adding still more to the economies entering into the organization 
 of the community itself. Let me not forget to add a few 
 more things. That broad landscape is broken and enlivened 
 by groves and lines of beautiful trees, many fruit tr^es now 
 in bearing, imparting to the view such as one imagines is pre- 
 sented in the best parts of England, such as we have all seen in the 
 old states, as the result of a hundred years' culture and growth. Ev- 
 erywhere ):)eautiful streams of water skirt the fields and cross the 
 roads. There are nice farm houses and cheerful homes. The school- 
 houses are not absent, while from many a gentle swell of green or of 
 gold one sees in the distant valle}^ the town with its spires, as jewels 
 set to adorn a gorgeous robe. 
 
 " Furthermore, the cultivators, the men who have worked these 
 marvelous changes during a few years, are above the average in knowl- 
 edge, not a few are scholars and cultured; habits almost Puritanical 
 prevail, and the use of every kind of spirituous liquor is unknown, 
 while so familiar and skilled have they become with the routine of 
 their duties that everything is done at the proper time, and well done, 
 nothing goes to ruin for want of attention and care; in short, if I 
 wanted to find fault and to criticise, I should be unable to begin. 
 
 " I am sure I have drawn a pleasing picture; I am sure it cannot be 
 so properly applied to any other region of America — no, not even in 
 the whole world; and if reverses and disappointments had not 
 crowded upon each other, and if human judgment and human esti- 
 mates had not so often been seen to be unfounded and mistaken, there 
 might be occasion for pride; and so it is that, although Mr. Lincoln's
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 167 
 
 judgment as to what forms good poetry has been called in question, 
 still I am bound to respect his admiration for the poem that inquires, 
 ' Why should the spirit of mortal be proud? ' 
 
 " For now we come to the reverse of the shield, and to see the other 
 side of the picture, which is, unless my informant mistakes, notwith- 
 standing all the economy, the skill, the intelligence, culture and tem- 
 perance of the Greeley farmers, they are, so far from making money, 
 actually running behind. His plain statement is, that most of the 
 farms are mortgaged; that not enough is raised from year to year to 
 support the famihes and clear the mortgages, and that the outlook is 
 decidedly gloomy. The prospect seems to be that there must be a 
 general change of owners, when, with a few hundred dollars, these 
 now here will move off, and be succeeded by others, possibly more 
 fortunate and successful ones. One farmer illustrates his condition by 
 showing what his farm produced last year, when the yield was as good 
 as ever can be expected and all the conditions were favorable, viz.: He 
 had 1,200 bushels of wheat and 1,200 bushels of potatoes, for which 
 he received |1,200, or an average of 50 cents per bushel. As a conse- 
 quence, he ran behind, and failed to meet expenses by several hun- 
 dred dollars. Of course, wheat and potatoes brought less than com- 
 mon, but so far from this being a satisfactory or reasonable explana- 
 tion, rt is the reverse; for it is declared that a man being engaged in 
 wheat growing and having a family to support, cannot live in a com- 
 fortable manner and grow wheat for less than a dollar a bushel. Con- 
 sequently, there was a loss on every bushel of twenty-five cents, and 
 this, not counting in the value of the farmer's own labor at all. 
 
 "Now, as to the cost of keeping a family; it is said, and truly, that 
 what twenty years ago were luxuries have now become necessities, and 
 to expect an intelligent farmer's family to live on skim milk and mush, 
 fat pork and potatoes, and wear shabby clothes is, if not out of the 
 question, a thing that ought not to be expected either on a basis of 
 justice or efficiency, because labor-saving machinery ought to secure 
 to the farmer's family a good living, ought to allow him a good house 
 and comfortable, decent clothing, as well as a little money to spend on 
 concerts and lectures. 
 
 "I am going to take hold of the horns of this question, and see 
 where the evils lie, that, if possible, a remedy may be applied. In the 
 first place, agricultural machinery does not work for the farmer at all; 
 it only increases production, and the same proportion passes into other 
 hands, by the jugglery of commerce, as when grain was cut with a 
 sickle, and the farmer must see that he totally fails to get as his own 
 any part of this increase. Besides, it is a question worthy of careful
 
 168 A HISTORY OF GSEELET AND 
 
 consideratiou, whether there is much of any profit m the use of the 
 great line of agricultural machinery — that is, to the farmer himself, 
 not to take the wealth of the world, because we know that the world's 
 wealth is amazingly increased thereby-; and it is said that the manu- 
 facturers and laborers engaged in making this machinery have their 
 lot cast in with the farmers, and that it is the money lenders, specu- 
 lators, and railroad managers that gather in, at last, the profits of the 
 harvests. I am not going to run any tilt against other classes, nor 
 against merchants, nor lawyers ; nor millers, nor manufacturers, nor I 
 might say usurers, because we have been shown how crowds of them 
 have gone to the dogs during the past few years, and that they are 
 now really to be pitied; nor need anything be said against the accu- 
 mulation of capital, because capital, or the representation of past 
 labor, is the life-blood of the world; but let a protest be raised against 
 the horrible injustice of farmers being obliged to sell crops for less 
 money than they cost. 
 
 " One may say that all this is nothing new, and I say that the farm- 
 ers, or grain gi'owing class all over the country, are on the verge of 
 bankruptcy. This is proved in England by a general and forced re- 
 duction of rents, and by the cloud of debt that hangs over the best 
 block of farms in the world. Central Illinois. It is probably true that 
 the farms between the Wal^ash and Pacific wiU not sell for what they 
 are mortgaged. I know it is natural to say that farmers' Avives want 
 silk dresses, that their girls wear ten-button kid gloves, that they set 
 extravagant tables and run into debt without considering whether they 
 can paj^ much of which is true; but it is equally true that not only 
 farmers, but manufacturers, and all kinds of workers are fearfully 
 taxed through commercial jugglery, to maintain thousands and mill- 
 ions of idle, dissolute creatures, in multitudes of cities, with their car- 
 riages, their theaters, their art exhibitions and their academies of 
 music; and there is the whiskej- lousiness, that pours its thousand 
 miUiou dollars into the ocean of crime and death. aU of which is 
 a ghasth' banquet grown and supported by the honest industry of the 
 land. I know that these things belong to the great social questions, 
 treated thousands of times, and they are not proper in this connection 
 unless to show how industry may be disconnected from them, if such 
 a thing be possible. 
 
 " It is becoming clear to several Greeley farmers that they cannot 
 depend on wheat growing unless they have a miU of their own; but 
 co-operation is in bad odor because the inefficient, hitherto, have 
 crowded in as managers. Mr. McClellau is going to raise good horses, 
 and has already made a good commencement. J. Max. Clark says hg
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 169 
 
 must change his business, and he, too, talks of horses. Let it be 
 borne in mind that competition is always ruinous to crops that can be 
 grown in a single season ; for the men with small capital, limited skill 
 and experience rush in and overdo the business. I have been pretty 
 free with my advice for the last nine years, and I have said some 
 things I wish had never been said, and I wish I could take them back, 
 but one thing I do not want to take back; in fact, I will say it again. 
 This is, let a farmer have no more land tlian he and his family can 
 work. Hired help is a horse leech, both in the house and field; for 
 with it the owner may work ever so hard, and he will be the worst paid 
 of all his hands. There is a crowd of farmers over the river who can 
 make from five to eight dollars per day by their own unassisted labor, 
 if they were out of debt, and this because they are skillful, because 
 they will remedy what another will not see requires a remedy, and be- 
 cause every hour's work they do drops into their o\^ti pocket. Then 
 there is plenty of room for economy. A leading lawyer in Denver 
 told me last week how he scalped a farmer who was loading into his 
 wagon canned goods by the case. The lawyer told him that on his 
 own lot of less than an acre he raised all kinds of vegetables and fruits, 
 which his family canned, and they had an abundance of the choicest 
 quality. Mr. Greeley used to tell of reporters who, when they got .$10 
 a week, had no monev at the end of the week; when they got $20 
 they had no more, and when they got $40 a week their pockets were 
 still empty when Saturday night came. I was told of some farmers 
 over the river who never hire, and I was not surprised to hear that 
 they had money at interest." 
 
 While there is a strain of exaggeration occasionally runs through 
 the above, both as regards the fail outward appearance of rural pros- 
 perity, and the general hollowness of it all at the bottom, yet it forci- 
 bly puts before us tlie situation of the farmers over the river at this 
 time. The number of farms that were heavily mortgaged was un- 
 doubtedly overstated to Mr. Meeker by his informant, as Avas shown 
 by a careful inquiry made shortly afterwards for the purpose of refut- 
 ing this part of the above paper. When he has got his question by 
 the horns, as he says, it must be owned that he flounders around witli 
 it a good deal in the dark; but he is quite right in stating that the 
 invention of labor-saving machinery is no direct advantage to the 
 farmer, as it cheapens production and so reduces the price of his pro- 
 ducts; and if the prices of all things along the whole line are not 
 reduced, he may be only the worse off for the time being. At this 
 particular time there was a rapid reduction in the price of wheat, 
 chiefly owing to the general introduction of the self-binder into the
 
 170 A HISTORY OF GKEELEY AND 
 
 great wheat districts of the northwest. Of course this reduction of 
 prices of our principal staple bore most hea\"ily upon those who had 
 gone in debt for larger farms than they could cultivate with the help 
 within their own families; and Mr. Meeker was a close enough ob- 
 server to see Avhere men had not stretched out beyond their reach 
 they were doing well; in fact that instead of being in debt they had 
 money in the bank. The high price of farm labor in Colorado, as 
 compared with any other state in the Union, is one of the chief 
 drawbacks upon profitable farming hei"e. The principal reason, it 
 appears to me, for this is that the two other chief industries of the 
 state, mining and herding, on account of the hardships and exposures 
 encountered in them, have to pay high wages, and this gives the tone 
 to the wage market. Then again, much of the farm lal^or obtainable 
 here is not only dear but unreliable. Herders and miners, when they 
 seek occupation on the farm are usually about as good as no hands. 
 Then there is the moving population, seeking work for a few days 
 and willing to make any engagement when its stomach is emptv or 
 back bare, but when fed and clothed, ready to move on again regard- 
 less of any bargain it may have made. All this is, however, improv- 
 ing. The steady demand for help is bringing and keeping laborers 
 that are more reliable. There is another reason, besides the one 
 given, for help on the farm costing more by the moQth here. There 
 is httle or no occupation for either the farmer or his hired help dur- 
 ing the winter, and if a hand can only get nine months work in the 
 year he must have higher wages. The keeping of more stock and 
 the hauling of manure is now changing this aspect of affairs also, and 
 many farmers are beginning to keep hands the year round. Good 
 men can rarely be secured in any other way; and a country where for 
 three or four mouths there is enforced idleness, is sure to get into bad 
 ways. It is demoralizing all around. , Few know how to make a 
 rational use of leisure, the greatest of blessings to him who can wisely 
 apply it. 
 
 Various causes brought it about that no such disastrous results 
 overtook the great majority of Union Colony fanners as the above 
 article foreboded. Prices of our agricultural products had touched the 
 nadir. The gradual reduction of prices along the whole line made 
 the yearly expenditures less, and it was found that in a good year 
 wheat could be raised at a profit at seventy- five ceuts per bushel. 
 The number of small farmers who were doing principally their own 
 work was greater than we might be led to expect from Mr. Meeker s 
 article; and these have usually done well and saved money, where 
 they were not raising large famihes of girls that had to be sent to
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLOKADO. 171 
 
 school nine months in the year, or dude boys who, if they left the 
 farm in their teens, greatly relieved the supposed head of it. Some 
 who were doing well with their eighty-acre farm imprudentl}^ Ijought 
 their neighbor's at high figures as these were now constantly advanc- 
 ing, but with varying results, sometimes coming out all right from 
 under the load, at other times sinking under it btit usually still under 
 it able to pay interest; and not pushed by creditors, since the value of 
 the security is steadily increasing. But in. general, men who have un- 
 dertaken to farm very extensively have not made money at it. Few 
 have the ability to manage a large farm well anywhere, and fewer in a 
 country dependent upon irrigation. If he is not a working farmer he 
 needs a first-class foreman who woi'ks, and is hard to get; and if ob- 
 tained, wants high wages on the start and higher every year. If he 
 is a working farmer and manager in one, he will find that the large 
 amoimt of business on his hands will force him to be away much of 
 the time, and that things go on badly in his absence. Moreover the 
 successful farmer needs to be something of both mechahic and ma- 
 chinist nowadays, and he also needs hands that understand the run- 
 ning and care of machinery; and these combinations of skill and 
 ability do not always meet in any high degree. For the preceding 
 six years the writer has farmed about 5(X) acres yearly, and on the 
 average he has liad less at the end of the year for his labor than one 
 of his hired hands, if interest on total investment is added to other 
 expenses and deducted from sales; while in addition to management 
 he did more work, one year with another, than any man he employed. 
 It is believed that few will say that his business has not been con- 
 ducted with as much intelligence and skill as have been exhibited 
 anywhere in the neighborhood, and he is not aware of any case in 
 which farming on a large scale with hired help has proved remuner- 
 ative. He has had under his observation the case of a farm of 640 
 acres contiguous to his own, belonging to Governor B. H. Eaton, and 
 worked in one body by a renter for some nine years. This renter 
 went into the lousiness with but little capital, went into debt for teams 
 and implements, which were covered, together with the crops of each 
 season, with mortgages. He was trusted because of his known ability 
 to manage men, and his more than usual good sense combined with 
 pluck and push. Each year he sowed in hope, and if he did not 
 harvest in disappointment when the final settlement for the year came, 
 he invariably found himself no ])etter off in the best years than he was 
 at the beginning, and in the bad years much worse off. Once during 
 the nine years a hail storm almost totally destroyed his crops, 
 which was about his average share of that kind of disaster. After
 
 172 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 farming seven years he was unable to meet obligations, and his prop- 
 erty went into the hands of his creditors. The business was carried 
 on in his wife's name for another year with no better results. Last 
 year onl}^ half of the farm was undertaken by him, and now he says 
 that he is going permanently out of the business. That in general 
 he knows how to run a business and make it pay, is to be inferred 
 from the fact that for a number of years he has threshed each fall 
 and made money in the face of the close competition now going on 
 in that business. It might here be added that Grovernor Eaton, who 
 is an extensive renter of land, has come to the conclusion that it will 
 not do to rent more than one hundred and sixty acres to one party, 
 except in rare cases. 
 
 Of course some men who bought or entered large bodies of land 
 have done well, but it is from the rise in the values of land rather 
 than from wealth made from farming the same. But it will be asked 
 why do prices go up if farming is not profitable ? The answer is, 
 that it is fairly remunerative on a small scale, and a man who with his 
 famih' likes rural life will perhaps do as well here on a farm of 160 
 acres as he will anywhere in the United States. I know of a number 
 of young men who commenced with little or nothing and are now 
 well off, having farms of 160 acres all paid for, and are now laying 
 up mone}-. I might here instance Charles Mason, who came here 
 about twelve years ago, conmienced farming on shai'es, soon purchased 
 a fine eighty-acre tract for -12,000, has had it paid for long ago, has 
 put up barn and other out-houses worth $3,000, and has lately pur- 
 chased a neighboring eighty-acre lot for $6,500, the improvements, 
 aside from water-rights and ditches, not being worth more than $500. 
 This shows how the price of land has adv^anced in tlie last ten years. 
 Mr. Mason has raised almost exclusively wheat and potatoes. He 
 hauls every winter large quantities of manure for his land to keep up 
 its failing fertilit}'. though his soil is one of the best and he plows beam 
 deep. All farms in his vicinity, which is three miles directly north of 
 town, may be considered worth seventy -five dollars per acre, not tak- 
 ing into account improvements other than water or ditches. Few 
 good farms under Union Colony Number Two canal can be purchased 
 for less than fifty dollars per acre whatever their distance from town, 
 and this latter consideration is an important one when a large area is 
 cultivated in potatoes, on account of moving the crop to the railroad 
 station. 
 
 Great changes and mostlj- progressive ones have taken place in 
 and around Greeley since the bright, benevolent, mild blue ej^es of 
 its philanthropic founder last so dehghtedly beiield it. When he
 
 THE tINION COLONY OF COLORADO. 173 
 
 wrote the above from Pisgah heights he had a vision rather of " the 
 wonders that would be " than the actual reality so far realized. If he 
 could then see " from many a gentle swell of green or gold in the 
 distant valley the town with its spires as jewels set to adorn a gorgeous 
 robe,"' how fair would this city of his heart, the child of his imagina- 
 tion, now appear, with the added beauty and glory of the last ten 
 years ? Greeley is never likely to approach the gigantic pi'oportions 
 which the imagination of the founder predicted for her. Writing in 
 the New Year's number of The Tribune, 1873, he says : " From these 
 facts we are confident that Greeley is destined to be a city only second 
 to Denver, and we have not the least doubt that many of the children 
 now living will see this a city of 100,000 inhabitants." 
 
 The writer entertains no such sanguine expectations. But Greeley 
 a much smaller city than that may become more distinguished for far 
 other characteristics than largeness. She has, in fact, already become 
 so distinguished, and it is now largely a question of continuing in 
 the course so promisingly entered upon, and any rapid increase of 
 population is likely to seriously endanger progress in the direction of 
 what we consider her crowning glory. Let her remain small, a gem 
 on the bosom of the prairie, a cluster of beautiful homes, a refuge 
 for the weary, a safe asylum for him who flees from the temptations 
 and seductions of great cities! And if we may hope that his spirit, 
 here so worn and weary, but now released and joyous, can behold the 
 struggle, strife, and tears, the partial victory of right, here below, we 
 doubt not that no growth in mere numbers in the city which he 
 planted and watered would so delight him as the growth of the prin- 
 ciples he strove to have established here. Let us then strive to main- 
 tain and spread these principles rather than make feverish efforts 
 towards bringing about an immature growth; let this be as it has 
 been, a natural one. Booms often turn out boomerangs. These 
 forced growths benefit no one save real estate brokers who can find a 
 wide enough field, surely elsewhere. 
 
 Mr. Meeker early saw this, and says in The Tribune, August 
 30, 1871 : 
 
 "As to writing up Greeley in rosy colors, and beyond what the facts 
 justify, for the purpose of keeping up the excitement, we shall do no 
 such thing. We understand perfectly well that these men have real 
 estate to sell and that it is not they who have done anything to make 
 it worth a fraction of what they ask for it. This is an industrial 
 community, and dead beats and idlers are not going to get the start 
 of men of intelhgence and thought, and these ask no odds of men 
 who idle away the summer."
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 evaxs — county seat struggle — the two decades ix the town of 
 Greeley's career — evans at the time the colont: settled here — 
 
 JAMES PINKERTON, FOUNDER OF EVANS, REDIVIVIUS — VOTE ON MOVING 
 THE COUNTY SEAT IN 1872 — VOTE AGAIN IN 1874 — RESULT CONTESTED 
 BY EVANS IN COURT — IN 1875 GOES BACK TO EVANS — THE L UPTON 
 VOTE LEFT OUT — C03IES BACK TO GREELEY IN 1877, BUT IS CON- 
 TESTED IN COURT AGAIN BY EVANS, BUT INEFFECTUALLY — EVANS BE- 
 COMES BANKRUPT AS A COLONY IN 1874 — WHY GREELEY OUTSTRIPPED 
 
 EVANS IN THE RACE JUDGE KELLEY ON THE TWO TOWNS, IN "PHILA- 
 
 ADELPHIA PRESS,'' 1871 — OTHER CAUSES THAN TEMPERANCE ALSO CON- 
 TRIBUTE TO OITR SUCCESS AND THEIR FAILURE — WHAT DIFFERENCE TEM- 
 PERANCE REALLY MADE — GREELEY PURITANISM. 
 
 THE life of this town is naturally divided into two decades; the 
 first virtually terminated at the death of N. C, Meeker. The 
 first was the period of strife, struggle, exijerimeut ; of more 
 or less of doubt and uncertainty; the last of fruition, attainment, defi- 
 nite realization and confident hope. Both have been periods of prog- 
 ress, but this was impeded by the various causes already related, and 
 some others yet to be told. 
 
 One of these struggles was for the county seat, and this leads us to 
 speak of our httle sister Evans. As already mentioned, Evans was a 
 railroad terminus town when the colony settled here, and was dwind- 
 ling into insignificance in the shadow of her neighbor, which had 
 grown like Jonah's gourd during the summer of 1870. But it hap- 
 pened that James Pinkerton, an old settler, had joined the colony, and 
 had been elected one of the trustees in place of Daniel Witter, of Den- 
 ver, resigned. He was friendly to the temperance cause, but differed 
 with the other leaders in some matters, and especially with Mr. 
 Meeker, and about the running at large of cattle upon the colony 
 lands. Mr. Pinkerton was a positive man, as was also Mr. Meeker, 
 who was, in this case, backed by at least all the farming part of the 
 coinmunity. The result was that this gentleman withdrew from Union 
 Colony, and started one of his own — headquarters at Evans — on 
 purpose to cripple and, if possible, to ruin Greeley. He organized 
 what was called the St. Louis Colony, getting most of his recruits from
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 175 
 
 Southern Illinois, but depending chiefly upon members joining from 
 the old settlers who were as a body, as we have seen, hostile to the 
 colony. In many things he imitated the organization of Union 
 Colony; but, although a temperance man, and many, especially the 
 Covenanters, who joined the colony from Illinois, were also staunch 
 temperance men, yet they did not see fit to put a forfeiture clause in 
 the deeds. Likely, it was not possible, as the colony could get pos- 
 session of onl}' a part of the town site. The result has been a steady, 
 but usually unsuccessful fight with the rum jjower, and this has been 
 one of the causes that has injuriously affected temperance as a prac- 
 tice in Greeley. 
 
 The county seat was at Evans ^vhen the colony settled here, but it 
 was only a question of no long time when this would drop into our 
 lap, if it had not l)een for Mr. Pinkerton's movement. Not only was 
 Evans to assume an importance equal to Greeley, but by getting as 
 many as possible from different parts of the county to take stock, 
 both their votes and influence were expected to keep the county seat 
 at Evans. 
 
 The first attempt to get it to Greeley was made at the September 
 election in 1872. There had been a vote for railroad bonds the sum- 
 mer before, which revealed the fact that out of au entire vote of the 
 county of not much over 800, Greeley had 300. It was only necessary 
 to have a few over 100 outside of Greele}^ vote for us, and we would 
 have the coxinty seat. In order to secure this result it was agreed that 
 Greeley men would ask none of the county offices. But when the del- 
 egates met, three offices were offered to Greeley men, but our dele- 
 gates, save one, voted against the nominees from Greeley, who were, 
 nevertheless, nominated by the Republican convention. The whole 
 affair got badly mixed, as the Republican convention had condemned 
 Horace Greeley as a Presidential candidate, while The Greeley Tribune 
 put him at the head of its ticket, and in addition put the Territorial 
 and county Liberal-Democratic combined ticket below. The result so 
 far as county seat was concerned was that we lost the county seat by 
 132. The only precinct outside of the colony fence that gaA^e us a 
 majority was Green Cit3% whose vote was 22 to 19. Erie gave a solid 
 vote of 103 against us. The total vote of the count}^ was about l,00l>, 
 instead of 800, at the election for bonds. The vote in the town pre- 
 cinct of Greeley was 340, while the Poudre precinct within the colony 
 was 38. Evans' vote was 217. 
 
 The next attempt to get the county seat was made at the fall elec- 
 tion of 1874, and this time successfully. The majorit}', however, was 
 small, being only 14. The total vote of Greeley was 439, Evans 194,
 
 176 A HISTORY .OF GREELEY AND 
 
 a falling away iu Evans and gain of nearly 100 in Greeley in two 
 years. The change that took place in the vote of Erie gave us the 
 victory. Before it was all against us. Now it stood — 81 Greeley, 14 
 Evans. This was brought about in no honorable way. The rioters of 
 Erie had been tried and convicted, or about to be convicted at Evans, 
 and a change of cpnue to Greeley cleared them; and this gave us the 
 miners' yote. But this was .the only precinct outside the colony which 
 gave us a majority. Still the majorities against us in many precincts 
 were reduced. Green C'liy reversed its majority of three, being 27 to 
 30. Each town had done its best. Evans having built what it called a 
 county court house, but it belonged to a corporation and was under 
 mortgage. Greeley bound itself to furnish free court room and offices 
 to the county for five years. But Evans disputed the removal of the 
 county seat on the ground that Greeley had not a majority of all the 
 votes cast at the election, some who voted for other purposes not vot- 
 ing on the county seat question. The County Attorney, S. B, A. 
 Haynes, gave the opinion that the construction should be the highest 
 vote cast at the election for any one purpose, and that was for county 
 seat. The case was argued before the county commissioners, Greeley 
 employing Henry M. Teller, and the commissioners moved the books, 
 papers, etc., of the county to Greeley. The people of Evans resisted 
 the removal of the vault doors, which belonged to the county and 
 were to be used in the new vault built iu Greeley, and a WTit of re- 
 plevin had to be taken out to get them. At this juncture the Hon. J. 
 L. Brush, who was one of the commissioners, made himself particu- 
 larly obnoxious to the people of Evans on account of the promptness 
 and dispatch with which he made affairs move in removing the prop- 
 erty of the county. 
 
 Evans then brings a writ of mandamus into the District Court, fall 
 term, to order the commissioners to take the county property back to. 
 Evans. The case is argued by the firm of Blake, Miller & Markham 
 for Evans, and by Judge Haynes and Mr. Teller for Greeley. Judge 
 Wells is on the bench, and the case is deemed so important that he 
 takes three days to consider before he delivers his decision, which was 
 however only upon the form of the WTit, which was held to be defect- 
 ive, and that the plaintiffs should have until the April term of the 
 court to amend. The cause came up again before Judge Brazee in 
 Denver, but was again not argued upon its merits, but upon technical 
 defects, it being now held by our counsel that it was amended too 
 much — that is, that it now covered other ground than that of the orig- 
 inal writ, and this was sustained. It was appealed to the Supreme 
 Court by Evans. But it was soon to appear on a broader arena. The
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 177 
 
 question was again to be submitted to the people. Meantime Greeley 
 had built a jail at a cost of $2,000 and donated it to the county; also 
 the lots on which the court house now stands, while the town board 
 had entered into a contract with the county commissioners to furnish 
 free court room and offices for five years. 
 
 At this juncture there appeared in The Greeley Tribune from the 
 pen of the editor, an article which put the affair in its true light, and 
 the part of it which predicted the outcome of the struggle has been 
 hterally fvdfilled. After taking instances of rival cities in the United 
 States which had competed for years for the mastery, and showing 
 that when one of the two contestants really got the lead it never lost 
 it, and that the other dvvdndled into comparative insignificance, he 
 shows this to be the case with Greeley and Evans. 
 
 " Now, in speaking for Greeley, we do not wish to boast in the least; 
 we simply present facts for the consideration of the people of Weld 
 coimty. The settlement of Greeley was made on a bare plain, with 
 not a single inhabitant, when Evans had a large number of houses 
 and several hundi-eds of people. It is true that shortly after it de- 
 chned, mainly because the railroad was extended; but when the St, 
 Louis colony came it revived, and presently it became a nice town, but 
 it never equaled what Greeley became during the first year, while the 
 difference between the two places has been steadily maintained, and 
 although Evans has been the county seat until the last year, it was 
 wholly unable to compete with its rival either in business, population 
 or enterprise. This is the simple fact of the case, well known to the 
 people of the coimty, and we have yet heard no argument that can 
 lead any one to suppose that Evans is ever to become the equal of 
 Greeley, while, on the contrary, the illustrations cited above must lead 
 to the conclusion that the superiority which Greeley possesses must 
 increase until, in quite a short time, the struggle will be forever relin- 
 quished. It would seem, therefore, that for the voters of AA^eld county 
 to return the county seat to Evans, after having once located it in 
 Greeley, is to unsettle values and to prolong a contest that in the end 
 can have but one result." 
 
 But to hold the county seat at all hazards was the policy of Evans. 
 It had fallen behind even with the county seat, and it was seen that 
 without it the town must soon shrivel into utter insignificance. The 
 founder of the town, J. H, Pinkerton, having failed at every point, 
 had left and gone into the San Juan country to seek a new fortune in 
 that region of recently developed mineral wealth, and from henceforth 
 disappears from the political arena of Weld county. McCutcheon 
 
 12
 
 178 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 now becomes the leader, soon to go under with the place which he 
 champions. 
 
 But for the present there was a temporary victory for Evans. This 
 was chiefly caused by the reversal of the majority at Erie. It now 
 gave Evans 86, Greeley 34. This was, of course, where Erie naturally 
 belonged. The vote of the year before was obtained by a piece of bad 
 trickery on our part, and now we suffered the natural consequences. 
 It is further to be noted that the vote of both Greeley and Evans is 
 less than that of a year before. This was the worst year of the grass- 
 hopper plague we had experienced, and it told especially on the most 
 agricultural communities. 
 
 But at the first it appeared that Greeley was still to have the county 
 seat. The returns from Lupton had been sent in the ballot-box to the 
 board of county canvassers, instead of separately, as they ought to 
 have been. The box was locked, and there was no information sent 
 that the returns were there. So the canvassers proceeded lo count the 
 vote, leaving Lupton out, which gave Greeley about forty majority. 
 The news reached Evans, and word was sent to Lupton by the even- 
 ing train, and one of the judges of election came twenty-six miles to 
 Greeley on a hand-car, but the county clerk could not be found, and 
 the board of canvassers had adjourned sine die. Of course the hon- 
 est and square thing to have done would have been for the county 
 clerk to have notified Lupton that its returns were not in, and to have 
 given time to hear from the judges of election of the precinct. But 
 our men seem to have gone on the pi'inciple that all things are fair in 
 war and politics. 
 
 A demand was made that the vote be again canvassed, and the 
 county commissioners met and heard legal arguments for both sides, 
 when it was agreed to re-canvass, and, on the admission of Lupton's 
 returns, Ev'ans had about a majority of forty. During this canvass 
 the town was full of men from every precinct in the county, and said 
 to have plenty of arms in wagons all over town, so as to force, if need 
 be, the commissioners to count the vote of Lupton. But good order 
 prevailed and justice also. 
 
 It is here to be said that many, perhaps most, of the people of Gree- 
 ley were opposed to this trick, and that the editor of The Tribune was 
 among the number. It is quite likely that it never would have been 
 resorted to if Evans, the year before, had not taken advantage of what 
 the f)eople here considered a technicality in their favor to ,upset the 
 will of the majority of the people of the county in this matter. 
 
 The affair was now allowed to rest for two years, when the battle 
 was again renewed. Some sixty of the leading men of Greeley
 
 THE UXIOX COLOXT OF COLORADO. 179 
 
 pledged themselves to furnish the couuty with all the necessary build- 
 ings for five years free of expense, while the last year had cost it at 
 Evans several hundred dollars. The result of the vote now in 1877 
 was 61 majority for G-reeley. Erie again reverses its majority, being 
 71 for Greeley, 38 for Evans. We also get a majority of the vote of 
 the new town of Sterling. Our vote is 111, Evans 202. But the re- 
 sult is again contested by Evans on the grounds that the constitution 
 prohibits an election being held on this subject oftener than once in 
 four years, and secondly, that the same instrument forbids the passage 
 by the legislature of special laws, and that the general law on the sub- 
 ject requires a two-thirds vote to change a county seat, while "Weld and 
 a few other counties were excepted from this rule, a simple majority in 
 them being all that was required. 
 
 When the commissioners met, the people of Evans argued that the 
 former had no right to move the county seat; they, therefore, obtained 
 a temporary injunction restraining them from doing so. This was 
 argued before Judge Elliott, Hugh Butler for Evans and Major Smith 
 for Greeley, and the issue turned on the technicality of whether there 
 was any law on the subject of moving a county seat in force in Colo- 
 rado. The result was that the temporary injunction was dissolved 
 and the county seat removed to Greeley, this time to stay. Evans now 
 gave up the fight. 
 
 But the question was revived in the Supreme Court by a similar 
 case brought up by Grand county in 1882, when the Court gave a de- 
 cision which would have been adverse to Greeley, and woidd also 
 have aifected Chaffee county. Hence a rehearing was asked, and 
 granted by the Court, when counsel was present for all three counties, 
 and Greeley was represented by H. N. Haynes and Thomas Macon, 
 and after due time the original decision was reversed, which was that 
 there was no statute in force, by which an election could be held chang- 
 ing a county seat, from the adoption of the constitution to the law 
 passed on the subject in 1881. 
 
 From the permanent removal of the county seat Evans ceased to be 
 a rival, and better feelings gradually began to prevail. The St. Louis 
 Colony, as a corporate body, had ceased to exist, being sold out in the 
 month of April, 1874, and the main ditch, which was to water the 
 colony lands south of town, fell into the hands of McCutcheon & 
 Martin, and never paid more than running expenses. As an agricul- 
 tural colonial experiment Ev^ans was a failure. Why we have succeeded 
 and they failed is worthy of our consideration . 
 
 Wm. D. Kelley, then member of congress, afterward U. S. Senator, 
 wrote to The Philadelphia Press, November 13, 1871, a letter on "Co-
 
 180 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 operative Colonies." In this he contrasts Greeley and Evans, a& 
 follows : 
 
 " Between the St. Louis Western and all the other colonies there 
 are differences worthy of note. It does not, and tlie others do, make 
 temperance a prerequisite to membership, or convey its lots subject to 
 a covenant that intoxicating beverages shall never be manufactured 
 or sold thereon. The founders of the other colonies hope to protect 
 themselves against the idleness, improvidence, poverty and crime en- 
 gendered by the drinking usages of society, and to accomplish this 
 end impose legal restraints upon themselves and those who inaj abide 
 with them; but the members of the St. Louis Western believe in the 
 largest liberty and invite settlement and commerce by permitting every 
 branch of manufacture and trade to be pursued within its territorial 
 limits. Evans has its saloons and beer-shops. Greeley has none. The 
 Puritanism of the Greeleyites is a jest and a by-word in the neighbor- 
 ing town. If the taxes and habits of the people, police requirements, 
 etc., of Evans, shall diifer essentially from those of Greeley, the con- 
 trast will be mainly ascribable to these few organic laws of the 
 colonies, inasmuch as their locations and general capacity for agri- 
 culture, manufactories and commerce are in my judgment absolutely 
 equal. 
 
 "Greeley has somewhat the start in numbers, but not largely. 
 Which has the better location I cannot guess. The towns are both on 
 the Denver Pacific road, and but four miles apart. It requires but a 
 brief stay in each town to satisfy one that the people of each expect 
 to enjoy the trade of a larger portion of the Platte valley than the 
 other, and to compete successfully for the business of the valleys of 
 the St. Vrain, the Big Thompson, the Little Thompson and the Cache 
 la Poudre. The characteristics of the soil and climate throughout 
 the territory of the two colonies are identical, as the lands must be 
 contiguous at some point or points. It is not often that neighboring 
 towns start out vAth. such entire coincidence of time and natural ad- 
 vantages, that the fact that the inhabitants of the one may 
 and those of the others may not manufacture or sell intoxicating bev- 
 erages constitutes the only essential distinction between them. A few 
 years will disclose the results of each system; but I venture the pre- 
 diction that " King Alcohol " will prove as unrvily a tyrant and exor- 
 bitant a tax-gatherer as he does elsewhere. If so, the contrast pre- 
 sented by the colonies will be easily traced to their causes." 
 
 W^e might here say, "Behold the fulfillment of Senator Kelley's pre- 
 dictions ! " But common honesty compels us to admit that other con- 
 siderations besides the temperance principles of the one community
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 
 
 181 
 
 and their absence in the other. The resemblances were quite obvious 
 to a cursory observer, but the differences of the situations were in- 
 deed very marked, when one comes to study carefully all the particu- 
 lars. The old settlers who took memberships at $150 apiece did not 
 settle in Evans to any great extent, having better claims on the streams 
 upon whose banks they were living, and so, pretty much all they 
 helped was in the way of money. But the greatest difference lay in 
 the character of the land bought or controlled by the members of the 
 two colonies. The body of land lying south of Evans, and watered 
 by their Numl^er Two canal, did not compare with that under Union 
 Colony Canal Number Two. The greater part of it, especially that 
 near the town, was quite sandy, and at tlie same time it does not seem to 
 be adapted to potato culture. It farther appears that no such large 
 number of their colonists went out on their farms or vmdertook farm- 
 ing in earnest as among us. A few, like Rev. Mr. Todd, undertook 
 farming on a large scale, while living in town, and made a failure. 
 Then, when the colony got into a pinch, the farmers did not come to 
 the rescue and enlarge the ditch and get the control of it, but allowed 
 it to be sold out, and thus they became renters of water, and never could 
 take the lively interest in affairs that the owners did. The few that 
 undertook farming around E^-ans were singularl}^ deficient in the wide- 
 awakeness, push, energy, courage, ability to meet new emergencies, 
 fertilit}' of invention, and richness in expedients, which characterized 
 Greeley farmers'. Who among them wrote on topics connected with 
 their profession; who among their scholars and thinkers, if they had 
 any, took hold of the plow, or the irrigating shovel, disregarding toil, 
 niudd}' feet, coarse, soil-stained garments ? The Evans colony failed 
 much more as a country than as a town, but failing in the one the 
 other failure had to follow. Their politicians were a match, and per- 
 haps more than a match for ours. Their shop-keepers knew just as 
 much as ours about selling tape, ribbons and candies, but neither one 
 class nor the other can build up a country. It is true that the town of 
 Greele}' is distinguished for its elegant, beautiful, comfortable homes, 
 but the l)asis of all this is the successful agriculture of the surround- 
 ing country'. Had the ditches not been enlarged b}^ the farmers, the 
 grasshoppers successfully resisted, the chaos of conflicting claims to 
 water not been reduced to order, the mushroom town of 1870, built 
 from tlie savings of other days and other lands, would have shriveled 
 awa}' like Jonah's gourd in the parching sunshine. That Evans did 
 not become more insignificant sooner, was due to the trade from settle- 
 ments, not of the colonj^'s making. The site of the town was well 
 en ough, perhaps better than that of Greeley, but her colony lands
 
 182 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 were inferior and those who undertook to farm them more inferior 
 still. But all of these things James H. Pinkerton selected deliber- 
 ately, soil and cultivators of it and citizens to crush and ruin Union 
 Colony, and his failure was as signal as it well could be. 
 
 And there was a part, and a good part too, of our success and 
 Evans" failure due to the temperance or rather the prohibition of the 
 one place and the licensing of intoxicating liquors in the other. The 
 number of men of moderate means or of no means to speak of, who by 
 steady industry among us have built themselves neat, comfortable 
 homes which they own, have reared and highly educated large families, 
 is very great, and is one of the things we should be most proud of, 
 and which could prevail to no such extent in a drinking community. 
 But the temperance which has done so much for the town is more 
 genuinely and proportionately characteristic of the farmers, and with- 
 out it they must have succumbed to the difficulties we have enum- 
 ated. Mr. Pinkerton was a temperance man, and many other excel- 
 lent citizens of Evans were temperance men, but they cared less for 
 it than success and mere numbers, and they carelessly received all 
 comers, who at length out-voted them and opened the saloons, N. C. 
 Meeker invited only temperance men to join him in founding a colony, 
 saying plainly none else need apply. Unhappily, to our disgrace, 
 some few did apph' and many more have crept in, but still we are, I 
 beheve prohibition more than ten to one, and the influence of so good 
 a beginning is likely to continue after the founders of the colony are 
 dead and mostly forgotten. I say founders, for all of us who ans- 
 wered the call of '"Father Meeker" in good faith were co-workers 
 Avith him, and many of us have been jDrivileged to continue the work 
 which he projected and was called away from, all too soon. Yes, we 
 worked together. Co-operation in certain directions was as much of 
 a policy of the originator of the colonial scheme as temperance. Much 
 as we did meet together and discuss questions of policy, and differ, 
 yet when a plan of operations was settled upon, we followed it out 
 with singular unanimity. We did not w^aste our substance in litiga- 
 tion. It is singular that no colonist ever brought a suit against the 
 colony for the fu'st ten years of its existence — a period beset with so 
 many heart-burning, strife-breeding situations. We have been charged 
 with being Puritanical. Perhaps we were, and our attitude on the 
 rum question was like that of the Puritans of New England on the 
 question of saving grace. Like them, we had come to a wilderness to 
 establish certain cherished principles. Like them, we invited none 
 others to join us. If any had the impudence to do so, and to make 
 an attempt to subvert our principles, we did by them pretty much as
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. . 183 
 
 the Puritans did by the Quakers and Baptists. But the great dif- 
 ference was that we only suppressed certain practices relating to 
 affairs of this known jaresent hfe, while they interfered with opinion 
 relating to life in the unknoAvn hereafter. It is true that we refuse to 
 listen to arguments defending practices genfirally tolerated the world 
 over; that we hold saloon-keepers to be no better entitled to a hearing 
 than a keeper of a house of prostitution, and that both practices are 
 alike infamous; and we have never seen the argument that can con- 
 vince us that drunkenness is less degrading than excessive sexual in- 
 dulgence. The door to either house is the gate of hell. Those who 
 appreciate privileges of either kind can find them in abimdance else- 
 where. The truth is, our prosperity has invited all sorts of people to 
 come and live here for tlie gain that may be gotten, and some of these 
 bring with them the habits engendered by former indulgences. We 
 put them to great straits and inconveniences in procuring these indul- 
 gences; and they are usually much annoyed. They do not mix in 
 ^vith us any moi-e than water and oil mix. However, most of the peo- 
 ple who have come of later years have been attracted here because 
 we were a temperance people, and there is no such distinction as old 
 and new comers in society or manners.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 OTHER COLONIES IMITATIONS OF UNION COLONY — CHICAGO OR LONGMONT 
 COLONY — FOUNTAIN COLONY, OR COLORADO SPRINGS — THE AGRICULTURAL 
 COLONY AT FORT COLLINS — GREEN CITY, OR SOUTHWESTERN COLONY— BAN- 
 CROFT'S MISSTATEMENTS ABOUT GREEN CITY — MR. CAGe's CAREER IN 
 CONNECTION WITH " GREEN CITY." 
 
 IN connection with the county seat we have sketched the career of 
 one colony, started as a rival, but still at the same time at the 
 start in some things a close imitation of Union Colony. It will be 
 worth while to pass in review the other colonies that followed as closely 
 as possible the example of ours. The first in order of time was the 
 Chicago Colony. 
 
 This was organized in the city whose name it bears, near the end of 
 1870, and both N. C. Meeker and General Cameron were present at its 
 first important meeting, and helped at its organization. It was a close 
 imitation of ours. It had a prohibitory liquor clause in its deeds, but 
 these became futile after the breaking up of the corporate organiza- 
 tion, which happened in less than three years after its formation. It 
 became fiuauciall}^ embarrassed, and was unable to build the ditches it 
 had projected. This the persons who had taken farming lands con- 
 tracted by the colony did, or rather a part of them. The most im- 
 portant of their ditches was Highland Lake. This was built by a few 
 farmers under the lead of L. C. Mead, and there was a hard struggle 
 and much contention. The water was in the hands of a few stock- 
 holders, the rest of the farmers renting by the year from these. The 
 law passed in 1879 remedied this difficulty, by putting the power of 
 fixing the price in the hands of the County Commissioners, when 
 there was a dispute l3etween ditch owners and renters of water. It 
 was at the instance of the parties taking water from this Highland 
 Lake ditch that this provision was put in the law by the committee 
 that drafted the original bill, this having already become a burning 
 question there, while it did not affect the farmers in the Poudre Val- 
 ley who owned the ditches that water their lands. 
 
 One reason wh}- Longmont Colony did not hold together was be- 
 cause it had no recognized head, at least on the ground. Its first 
 president was the celebrated Unitarian preacher, Robert Collj'er, who
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO, 185 
 
 never intended to come here to stay. He expected to spend his sum- 
 mer vacations here, but of course that would have been of no use in 
 the way of meeting the pressing emergencies that were sure to be 
 arising nearly every day. There were besides him a number of Chi- 
 cago men of wealth and standing, but none of whom came and stayed 
 with the colony. It was said that they intended to build here and 
 spend part of the summer, but they did not, and it would have 
 been of but little use if they had. All this was very different from 
 what our leaders did. They put every cent which they w^ere worth in 
 the world right into the colony at the start, and stayed with it, two of 
 them at least, through thick and thin, until it was well on its feet. 
 Then there was much more unanimity among our people than there 
 was among the people of the Chicago Colony. As a people they seem 
 to have had no great leading principle to rally around. Their adhes- 
 ion to prohibition seems to have been only half-hearted. It was but a 
 short time after the settlement was made, until one of their papers 
 commenced to advocate the opening of saloons for financial reasons. 
 No one has had the audacity to do this in any public way in Greeley. 
 The man who should undertake it even to-day would not be likely to 
 escape being mobbed, so intolerant are we still on this subject, and so 
 may we ever remain. It has become a sort of pride with this people, 
 and it has been for us a point to rally around, and has served us as a 
 common religious belief has often served other communities. 
 
 In all this we do not mean to say that Longmont, as a town, or that 
 the farming country around it has not prospered. Yet, as a town, it is 
 quite different, and its attitude on the liquor question has been equiv- 
 ocal. The farming country had its conflict like ours, and has at length 
 conquered. In many respects it is ahead of ours under "Number 
 Two." On an average the farmers have better houses and barns than 
 ours. One reason why this is comes from the fact that many of our 
 farmers that are well-to-do live in town. The relation between the 
 town and country has always been a close one. All the farmers had 
 originally lots in town, and many still held on to them when they 
 moved out to the front, and then returned when they could afford it, 
 while some never moved their families out. They preferred to give 
 their wives and children the social and school advantages of the town, 
 if they did make less material wealth. With them money was not the 
 sole good thing worth seeking after. 
 
 It appears that one reason for the failure of all the agricultural col- 
 onies that followed our lead was insufficient funds, and that arose 
 from the absurd notion that |150 was enough to start a farm with in a 
 country where great expenditures ha.l to be made in advauca for irri-
 
 186 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 gating canals. The only reason that I can see for adopting this par- 
 ticular figure by N, C. Meeker was that this sum would buy 160 acres 
 at 90 cents per acre, a price for which it will be seen he expected to be 
 able to buy Agricultural College scrip. We have seen that his consti- 
 tution made no provision for expenditures for irrigation works, and 
 that upon this rock we all but foundered. Yet this sum, as the price 
 of membership, was blindly followed by all the colonies, and on it 
 they went to pieces. 
 
 We have now to review the course of another colony in some im- 
 portant respects quite diif ereut from ours, but in the most essential 
 quite shnilar. I refer to the Fountain Colony that founded Colorado 
 Springs. It was unlike ours in this, that there was no intention to 
 make agriculture the basis of support of the town. The prime object 
 here was to found a town as a pleasure and health resort. The nat 
 ural beauty of the scenery, the proximity of Pike's Peak, and the 
 nearness of the mineral springs of Manitou, made this possible. The 
 management was in a corporation connected with the railroad, which 
 held half the lots of the town for its own benefit, selling the other 
 half to settlers at nominal figures, about the same as Grreeley town 
 lots. The incorporators had a forfeiture clause put in the deeds like 
 those of Greeley, and the corporation, like our own, is yet in existence, 
 while temperance is maintained perhaps less stringently than with us, 
 the drug stores not being so closely restricted about selling for medic- 
 inal purposes. Several prosecutions have been carried through the 
 courts for the forfeiture of property, upon which liquor was sold con- 
 trary to the stipulation in the deeds, and some of them carried through 
 the United States Supreme Court, to which the}^ had been appealed, 
 and the forfeiture there sustained. To-day Colorado Springs stands 
 at our side, the only one of the towns that imitated our example in 
 prohibition. All the others hav^e gone like the dog back to their vomit. 
 In her beauty she equals us, and in her size she excels us. Some 
 years ago I was showing a gentleman our town and surrounding coun- 
 try. He was by no means a total abstainer. But he remarked, as I 
 left him off at the "Oasis Hotel," " The two most beautiful and pros- 
 perous places in Colorado are Greeley and Colorado Springs, and I 
 can account for it in no other way than it comes from your prohibition 
 of saloous." It was but last summer that the able manager of the 
 " Colorado Mortgage and Investment Company of London " said to 
 me, " There are but two places outside of Denver in Colorado fit to 
 live in, and those are Greeley and Colorado Springs." 
 
 After General Cameron got through with his work for " Fountain 
 Colony," he and B. H. Eaton, John C. Abbott, J. L. Brush, and W.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 187 
 
 E. Pabor, all Greelej parties, united with Fort Collins parties and 
 formed the " Agricultural Colony " to build up the town of Fort Col- 
 lins and develop the country around it. At this time the town was an 
 insignificant affair, and cultivation was confined to the first bottom. 
 But although the above gentlemen were all much in favor of prohibi- 
 tion, it was found impossible to get control of the whole town site 
 and thus be able to put forfeiture clauses in all the deeds. As a re- 
 sult. Fort Collins has gone about the same way as Evans in regard to 
 the liquor traffic. The forces for and against license are nearly bal- 
 anced. So, whiles they have high license, whiles low license, and occa- 
 sionally prohibition. G-eneral Cameron was one of the board of the 
 newly organized town in the spring of 1872, and he offered a resolu- 
 tion, which was adopted, to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors. 
 
 These gentlemen took steps to secure the location of the Agricul- 
 tural College at Fort Collins, and procured for the state a donation of 
 land for its site. This w-as a prize which N. C. Meeker had set his 
 heart on obtaining for Greeley, but which was now- wrested from her, 
 chiefly through the influence of Greeley men. 
 
 B. H. Eaton was in the higher branch of the Territorial Legislature, 
 which met the coming winter, and Fort Collins had Mr, Stover in the 
 other. We had all we could attend to to get our first imperfect Fence 
 Bill through, a measure for the securing of which we had to give up 
 every other local consideration. But w-e have always considered it 
 more unfortunate for the college than for us that it was not located 
 here. I suppose if our good temperance men had known that whis- 
 key could not have been kept out of Fort Collins they would hardly 
 have wTested it from us, for their pecuniary advantage — one however, 
 which the projectors failed to realize anything from. They built a 
 fuie ditch, but succeeded in getting no settlement under it, and it was 
 sold out and w^ent into the hands of the bankers. They succeeded in 
 getting no colonists to mention, nor any immigrants to settle w'ith 
 them, though Judge Sherwood, one of the incorporators, was a mem- 
 ber of the Immigration Commission created by the legislature next 
 winter — 1873. The grasshopper invasion was the principal cause of 
 this failure. 
 
 In addition to the curse of saloons in Fort Collins, being a great draw- 
 back to the success of the Agricultural College, since more or less of 
 the boys have to be sent home on account of getting into drinking 
 habits, the farm turned out to be nearly good for nothing, much of it 
 being turned into a swamp after the country around it became irriga- 
 ted, and needs mostly to be tile-drained. Besides, it is wholly un- 
 suited to raising potatoes, and so renders experiments with that tuber
 
 188 
 
 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 nearly worthless. The college, for a long time, served principally as 
 a high school for Fort Collins, but since it has secured the United 
 States experiment station, it is doing valuable work for the agriculture 
 of the state. It has had for some time an able facult}^, who are in no 
 way responsible for its unfortunate location. 
 
 The country under the Fort Collins ditch at Number Two has 
 grown into a fine settlement, and the parties who owned the canals 
 sold water rights to the settlers, who now own both land and water as 
 they do under the Union Colony's canals. Indeed, this is nearly 
 wholly the case with the canals taken from the Poudre, In the Lari- 
 mer and Weld the ownership of the canal is in the company, but it is 
 provided that the canal will be turned over to the owners of water 
 rights after the whole number of rights it is capable of carrying has 
 been sold. 
 
 There yet remains to be spoken of one other colony modeled after 
 Union Colony. This is the " Southwestern," or " Tennessee Colony," 
 as it was sometimes called. It differs most markedly from all the 
 others v,'e have so far spoken of, in this, that it not only failed of a 
 colonial scheme, but it failed to leave a settlement in the district which 
 it undertook to occupy. It is better known as " Green City Colony," 
 as that was the name of the town it undertook to found. It was some 
 thirty miles below Evans, on the Platte. The intention was to settle 
 wholly on public land outside of the limits of the railroad grant, 
 where government land was cheaper. The general impression is that 
 its projectors were frauds and swindlers, but of their bad judgment 
 there can be no doubt. The route which their ditch had to follow, 
 through a long stretch of sand hills, proved wholly impracticable 
 
 As an instance of how Hubert Howe Bancroft perverts histor}^ we 
 quote the following from his 25th volume, page 638 : 
 
 " This association (Green City Colony) purchased a large tract of 
 land in the Platte Valley, and selected a town site near ' Fremont's 
 Orchard,' -which they named Green City, after D. S. Green, of Denver. 
 A considerable portion of the colony's lands needed no irrigation, 
 being on the Platte bottom; 8,000 or 10,000 acres had been brought 
 under cultivation, which was done by means of ditching, as in the 
 former instance. All these improvements have made the \A'estern por- 
 tion of Weld county a great grain field." 
 
 Now these are the facts as I get them from the Rev. G. A. W. Cage, 
 who " was a part" of what he relates. 
 
 The colony bought no land. Green filed on a section of govern- 
 ment land for a town site, which cost $1.25 an acre. It owned no land 
 in the Platte bottom, that near the site of the proposed town belong-
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 189 
 
 ing, as it does yet, to Mr. Hendry, of Denver, The town site was laid 
 out in 234 blocks, which contained an aggregate of 5,660 lots of twen- 
 ty-five feet front each. These lots were put on the market East and 
 South, and whoever bought one became a member of the colony and 
 was entitled to greatly reduced rates of freight and passage in coming 
 here. This last consideration led hundreds to buy lots before ever 
 seeing or knowing anything about the town. The ditch which was 
 taken out of the Platte some eighteen miles above fxreen City was to 
 be built out of the proceeds of the sale of the town lots. Mr. Cage 
 informs me that from a careful enumeration of the lots sold, and the 
 average prices, the management must have realized from the sale of 
 lots some ;$60,(X)0. But so long as the ditch remained in the hands of 
 Green and Company it never reached the city or the farming lands ad- 
 jacent. With Green were united in the sclieme, Peter Wills, Thomas 
 M. Barna, and Alexander Pace. Dr. Hubbell, now long settled at 
 Lupton, was secretary for a time, and one of the victims. An election 
 held about the end of 1872 threw out Green, and the three other per- 
 sons named managed affairs and endeavored to complete the ditch. 
 To help to accomplish this, Mr. Cage loaned Wills .^,000. But the 
 ditch was not completed, and the owners became financially involved, 
 and sold it to a real estate man in Denver by the name of Herr, lea^'- 
 ing Mr. Cage in the lurch. This real estate man at length got the 
 ditch as far as Green City, and got water enough through it one sum- 
 mer to irrigate 200 acres of crops ; after which it was abandoned, as it 
 would have cost ten times as much to keep it clear of drifting sand 
 and otherwise in running order, as the yalue of the water it could de- 
 liver. 
 
 The colony owned no lands whatever. The ditch covered a small 
 area of government land, which the individual settlers were to enter 
 in the usual way, and cultivate. A few took up claims, notably Mr. 
 Cage, who also built a fine house, which eventually was removed to 
 Union Colony lands. Only about a section of farming land Avas ever 
 '• proved up " on, and this of course was abandoned when the ditch 
 was abandoned. 
 
 Mr. Cage, in addition to losing |1:,000 in the ditch, lost |l,Oa) which 
 he expended in town lots. He also lost much in fencing, plowing, and 
 some three years' time. In fact, lost more than half his capital, which 
 was, when he started from Tennessee, |12,000. 
 
 As history " points a moral," and as it raa}'^ save some other brother 
 from a similar fuiancial shipwreck, we give it in brief below, although 
 it may be painful to his eyes, now growing dim in the light of seventy 
 summer suns.
 
 190 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AXD 
 
 Mr. Cage came to Colorado from West Tennessee. He had there 
 been a preacher in the Methodist church. He was induced to join 
 Green's Colony, and came here himself in 1871, and looked over the 
 situation, and was so well satisfied with the appearances that he went 
 back, sold out, and returned in the spring of 1872 with his whole fam- 
 ily and several other persons, whose passage he paid, expecting to em- 
 j)loy them as hired helj) on his new farm. Then followed what has 
 been related about his connection with Grreen City. He now cast his 
 lot in with the people of Union Colony, buying during the years 1874 
 and 1875 several tracts of land northeast of town under "Number 
 Two.'- In this he made two mistakes. The tracts lay far separated, 
 and he went heavily in debt. He and his wife and chilcb-en worked 
 themselves all but to death in order to keep their heads above water. 
 He next took a one-fifth interest in the Weldon Valley ditch, opposite 
 the site of Green City across the Platte, and secured title to some 600 
 acres of land. This put him more in debt. He was now getting too 
 old to work, but kept holding on to all his land, which he rented, and 
 retired into Greeley. It was now a race between rent and interest, and 
 no one need be told which proved the more nimble-footed. His land 
 has slipped awa}^ piece by piece, until the ^Yeldon Valley property 
 disappeared under the forfeiture of a trust deed, and the old man is 
 stripped of the last of his landed possessions. The 600 acres with 
 water for 800 acres went for a debt of some $9,000, which was only $15 
 per acre. 
 
 Had Mr. Cage taken his $12,000 and settled in Greeley, loaning his 
 money at prevailing rates of interest, he might now be worth $100,000 
 and never have struck a lick of hard work; or, if he had judiciously 
 gone into real estate business in Denver with this sum, he might be 
 worth a milhon. But, perhaps, in looking back over life from the 
 edge of the grave, this financial failure might appear to one more 
 noble than either of these kinds of success. 
 
 It may be farther related, that tlie few people who remained at 
 Green City were so incensed at the conduct of Green that they 
 changed the name to Corona. I suppose that they meant by this that 
 it was a "• crown of sorrow." It only remained as the headquarters of 
 a voting precinct, and was for many years unable to support a school, 
 the district that was formed lapsing back into nonentity.
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 OUTGROWTHS OF UNION COLONT — STERLING ORCHARD — PLATTE AND BEAVER 
 
 — FORT MORGAN — NORTH PLATTE — WINDSOR — LARIMER AND WELD 
 CANAL, AND EATON. 
 
 AFTER these partial or complete failures of agricultural colo- 
 nies formed in imitation of Union Colony, no farther attempts 
 were made in that direction. Farther agricultural develop- 
 ment was made either bj individual enterprise building new canals, 
 or what was oftener the case by the formation of irrigation and land 
 corporations, comprising a few individuals who built the canals and 
 sold the water to such purchasers as could be found. These individ- 
 uals or corporations incurred the expenses and risks of the new enter- 
 prises in the hope of making large profits in the end, while the pur- 
 chaser of " rights " knew w^hat they were getting, and did not risk all 
 their small means as they did in the colonial enterprises. It required 
 less executive ability to manage the affairs of a corijoratiou composed 
 of a few men, understanding definitely what was aimed at, than in a 
 colony of people of all grades of knowledge and business capacity. 
 As many of these enterprises were undertaken and carried out by 
 Greeley men and Greeley capital, we will now consider them as out- 
 growths of Greeley. 
 
 These movements were chiefly down the Platte. 
 
 The first in order of time is that of Sterling. This was almost 
 wholly made by men from the South, principally from Tennessee, who 
 had, after the failure of " Green City," become renters of land under 
 the canals of Union Colony. They were excellent people for the most 
 part, and had become imbued wdth many of our notions, among w hich 
 were temperance principles and that of a common fence. They, in 
 fact, organized the only other fence district that was formed upon the 
 basis of the law passed hj the legislature at the instance of the peo- 
 ple of Greeley. There was a charter taken out for building a ditch 
 and also one for the fence district. Messrs. Smith & King seem to 
 have owned the tow^n site and put prohibitory clauses in the deeds, 
 the propertj- reverting to them as individuals and not to the corpor- 
 ation. 
 
 The growth of the place was slow until the Julesburg " Short Line "
 
 192 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 branch of the Union Pacific was built, when Sterhng was made the 
 end of a division, and round house and repair shops were put there. 
 But in order to secure these, it appears that their temperance princi- 
 ples had to be sacrificed, and Messrs. King & Smith had a document 
 drawn up and put upon the count}'' records that they waive all rights 
 of forfeiture in case of violations of the compact in the deeds granted by 
 them. So success in a financial point of view was dearer to them than 
 the success of their principles, which, however, were likely weak 
 enough, and w^ere in all probability based upon the presumption that 
 property under usual circumstances would be worth more in a temper- 
 ance town than in a saloon one. 
 
 The site of Sterling is not a good one, being upon level adobe 
 — black, sticky soil — and the laud is quite alkahne and not of much 
 value for farming. It is principally a railroad town and had another 
 streak o'l good luck in this regard since the Burlington raib'oad also 
 lately went through it, and it is now the county seat of Logan county. 
 Greeley men, especially Doctor Emerson, George H. West and 
 AVilliam C Packard had large interests there, and furnished the towTi 
 and county in its first start with the needed capital, and I suppose, 
 were gainers in the railroad '■ booms " it experienced. 
 
 The town is also a sort of headquarters for sheep and cattlemen, 
 some of whom make their homes there, and all do their trading for 
 probably some fifty miles each way up and down the Platte. Hence 
 the town is going to live and lead the fife of any other small whisky 
 town. Of course it will be all the dearer to the " cowboys " for this, 
 and it can be blessed by having them spend their money there and 
 holding their carousals, instead of going to Cheyenne or Denver, or 
 OLU" own Evans. In this way it may indirectly, by putting on high 
 hcense, have the cowboys help them to grade their streets as Fort 
 Collins has been doing at the expense of her drinkers. 
 
 In 1882, a purely agricultural settlement was started by Greeley 
 people on the other side of the river from Corona. A canal, the 
 Weldoa Valley, was built. It is some sixteen miles long, and has a 
 capacity of 196 cubic feet per second. This would be sufficient to 
 water 10,000 acres. The ditch is one of the earliest of any size in the 
 first irrigation district, and hence has a good claim for water in time 
 of scarcity. As there are only 8,000 acres under the ditch, the parties 
 using water ought to be able to get an ample supply. Their railroad 
 station is called "Orchard," being near the cottouwood grove that 
 was early named rather fancifully " Fremont's Orchard." They early 
 built a common fence along the line of the ditch, but did not incor- 
 porate it as a fence district.
 
 THE lJ>riON COLONY OF COLORADO. 193 
 
 This is a good place to combine stock-i'aising with agriculture, aud 
 large areas of the plowed land are seeded down to alfalfa. Many of 
 the leadnig farmers of the early days of our colony sold out their 
 farms here aud made this settlement in oi'der to have larger farms and 
 raise stock in coiniection with crops. Solon Martin, who used to run 
 our canals with so much abilitj^, took a large interest in the ditch, and 
 superintended its construction. He raises thoroughbred horses here, 
 and alfalfa is a profitable crop for him in this connection. His 
 brother Henry, who is now in California, but who was in the early 
 days one of our leading men, and a " trustee," has an interest in this 
 settlement, and is looking forward to the day when he will return with 
 his family to Greeley and carry on his farm and stock-ranch at 
 Orchard. P. W. Putnam is one of the leading projectors of this en- 
 terprise, and has been carrying on a large sheep business in connection 
 with his cultivated farm down there. For a nmnber of years his 
 family have been living in Greele}'^, on account of our schools. His 
 son Wesle}' has graduated from here, and is now in the State Univer- 
 sity. Mr. Putnam was one of the first of our farmers to commence 
 operations under our canal Number Two, and went out on the extreme 
 verge in order to keep sheep in connection with his farming. But he 
 soon found the range too crowded, and sold out and went down the 
 Platte, buying a hay-ranch as headquarters for his sheep, which busi- 
 ness he carried on with great success, and then joined the Weldon 
 Valley movement, as related. A. D. Preston and G. T. Dresser also sold 
 out thoir Union Colony farms and took an interest in the Weldon Valley 
 ditch and lands. Dr. S. K. Thompson, in the early days our only 
 dentist, went into the movement, though living in Greeley and doing 
 non-resident farming. He is now, however, nearly all the time upon 
 the farm, finding that his presence is 'needed if success is to be gained 
 in this line of business. Albert Igo, so long one of our leading 
 hardware men, was also a lai'ge owner under this ditch, but has traded 
 off this interest for Denver property. We have seen that Mr. Cage 
 was also a leading man in this enterprise, right across the river from 
 the scene of his early experience in Colorado agricultural undertak- 
 ings. 
 
 There has been no attempt to build up a town. There is merely a 
 postoffice at Orchard. 
 
 On the south side of the Platte still more extensive settlements have 
 been made almost solely by Greeley parties. 
 
 The first in point of time, and lowest down the river, some eighty 
 miles below Greeley, is the Platte and Beaver Canal and Land com- 
 pany's undertaking. Tlie canal was commenced in 1881, and by the
 
 194 A HISTORY OF GREELEY .^'D 
 
 same company the " Platte and Beaver SiqDply " canal was commenced 
 the year after. These canals start from the river about nine miles 
 apart, and water independent bodies of land. The name of the last 
 mentioned has been changed to " Lower Platte and Beaver," and the 
 original company has been divided into two, some of the parties tak - 
 ing their interest in and under one canal and others in and under the 
 other. 
 
 The parties which constructed these ditches and purchased the 
 state lands imder them were Dr. Charles Emerson, B. H. Eaton, J, L. 
 Brush, Bruce Johnson, J. C. Scott, Daniel Hawks, A. S. Baker, H. N. 
 Haynes and J. Max. Clark. The town, which is on the Burlington, is 
 named '" Brush," an honor conferred by the railroad company on our 
 townsman, J. L. Bnish, who is now at the head of the " Cattle Kings " 
 of Colorado. 
 
 The fii'st canal is twentj'-five miles long, and has a rated capacity 
 of 313 cubic feet per second, and has under it 20,000 acres of land; 
 the second is about the same length, and is rated at 160 feet, and has 
 under it 15,000 acres. 
 
 The main body of the lands under these canals was owned by the 
 state and bought b}' the compau}-. The land is of the finest quality, 
 level, but not adobe. It is heavier than the average of Union Colony's 
 land and, hence, not so well adap)ted to potato cultm^e, but very 
 superior for wheat, barle}^, oats and alfalfa. These lands lie in a solid 
 block, and when fully occupied Avill give rise to a closely settled com- 
 munity, thus affording great social and school advantages over 
 sparsely settled districts. They are held at the moderate figure of 
 twenty dollars per acre. Some of these lands are nearer the town of 
 Fort ^klorgan than Brush, which former is farther up the stream, and 
 the center of another moven>ent led and managed principally by 
 Greeley men. 
 
 The Fort Morgan enterprise owes its inception to Abner S. Baker, 
 brother-in-law of J. Max. Clark, If the name only sounded as well 
 the town ought to have been called Bakerville. Mr. George E. Baker, 
 father of the " Baker Boys," came from AVisconsin soon after the 
 undertaking was commenced and has put his wealth and effort into it, 
 Lyman Baker, long employed upon Tlie Greeley Tribune, is and has 
 been since its start, the editor of The Fort Morgan Times. Ed. 
 Baker, long the successful manager of our Number Two canal, has 
 also an interest there, although his family still lives in Greeley. Mr. 
 Kimball, one of the most extensive cultivators under the Fort Morgan 
 ditches, is a brother-in-law of Abner S. Baker. There are also other 
 more or less remote connections of the " Baker Family " to be found
 
 THE UNION COLOXY OF COLOEADO. 195 
 
 there, but it is not to be inferred that none others are admitted. 
 
 The projector, Abner S. Baker, has had his ups and doA\Tis since 
 -coming in the summer of 1870 to Colorado. First we see him manag- 
 ing our " Co-operative Stock and Dairy Association," neither for our 
 nor his profit. Then he and Ed. farm together for some three years, 
 and fail on account of grasshoppers and rusty, low-priced wheat. 
 Then Abner conceives the idea of taking an irrigating ditch out of 
 the Poudre to gather up the seepage water which, from the irrigation 
 above on its banks, is returning j^early in larger quantities to the bed 
 of the stream below the heads of all existing ditches. L. Ogilvy, the 
 son of the Earl of Airlie. of Scotland, sees the point, too, and goes 
 into the undertaking with Baker. When all is completed, Baker sells 
 out to Ogilvy and has now several thousands of dollars in his pocket, 
 and is ready to undertake new adventures. He is one of the " Platte 
 and Beaver " projectors, and upon the completion of this enterprise 
 forms a companj^ to build the Fort Morgan ditches and found the 
 town. This latter is named after a United States Fort of that name, 
 that was near the site of the town. The ditcii had to be built largely 
 from borowed capital, and jDay-day came before the water-rights could 
 be sold to meet maturing obligations. Lawsuits and general em- 
 barrassment followed, but it appears that the way is being won to 
 the open country, and the parties are all solvent and are building up 
 a fine town and country. Abner is a genuine Yankee, of whom 
 Emerson says : '" He is like a cat. Toss him up as 3'ou like, he is sure to 
 light on his feet." 
 
 Unlike the lands under the " Platte and Beaver," these lands were 
 government lands, wiiich could be controlled ojily to a limited extent 
 by the individual members of the compauj^ , and hence all profits in 
 the enterprise as a corporation must come from the sale of water- 
 rights. But for this very reason the Fort Morgan country settles up 
 faster than the " Platte and Beaver," since the land costs the settler 
 next to nothing. There has been a new county created, and the town 
 is its county seat. 
 
 The first constructed ditch was commenced in the fall of 1882, is 
 twenty-five miles long, covers about 20,000 acres and has a rated 
 capacity of 350 cubic feet per second. In 1888, 8,000 acres are re- 
 ported in crops. 
 
 Another large ditch is just finished, coming from the Platte farther 
 up stream and irrigating lands to the south of town and which will 
 more than double the cultivated area. 
 
 This last canal was taken out of the Platte lower down than the 
 Green City ditch, and at a lower grade. In this way it avoids the
 
 196 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AXD 
 
 troublesome sand hills, and at the same time at length crosses the line of 
 the Green City ditch, covering nearl}^ all the valuable laud under that 
 abortive construction. We thus see that what was impracticable to 
 one set of men and at that time, has easily been accomplished by an- 
 other set of men furnished with the experience gained during fifteen 
 years of experimenting in works of tliis kind. 
 
 It may be farther said that the town of Fort Morgan is a thoroughly 
 temperance one and to this extent an imitation of Greeley. Forfeiture 
 clauses are in the deeds the property reverting to A. S. Baker up 
 to 1894. 
 
 But the enterprise of Greeley capitalists has reached bej^ond the 
 boundaries of Colorado. In 1883 the alternate sections of a block of 
 land, lying between the North and South forks of the Platte were 
 purchased from the Union Pacific rail\va3^ The area of the laud 
 bought was 13,140 acres. A ditch was taken from the North Platte 
 twenty-three miles long, and with a rated capacity of 122 cubic feet 
 per second. At fifty-five acres to the foot this gives an area of irriga- 
 tion equal to 23,210 acres, or 290 eighty-acre water-rights. The un- 
 sold land is held at ten dollars per acre, and the eighty-acre water- 
 rights at $600 apiece. The quantity of water to the eighty-acre right 
 is 1,44 cubic feet per second, or a duty of about fifty-five acres, the 
 same as in the " Larimer and Weld " canal. 
 
 As only the alternate sections were purchased by the company, the 
 other sections, which were government land, were settled by parties 
 who refused to buy water at first, this being held to be in the rain- 
 belt. But the crops of those irrigating so far surpassed those depend- 
 ing on the meagre rainfall, that nearly all are now taking water, and 
 the enterprise appears to be quite a paying investment. Greeley 
 parties own about half the stock which is .$160,000. These parties 
 are George H. West, James F. Benedict, J. E. Davis, W. M. Boomer 
 and W. C. Packard. The remainder of the stock is owned by North 
 Platte and Omaha parties. The land lies contiguous to North Platte 
 and is of most excellent quality. Thomas Stimson is managing af- 
 fairs in a very satisfactory way for the company. He has been farm- 
 ing quite extensively to show the people of Nebraska how to do it, 
 and in this way has enabled the company to make sales readily. The 
 potatoes raised under this ditch last year were in the Denver market 
 competing with the Greeley product. As there is an abundance of 
 water for all seasons, if the soil is only well adapted to potato culture, 
 it is likelj' to prove a profitable crop. It is, however, claimed that 
 the potatoes raised on this North Platte laud are inferior in quality 
 to ours.
 
 THE UNIOX COLONY OF COLORADO. 197 
 
 The town of Windsor next claims our attention. It is about mid- 
 way between Greeley and Fort Collins, on the Greeley, Salt Lake & 
 Pacific railroad, and was started when that railroad was built in 1883. 
 It is near the head of Union Colony Canal Number Two from which 
 it and the adjacent country is watered. 
 
 Its principal founder was E. Hollister, on whose land it was chiefly 
 laid out; hut there was united M-ith him in the enterprise B. H. Eaton, 
 L. S. Springer, L. W. Teller and Alexander Barry. All, excejjt the 
 last named, were original members of Union Colony, and as became 
 them they have put prohibition clauses in the deeds. 
 
 There was no attempt to found a colony at this place. The town 
 was platted and the lots laid out and sold as the demand naturally 
 arose. It is mostly settled and built up by the adjacent farmers. 
 L. W. Teller was a leading man in Greeley during our early days, but 
 had been hving on his farm for some years when this new town 
 started up near him; and he moved into it and did a general 
 merchandise business. But the man especially deserving of mention 
 in this enterprise was E. Hollister, who is now no more, having been 
 killed by the cars at Fort ColMns about a year ago. He was elected 
 at our first legal election in May, 1871, a trustee of the colony, and 
 was its second sujoerintendent following R. A. Cameron. He used to 
 preach for us in the days when we had a " Union Church." In youth 
 he had studied for the ministry at Knox college, Galesburg, Illinois, 
 and upon graduation became a preacher in the Congregational denom- 
 ination. But his ideas of salvation soon became too broad for even 
 that most liberal branch of orthodoxy; and he betook himself to farm- 
 ing in Illinois. He was among the first to join the colony and get on the 
 ground with his family. From the time he came here he seemed to 
 most to have become far more earthly than heavenlj' minded, and 
 many were uncharitable enough to insinuate that he was infected with 
 the moral disease known as land greed. For himself, family and 
 friends he procured some seven membership certificates, and located 
 on them all the lands and lots that the rules would allow. He 
 bimclied together on these certificates or by purchase or exchange 
 five and ten acre lots enough to make fifty acres, quite near toA\Ti on 
 the west, and commenced farming on this, among the earliest of our 
 agricultural attempts. He had also a four-acre block in town besides 
 several other lots. 
 
 The above facts are worth}' of mention to show how some of us 
 evaded the early ideas of the colony, which were that one person 
 should have no more than one claim, and thus prevent monopoly in 
 land. But brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, and cousins, who had never
 
 198 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AXD 
 
 put a foot on Colorado soil, and never intended to, had claims taken 
 in their names, and the minimum improvements put on for them. 
 The colony at first refused to recognize transfers, so as to give deeds 
 to a single person for more than the lands and lots covered by a single 
 certificate. But this was soon found to be futile, as the non-resident 
 parties redeeded to the real parties here. So transfers of certificates 
 with locations made on them were recognized, and deeds granted to 
 their holders without regard to how much real estate he thus acquired 
 in the colony. Hence here, as elsev>^here, the effort at leveling proved 
 a failure. 
 
 Mr. Hollister's faith in the immediate advance of the price of real 
 estate in and around Greeley, Avas well nigh boundless, and the period 
 of depression that followed the spring of 1871, did not shake his con- 
 fidence. He held on to ail his lands and lots, borrowing and paying 
 the highest rates of interest then customary, even after moving out 
 on his larger possessions at the head of Number Two. Here he and 
 his eldest daughter secured some five eiglity-acre government lots, 
 having recourse to various forms of claim one after another. The 
 Avater for these lands was obtained on his certificates by paying an 
 additional seventy-five for each eight3\ the first claim of the certifi- 
 cate being already satisfied by locating on them smaller sub-divisions 
 near town. He, like many otliers in those days, preferred land near 
 the head of the canal, although he was farther from town, so as to have 
 the first pull on tlie water. But persistent effort on the part of the Col- 
 ony Board soon rendered this advantage of position of no avail, and 
 an equitable division was secured along the whole length of the line. 
 
 Mr. Holhster's land extended to the river on one side, and this led 
 Mm early to adopt dairying in connection with his farming. But on 
 the whole his farming was not a success, and his profits were not iii- 
 creased after he was tempted to buy, going more in debt, a section of 
 railroad land which joined him. The writer understands the nature 
 of this temptation, having had under his nose, adjacent to his farm, 
 a tract of barren cactus plain, which he longed to see converted into 
 fruitful fields waving with golden grain, or green and purple with 
 blossomed alfalfa, giving bread to the sower and labor to the tramp, 
 and vocal with the humming of "innumerable bees." Well, this 
 added section gave him no more cultivated acres, as he had no more 
 water after its purchase than before. So what with scarcity of water 
 and vigilant, incorruptible Solon Martin or Ed. Baker, as ditch boss, 
 dehvering water through J. Max. Clark's measuring flumes, and not 
 under gate with four feet pressure, as Avas deemed prudent when oiu' 
 tenant, John Brown, in 1871, irrigated thirsty lands for us we
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 199 
 
 (Hollister)being ditch superintendent; and what with sand di'ifts moving 
 oiir possessions, in part Missouri-river-wards, our farming- diminishes 
 not, but rather increases yearly interest, wliich is far outstripping 
 profits in the race. It will now take all our Carlylese and Emerson- 
 ian philosophy to bear us up under all this load with equanimity. We 
 shift our burden from one shoulder to another, until this ingenious 
 performance brings us but little relief. 
 
 Such it appears to the writer was the plight of our heavily in debt 
 and land -laden friend who had pondered so much but to so little pur- 
 pose the problem of this worldiness. The sale of Windsor town lots, 
 and also enhanced Greeley lots and lands maj^ bring some relief to 
 the encumbered estate and leave for his most excellent wife and two 
 daughters some remainder; but maybe not; and all experience is against 
 the hope of much of an encumbered estate getting at last into the 
 hands of the heirs. When one is once sucked into the maelstrom of 
 debt, the best of seamanship is of but little avail. How nuich of the 
 wTeck will float out into the tranquil deep, none can predict. A most 
 perilous course this in which to steer our bark, and one which the 
 charts of all the sages of all the ages have inhibited, and to ward 
 from its dangerous edges have posted their "Thou Shalt Not" 
 maxims. To one looking on from the safe shore, at the debt-drifted 
 voyager, it appears, that no illusion of happy islands miraged in the 
 air beyond, would tempt him into this sea. And yet thehfeof tempest 
 in the midst of effort, even ignoble effort, maj'^ bring more of what 
 makes " Life worth living," than the stagnant pool existence; and it 
 is to be observed that when our sea-farer's I^eel touches the strand of 
 some little islet, where the risky voyage might end, he soon puts out 
 to sea again . He is hke Tennyson's Ulysses, home at Ithaca, and says : 
 
 "Of life to me 
 Little remains; but every hour is saved 
 From the eternal silence, something more, 
 A bringer of new things." " 
 " There lies the port; the vessel putt's her sails. 
 There gloam the dark broad seas." * * 
 
 " Come mj' friends, 
 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world. 
 Push olt, and sitting well in ort'.cr, smite 
 The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds 
 To sail beyond the sunset, and the bath 
 Of all the western stars until I die. 
 It may be the gulfs will wash us down, 
 It may be we shall touch the happy isles. 
 We are not now the strength wliich in old days 
 Moved earth and heaven; th it which we are, we are. 
 Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will. 
 To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."
 
 200 
 
 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 We have dwelt ou this rather as an ilkistration than a peculiar case, 
 and our readers will bring to mind many others. It must also be said 
 that far from being wholly selfish and ignoble, this disposition that 
 leads men of small capital and much enterprise into undertaking ad- 
 ventures which can by them he only carried on by borrowing, it may 
 rest on the most benevolent of purposes. To reclaim the desert by 
 bringing water to it, is just as beneficent a deed as draining a swamp, 
 and turning it into a fruitful field, which was the crowning deed of 
 Goethe's Faust, who when he beheld the happy homes that had 
 sprung up there, could say to the vision, " Stay, thou art so fair," and 
 yet elude the pledged forfeiture of his life to Mephistopheles, the 
 illuding scofiing fiend, who would be no bad personification of the 
 spirit of borrowing. 
 
 Nextly and lastly, something must be said about our little sister to 
 the north of us some eight miles, which bears the name of our 
 Granger Governor, and also of the Larimer and Weld canal, which is 
 the sole reason for the being of the town of Eaton. 
 
 We can hardly call either the one or the other an outgrowth of 
 Greeley. We no doubt afforded the projector of both some sugges- 
 tions. It is true B. H. Eaton was a colonist, but he was a good deal 
 more than that. He was in the Rocky Mountain region some ten 
 years before Mr. Meeker set a foot here, and was oj^ening up a large 
 farm on the Poudre near the site of the Windsor we have been s^^eaking 
 of, and wlien the colony came here lent it a hand rather than in any 
 genuine sense casting his lot with us. It is true that in 1882, he de- 
 cided to permanently make his home in Greeley, and erected his 
 almost palatial residence here. But this followed the successful com- 
 pletion of the undertaking we are about to narrate. We have come 
 across his name elsewhere, our readers will remember, in speaking of 
 the development of Weld county. And had it been our business to 
 speak of the state at large we would have come across him still oftener. 
 To many enterprises as well as the Union Colony, he has lent a hand, 
 but this one of building a canal over the route of what is now known 
 as the Larimer and Weld, and of establishing a town under it on the 
 Denver Pacific railroad, was peculiarly his own project. In company 
 with J. C. Abbott, of Greeley, he had built a ditch in 1873, known then 
 as the Eaton & Abbott, but now as the Lake Canal. This canal proved 
 a great success. It has a rated capacity of 158 cubic feet, which 
 would irrigate nearly 9,000 acres at a duty of fifty-five acres per foot, but 
 as there are only about 5,000 acres under it, the farmers have a great 
 abundance of water when the river is high. All the land under it 
 soon came under cultivation, and its success, together with that of our
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 201 
 
 canal Number Two, immediately below it, early led B. H. Eaton to 
 conceive of a still larger canal to be taken out above this on the same 
 side of the Poudre and to irrigate the lands above and to the north of 
 the Lake canal and our Number Two. The fu-st object was to irrigate 
 a fuie body of laud on the Box Elder, just across the river from Fort 
 Collins. This piece of land had early taken the eye of Mr. Eaton, 
 and it was here that he advised the location of Union Colony, in a 
 letter written to N. C. Meeker soon after seeing his circular of invita- 
 tion in The New York Tribune, as before related. This was before 
 the proportions of the colony had assumed the large dimensions 
 which it soon did, and when both Mr. Meeker and B. H. Eaton were 
 thinking of a colon}' of some fifty families. Box Elder valley was a 
 rich, black soil, level, and then covered with a heavj^ growth of buf- 
 falo grass, of the same character, as the best spots for cultivation on 
 the Poudre bottom, but presenting great advantages for the easy appli- 
 cation of water to the surface. Its limited extent and its distance 
 from the railroad were the drawbacks which hindered its l^eing se- 
 lected hy our locating committee. 
 
 The failure of the Agricultural Colony of Fort Collins, as before 
 narrated, had a crippling effect on all engaged in the enterprise, but 
 especially upon B. H. Eaton and J. C. Abbott who had built the canal 
 to irrigate the lauds south of that town. This hindered Mr. Eaton 
 from entering on this other undertaking, which at first had only pre- 
 sented itself to him as a canal to irrigate the Box Elder valle3^ To 
 effect this he proposed his plan to Oscar Eaton, a young man of push 
 and energy, one of our earliest settlers and who had come into the 
 control of considerable capital in mai-rying the widow sister of 
 A. J. Wilber. 
 
 A preliminarj" survey was made by these two, and was extended 
 much beyond the Box Elder tract, showing a fine route for a canal, 
 and covering a magnificent country of agricultural lands. The larger 
 scheme now took possession of B. H. Eaton, but paralyzed his asso- 
 ciate, who retired, and became a banker at Biyan, Ohio, and so disap- 
 pears from the view of this history. 
 
 B. H. Eaton now laid his project before different Greele}' capital- 
 ists, especially Dr. Charles Emerson, but they considered it too risky, 
 at least not likely to bring any larger returns than money loaned at 18 
 per cent., the rate then prevailing. 
 
 Meantime, Mr. Duff, the manager of the London Mortgage and In- 
 vestment Company, had been looking over the field for investment in 
 Colorado, and had opened an office in Denver, reducing the rate of in- 
 terest to 12 Der cent. Mr. Eaton met this '>entlenian and laid his
 
 202 
 
 A HISTORY OF GREELEY .«vD 
 
 projec.t before him, aud, upon due consideration, was accepted. A 
 large body of laud in alternate sections was bought from the Union 
 Pacific railway, tlie other sections being government land and subject 
 to entry only by actual settlers. ]\Ir. Eaton was to have a half interest 
 in land and water, and was to build the ditch by contract, the EugUsh 
 company furnishing the needed capital to the canal company at rea- 
 sonable rates of interest. 
 
 Mr. E. S. Xettleton was the engineer. His first important work in 
 this line was Union Colony Canal Number Two, which, however de- 
 fective in plan, was by far the best piece of work up to this time in the 
 state. His study of the matter, and practice on other works, now en- 
 abled him to project a canal far more satisfactory in its construction 
 to meet the requirements than any before in use. B. H. Eaton had 
 also some original views on the subject, which his extensive experience 
 in building canals, and his observation on their running, had suggested 
 to him. This canal was to differ from the others in being compaira- 
 tiveh' straight, or with long regular curves, cutting and filling a good 
 deal to secure this end. At Mr. Eaton's suggestion, deep cuts were 
 not brought down quite to grade, leaving this work to be done by the 
 erosion of the water, being sure to make a fill above such a cut suffic- 
 iently high to hold all the water that would be needed until the canal 
 had worked its bottom to a uniform grade — which it did in about 
 five years. This canal is about fifty-five miles long, and is rated at 
 720 cubic feet per second, v/hich, at a duty of fifty-five acres, would 
 give its capacity at about iO.OOO acres. This is the quantity it is sup- 
 posed to he able to take in at the head, but probably this should be 
 reduced one-tenth where delivered to the consumers over the weirs at 
 the heads of the several laterals. This would leave 36,000 acres as a 
 possible area of cultivation, which could easily be accomplished if the 
 water were in the river to fill it for two months each season; but as it 
 has been, the com2:)any has only sold water for 28,000 acres, which area 
 is reported to have been in crop for the year 1888. Since then the 
 company has refused to sell any more water rights, even for its o^^•n 
 lauds, on account of the deficiency of water in the river except for 
 short, irregular periods. It is now having under advisement the con- 
 struction of several large reservoirs, for which there are admirable 
 sites, the matter of difficulty being a good route at reasonable figures 
 for right of way for the feeding canal. 
 
 With the push that characterizes the company, there is no doubt 
 that these reservoirs will be constructed and filled, and then it is ex- 
 pected that the company will issue some fifty more water rights, mak- 
 ing the whole number 400 or 32,000 acres.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 203 
 
 There was great economy in the construction of this canal all at one 
 time compared with that of our canal Number Two, which had three 
 general enlargements that, with the improvements since, has made it 
 cost |112,0(X). while the cost of the Larimer and Weld is understood 
 to have been 1100,000. Checks and dams since put in ma}' make it 
 cost $120,000. 
 
 The economy of the construction of this is very conspicuous when 
 compared with the Platte Canon, or High Line ditch, as usually called, 
 built by the same English company. This canal, as is proved by an 
 investigation instituted by the District Court in connection with a 
 cause pending before it, cost 1600,000, while the capacities only vary 
 in the ratio of 720 to 1,181. Thus we see that per cubic foot capacity 
 the High Line cost about four times as much. This was owing to the 
 comparative difficulty of the routes. 
 
 Assuming that the total cost of the Larimer and Weld was .f 125,000, 
 and that 350 eighty-acre water rights have been sold, this would give 
 the real cost of a water right about $330, Avhile, as we have sliown, the 
 cost in Number Two is about ■■$350. The company sold a few for -^00 
 apiece, but they arose soon to .$1,000, and the great bulk were sold for 
 11,200 apiece. There was a profit on the lands of, on an average, $7 
 per acre, which makes this a xevy profitable investment, and jaroves the 
 sagacity of Governor Eaton in this matter. 
 
 It will be seen that the English company would have had to sell the 
 water from the High Line at four times as much to do as well as in 
 the Larimer and Weld, and that it could not have been sold at less 
 than .$1,400 per eighty- acre water right to lauds which it did not sell; 
 in other words, government lands. It has proved a profitable invest- 
 ment on account of the proximity of the lands to the rapidly growing- 
 city of Denver. But many other canal enterprises which the same 
 company has undertaken, or which have fallen into its hands as securi- 
 ties on loans, are not profitable. The Loveland and Crreeley, built l)y 
 Colvin and Mackenzie, is of this kind, also the Evans Number Two, 
 enlarged or reconstructed on a new grade, are of this nature on ac- 
 count of the inferior quahty of the lands under them. In this is seen 
 the advantages of a large capital in developing the resources of this 
 arid country. It can average results, and have a fair profit on the 
 whole, although some undertakings are in themselves not remunera- 
 tive. It is farther to be noted the economy of our co-operative Iniild- 
 ing of Number Two canal, in which the water only costs .$350 per 
 right, while in the Larimer and Weld the same costs .$1,200. 
 
 As an instance of the inaccuracy of Hubert Howe Bancroft's histor}^ 
 relating to agricultural affairs in Colorado, we may say that he says in
 
 204 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 Volume XXV ., pages 538-'9, "Water rights were sold for |2, and later 
 for 11.50 an acre," and that "the cost (of the High Line Irrigating 
 Canal of the Platte Land Company) in 1884 had reached two and a 
 half million dollars." Now we have seen that the cost of this canal, 
 as given in the courts four years after the above date, was only $600,- 
 €00, and that water rights in the Larimer and Weld were sold first at 
 $5 per acre, and soon were raised to $15. 
 
 It is to be remembered that capital put into a canal remains for a 
 time wholly unproductive, and that it only gradually becomes so, as 
 water rights are sold. Hence high final profits are to be expected to 
 justify expenditures of this kind, and frequently they are' not realized. 
 Men with limited means are usually vmable to wait, and their work 
 frequently goes under, forfeited as a security on loans before returns 
 can be realized. The time has been when farmers could combine and 
 take out small ditches, but that day has gone in Eastern Colorado. 
 Indeed, the day foi* building any more canals taking water from the 
 South Platte, or its tributaries, has gone in the opinion of the Avriter. 
 The occasional flood water of the summer, and the run of the months 
 when irrigation is not going on, will not be more in ordinary years 
 than sufficient to lengthen out the irrigation period sufficiently to 
 finish the crops growing under ditches already constructed, and any 
 attempt at bringing new lands under irrigation by means of reservoirs 
 will be futile. While reservoirs ma}" pay to store water to finish rowed 
 crops, they will be in general too expensive for general irrigation, even 
 if a water supply could be had, as they cannot compete with the reg- 
 ular canals in cheapness. We have seen that a fine body of land down 
 the Platte, under the " Platte and Beaver " canals, has gone a begging 
 for years at $20 an acre, Avitli abundance of water to the land. 
 
 After the completion of the " Larimer and Weld," B. H. Eaton sold 
 out his half interest in the canal to the English company, and pur- 
 chased at appraised rates from the old compan3% of which he was half, 
 a fine body of land under the canal, and on both sides of the Denver 
 Pacific railway. Here, some seven miles north of Grreeley, is the- town 
 of Eaton. No effort whatever has been made to induce settlement. 
 Some good buildings needed for his business were erected, then an 
 elevator capable of storing 125,000 bushels of wheat was built, 
 which was followed by the construction of one of the finest roller mills 
 in the countr}^ The <;iuantity of wheat receiv^ed at the mill and eleva- 
 tor this 3'ear will be about 230,000 bushels. Eaton now surpasses 
 Greeley in the wheat and flour trade, and is likely to equal it in the 
 potato trade. A warehouse for this business has been constructed, 
 100 b}" 200 feet, mostl}' by Greeley parties, and it has done an im-
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 205 
 
 mense business the present season. The reservoirs contemplated bj- 
 the compan}^ will more than double the potato product triljutarj to 
 Eaton, 
 
 There is no foolish rivalry going on between the towns; in fact, thej 
 co-operate heartily together, and each does the business natural to it. 
 Eaton is now a temperance town, and in all deeds there will be in- 
 serted the following clause : 
 
 " Provided, however, and this deed is made upon the express cove- 
 nant, agreement and understanding by and between the parties of the 
 first [B. JH. Eaton] and third parts, their heirs, assigns, successors and 
 legal representatives, that no intoxicating liquors shall ever be manu- 
 factured, sold, or otherwise disposed of as a beverage, in any place of 
 public resort in or ujjon the premises hereby granted, or on any part 
 thereof, and that in the event of the breach of this covenant and agree- 
 ment by the said party, his heirs, assigns, or legal representatives, this 
 deed shall become null and void, and all the right, title, interest, and 
 right of possession of, in and to the premises hereby conveyed, shall 
 revert to, and become vested in the said party of the first part, his 
 heirs, assigns and legal representatives." 
 
 If this is compared with the clause in the Union Colony deeds, its 
 advantage in clearness and specificness will be seen. The questions 
 that have arisen for discussion about the enforcement of the clause in 
 our deeds have suggested this much amended form. It will be par- 
 ticularly noted the great advantage in having the title revert to, and 
 revest in an individual, his heirs, assigns and representatives, rather 
 than to a corporation whose life in this state is limited to twenty years, 
 and the renewal of which we found so difficult. On the other hand, 
 we have seen how easily this can be avoided in the case of Sterling, 
 where the ]3arties. Smith and King, have put on record a waiver of 
 forfeiture. In the case of a corporation this could not be done by the 
 trustees, and it is doubtful if a majority vote of the stockholders could 
 do it, as it would be depriving the minority of certain contingent 
 rights to property without due process of law. 
 
 There is one more feature of this clause worthy of particular men- 
 tion, and this is that forfeiture follows upon breach of the covenant by 
 not only the party to the instrument, but upon breach by his heirs, 
 assigns or legal representatives, which would include agents or tenants. 
 
 One of the first iuiprovements made in the new town of Eaton Avas 
 the building of a large brick school house containing four rooms. It 
 will accommodate the population for a number of years to come. 
 When the sale of lots shall justify it, it is the intention of Mr. Eaton 
 to donate 110,000 for a library and reading room. A church was early
 
 206 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 organized, and preaching has been maintained at the school house, 
 but now a fine brick edifice is in process of erection. The denomina- 
 tion is Congregational, which meets the approval of nearly all.
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 WATER FOE DOMESTIC USE IN GREELET^WELL WATER, DRAINAGE, ARTES- 
 IAN WELLS — FIRST WELL AND ITS COST — OTHER WELLS — CITY WATER 
 WORKS — FIRST VOTE ON WATER WORKS — THE VOTE ON LATE WORKS — 
 THE COST AND CHARACTER OF THE WORKS — ANALYSES OF ARTESIAN 
 WATER AND THAT OF THE WATER WORKS — PRICE CHARGED FOR WATER 
 AND THE LOW RATE IT CAN BE AFFORDED AT. 
 
 FTER making something of an extended tour into the neigh- 
 borhood of Greeley, we now return to the town and take up 
 its internal material progress and improvements, and the wa- 
 ter suppl}' will first engage our attention. 
 
 It was one of the fortanate things in the selection of the town site 
 that good well water was easily obtained. Gravel is reached at from 
 four to fifteen feet, and at some seasons of the year water is up to the 
 top of the gravel. Before irrigation was commenced tlie height of the 
 water table under the town site depended upon the flow of water in 
 the river. The height of the water table is greater than that of the 
 river surface immediately north of town. The entrance to this gravel 
 bed is well to the west, and probably there is a continuous flow through 
 this gravel stratum from the foothills and as far east, as the bed con- 
 tinues. The river bed to the east of the town affords the drainage 
 and lowers the surface of the underground water when the river is 
 low, and vice versa. 
 
 The quality of the water in the town wells is also affected by the 
 stage of height in the river. It is softer when there is a full stream 
 fed from melting snow, and contains more inorganic impurities when 
 the stream is partly fed by return waters draining into it from the 
 lands on either bank. 
 
 Since the extensive introduction of irrigation, both the rise and the 
 quality of the underground water have been afl^ected. Noiv the water 
 begins to rise in the wells as soon as irrigation has been well started, 
 in and around town, and before there is any rise in the river at all, and 
 soon it reaches the surface of the underlying gravel. For a time this 
 gravel afforded sufficient drainage, so tliat there was no seepage land 
 near Greeley, except to the north of town, where the first bottom is 
 soon reached, and the mill-power canal soon turned that into a
 
 208 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 swamp. This same canal did, or was supposed to, raise tLe water 
 table in the business part of town, and flooded the cellars there. The 
 bed of the canal where most gravelly was puddled, and for a number 
 of years there was no trouble with water in the cellars. But about 
 five years ago it commenced to rise again, and the land just west of 
 town on Main street became almost a swamp. In fact, the water rose 
 to the surface. It appears to the v>Titer that there were two cavises for 
 this rise of the water table. First, excessive irrigation upon lawns, 
 which were becoming yearly more numerous, and which require three 
 or four times as much water as a crop of grain or vegetables. Then, 
 too, all the lands in and near town were put into cultivation, while 
 during the grasshopper period only a small fraction of it was used. 
 Second, there seems good reason to believe that the drainage capacity 
 of tlie underlying gravel has become impaired by the waters of irriga- 
 tion in going down through the soil, and taking with them fine solid 
 particles which fill up the interstices in the gravel. Such an effect 
 could not take place where the gravel was continuously overlaid by 
 compact clay, but much of the soil in and west of Greeley is c^uite 
 porous, and in some places there are streaks of gravel which reach the 
 surface. But be this last assigned cause real or imaginary, the fact 
 that the water table rose to the surface west of town and rose in the 
 cellars, necessitated the construction of a drain from the river east of 
 town, up Main street, about a mile and ^ half long. It was piped 
 with glazed-collared tile made at Golden City. In the lower end the 
 tile were fifteen inches in diameter, and about ten in the upper end. 
 They were laid •some three feet below the surface of the gravel. For 
 about a year the tile discharged a steady stream at the mouth of the 
 ditch nearly up to their capacity. It soon reduced the height of the 
 water table and relieved the cellars along Main street, and its effects 
 extended gradually to other streets north and south of the line of the 
 drain. The great depth at which it is laid in the gravel has enabled 
 it to do a most extensive drainage duty. The porous and somewhat 
 gravelly soil in Greeley makes the best kind of street material, and it 
 may be said that a muddj^ street is a thing unknown. But to return 
 to our drain; at this date, March 20th, there is no drainage water 
 being discharged from it. The lower end, which passes through the 
 business part of the town^ is used as a sewer, and has to be cleaned 
 out by an occasional slushing from the water works. After irrigation, 
 which is now^ being started for the season in Greeley, has been going 
 on a mouth or two, drainage water will again flow in the drain. 
 
 Our drain has encountered one serious difficulty in the matter of the 
 small filirous roots of the trees, on the sides of the street adjacent to
 
 THE TSIOS COLONY OF COLORADO. 209 
 
 the drain, getting into the tile at the joints. These fibers soon form 
 bundles and almost completely stop the flow of the water. Man-holes 
 every 500 feet have to be kept open for the purpose of enabling the 
 drain to be dredged of these obstructions, and last season a large part 
 of the cbain was opened up again, and the joints cemented at an ex- 
 expense of about 1700. But this cannot be done all along the line, or 
 else it would be ruiued for drainage purposes. Cutting, down the trees 
 would be a sure remedy, but along this line is the finest row of maples 
 in town, and cutting them down is not to be thought of. The maples 
 are not so bad in this regard as the cotton woods, and if these were cut 
 down the chief difficulty would be removed. If the drain had been 
 put in the center of the street, which is forty feet from the trees, the 
 roots would not have troubled it. 
 
 During some years in the autumn, Greeley has had many cases of 
 typhoid fever, and this has been quite often attributed to the contam- 
 ination of the well water through organic impurities getting into it 
 more ancf more as population increased and irrigation extended. But 
 it is to be observed that one of the worst typhoid autumns we have 
 had was that of 1871, when the cause above assigned had scarceh' any 
 existence. It is farther to be noted that typhoid has proportionately 
 as many victims in the country as in the town. There seems to be 
 but little grounds for most of the specidations now afloat about the 
 cause of typhoid fever, and in this connection we may mention that^ 
 during its latest prevalence, when we had artesian water in use for 
 domestic purpose in more than half the houses in Greeley, those using 
 weU water were taken with the disease in no greater proportion than 
 those using the artesian. This leads us to speak of the artesian wells 
 of this place. 
 
 The discovery at Denver of artesian water at the moderate depth of 
 from three to four hundred feet, led other towns along the base of the 
 foothills to make experimental borings. Our first well was commenced 
 about the middle of August, 1883, by the Swan Brothers as contract- 
 ors. The contract was made for eight hundred feet. Kock was struck 
 at forty feet. It was a blue shale. No water beyond that from the 
 gTavel overlying the rock was found at eight hundred feet, and a new 
 contract was made to push the drilling down two thousand feet, if 
 need be. At eleven hundred and fifty feet the drill passed into a fine- 
 grained, bluish-grey sandstone, and a verj^ distinct odor of fish oil was 
 brought up by the bailer a few feet farther, and water arose to the top 
 in a slight stream, bringing with it a small amount of tarry substance 
 which, when examined, proved to be an oil of fishy origin. That it 
 w-as not petroleum was e vide tit by its solubility in ether and alkalies, 
 
 14
 
 210 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 and by its fishy odor. Tliere were only about twenty-five or thirty 
 feet of water-bearing sandstone, when the drill passed again into shale 
 of precisely the same character as that alcove.* The flow being only 
 light, it was concluded to continue the drilling at least two thousand 
 feet. But there was so great a depth of water in the hole that the 
 effect of the tools was much lessened, and so it was concluded to put 
 in a heavy iron casing about six inches in diameter, the whole weigh- 
 ing twelve tons. The hole had to be reamed out, and tools were lest 
 and had to be fished out by other tools brought from the Pennsylva- 
 nia oil regions. When the hole was ready to receive it, this twelve 
 tons of iron piping had to he lowered into it, screwing on sections of 
 eighteen feet in length, one after another, at the top, and lowering the 
 whole, suspended by a rope, as the work went on. To lessen the strain 
 on the rope, a wooden plug was driven into the lower end of the pipe 
 so as to in part float it. The immense pressure of the water forced 
 this plug up into the pipe to within two hundred feet of the surface, 
 and the pipe sHpped from the grip of the tackle when ther§ were just 
 two more sections to put on. This was done, when it was found that 
 the lower end of the pipe had collapsed, and had to be drilled out, 
 and then quite a flow of water from the 1,150 foot vein ran out over 
 the upper end of the pipe for about two hours, when the heavy iron 
 pipe settled and stopped the flow. This was estimated at one barrel 
 per minute, and Swan advised that it were better to secure this flow 
 than try any farther. But, in order to do this, it was necessary to 
 withdraw the 1,400 feet of iron piping all screwed together, and the 
 whole had to be hfted at first until section after section was unscrewed. 
 About two hundred feet had been drilled below the point where water 
 was reached and, after the removal of the heavy iron pipe, a four-inch 
 one was put in with a " packer " just below the flow to force it all up 
 
 the pipe. 
 
 But the flow did not seem satisfactory, and as the county had agreed 
 to pay 11,000 of the expense for an experimental well, work was re- 
 sumed, the heavy iron pipe being again put in place of the smaller 
 one. When a depth of al)out 2,300 feet was reached the contractor re- 
 ported that it was impossible to proceed farther, as it was caving in. 
 
 It is generally beheved that the real cause why work was stopped 
 by the contracting party, was that his cable was wearing out and was 
 nearly used up in length; and also that the engine was not strong 
 
 *From an article by Dr. G. Law in Greeley Tribune, May 28, 1884; 
 and this article is the chief source of the information now extant about 
 this first well.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 211 
 
 <euough to handle nearly half a mile of wet cable in addition to a drill 
 of 1200 pounds weight. 
 
 Dr. Law always regrets that the work sliould have been stopped at 
 this depth. He saj-s that the United States Geological survey shows 
 that the thickness of this cretaceous shale is 2,600 feet, as measured 
 along the outcrops on the banks of the Missouri river in Dakota, and 
 that it is underlaid by the Dakota conglomerate — a water bearing vein, 
 and from its coarseness, if water were found in it at all, it would have 
 given an abundant flow. But wells of such a depth would have been 
 very expensive, although they would have cost no such amount as this 
 experimental well. Still wells 2500 feet deep could not have cost less 
 than $6,000 apiece. Then there is no knowing what the quality of the 
 water would have been. 
 
 It here might be added that the same stratum of sand rock as 
 yields our artesian water was struck in Lovelaud at 1,400 feet, but it 
 had so much common salt in it as to be good for nothing for domestic 
 use. Farther, Dr. Law informs me that the Swan Brothers, in boring 
 at Cheyenne; went through 1,400 feet of drift, the thickest deposit on 
 record, and then gave it up, not yet having touched bedrock. The 
 depth of drift over the cretaceous shale varies more than the surface 
 level would indicate, the shale being unevenh^ eroded before the drift 
 was deposited over it. Thus there were some eighty feet of drift 
 above the rock where the well south of J. F. Fezer's house was put 
 down. Moreover, there is a vein- of soft water found in the north part 
 of town some ten to twenty feet below the surface of the shale, but 
 when Mr. Hunter tried to find this vein at his residence in the south 
 part of town, he struck a vein of very impure, undriukable water at 
 a depth of about 100 feet. The quantity of water yielded by these 
 soft water wells is small, but it is preferred to the artesian for drink- 
 ing^ and is equally as good for washing. Dr. Law thinks' that it arises 
 from the artesian vein through some crevice in the shale. No analysis 
 has been made of it to ascertain in what it differs from the artesian 
 water. 
 
 The artesian water was supposed to be quite medicinal in its prop- 
 erties. An analysis of it was made at Michigan University and it 
 compared favorably with the court house artesian well at Denver. 
 These analyses will be given farther on for comparison with the water 
 from our water works. In an article written for The Greeley Tribune 
 of September 24, 1884, which paper he was then editing in company 
 with Mr. Carver, Kalph Meeker says about the artesian water : " The 
 Avaters beyond all question are highly beneficial to invalids. More 
 people patronize the well to-day than when it was first opened. Con-
 
 212 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 ductors aud l^rakemen ou the railway trains use it exclusively, carry- 
 ing it away in milk cans. A gentleman in .Platteville makes regular 
 journej^s of some twenty miles for this water, which he says has done 
 him much good.'' 
 
 In fact it was as much the rage as Gun Wa's Chinese remedies are 
 to-day. But its charm has passed away. Is it because that it has 
 become so common, made to do quite mean service in our bed-rooms^ 
 kitchens or laundi-ies; or is it that it no longer is a natural overflow, 
 having now to be pumped as any other less m3'sterious water suVjject 
 to obvious laws of gravity ? Whatever the cause, it stands discredited 
 as a panacea for stomach and kidney troubles, those steadily drinking 
 it being just as dyspeptic and dysuric as those drinking the common 
 well water. 
 
 We have spoken of artesian water as having now to be pumped. 
 This has come about in this way. Some seven other wells in rapid 
 succession were put down by parties in different parts of the town. 
 The cost of each of these was on an average about $2,500, aud usually 
 enough joined these companies to make it cost each about |100. In 
 this way, and including the public weU, more than half the people 
 were supi)lied with artesian water. But as the number increased the 
 flow in each slackened; and Avhen Mr. Hunter put a steam pump in 
 his well at the Oasis hotel, the water ceased to overflow in all the rest. 
 It now had to be pumped in all of them, the surface of the water in 
 the different wells being on an average about forty feet below 
 the surface of the ground. Some wells were pumped by windmills, 
 some by small kerosene engines and some by hand. They are all 
 quite hkely soon to l^e pumped by motors run by the city water works. 
 Two of these motors are at work now, and it appears that in nine 
 hours per week one of them can pump enough artesian water to last 
 the families taking water from a well for that length of time. The 
 cost to each family is about the same to pump the artesian water as 
 would be charged for the water from the water works. The price 
 charged by the city comicil for water to run these motors is as yet 
 based upon no experience or calculation determining how much it 
 ought to be in equit}' to the other citizens using and paying for the 
 water from the city water works. If more water is di-awn from the 
 water works to raise a given quantity of artesian water into the tanks 
 for distribution than the quantity so raised, then, it is evident that 
 the city in affording power for motors to these wells at less cost per 
 famil}' than from the water works is making an unjust discrimination. 
 It can easily be determined by experiment how much one of these 
 nozzles affording water for the motors discharges per minute, and
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 213 
 
 this compared with the filhng of the tank of the well will give the 
 ratio. Theoretically a 5-16 nozzle with our pressure of about 160 feet 
 ought to discharge tweutj- gallons per minute. 
 
 As ahead}' mentioned incidentally our water works were only com- 
 pleted last summer. The lateness of undertaking this town improve- 
 ment was due to the facts that the town had good water supplies for 
 domestic purposes, as also plenty of water for irrigating gardens and 
 lawns. Hence when the first vote was taken in April, 1880, to bond 
 the to^Ti for .160,000 for water works, only forty- two votes were cast, 
 and of these all but one were against it. So the matter rested until 
 July, 1888, when a petition was presented which ran as follows, and 
 was signed by the men whose names are hereto annexed : 
 
 WATER WORKS. 
 
 ^'To the Honorable Mayor and Council of the City of Greeley, 
 
 Colorado : — 
 
 " Whereas, The urgent need of better supply of water for domestic, 
 sanitary and fire purposes is acknowledged by our citizens generally 
 to exist, we, your petitioners, earnestly ask your Honorable body to 
 take the matter under consideration without delay, with a \dew of 
 building a complete system of water works at the earliest possible 
 moment : 
 
 " E. H. Abbott, Patrick Bready, W. M. Boomer, H. H. Barton, E. R. 
 Thayer, H. W. Lee, A. C. WilsJn, E. Atkinson, Geo. K. Peasly, J. A. 
 Clark, A. J. Park, James C. Scott, A. W. Davis, Geo. H. West, Charles 
 H. Wheeler, H. T. West, John W. Sanborn, F. F. Hart, F. E. Smith, 
 X. W. Hall, J. E. Davis, J. T. Woolens, R. L. Hallock, S. H. Southard, 
 T. T. Wilson, J. M. Wallace, H. C. Watson, J. B. Cooke, A. W. Jacobs, 
 Wm. L. Clayton, E. M. Southard, L. T. Brownell, L. Warner, M. A. 
 Bunker, E. A. Smith, J. Max. Clark. B. H. Eaton, G. B. Wyman, 
 Wood & Mayher, James McVety, H. L. Wyman, H. B. Jackson, R. H. 
 Johns, D. F. Camp, Geo. W. Fisk, A. M. Nixon, E. F. Dawley, Geo. S. 
 Adams." 
 
 We have published the above list of names in justice to the City 
 Council, since, as its members claim, many of the names ai3pearing on 
 the petition again appeared in a remonstrance against putting in the 
 works. 
 
 A committee consisting of the Mayor, Messrs. Woodbury and Ben- 
 nett, visited and inspected different systems of water works in this 
 state and in Kansas and Nebraska. On the return of the committee a 
 mass meeting was called at the court house, at which the Council was 
 instructed to call an election to vote on the question of water works.
 
 214 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AXD 
 
 The following article in Tlie Greeley Tribune, November li, 1888^ 
 from the pen of J. J. Stevens, who had not signed the petition, will 
 show clearly the reasons of the opposition : 
 
 " I have consulted all the doctors in Greeley but one, whom I have 
 not been able to see, and asked this question : 'Are the fevers that have 
 prevailed in 'Greeley to be attributed to the water that is used? ' and 
 have received for answer from every one of them ' No,' and have been 
 informed by some of them that fevers occur fully as frequently in the- 
 neighboring towns that have water works and on farms where they 
 have deep wells, and even in the mountains, where the. water is con- 
 sidered faultless, as they do here in Greeley. AYe all know that fam- 
 ilies in Greeley who use artesian water have had their full share of 
 fevers. The pretext of a need of water works on accomit of health 
 cannot be sustained. 
 
 " Water works may be some help in case of fire, but not enough to 
 reduce our insurance rates by one point. I find that in Laramie, where 
 they have an immense gravity pressure, the rates are the same or 
 higher than here. 
 
 " The principal use, then, for our proposed water works must be to 
 supplement our sysbem of irrigation. Of course, any additional facil- 
 ities in that line are desirable, but pumped water is very expensive for 
 irrigation. In Denver the price pei- year for a lawn twenty-five feet 
 square is $25. Our lawns in Greeley are from four to eight times that 
 in size. Do we want to pay from §100 to $200 each to sprinkle lawns? 
 For a small house lawTi and stable the Denver price is .$40 per year 
 and upwards. It is said we are to make the price less here. One 
 thing is certain, the cost of supplying one hmidi-ed persons in Greeley 
 will be very considerably greater than to supply the same number 
 with the same amount of water in Denver. By reason of the scattered 
 situation of the users the pipes must be a great deal longer and the 
 friction greater, and the fuel to rim the engine much more. ^Yhatever 
 of cost is taken off the consumers must of necessity be left on the tax. 
 payers. 
 
 " I believe it a safe estimate that, after deducting all incomes from 
 consumers, the tax payers will have to pay $5,000 a year for interest 
 on bonds, superintendence and repairs. 
 
 " The synopsis of a plan as published, after conducting the water 
 to a tank on the heights says, 'also a system of submains to distribute 
 water through said city or the major portion thereof.' Now it would be 
 very interesting to know which umjor portion of the city is to be sup- 
 plied and which is the minor portion that is to be left out. Of course, 
 as there is a price -specified, there are also exact specifications of what
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 215 
 
 is to be supplied, aud where it is to be placed, and this specification 
 should be pubhshed before the election, so that every voter may know 
 whether he is in the major or the minor regions. 
 
 " I hear it frequently remarked that the vote for water woi'ks is ex- 
 pected to be carried not by the votes of those who are to pay for them, 
 but by votes of those who hope to get jobs in building them. I find 
 by examining the tax list that upwards of ninety citizens who pay taxes 
 on an aggregate assessment of $114,1J:2, about one-tenth of the city 
 assessments, have no vote in this matter. Theij are taxed without repre- 
 sentation. Taxed by the vote of men who will pay no share of the 
 tax. This is a matter that should be considered. I have asked a ^con- 
 siderable number of these citizens how they would vote if they could. 
 The no of every one of them is emphatic, but of course powerless. 
 
 " It is urged that we put in water works because our neighljors have 
 done so. Has the advancement of Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmout 
 and Cheyenne, since they put in water works, been anything that we 
 need to envy? The fact is their progress has none of the time been, aud 
 it is not now equal to ours. Their lawns and gardens are no finer; in 
 fact, not nearly so fine, and their taxes very considerably higher. Is 
 there anything in all this that makes it necessary for us to incur a 
 large debt? 
 
 "I have known several thrifty towns to have their growth stopped 
 and a paralysis come over them b}^ a ' Hip, hip, hurrah I ' policy that 
 overwhelmed them with debt. I never knew a heavy indebtedness to 
 recommend any town as a place for a home. The penaltj^ of town 
 bonds is annual and eternal interest." 
 
 When the vote was taken it Avas light, being only Sil. while in the 
 town precincts ^t the regular election two weeks before it was 925. The 
 majoi'ity was 54, which all came from the first precinct, the majority 
 of l-l in favor in the third being balanced by a majority of the same 
 number against in the second. The majority in fact was made up of 
 the floating ijopulation still hanging around town after potato digging. 
 If the property owners alone had been allowed to vote, the measure 
 could not have been carried. If the vote had been for the issue of 
 bonds, the floating population could not have voted; but Colonel 
 White was too shrewd a political manager for that, and had the vote 
 instead " for or against water works," and on that general question all 
 electors could vote. 
 
 By many it was thought that bonds could not be issued bj' virtue of 
 the above vote, and public meetings were held, and a remonstrance 
 was sent to the Council asking it not to issue bonds. This it saw fit to 
 disregard, and the law^-er employed by the remonstrants advised that
 
 216 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 the City Couucil had power to issue the bonds, and so all opposition 
 was given up. 
 
 The system so completed has cost $63,928.33. The following is the 
 amount of cast iron pipe used: 
 
 41,960 feet of 4-inch pipe. 
 
 3,205 feet of 6- inch pipe. 
 
 4,208 feet of 8-inch pipe. 
 
 3,972 feet of 10-inch pipe. 
 
 5,383 feet of 12-iuch pipe, and 46 double discharge fire hydi-ants of 
 the Chapman pattern. The Eddy valves are used in the system. 
 
 T]^e pumping station cost, coinplete, 111,849.01. 
 
 A steel stand pipe, located on Arlington Heights, 134 feet above the 
 grade of Main street, at post-office corner, cost |2,883, and has a ca- 
 pacity of 160,000 gallons. 
 
 The above costs include the price of twenty acres of land, which 
 was $800. It was deemed advisable to have this much to keep popu- 
 lation away from the site of the works, and so prevent contamination. 
 
 The w^orks take water from a well northwest of town, within some 
 quarter of a mile of the river. The water at tliis point is struck, when 
 it is highest, at about six feet below the surface. The well was put 
 down twenty-two feet, and is ten feet in diameter clear of the 
 casing. The lower twelve feet is cased with 2x12 plank in pieces of 
 about three feet long, laid flatwise, the upper part vnth. a brick wall 
 twelve inches thick, laid in mortar. At the present time of writing, 
 March 25th, the water in the well is about its lowest stage, and is eight 
 feet from the surface instead of six, when it was first operated last 
 July. The steam pump, which has a guaranteed capacity of 1,000,000 
 gallons per day, can lower this head twelve feet in operating forty-five 
 minutes. This brings down the w^ater to within two feet of the bottom 
 of the well. The water from the well is lifted into the forcing cylinder 
 of the pump l^y suction, and when the water in the well is two feet 
 deep, the height of the cylinder is about twenty-one feet above the 
 surface of the water. At this level the water rises too slowly in the 
 pipe connecting the cyhnder mth the well to fill the cylinder, while 
 the pump is making one stroke at ordinary speed. Hence, as the pis- 
 ton under heavy steam pressure is working during a part of its stroke 
 only against empty space, it strikes the water with a jerk and gives -a 
 thudding jar to the whole machinery. This can be prevented by slow- 
 ing the speed, so that the cylinder is filled during a stroke. A mistake 
 was made in only putting in an eight-inch pipe to connect the cylinder 
 with the well. This pipe is just of the same diameter as that of the 
 main at the pump-works, which is operated by high pressure steam
 
 THE UMON COLONY OF COLORADO. 217 
 
 acting on pistons of twelve inches diameter. It was intended by the 
 authorities here to have twelve-inch pipe in the well, and such a pipe 
 is now on hand, l)ut could not be used, as the connection with the cyl- 
 inder-was only eight inches in diameter. A special connection is 
 needed of twelve inches diameter at one end, and eight at the other, and 
 then, after all, the water would have to reach the cylinder through an 
 aperture eight inches in diameter. The best remedy, and one in- 
 tended to be applied wheji its need became apparent, is the rimuing 
 of a gallery, say five feet at the bottom below the present water surface 
 and as far back as required to keep the well full to the height at which 
 it can be continuousl}- pumped with full cylinder at regular speed. 
 
 It might be here farther added that the well which was pumped 
 down twelve feet in forty-five minutes, was about seventy minutes in 
 filling. About twenty minutes is as long as the pump can be run now 
 at a time with full cylinder and regular stroke. As the capacity of 
 the pump is aljout that of an eighty-acre water right in the Larimer 
 and Weld canal, it can be seen about what sort of a well might be 
 expected to furnish water for a pump that can raise this quantity. 
 Here, the material through which the water has to flow to reach the 
 walls of the well is coarse gravel, and. hence, affords the best facilities. 
 It will be ecouoni}' in constructing these irrigating wells to make 
 galleries to them, and when the overlying clay is deep, this will have 
 to be done by tunneling. 
 
 The town was bonded for $65,000 to put in these works. The rate 
 of interest is 7 per cent. It also has a floating indebtedness of about 
 •122,000. ^Ye have seen that the school district bonds are $22,500. 
 Hence we have a total indebtedness of about $110,000. The floating 
 indebtedness was principally incurred for the artesian well and the 
 d'-ain and sewer before mentioned. In the opinion of the writer the 
 expenditure for water works was not a judicious one. The interest on 
 the bonds is $1,550 per year, or about four and a half miUs on the 
 dollar of assessment. At the present rates for water, which are merely 
 nominal, there is no prospect that the income will pay the running 
 expenses for years to come. The rates for six-room houses per year 
 are only five dollars, and the same for lawns fifty feet front. Yet with 
 all this cheapness comparatively few take the water. Charles A. White , 
 the Mayor at the time that the works were started, does not himself 
 take the water, although he claims great credit for carrying the meas- 
 ure through in the face of strong opposition. W^hile we are writing 
 this he is irrigating his lawn with ditch water rather than pay five 
 dollars a year for a lawn jet. Still the mayor and council are not to 
 blame for originating the movement, as will be seen by looking over
 
 218 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 the list of petitioners, which, inckides nearly all the business men of 
 the place. The real estate men and money loaners were chiefly the 
 originators, expecting thereby to ^vork up a " boom," which however 
 has not come, as our friend J. J. Stevens predicted it would not". As 
 it is, it benefits a few luxurious persons too lazy to pump their water 
 some twelve to fifteen feet, or to look after the ditch water to irrigate 
 their lawns. Of course these sprays look beautiful, and are a great 
 convenience, but if those using them had to pay for them, what the 
 real expense is, there would be few playing. As a rule the greed of 
 those using sprays on their lawns, is so great that thej'^ overdo the 
 watering; for by keeping the leaves of the grass nearly permanently 
 wet, it is made of a pale green, sickly color. A thorough flooding 
 every ten days, getting well to the roots, and leaving the leaves plenty 
 of chance to evaporate the water that copiously passes through the 
 plant, facilitates the process of plant nutrition; and produces the 
 chlorophyl grains which give to the plant its dark green, healthy 
 color. 
 
 We are now to consider the quality of the water works' water, and 
 compare it with that of the artesian wells. As regards inorganic impuri- 
 ties, and hence hardness, the former can in no wa}' differ from the well 
 water. However, so far as health is concerned, the organic impurities 
 are the ingredients to be feared. In this respect the water of the 
 water works must have a great advantage over well water in the 
 thickly settled part of town, but scarcel}" any over wells in the sparsely 
 settled part, and especially to the west, from which direction the 
 underground flow comes. 
 
 Below we give the analysis of the artesian water as analyzed at 
 Michigan University and in comparison that of the Court House 
 artesian water of Denver : 
 
 GREELEY WELL. 
 
 Specific Gravity— 1.00107 (at 60 degrees F.) Reaction— Alkaline. 
 
 In one United States sallon, 221 cubic inches. 
 
 Bicarbonate of sodium, grains 14.1284 
 
 Bicarbonate of nia.i<nc iuin, grains ... 0.5075 
 
 Bicarbonate of calcium, grains. 0.5775 
 
 Chloride of sodium, grains 37.3299 
 
 Ferric oxide, ^ rains 0.2391 
 
 Alum, oxide, grains C.0583 
 
 Silica, grains 6.2994 
 
 Sidphates, slight traces 
 
 Total solids, grains 89.4401 
 
 Carbonic acid gas, grains *11.1067 
 
 Total constituents, grains 100.545S 
 
 *0r 29.22 cubic inchas at 60 degrees b'.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 219 
 
 COURT HOUSE WELL, DENVER. 
 
 Grains 
 Solid residue— 33 01 to gal. 
 
 Calcium, sulphate 36 
 
 Calcium, carbonate , , I 64 
 
 Sodium, carbonaie 15.83 
 
 Sodiiun, chloride " 14.04 
 
 Magnesium, carbonate 0.32 
 
 Ferrous, carbonate 0.06 
 
 Silica 0. 63' 
 
 Total 32 . 88 
 
 Lime (CaO) 1.07 
 
 Magnesia (MgO» 0.15 
 
 Soda (Na20) 16 71 
 
 Ferrous oxide (FeO) 0.04 
 
 Sulphuric oxide (S03) 0.2i 
 
 Silica (SI02) 0.63 
 
 Chlorine (CI) • 8.52 
 
 The following is the analysis, made at the Agricultural College by 
 the chemist, of the water of the Gfreeley water works : 
 
 The State Agricultuk.\l College. ) 
 Agricultural Experiiif;xt st.\tion, 
 
 Fort Collins, Colo.. Aus<-. 19, 1889. ) 
 M7\ LaGranfie, Greeley, Colorado : 
 
 Dear Sir— The examination of the solitls of the Greeley water was us fulllows: 
 Found 73 grains of solids in a g;il. 
 
 Iron and alumina ( Fe2 03 x A12 03) equal 4.41 per cent 
 
 Lime (Ca O) equal 13, 83 per cent 
 
 Magnesia (Mg O) equal 6.24 p er cent 
 
 Carbonic acid (Co2) equal I7.79 per cent 
 
 C^hlorine (CI) equal 2 25 per cent 
 
 Sulphuric, acid (S 03) equal 37. 71 per cent 
 
 Alkalies (Soda Na2 O) equal 1754 per cent 
 
 99.77 
 
 Examination of the water (Gi-eeley), was as follows : 
 
 Oxygen required (F'orchammer) 32.6 to liter 
 
 Hardness, (total) 26.4 grains to gal 
 
 Hardness, permanent 18.2 grains to gal 
 
 Hardness, temporary 6.4 grains to gal 
 
 Free ammonia OO19 grain.s to gal 
 
 Albuminoid ammonia 00084 grains to gal 
 
 Chlorine (CI) I.5 grains to gal 
 
 Nitrates i .,., 
 
 Nitrites ..'.'.[".'.'.]".. i"^""^ determined 
 
 Explanation of the analysi.'^: 
 
 Solids. The water is tiltered. and evaporated to dryness on the water bath at the 
 temperature of boiling water, the dried solid matter analyzed. In combining the 
 basis and acids the rule is that the strong base is combined with the strong acid, mak- 
 ing the residue a chloride of sodium, (common salt), a sulphate of iron, alumina, and 
 magnesia ; and a carbonate of lime, (limestone). 
 
 Water. The amount of oxygen required, (method of Forchammer), is conducted, as 
 follows: A standard solution of permanganate of potassium is added to the water and it 
 is boiled for 15 minutes, when the amount of oxygen used up by the water i.s estimated 
 by a standard solution of oxalic acid. The more oraanic matter in the water, the more 
 permanganate it reduces— the limit of good drinking water is about .50. t< the liter,
 
 220 
 
 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AXD 
 
 (about 1 quart). The hardness means the amount of lime and magnesia the water 
 contains. Water that contains carbonic acid dissolves limestone, this is the reason 
 that caves occur in limestone countries. Cold water dissolves more lime than hot 
 water; if the water is boiled the carbonic acid is driven off, some lime is deposited, and 
 It IS called permanent hardness, the difTerence between the total hardness and the per- 
 manent hardness is the temporary hardness. 
 
 The free ammonia, and the albuminoid ammonia' are very small. 
 
 The nitrates and the nitrites were not estimated, as the water was so good that the 
 amount would be but traces. 
 
 I take pleasure in stating that it is very good water. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 DAVID O'BRTXE. 
 
 P. S. I send you a sample of the residue, you will see by the color it is quite nice. 
 
 It will be seen in comparing the above two kinds of artesian water 
 that the Greeley article has more than two and one-half times as much 
 sohd matter, but that the proportions of sodium and magnesium car- 
 bonates, and sodium chlorides (or common salt) are about the same. 
 On the other hand the absolute quantity of calcium carbonate is three 
 times as much in the Denver water, and hence it is harder. In our 
 water there is only a trace of the sulphates. The presence of free 
 carbonic acid in our water also makes it contrast favorably with that 
 of Denver in which it is lacking. It is no doubt owing to this excess 
 of carbonic acid that the salts formed by this acid in the G-reeley 
 water are bicarbonates, while they are only simple carbonates in the 
 Denver article. If either of the above mineral waters has any medic- 
 inal virtue that from the Greeley wells should be preferable." But it 
 has always occurred to the \witer that if any natural mineral water has 
 medicinal properties, it can be reproduced quite easily artificially, and 
 that the latter should be equal to the former but for the glamour of it, 
 or, in other words, the play of imagination. The Denver well has lost 
 its charm and so also has ours, and crowds of pilgrims no longer 
 stand around in waiting for their turn. 
 
 In comparing the well water with the artesian, it will be seen that 
 the former has some less solid matter, but has a great deal of carbon- 
 ates of lime and magnesia, which give it its hardness. The compara- 
 tively small quantity of common salt in the well water, compared with 
 artesian, is also worthy of note, as also the presence in excessive quan- 
 tity of sulphate of soda, formed from the sulphuric acid and soda 
 given in the table. The comparative freedom from organic impurities 
 is the chief point of interest in the analysis. At the date w^hen the 
 water was taken it had quite likely as high a percentage of impurities 
 as at any other time of the year, as the river was low and return seep- 
 age water was reaching it from the copious irrigation of the two and a 
 half months preceding. In fact, the water is good drinking water, 
 clear as crystal and pleasant to the ta.ste. It has not enough salts in
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 221 
 
 it to be noticad in drinking or to provoke complaints of the bowels, 
 and it may be farther said in extenuation of the fault we have found 
 with the Board for putting in a svstem at all, and thus creating our 
 first bonded indebtedness, that the work has l^een done thoroughly and 
 economically, and the system is one of the best and cheapest in the 
 country. If the works were kept operating up to their capacity, water 
 furnished at the rate of four hundred gallons for one cent would pay 
 interest on the bonds, operating expenses and repairs. The interest is 
 just about 112.50 per day, and allowing the same amount for running 
 night and day and keeping in repairs, we have $25 or 2,500 cents, 
 which goes 100 times into 1,000,000. This is more than twelve barrels, 
 and far more than any family could use in a da}^. So it can be seen 
 that, if all the water were taken, the town is furnishing it none too 
 cheaply. But the interest on the bonds is just as much, whether anv is 
 used or not, and the operating expenses would not be quite doubled if 
 working up to capacity. If people had only any assurance that the 
 present low prices would be maintained, there are few who are not 
 supplied with artesian water that would not take it before long. But 
 the City Council is a changing body, and cannot give assurances which 
 will extend far into the future. However, it would seem to the writer 
 that it would be a wise policy to continue the present low price for do- 
 mestic use, and also for motors, at the same rate, until the capacity of 
 the works is nearly reached. As to the cost for lawns, it appears that 
 it is now disproportionately low as compared with that for domestic 
 use, and the sup^jly can be ol^tained from the irrigation works as be- 
 fore, and at a cost of only a $1.25 for fifty-foot front or one-quarter 
 that from the water works. Just how much a lawn fifty feet square 
 wiU use during eight months can be estimated closely. Under the old 
 system a flooding about six inches deep was applied every ten davs. 
 This over an area of fifty feet square will give about 10,000 gallons, or 
 1,000 gallons a day, or for the year an average of 666 gallons per day. 
 It appears to the writer that, in using the hydrants, more water is 
 used, as the evaporation is much more from a constantly wet surface. 
 The price for fifty feet front is only |5, and for one hundred only |8. 
 The depth is not taken into account. A just basis would be superficial 
 contents. However, assuming that the same quantity is used from 
 the hydrants as from the occasional floodings, we have about twenty 
 barrels a day average for the year for the same price as that used in a 
 private housej of six rooms, where not more than two barrels a day 
 would be used. It may be said that the lawns and flower beds are 
 things of beauty to be enjoyed by all whose minds are not cankered 
 by envy and jealousy, as weU as by the owners. However, if this were
 
 222 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 made a basis of taxation, houses should be assessed according to their 
 cubic contents and not increased in vakiation on account of their ex- 
 pensive exterior ornamentation. It will, however, be well on in the 
 twentieth century Avhen the average man will feel as much pleasure in 
 saying to himself, " That thing of beauty is my neighbor's or friend's " 
 as he will in saying, " It is mine." 
 
 It is to be noted that we in this valley of the Poudre are fortunate 
 in not having mining operations going on in the mountains west of us 
 to contaminate the waters of our river for domestic purposes, and ren- 
 der barren our fields when irrigated with the water bearing in suspen- 
 sion the waste of mining operations. Boulder is just finding that its 
 water is no longer fit to drink, and will have to push out its system of 
 pipes into the snowy range above the mines, it is estimated, at a cost 
 of |160,0C)0. 
 
 It may, in closing this topic, be said that it is much better to get our 
 Avater from a well and galleries some distance from the river than to 
 draw direct and try to filter, as Fort Collins does. When the river is 
 muddy, this filtering succeeds only to a small degree in clearing the 
 water of matter held in suspension, while in our case the water will 
 be as clear at flood time as at low water, and there will be but a small 
 difference against us in hardness as compared with drawing direct. 
 When the river is bank full of melted snow water it is comparatively 
 soft, but in getting to our well it will be mixed with " seepage " water.
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 LATE IMPR0VE3IENTS IN GREELEY — ELECTRIC LIGHTING — GREELEY IRRIGA- 
 TION PUMP FACTORY — IRRIGATING PUMPS BY HORSE POWER — THE OASIS 
 HOTEL — BILLIARD SALOON AT OASIS — STEAJI LAUNDRY — POTATO WARE- 
 HOUSES — Salomon's warehouse — the greeley elevator and potato 
 
 WAREHOUSE — PATTERSON POTATO WAREHOUSE — GREELEY MERCANTILE 
 COMPANY, AND ITS WAREHOUSE — FIRST NATIONAL BANK BLOCK — THE 
 OPERA HOUSE AND HUNTER & WEST BANK BLOCK — S. D. HUNTER — UNION 
 BANK BLOCK — REAL ESTATE BUSINESS — SANBORN & PHILLIPS — AGRICUL- 
 TURAL IMPLEMENT BUSINESS — F. E. SMITH AND LOUIS HAYNES — PETER 
 HUFFSMITH — J. MAX, CLARK — FARR & TAYLOR — LUMBER AND OTHER 
 BUILDING MATERIAL — WOOD & MAYHER — J. K. THOMPSON — W. L. 
 CLAYTON — BRICK YARDS -STONE SHIPPED IN — LIVERY STABLES — GRA- 
 HAm's AND miner's — TILE FACTORY — PICKLE FACTORY — PAPER MILL IN 
 THE NEAR FUTURE — GREELEY CREAMERY — RAILROAD RECEIPTS — POPULA- 
 TION — POSTOFFICE, BUSINESS OF — SAVINGS BANK. 
 
 OUTSIDE of Denver, Greeley was the first place in the state to 
 put iu an Electric Light plant. This was done in the fall of 
 1885 by the Greeley Electric Light company, and the plant 
 is now worth |35,000. It is run by two engines, each of forty- 
 five-horse power. There are two Thompson and Houston electro- 
 dynamos. It has thirty miles of mains. The city rents of it thirty- 
 seven street lights. These are incandescent and of sixteen caudle 
 power each. The cost to the city is twenty -eight dollars j^er year per 
 lamp, or $1,036. It is the intention to replace these street lamps by ten 
 arc lights of 2,000 candle jDOwer each. 
 
 For domestic use the price is one dollar and twenty-five cents per 
 month for each incandescent lamp of sixteen candle power. The 
 stock is all owned by Greeley men, and it is now being managed and 
 operated by home men. H. F. Flower is manager and has within 
 a year or two learned all the details of the operations, leaving his old 
 business as druggist and engaging in this new hue of work with an 
 ardor and zeal which are highly worthy of admiration. He is not 
 ashamed to wear the soiled and grease-stained garments, which this 
 kind of work makes necessary. An experiment is now being made in 
 using the electricity from these works as a power to run small motors.
 
 224: A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 If it can be used as eeonomicallj as steam it Mill come into general 
 use. as it is much cleaner, and requires less labor for its application. 
 The Greeley Tribune has just put in one of these electric motors, in 
 place of its steam boiler, and this book is being printed b}' that power. 
 
 Next in order is the Greeley Irrigation Pump Factory. The capital 
 stock of this company is |150,000, and 1141,000 is paid up. The plant 
 is near the railroad track and was put in during the sinnmer of 1889. 
 It can do all kinds of foundry and machine work, but makes a 
 specialty of large pumps for short lifts of water for irrigation purposes. 
 It has secured several valuable patents, and its officers and managers 
 are inventing and projecting others. It is receiving many orders from 
 most of the arid states and territories, and also from the South to 
 raise water for irrigating rice fields. The plant has so far cost $32,000, 
 and it is intended to add another builtling during the coming summer. 
 From tliirty to forty men are steadily employed, and many are 
 Greeley men, and not a few of our young men are learning the trade. 
 The most of the outside hands that have come here have accepted 
 with satisfaction the temperance situation. A few have given some 
 trouble, but a judicious weeding-out will soon set things right in this 
 regard, and George H. West and Dr. G. Law are not likel}- to allow 
 much irregularity in this line. Two-thirds of the stock are owned by 
 Greeley parties, viz : Dr. G. Law, George H. West and J. C. Swan. 
 The other third is owned by J. J. Crippen, of Kansas City, who is 
 president of the company. 
 
 In connection with steam jiumps we might mention some three dif- 
 ferent styles of horse-power pumps, of simjDle and cheap construction, 
 now about to be manufactured in Greeley. Some of these pumps, it 
 is claimed, with four horse-power, will raise an eighty-acre water right 
 from a depth of twenty feet. In certain situations these pumps will 
 do valuable service, but there have not been experiments enough made 
 to warrant much outlay until it is seen that the subteiTanean water 
 supply is likely to hold out. 
 
 The building of the Oasis Hotel was an event in Greeley. Until 
 this was opened, hotel accommodations were very inferior in Greeley, 
 and it was shunned by the drianmer. But since the erection of this 
 palace we have grown in the opinion of the traveling pul)lic. It was 
 built during the summer of 1881 by a stock company. Many of the 
 citizens took small portions of this stock as a bonus to start the enter- 
 prise, not expecting to get any pecuniary return. In this they were 
 not disappointed, and were glad to give it up. The concern soon fell 
 into the hands of Dr. Charles Emerson, James M. Freeman, Bruce 
 Johnson and S. D. Hunter. The latter bought out, as occasion offered,
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 
 
 •>yi 
 
 the other three and leut all his energies in trying to make it a success. 
 He succeeded iu making it pay about the time he sold it, Avhich was 
 last year. The building with its furnishing cost $85,000. It contains 
 about 100 fine rooms for guests; it is steam heated, has a supply ])oth 
 of artesian and city water, and is lighted by electricity. There are 
 three other hotels in Greeley so that the traveler can have his choice. 
 
 The only ))illiard tables in Greeley are connected with the Oasis 
 Hotel and have been run without bringing any trouble from liquor 
 selling in connection. The hotel also runs a steam laundry, at which 
 artesian water is used, and nice work done at low figures. 
 
 One of the principal businesses of the town is handling the large 
 potato crop raised in the vicmity. To do this a number of potato 
 warehouses have been built. One of the first of these was erected by 
 A. Z. Salomon and is now operated by Gale & Price. It has storage for 
 some thirty carloads. The Greeley Elevator, erected in 1880, by J. L. 
 Ewing, also stores potatoes in its ample cellar and part of its first 
 floor. It has storage for eighty carloads. The elevator was built by 
 J. L. Ewing in 1881 at a cost of $22,000. It has storage room for 
 100,000 bushels of grain, besides the storage room for the potatoes, 
 which is in the cellar and on first floor. Mr. Ewing also bought the 
 mill adjoining the elevator, and changed it into a roller process mill 
 with a capacity of four hundred sacks per day. Both mill and ele- 
 vator are now the property of the Colorado Milling and Elevator 
 company, but J. L. Ewing is still manager. He has done much towards 
 building up Greeley. 
 
 R. Patterson also has a potato warehouse in Greeley as well as being 
 the manager of the still larger one in Eaton, of which we have before 
 spoken. The Greele}' warehouse has a capacit}^ of about twenty-five 
 carloads. 
 
 The principal depot for farming produce is the large warehouse of 
 the Greeley Mercantile company. It has a capacity of about one 
 hundred and twenty-five carloads of potatoes and twenty-five car- 
 loads of grain. It has for some time been under the able manage- 
 ment of Henry C. Watson, of whom we spoke at the beginning of 
 this history. Its capital stock is $30,000 and its business has been 
 remunerative, usually being able to make 12 per centum per annum 
 dividends. 
 
 Our three banks occupy the three most conspicuous corners in the 
 business part of Greeley. The National Bank block cost, not includ- 
 ing the price of real estate, about .'?vl:0,(X)0. The president of the 
 bank, J. M. Wallace, came here in 1884:, and since his coming has 
 taken a leading part in ever}- progressive, and humanitarian movement 
 
 15
 
 226 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 of the place. He is one of the creators of the uew Greeley that has 
 arisen gi'adually during the second decade of our existence. The 
 Grreeley Cash Store, which occupies the remainder of the first floor of 
 the First National Bank block with its various lines of goods, does a 
 large and prosperous business. It is carried on by the Mitchell & Patton 
 Merchandise company. The second stor}^ is finely arranged for offices 
 and the whole is steam heated and lighted with electricity. Here 
 also. is the Greeley Public Library, and The Greeley Sun is also pub- 
 fished here. 
 
 The Hunter & West Bank occupies the corner of the first floor of 
 the Opera House block, which is the finest and largest business struct- 
 ure in Greeley. It cost about $85,000, besides the value of the lots. 
 One of these cost |4,000. The Opera House, which occupies the sec- 
 ond floor, is the largest and finest in the state north of Denver, and 
 seats about 800. A large portion of the third story is occupied by the 
 Greeley Business College, of which an account is given in the chapter 
 on education. 
 
 This block was erected by S. D. Hunter, who, during the last ten 
 years, has built up Greeley in more ways than one. He was one of 
 our earliest settlers, but went into the cattle business instead of agri- 
 culture, and in it added materially to his fortune. He sold out while 
 prices of cattle were yet high. He then commenced to make exten- 
 sive purchases of real estate in Greeley, which soon gave it an upward 
 tendency. His first extensive building undertaking was the renova- 
 tion of the Barnum Block, which has been renamed Park Place, on 
 the corner of which is the post-office. This is a three-story building, 
 and cost about $40,00(3. 
 
 The Union Bank block occupies perhaps the most desirable corner 
 in Greeley The two lots on which it stands cost about 110,000, and 
 the structure about .f40,000. This, too, is steam heated and fighted 
 throughout with electricity. Some very fine living rooms as well as 
 offices occupy the second floor. 
 
 The capital stock of the Union Bank is $100,000. It has been in 
 existence some sixteen years, and has done a profitable business. 
 When not expending for improvements it easily makes dividends of 
 12 per cent per annum. 
 
 The real estate business in Greeley is more modest in its out-put of 
 oflices and signs than in most Western towns. Sanborn & Phillips, 
 two of the young men that have grown up with the place, are the 
 principal oj^erators, but do, in connection with it, an extensive loaning 
 and insurance business, and also furnish abstracts of title. 
 
 The agricultural implement business, together with wagons, buggies
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 227 
 
 and engines, is an extensive one in Greeley. The largest operators in 
 these lines are F. E. Smith & Company. Their warehouse has a front- 
 age of one hundred and fifty feet. Their sales amount to about 
 $40,000 per annum. Mr. Smith is a gi-aduate of Cornell University, 
 and although he conquers some leisure for literary and scientific pur- 
 suits, he is a most thorough and successful business man. Coming here 
 penniless, after graduating in 1878, he has succeeded in building up a fme 
 business and adding yearly to his savings. He had the good fortune 
 of being able to gain the hand and win the heart of Dr. Emerson's 
 daughter Minnie, who, besides being a most excellent and judicious 
 wife and mother, al^o conquers for herself leisure not only for practice 
 in instrumental and vocal music, in both of which she is a proficient, 
 but also for solid reading and study ; so that these two grow together 
 beautifully side by side. 
 
 His partner, Louis Haynes, is one of our high school graduates, and 
 is said to be an expert in book-keeping. He is of a most amiable dis- 
 position and winning manners, and hence a valuable associate in trans- 
 acting business. The candor and integrity of both place their credit 
 and business honor on a high footing. 
 
 The other parties in this business are Peter Huffsmith, who has a 
 two-story brick building for handling his stock in this line, and sells 
 about $30,000 j^er year; next J. Max. Clark, who runs this business in 
 connection with blacksmithing and the coal business — sales in this line 
 125,000. 
 
 R. Patterson also carries a heav}" line of implements in connection 
 with his potato warehouse; Farr & Taylor in connection with black- 
 smithing and Southard & Clayton in connection with the lumber busi- 
 ness. It is probable that the total sales in this business reach $120,- 
 000 per annum. * 
 
 There are three firms transacting business in lumber and other 
 building material. Wood & Mayher are perhaps the most extensive 
 operators, and handle yearly about two hundred car-loads, J. K. 
 Thompson about one hundred and twenty, and W. L.Clayton, who has 
 gone into the business recently, about fifty car-loads. The total sales of 
 building material in this line must reach about $120,000. On an aver- 
 age, there are 1,600,000 brick burned, and 500 car-loads of stone are 
 shipped in for building and flagging of streets. Stone is cheaper than 
 brick for foundations ; costs about $30 per car-load. About 1,000 cars 
 of stone will be shipped in this year. Brick are of a superior quality, 
 but cost much more than in Denver. Laid in the wall thej^ cost $12 
 per thousand. Wages for all kinds of labor are high, but this is espec- 
 ially the case with those of bricklayers, first-class workmen getting $6
 
 228 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 per day. Pressed brick are made at the tile factory, but not of the 
 finest quality. Some are also made at our two brickyards, which are 
 run respectively by D. F. Camp and E.M. Nusbaum. 
 
 In the line of livery stables Greele}" is well supplied. Besides two 
 of the ordinary, inferior kind, it has two of brick facing the railroad 
 between the passenger and freight depots, each with a side of 115 
 feet. The first erected belongs to Mrs, Graham, widow of Samuel 
 Graham, and is run by S. W. Bullard. But the one most worthy of men- 
 tion is the Mansion Stable, the property of W. A, Miner. This stable 
 is said to be the finest in the state, Denver having nothing to compare 
 with it in the completeness of its appointments. 
 
 The main building is 50 by 115 feet, tw^o stories high, with a cellar 
 under it for manure of 36 by 46 feet, 9 feet high. There are foiu- 
 dump holes into the cellar and an inclined way from the corral to back 
 into the cellar to haul away the manure. It is walled with a heavy 
 stone wall. Over the first floor, where the stalls and office and harness 
 room are, is storage for one hundred tons of loose hay and straw; also 
 bins for 150,000 pounds of oats. On the west is a one-story lean-to 
 for the carriages, 22 by 70 feet. The hay and grain are raised to sec- 
 ond floor by horse power, and it is expected to put in a water motor 
 from the water ^vorks, if it can be done economically, and then it is in- 
 tended to have the horses cleaned by a brush run by machinery. The 
 stable with its appointments has cost .|15,000. 
 
 One of the most important enterprises to the agTiculture of this re- 
 gion is the tile factory recently started about three miles west of Gree- 
 ley, near the Greeley and Salt Lake railroad, at which the Tile Com- 
 pany has a switch. This undertaking is principally due to the ex- 
 ertions of W. K. McClellan, who experimented for a number of years 
 with different kinds of clay f efore he could get the combination that 
 would answer the purpose. This factory, besides supplying the home 
 demand, has many orders for shipment. In addition to being used 
 for draining wet land, it is coming extensively into use in town to run 
 water in the small ditches for irrigating purposes. When these are 
 open they are constantly being obstructed by leaves, and not so sightly 
 as they were pictured in earlj^ accounts of the sparkling rills thread- 
 ing our streets in every direction. If water could be run steadih^ in 
 them there would be less objection to these smali, open ditches, but it 
 cannot be done, and is not needed, and when they are empty they are 
 neither agreeable to the eye nor the nostrils, and are charged, with how 
 much truth I know not, with being the chief cause of diphtheria and 
 scarlet and typhoid fevers, to which we are subject in about the same 
 proportion as other communities.
 
 THE LTNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 229 
 
 The Kuner pickle factoiy was started up last year, and purchased 
 over half a million pounds of cucumbers and 6(K),000 pounds of toma- 
 toes, to be canned in Denver. The pickles it has on hand here and in 
 Denver are in excess of the demand, but it is expected to put up next 
 season, at this place, about fifty acres of cabbage into sauerkraut. 
 In the not distant future canning will be done here hj this factory in- 
 stead of at Denver, as the vegetables can be raised cheaper here. 
 
 A pajaer mill has long been one of the projects talked about as feas- 
 ible for Greeley. One serious attempt was made, the chief promoter 
 of it being Dr. Jesse Hawes. That, however, was al^ortive. The only 
 one in the state is at Golden, and there is now a talk of having it re- 
 moved to Greeley. So far as the principal part of the raw material is 
 concerned, this would be a better point than where it is now situated, 
 and there appear to be other respects in which this place would be 
 more desirable than Golden. 
 
 The Greeley Creamerj-, owned and operated bj J. W. Ewing, has a 
 capacity of one thousand pounds of butter per day, and he makes an 
 excellent article. 
 
 There are the normal number of persons for a place of its size en- 
 gaged in the grocery, dry goods, ready made clothing, l^oots and shoes 
 lines of business. We have tliree book stores — that of Miss Sawyer 
 leading in that line, making that and stationery her special line of 
 business. 
 
 The sum total of the volume of the business of the place may be 
 inferred from the fact that the receipts at the depot are said by those 
 supposed to be informed, to be over rather than under $30,000 per 
 month. The railroad employes here refuse to give the figures, at least 
 to the papers, knowing which fact the writer has not asked for them. 
 
 Some place the present population of tiie town as high as 4,000; the 
 writer estimates it at 3,000. 
 
 We quote the following from the late illustrated uuml^er of The 
 Greeley Tribune in reference to the Greeley post-office: 
 
 "The Greeley post-office, located in Park Place block, is one of the 
 institutions of the city, and one of which its jieople are justlv proud. 
 The office is furnished with eight hundred boxes, all of the Morris 
 keyless pattern, of steel, nickel-plated, each having a combination 
 lock, thus doing away with keys. The uniformity in the boxes gives 
 to the place a neat and attractive appearance. This year Greeley was . 
 created an office of the second class, its business having increased to 
 the requisite amount. 
 
 " As a matter of fact, the ofiice receives a larger amount of mail 
 matter than any other in this part of the state, and a prominent official
 
 230 
 
 A HISTORY OF GKKELET AND 
 
 in the post-office department at Washington remarked that there was 
 more mail matter handled in the Greeley office than in most Eastern 
 towns of double the population. Such a statement proves conclusively 
 that the people of this city and vicinity are a reading people. The 
 following table shows the number of pieces of each kind handled 
 during the month of September, just closed, and also the number of 
 pieces for August, 1886, both months being among the dullest in the 
 year: 
 
 
 Letters. 1 
 
 Paper s- 
 
 Drops. | 
 
 PosL CDS. 1 
 
 Packages. 
 
 Month 
 AND Year. 
 
 
 T3 
 
 '6 
 
 
 •6- 
 
 'a 
 3,374 
 
 13 
 C 
 to 
 
 9,161 
 4,530 
 
 'a 
 o 
 
 •a 
 'a. 
 
 5 
 
 
 T3 
 
 'a 
 2 
 
 September, 1889. 
 August, 1886 
 
 29,075 
 21,660 
 
 31,937 
 22,330 
 
 27,481 
 17,985 
 
 22,317 
 20,250 
 
 3,177 
 2,620 
 
 4,792 
 
 3 480. 
 
 582 
 450 
 
 318 
 220 
 
 "Of registered mail the number of pieces received during the same 
 period was 139, as against 90 in 1886; and 157 i^ieces were dispatched, 
 as against 107 in 1886. According to the above table, the increase in 
 the number of letters received has been about 35 per cent, and in those 
 dispatched 44 per cent. While for the same period the number of pa- 
 pers, magazines, etc., coming to the office have increased 50 per cent. 
 The latter is a remarkable showing. This increase demonstrates con- 
 clusivel}^ that the population and business of the city is growing stead- 
 ily and satisfactorily from year to year. R. H. Johns is the present 
 obliging and efficient postmaster, assisted by Mrs. Johns and by George 
 E. Duvall. 
 
 Greeley has just organized a Savings Bank, with a capital stock of 
 $2,500. The following well-known gentlemen are stockholders: J. M. 
 Wallace, D. H. Gale, Eobert Hale, B. D. Sanborn, William Mayher, 
 A. J. Park and J. A. Rankin. This is said to be the only savings bank 
 in the state outside of Denver."
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 TEMPERANCE, N. C. MEEKER CONCERNING — HORACE GREELEY — GENERAL CAM- 
 EROn's ACCOCrXT OF ITS ORIGIN — DRUGGISTS IN GREELEY — PROHIBITION- 
 CLAUSE IN DEEDS — FIRST LIQUOR CASE, AND THE BURNING OF THE SOD 
 HUT — TOWN ORDINANCE ON PROHIBITION — THE HOTCHKISS LIQUOR CASE 
 — THE CASE OP SELLING LIQUOR ON THE P. T. BARNUM PROPERTY^ 
 
 the renewal of the corporate life of the colony — the law 
 and order league — n. c. meeker on prohibition, in " greeley 
 tribune" in 1871. 
 
 HAVING traced the history of what we may call material inter- 
 ests, let us now proceed to those of the moral, intellectual 
 and religious nature. Foremost among these comes the 
 temperance cause. Incidentally we have spoken of temperance in 
 Greeley in contrasting our place with others in this respect. But a 
 more formal statement of it is here needed both as to its inception, 
 and the course it has taken since our beginning here. 
 
 In Mr. Meeker's circular letter of invitation, we find the follow- 
 ing : 
 
 " The persons with whom I would be willing to associate must be 
 temperance men and ambitious to establish good society," etc. Again 
 in his Cooper Institute speech, he uses the following language : 
 "Those who are idle, immoral, intemperate, or inefficient need not 
 apply, for they will not be received, nor would they feel at home." 
 So Horace Greele}^ in endorsing the scheme, writes : " We ad\ise 
 temperate, moral, intelligent and industrious men to write him," etc. 
 
 From all this it appeared to the writer that none but strictly tem- 
 perate men would have the presumption to join the colony. Now the 
 only way that Mr. Meeker would have of knowing whether the per- 
 sons wishing to join the colony had the qualifications above stated 
 was from what they wrote him about themselves. If they were honest 
 in their statements then no intemperate person could join without 
 Mr. Meeker's consent. But upon coming here the writer found that 
 not a few had joined who were habitual drinkers. Some it ajjpeared 
 had been allowed to join in order to get cured of the habit, but who 
 nevertheless were opposed to licensing saloons. But there were also 
 some moderate drinkers joined, who had no idea of giving up the
 
 232 
 
 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 habit, and who did not regard it as a disease of which they wished to 
 be cured. The only hght in which these men could be regarded as 
 anti-liquor men was that they one and all were opposed to its open 
 sale in saloons. Such men never refused to drink when away from 
 Greeley, and many of them keep it in their houses and treat their 
 friends to it there — all of which brings reproach upon the people of 
 Greeley as a strictly temperance commiuiity. But on the whole, the 
 great majority of the original colonists were total abstainers. A great 
 many joined the colony- here during the first year, most of them buy- 
 ing certificates of dissatisfied members who sold out and left, or who 
 never came here, and sent their certificates to the Ijrokers who soon 
 commenced to do a profitable business in this line. So far as the 
 writer knows, no questions of character or views upon the liquor busi- 
 ness were asked of those who joined here. Of course the}^ all knew 
 W'hat were the principles of the colon}^ on these matters, and were ex- 
 pected to conform to them. A few old settlers, as we have seen, joined 
 us and these were nearly all temperance men. Those who did not 
 like us or our principles went to Evans if they wanted to live in a 
 town. 
 
 It is here important to give the origination of the temperance prin- 
 ciples of the colony, as p)resented by General Cameron in his Fourth 
 of July speech before mentioned. The presentation is quite dramatic 
 and wholly characteristic. The General was sometimes accused of 
 not being quite sound on this subject, but on the whole it appears to 
 the wTiter he was, and from the following he ought to have been : 
 
 "At first it was not settled that this should be so exclusively a tem- 
 perance colony. The question was not discussed how far we should 
 go in this regard until one night Mr. Greeley sent for me and asked 
 me to meet him and Mr. Meeker in his office up stairs, in The Tribune 
 building. Then Mr. Greeley said to us something like this : 
 
 " There are many places in the world you can go to and get drunk, 
 but there are very few places that you can go to where you are 
 obliged to keep sober. It is very easy to get drunk, but it is hard to 
 keep sober. Xow there are the husbands of good women who drink, 
 and their wives want to save them; there are intelligent yomig men 
 of great promise whose fathers and mothers want to save them from 
 the evil influences of drink; there are sisters who have l^rothers they 
 want to save; now I desire and am in earnest for humanity's sake 
 that 3"ou people build up an asylum under the shadow of the Rocky 
 Mountains, under new circumstances, where you will live by irrigation 
 and flourish in a new clime, where a man can go and cannot get 
 drunk. There are man}- men who desire such a place. What I desire
 
 THE UNIOX COLOXY OF COLORADO. 233 
 
 in this matter is not for myself but for humanity. 
 
 "As he spoke, the tears came into the eyes of that great head, and 
 the greatest emotion swelled that great heart. All commercial reasons, 
 all other objections, all other objects floated from my vision, and Mr. 
 Meekei", rising from the table at which wa were sitting, said : ' That 
 is the platform.' Mr. Greelej^ looked over to me and said, ' Mr. 
 Cameron, what do you say?" We desire you to go with us, and we 
 want you to become imbued with this spirit of humanity.' I arose, 
 reached my hand across the table and took his extended hand in 
 mine, and, with weeping eyes, we swore together that we would de- 
 vote our lives to this purpose, to this ideal, to this inspiration until, 
 with the aid of Almighty God, it would prove a success." 
 
 It would rather appear from the above that the General was a little 
 reluctant to embrace an out an out temperance platform, and that he 
 was carried along by his emotions. However, he had sworn an 
 oath, and so far as the writer knows he never went back on it. 
 
 There was one relation which appeared to compromise the General. 
 He soon went into the drug business with his father-in-law, J. B. 
 Flower. There was nothing in the deeds to prohibit druggists from 
 selling liquors as medicines. Town ordinances had to be made to 
 regulate this sale and there was a good deal of discussion as to what 
 these should be. The General had been a physician for a time as 
 well as army officer and newspaper editor, and like, perhaps, nine- 
 tenths of the medical profession, he balieved that alcohol in some of 
 its combinations was a most useful medicine, and he did not like to 
 see its use in this direction hampered by needless and aggravating re- 
 strictions. However it was in this line of the sale at the drug stores 
 that the chief difficulty arose. Dr. Tuttle early joined the colonj^ and 
 had been used l^y the locating committee to make several of the pur- 
 chases of laud from parties near the site of the town, and had in this 
 wa}' done good service, for which, however, he charged exorbitant 
 wages. He had not the least regard for our temperance principles; 
 in fact laughed at them. Unfortunately he took it into his head to 
 build an adobe block for a drug store and commenced selling for 
 medicinal purposes before there was any town ordinance to restrain 
 him. The clause in the deeds could not prevent this and indeed 
 there were no deeds granted until the spring of 1871. But Tuttle 
 soon found the place too hot for him and sold out to Dr. Buchtel, a 
 son-in-law of P. T. Barnum, but most unlike that gentleman in regard 
 to temperance. Dr. Buchtel was followed by his brother, who was no 
 better, and a suit was brought against him for selling liquor contrary 
 to the ordinances. A compromise was effected on condition that
 
 23i A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 Buchtel leave, which he did, aud since then there has been no more 
 difficulties with the drug houses. The present druggists are temper- 
 ance men, and their conduct in this line is all that can be desired. The 
 drug house of Flower & Cameron was often suspected, but Mr. J. B. 
 Flower was always a prudent man, and no ground of action was ever 
 found against the firm. 
 
 It will now be necessary to give a history of the temperance move- 
 ment here after the settlement of the colony. In the statements made 
 by N. C. Meeker aud Horace Grreeley no special plan of restricting 
 the sale of liquors was proposed. Indeed, nothing was said about 
 prohibition. The emphasis was laid on the character of the proposed 
 colonists as temperate or temperance men. But it was generally un- 
 derstood that there should be restrictions upon the sale, while the 
 means of doing this remained an open question. 
 
 Now in order to restrict or prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors 
 two ways were open; the one to leave it to municipal regulations to 
 be adopted after the town should become incorporated; the other to 
 make its sale on premises conveyed by the colony work a forfeiture of 
 the title. The former method was deemed unsafe and inadequate, 
 because it could have been sold immediately outside of the corporate 
 limits, and again the laws of Colorado might be so framed as to Dre- 
 vent a corporation from prohibiting its sale. Hence we see in the 
 resolutions of June 18th, that the third one advises that a prohibitory 
 clause be put in the deeds. But in this matter the masses were no 
 more urgent than the executive committee. 
 
 In the minutes of that body for May 12th, we find the following : 
 
 On motion of Greneral R. A. Cameron it was decided that the follow- 
 ing clause should be inserted in the colony deeds, viz : " That it is a 
 part of the consideration in this deed that intoxicating liquors shall 
 not be manufactured, or sold as a beverage, nor shall gambling of any 
 kind be permitted on the premises conveyed." 
 
 On June 18th, R. A. Cameron moved " That Judge Plato be re- 
 quested to submit to the executive committee a form for colony deeds, 
 both for village lots and outlying lands." 
 
 On the 27th this form was submitted, examined and referred back 
 to him with suggestions for alterations. 
 
 The form finall}^ agreed upon was, so far as this matter is con- 
 cerned, "And also the farther consideration that it is exjjressly agreed 
 between the parties hereto, that intoxicating liquors shall never be 
 manufactured, sold or given away in any place of public resort as a 
 beverage, on said premises; and that in case any of these conditions 
 shall be broken or violated, this conveyance and everything therein
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 235' 
 
 contained shall be null and void." 
 
 It might be said that Judge Plato, who got up this instrument, was 
 a lawyer of high standing at the Illinois bar, had been in fact on the 
 bench of that state, had come here at the same time that Searle came 
 and was from the same town. But, milike the last named gentleman ,^ 
 instead of making an effort to break up the colon3^ he went to work 
 with all his might to make it a success. He was early made a mem- 
 ber of the executive committee and, though differing in many things 
 from his associates, he rendered valuable assistance for trifling remu- 
 neration. 
 
 It will be seen that the clause about gambling, which appeared 
 in the General's motion, was left out; why, I have never learned. 
 
 An objection raised after w irds by lawyers to the form of the liquor 
 clause was that it appeared as a consideration given by the grantee 
 whereas it was a restriction or reservation made ])y the grantor. Another 
 criticism was that although it said the conve3'auce should be null and 
 void, it did not explicitly say, as it ougiit in a perfect instrument, 
 that the title should revert to and remain in the grantor — the colony. 
 These have been pointed out as points of weakness and left in the 
 minds of some doubts as to the issue of a contest in the court. How- 
 ever, that is supposed to have been put at rest by a decision in a case 
 brought by Colorado Springs where the clause was an exact copy 
 from Union Colony deeds. 
 
 But none of these deeds were granted until April, 1871, and hence 
 until then could have no influence in the sale of liquor; Jjut as the 
 colony had title to the land it could directly prohibit sale on its own 
 premises. However there was a quarter-section of land on the north- 
 east corner of town in which the colony could only get a half interest, 
 the other half being owned by the heirs of the Lemon estate. A Mr. 
 Smith, of Evans, was one of these heirs and had possession of the 
 only building on the place — a sod hut. This hut he rented to an 
 Evans saloonkeeper, who was a part of the tail-end of the first settlers 
 of Evans when it was a railroad terminus and in all respects like the 
 Sheridan which Mr. Meeker has described for us in the first part of 
 this volume. 
 
 The first information of this was given on a Sunday when the peo- 
 ple were assembled for worship, and at the close of the services Gen- 
 eral Cameron proposed that the congregation move on the saloon 
 en masse, which accordingly was done. With Jesus he lielieved it 
 lawful to do good even on the Sabbath day. The intention was to 
 talk to the saloonkeeper and remonstrate with him. He was called 
 out and a proposition made to buy him out. This was about to be
 
 236 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 accepted wheu it was found that the hut was ou fire. Those present 
 made many sham efforts to extinguish the flames, but of course with- 
 out avail. 
 
 Prosecutions were entered against certain young men, some of 
 whom saw fit to leave, among them Ralph Meeker. But the noise of 
 this was spread all over the land, and just how earnest we were on 
 the temperance question was no longer a matter of doubt. 
 
 Various devices in the way of prohibitory ordinances have from 
 time to time been adopted by the municipal government; many of 
 them were crude and jjoorly digested contrivances, and generall}- have 
 been easily evaded when cases have been brought up in court. The 
 town authorities have been long enough at it now to be able to prepare 
 an ordinance that will stand the strain of our legal quibblers. This 
 is the last effort. in this direction : 
 
 "ORDIXAXCE XO. .37. 
 
 " COXCERNIXG THE SELLISO OR GIVING AWAY OF INTOXICATING, MALT, VlNOtS, MIXED OR FER- 
 MENTED LUJCORS 
 
 ('• Passed September 12, 18S»7. p\iblished in The Greeley Sun, September 24, 1887.) 
 "Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Greeley, ^ tate of Colorado: 
 
 " Section' 1. All persons are hereby prohibited from selling anj- intoxicating, malt, 
 vinous, mixed or fermented liquors, within the corporate limits of the City of Greeley, 
 or within one mile of the outer boundaries thereof, except as hereinafter provided; 
 and all persons are hereby prohibited from giving away ary such intoxicating, malt, 
 vinous, mixed or fermented liquors in any street, alley, public park, hotel, boarding 
 house, eating house, saloon, restaurant, place of tratlic, or place of public resort, or 
 upon any vacant lot, within the City of Greeley, or within one mile of the outer boun- 
 daries of said city, 
 
 " Sec. 2. It shall be lawrul for the City Council of said city, in their discretion, at 
 any time, to grant a permit to any drug -fist doing business ;is such, in said city, for the 
 sale of liquor for medicinal purposes only; and only upon the prescription of a physi- 
 cian authorized by law to practice medicine in the State of Colorado, and actu illy re- 
 siding and practicing medicine in s:tid city; but no such druggist shall sell, by virtue 
 of such permit,' unless such prescription shall designate by nams the person for whose 
 use such liquor is prescribed, and the kind of liquor prescribed, by its ordinary and 
 usual name in the English language: nor shall such druggist be permitted to sell liquor 
 as aforesaid, upon such permit, without keeping a book in which shall be kept and 
 posted, each and every prescription as received and filled by him. and have such book, 
 during business hours, ready for examination by any and all adult residents of said 
 city. Any permit which may be granted by the City Council, as aforesaid, may be 
 revoked by a resolution of said Council at any regular meeting thereof, and thereafter 
 shall be of no force or effect. 
 
 "Sec 3. Any druggist or other person, who shall sell orgiveaway any intoxicating, 
 malt, vinous, mixed or fermented liquors, within the corporate limits of said city, or 
 within one mile of the outer boundaries thereof, contrary to the provisions of this or- 
 dinance, shall, on conviction thereof, be lined for each ottense, not less than fifty dol- 
 lars nor more than three hundred dollars, and costs of suit. 
 
 " Sec. 1. Any druggist, or other person, fined under the provisions of this ordinances 
 ■who shall not pay such fine and costs assessed, shall De cenflned in the city jail, or 
 other place provided by the city for the incarceration of otfenders, until such fine and 
 cost^ shall be fully paid: or such person m ly be requirorl to work for ihs city, within 
 or without such jail, or other place provided by the city for the incarceration of otTend-
 
 THE UXIOX COLONY OF COLORADO. 237 
 
 ers, not exceeding ten hours for each working day, and for such work, such oerson so 
 employed, shall be allowed, exclusive of board, two dollars per day for each day's 
 work, on aDcount of such fine and costs; provided, that such imprisonment shall, in 
 no case, exceed ninety days for any one offense." 
 
 It will be seen how minutely circumstantial the ordinance has to he 
 to balfle the perverse ingenuity of the liquor vendors. In comparing 
 the above with the clause in the deeds, it will be seen how many cases 
 the ordinance can reach which are wholly outside of the stipulations 
 of the latter. Hence the real efficiency of prohibition in this fown 
 will always depend upon the city government, and that upon the will 
 of a majority of the people. 
 
 We have sketched briefly the difficulties connected with the sale by 
 the drug stores. We now shall take up two important cases which at 
 the time drew a great deal of public attention. 
 
 The first of these cases came up in the latter part of September, 
 1877. A man by the name of William A. Hotchkiss had rented from 
 its proprietor, J. V. R. Spencer, then residing iu Denver, a building on 
 Main street, where he was ostensibh^ running a boarding house, but 
 was selling liquor on the sly. At length a case was made out against 
 him, and he was brought before Justice Joseph Moore. The first case 
 did not succeed, owing to a few- of the jurors not agreeing. But an- 
 other was brought, and he was found guilty of three violations of the 
 liquor ordinance, and was fined on each count $100. The constable 
 allowed him to go around on parole of honor, and happening to get 
 hold of some money, he hired Mr. Whitney to carry him to Julesburg 
 with a fast team, starting in the night. In this way he evaded piu-- 
 suit, and indeed no very strenuous efforts were made to capture him,^ 
 his absence being what was wanted. 
 
 Although this was a case that would have come under the confisca- 
 tion clause of the deeds, no movement was made by the Colony board 
 to that end, I suppose for the reason that the property belonged to an 
 innocent party absent and not knowing to the fact. Mr. Meeker, the 
 president of the board, was then present, as was also tJie writer, the 
 other three members being S. D. Martin, B. S. LaGrauge and Samuel 
 Blodgett. 
 
 The next important case came up in February, 1882. A stranger 
 had rented a room in the upper story of the Barniun block of Haynes 
 & Dunning, agents of P. T. Barnum, as a sleeping room, and com- 
 menced selling whiskey in secret to confederates, who were admitted 
 by giving a peculiar rap on the door. The United States marshal was 
 informed of this, and, -by using a detective, succeeded in getting proof 
 of the party's guilt. He confessed judgment and paid the fine, and 
 then there was a demand made on the part of some of our influential
 
 238 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 ■citizens to have the colony trustees bring an action against Mr. Bar- 
 nuni to procure the forfeiture of his property. The writer was then 
 president of the board and believed that such a movement would nei- 
 ther be wise nor just, and the remainder of the board was of the same 
 opinion except Thomas Mimmack. Those in favor of proceeding 
 brought all the pressure they could to bear upon the board. The 
 president and J. C. Shattuck, who was then State Superintendent of 
 Education, had a correspondence on the subject. B. H. Eaton, who 
 had just built a costly residence in Greeley, wrote from Denver a letter 
 to J. Max. Clark, which was turned over to the president, urging in 
 the strongest terms that we go on with the prosecution. A meeting of 
 the lately formed W. C. T. Union was called and the names of prom- 
 inent speakers announced, many of whom were conspicuous l)y their 
 absence. Some evaded the question. The principal and last speaker 
 was J. C. Shattuck, husband of the lady who presided. He spoke strongly 
 in favor of prosecution, and as there was no opportunity to reply at that 
 time, the arena of the debate was traiisf erred to the columns of The 
 Greeley Tribune, in which appeared in the successive issues two arti- 
 cles aside between the president of the colony and the above named 
 gentleman. Hot and unkindly words as well as arguments passed 
 between these two, who up to that time had been fast friends and had 
 worked together for years for ^^•hat the}" deemed the public welfare, 
 and in no long time afterwards the old cordiality and confidence was 
 restored. In the mellow evening of life's declining day the writer 
 flatters himself that he can dispassionately set down the arguments 
 pro and con " extenuating nothing nor setting down aught in malice," 
 and then let the reader judge whether the board acted prudently and 
 justlj' in refusing to prosecute. 
 
 The president of the board was accused of inconsistency in now 
 showing reluctance to prosecute when, a year Ijefore at a public meet- 
 ing in the heat of debate, he had said that in the matter of prosecut- 
 ing he would " set his foot far as he who dares set his foot farthest," 
 and that in his official capacity as executive officer of the colony, if a 
 clear case should be made out, he would commence action for recovery 
 of the property to the corporation. He was also accused of being an 
 unworthy successor of N. C. Meeker. 
 
 To the last it was replied that the Hotchkiss case was a much clearer 
 and stronger case than this, and that then N. C. Meeker was here and 
 presiding at the meetings of the board, but that he had not taken any 
 action nor recommended any to that body. In regard to the other, it 
 was rej)lied that consistency is often, as Emerson says, the "hobgob- 
 lin of little minds." But above all, the case did not either appear a
 
 THE UNIOX COLONY OF COLORADO. 239 
 
 strong one or a righteous one. In addition there were complications. 
 In the opinion of many, the whole Barnum J^lock was liable to forfeit- 
 ure, while in the opinion of the Board only that part of it was which 
 occupied the lot on which the liquor was sold. This would haye made 
 a very awkward division of the property, as it would have cut in two 
 or three " Barnum Hall." If the property had been deeded to Bar- 
 num in a single conveyance the forfeiture might have held against the 
 whole. But as the colony policy only conveyed a single lot to one 
 man, there were as many conveyances as lots, and each .deed only made 
 null and void the title to the premises conveyed. This was one of the 
 points that mature reflection made forcible, and which did not occur 
 in impi-omptu debate. 
 
 But assuming that it was advisable to get a shce out of the middle 
 of this block if we could, there were grave doubts about this offense 
 coming under the forfeiture clause in the deed. Being an upper in- 
 terior room, in a large building, and being, by the agent, in good 
 faith rented as a sleeping room, and as the traffic was carried on so 
 hiddenly that no citizen, except those in the secret, knew of its ex- 
 istence until the arrest of the offender, by means of a paid detective, 
 came like a thunder-clap in a blue sky; it appeared doubtful if it 
 could be considered a p/ace o/^:»(t6/ic resort. Xo such doubt could 
 have been entertained about the Hotchkiss case, yet that had been al- 
 lowed to pass both by the unanimous consent of the board and at least 
 by the silent approbation of the people. This had been passed over 
 for reasons which appeared stronger in the Barnum case than it was 
 in the ease of J. V. R. Spencer, the owner of the property in which 
 Hotchkiss had sold liquor. Spencer was absent in Denver and there 
 was no reason to believe that he knew what was going on, since beino- 
 a good temperance man it was presumable that he would not have 
 knowingly allowed it. All this was stronger in the Barnum case since 
 Hotchkiss had carried on the business for a long time, and so little 
 concealed that it had become universally observed. But it was uro-ed 
 that P. T. Barnum was a rich man while Spencer was poor, and that 
 Barnum would only regard the seizure of his property as a good joke, 
 which would give him so much delight to relate in his temperance 
 speeches that he would feel far more than compensated for the loss 
 of a paltry piece of property in Greeley. But if it were unjust, the 
 board were unwilling to afford Mr. Barnum that piece of pleasure. 
 Besides it was felt l^y many that to e\^en undertake such a case, which 
 would be in the courts for years, would throw so serious a shadow 
 upon titles as to injuriously affect real estate values. It was felt that 
 if such cases were to be prosecuted, no one could temporarily rent his
 
 240 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 Ijrivate residence lest some one might be found to liave sold, or given 
 away a drink of whiskj' in its garret. Indeed it was said in debate 
 by a member of the colony board, that the Methodist church Avas 
 just as liable to forfeiture as Barnum Hall, since a member, who, we 
 suppose, b}' the very act, had fallen from grace, had not only given 
 away, but sold whiskj'^ within its sacred precincts. 
 
 A very general inquiry had led the president to believe that not 
 more than one in ten of the people were in favor of proceeding, and 
 he so expressed himself at the public meeting. He was followed by 
 J. Max. Clark who, in The Tribune for February 22, 1882, is reported 
 to have said : 
 
 " I think Mr, Boyd is right about the Barnum property. That 
 there are undoubtedly ten to one against confiscating the property, 
 and I am ashamed to say that it meets with less encouragement from 
 the temperance people than from the rowdies. I think that ignorance 
 should be no excuse, but it takes money to prosecute. For instance, it 
 takes from $300 to $500 to prosecute on a town ordinance, and then 
 the board puts the fine to only twenty dollars. Still if we don't pros- 
 ecute now there will never again an attempt be made." 
 
 So, in accordance with the view last expressed, he went to work and 
 got up a subscription for an attorney's fee to give advice on the case. 
 Months were spent before the legal points could be made out and 
 then it was to the effect that there was only a case that could be 
 possibly carried. Still Mr. Clark was so in earnest that he was willing 
 to go ahead provided he could get a subscription sufficient to carry it 
 through the coxirts. But he found that when it came to paying out 
 money, instead of shouting for a cause, it was quite another affair. 
 Perhaps, too, when men had time to look over the matter coolly, the}' 
 changed their minds as to the justice and prudence of the measure. 
 This was no doubt the case with B. H. Eaton, who, as we have seen, 
 was so eager for prosecution at the start, and who refused to subscribe 
 a cent for the prosecution of the case. 
 
 The writer resigned as trustee of the board about this time, for 
 quite other reasons than the matter under discussion, and was fol- 
 lowed in his place by Eli Aunis, whose wife was a prominent member 
 of the W. C. T. Union, and who himself was known to be in favor of 
 prosecution. But the board did nothing, partly because that there 
 w^ere no funds, which was one of the reasons that the board could not 
 from the first proceed alone. But I believe that it was now under- 
 stood the colony board would go ahead provided a sufficient siim 
 could be guaranteed. But Mr. Clark got so indifferent a support that 
 he tlii-ew up the business in disgust. The writer and his friend always
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 241 
 
 differed to some extent in their views upon this case, but they did it 
 without losing temper, or without either losing respect for the disin- 
 terested motives of the other. 
 
 This case has already been under review longer perhaps than the 
 merits of it warrant. But both because of the intense interest that it 
 excited at the time and because of the regret still expressed by the 
 few who were in favor of pushing the case that it was not, it may be 
 regarded as the case during the twenty years of the existence of 
 Union Colony. The ability and character of those few give their 
 views a weight wholly' disproportionate to their numbers. So the 
 writer hopes it will be pardoned if he closes this review with an ex- 
 tract from one of the articles he wrote on this occasion, and for the 
 additional reason that it throws some light on another aspect of col- 
 onial histor}'. 
 
 " The colon}' during its whole existence has had only three causes 
 at law, and in each it was in self-defense, and won all of them. 
 The last one has just been won and its prosecution affords my excuse 
 for remaining for the last year on the board, where I have no longer 
 any special reason for continuing. This exemption from litigation, I 
 believe, has been due largeh' to the moderation and patience alike of 
 the officers and people of the colony. With the people at large I 
 have no fault to find. In general I have had their confidence and 
 support to a degree that will be gratifjnng to remember. Neither will 
 the conduct of a few \v\ih. whom I differ, in the matter of the duty of 
 the Colony Board in this case, make me cold or indifferent in the cause 
 of temperance. I am well aware that the argument is not all on my 
 side. Were it generalh' understood that the colony would not proceed 
 except the owner of the property was the offender, then there might as 
 well be no condition in the deed. But each case should stand on its own 
 merits. Where there can be the least suspicion of the connivance of 
 the owner, or even of his agent, the colony should proceed. However, 
 as a matter of fair play, I tliink the agent, or owner, if present, should 
 l^e first notified, and then if he did not do all within his power to stop 
 the sale, no clemenc}' should be shown him. 
 
 " Again it must be remembered that the colony goes out of existence 
 by statutory limitation in eight more years. Whether then Greeley 
 will continue a temperance town, or go the way of nearly all the rest 
 of the world will depend upon the will of the majority of its inhabi- 
 tants. Hence it is well to begin in time to rely on other resources 
 than forfeiture of property to the colony. Indeed it will afford me 
 far greater satisfaction, should I live to see the twentieth anniversary 
 of Union Colony, to know that not a single parcel of property shall 
 
 16
 
 24:2 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 have reverted to Union Colony duriag all these years, while at the 
 same time Greeley is the most thoroughly temperate town in the state. 
 Temperance secured under the standing menace of forfeiture would 
 be but a sorry result compared with that of a self-controlling, self-regu- 
 lating community, alike refraining from the use and prohibiting the sale 
 of intoxicating liquors. Would that prohibition were not necessary. 
 ^Yould that reason were the master in every man's make-up, and that 
 restraint were exercised fronl within, rather than imposed from with- 
 out. But in the absence of this it is well to make the opportunities 
 for this, as for all other vices, difficult. In this way a decent exterior 
 will at least be maintained, but true reform must seek to mend men at 
 the core of their being. Meanwhile as the morning of spontaneous 
 virtue is slowly dawning towards the perfect day, disorder and dis- 
 eased appetites must be restrained." 
 
 Well, so far as the writer's prayer relates to the non-forfeiture of 
 property is concerned, within the twenty years, it is likely to be ful- 
 filled, as at this writing it is less than a month until the completion 
 of that period, and there is now no case up to which forfeiture is ap- 
 plicable. The Hamman case is in the Superior Court, wholly upon 
 the question of whether there was any town ordinance in existence at 
 the time when he was prosecuted for the violation of one, since this 
 ordinance was passed at a special meeting of the city council, and 
 there Avas no record on the minutes that the proper notice had been 
 given the anembers of this meeting. But if the case were decided as 
 to the violation of a town ordinance then would come the question of 
 whether tlie compound had been sold as a medicine or a beverage. 
 
 The Rogerson case, that cost the town some 1800. has been dismissed 
 for the reason that not sufficient testimony could be brought forward 
 by the prosecution to convince all the jury that liquor had been sold. 
 It is the hardest kind of an undertaking to secure a conviction of a 
 hquor-seller, for the reason that in order to be a witness there is need 
 of bad faith on the part of him who testifies. It is only sold on 
 honor. If he testifies to the truth, his statement stands rooted in dis- 
 honor, and hence many jurors are prone to be skeptical about his ver- 
 acity. But in this case the principal witness was allowed to get away.. 
 The most of these drinking fellows will do anything for a bribe of 
 ten dollars on one side or the other. 
 
 However, as regards one point referred to in the article quoted 
 from The Tribune, the writer was somewhat in error. It is highly 
 probable that even after the dissolution of the colony organization, a 
 prosecution could have been brought for forfeiture by the colony, 
 through the instrumentality of the trustees who survived the extinction
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 243 
 
 of its corporate existence. The law on corporations provides that the 
 directors in existence at the time of such dissokition or their survivors 
 shall be able to dispose of the property of the stockholders for their 
 benefit, and as every stockholder in the colony had a contingent right 
 to all lands conveyed by the colony, then these directors had a right 
 to act for tiiose stockholders so long as any of them survived, or as 
 the contingency lasted, which was perpetual. But this aspect of the 
 case has been entirelj^ changed by a law which H. T. West drew up 
 with his own hand, and which was passed by the last legislature. 
 This was to the effect that colonial corporations would be allowed to 
 renew their corjoorate existence for twenty years longer by a majority 
 vote of all the stock of such stockholders. The lawful call was made 
 and due notice given, and on the 18th of March, 1890, an election was 
 held, the result bf which was that 3334 shares of stock was voted out 
 of a total of .5,000 shares, and all for the reneical. Letters were 
 written to nearly every state in the Union, by Joseph Moore, to the 
 stockTiolders, asking them to furnish proxies, and this was done in a 
 most cordial and friendly spirit by those who are no longer with us. 
 but who rejoice in our prosperity and in our success in keeping Gree- 
 ley a temperance town. P. T. Barnum sent his j^roxy all the ivay 
 from London, w^here Mr. Moore's letter reached him. Great praise is 
 due Mr. Moore, now so far advanced in years, for the energy, zeal 
 and good sense he has displayed in this matter. For eighteen years 
 we have not been able to have an election of trustees for the colony 
 since most of the stock was held by absentees, and they were indif- 
 ferent about who were the officers. But when it became a question 
 of danger concerning our temperance cause, then the old colonists 
 rallied with becoming spirit. 
 
 It may be here added that there is in existence in Greeley a Law 
 and Order League, the Ijusiness of which is especially to see that the 
 ordinance against the sale of intoxicating liquors be enforced. There 
 is also pledged by the members of this league a large sum of money 
 to be used either in detecting the violators of the ordinance or their 
 prosecution when found. So the town, which N. C. Meeker founded 
 and Horace Greeley aided and fostered, is j-et worthy of its illustrious 
 parentage, and so far, is realizing their benevolent hopes; and here it 
 appears to the author that his chapter on the history of temperance 
 in Greeley were most suitaljly closed with an extract from an article 
 written on this topic by X. C. Meeker in The Greeley Tribune for 
 November 15, 1871. 
 
 " A simple computation in regard to this accimiulation [from savings 
 of the temperate] will convince any one that in the course of a fe^^•
 
 244 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 years, such a widespread commixnity must in the nature of things be- 
 come immensely rich, and if the temperance principles are adhered 
 to for a few generations the wealth of all the rest of the world, will, 
 in comparison, seem insignificant. Still greater advantages will arise 
 from firmly maintaining the temperance ground we have taken, which 
 will be found in higher types of manhood, in enlarged mentality, and 
 in gradual extinguishment of taste, not only for alcoholic stimulants 
 but for all other stimulants, upon which the moral character ^ill become 
 greatly expanded. 
 
 " To some these thoughts may seem visionary, but so far from being 
 such, they are dictated by sound common sense; nor do they enter 
 into plans which we propose to adopt, but into plans which we have 
 adopted, and which we have triumphantly put into execution, and 
 this without any other effort than the exercise of watchfulness. It 
 may be after all, that human nature is to triumph in a great degree 
 over intemperance — it may be that we ourselves are leading in the 
 performance of this great work, and that, in the future time we shall 
 be visited by the good from every land to study our methods or to- 
 end their days in our midst. To carry out an object so transcend- 
 ently beneficent, we have only to be as faithful in the future as in the 
 past; and certainly having known how to strangle the demon of rum 
 for nearly two years we have learned how to strangle it for all time 
 to come.''
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 EDUCATIONAL — EARLY INTENTION TO HAVE FREE SCHOOLS — SCHOOL FIRST 
 SUMMER — SCHOOLS BEFORE THE BUILDING OF THE HIGH SCHOOL EDIFICE 
 — DIFFICULTY OF RAISING FUNDS FOR THIS BUILDING — OTHER SCHOOL . 
 BUILDINGS AND BONDED INDEBTEDNESS OF THE DISTRICT — THE SALA- 
 RIES OF TEACHERS — SCHOOL OFFICERS OF THE DISTRICT AND THE DIF- 
 FERENT PRINCIPALS OF THE SCHOOLS — OTHER TEACHERS MENTIONED — 
 SCHOOL CENSUSES AND ATTENDANCE OF SCHOOL — COST PER MONTH PER 
 PUPIL AT DIFFERENT PERIODS — GREELEY COMMERCIAL CObLEGE — 
 teachers' ASSOCIATIONS AND GREELEY — PART GREELEY MEN HAVE 
 TAKEN IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION IN THE STATE — GRADU- 
 ATES OF THE HIGH SCHOOL AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING — STATE NOR- 
 3IAL SCHOOL AT GREELEY — GREELEY LIBRARY — A FREE LIBRARY THE 
 INTENTION OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE COLONT — THE LOTTERY SCHEME 
 TO PROCURE A LIBRARY — REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF A MASS 
 MEETING THAT DISCUSSED THE LOTTERY SCHEME — OTHER ATTE3IPTS TO 
 FOUND A LIBRARY — THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LIBRARY — ORGANIZATION OF 
 THE GREELEY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION — THE LIBRARY NOW SUPPORTED BY 
 THE CITY. 
 
 FREE schools were a principle believed in b}^ the first settlers of 
 Grreele3'. Aeeordiugi}', the first sunmiera frame building was 
 purchased bj the colony, and the teacher's wages pa-id lor the 
 time l.)eing by subscription. Mrs. Guinney, sister-in-law of Doctor 
 Scott, taught our first school. The number of pupils enrolled was 
 fiftj'-four. 
 
 Many of the families did not come on until houses were built, hence 
 the number of school age was small during the first summer. The 
 coining winter these increased so that three teachers were employed. 
 E. W. GurW taught the higher classes in " Colon}' Hall," which was 
 seated for that purpo.se. The other two taught in the " Tabernacle." 
 Alice Wash])urn taught here before becoming the wife of C. W. San- 
 born, then one of our leading lumber merchants. M. B. Knowles also 
 taught one winter in the " Tabernacle," being employed especially to 
 bring certain unruly boys to time, which he most effectually did, and 
 also succeeded adniirabh^ in teaching for a man of his age and anti- 
 quated methods.
 
 246 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 J. C. Shattuck followed E. W. Gurley as principal, and taught two 
 years, or while the school was held in Colony Hall. He was elected, 
 soon after quitting teaching, to the lower branch of the Territorial 
 Legislature. 
 
 The schools of those days were hard to teach. The rooms Avere not 
 well arranged for the purpose. Tlie children had come from all parts 
 of the country, and hence been taught luider different systems or no 
 systems, and had made quite different degrees of progress along the 
 different Hues of study, and on the whole we had an undue proportion 
 of bad boys. It took some years before the school could be graded to 
 any satisfactory extent. From all this it happened that our scliools 
 were far from models during the first three years, though we had such 
 educators in them as J. C. Shattuck and Oliver Howard, who also 
 taught one winter in the " Tabernacle." Neither of these gentlemen 
 gained the reputation of good disciplinarians. Remus Robinson fol- 
 lowed J. C. Shattuck. He had had the experience of his hfe from 
 manhood up in the schools of New Jersey, either as teacher or county 
 superintendent, and in certain ways was a very successful teacher and 
 manager of scliools. Soon after he came the new school building was 
 occupied, and we will now have to give a history of its erection. 
 
 This building was completed in 1873, and cost 125,000. It required 
 a good deal of courage on the part of both the school board and the 
 people to erect a Ixiilding at such a cost during our infancy and in the 
 face of the many discouraging circumstances which have been related 
 in the foregoing pages of this history. Hence, while the board re- 
 ceived the support of the majority, there was a strong opposition to 
 building so extensive a structure at this time. 
 
 An excavation was made and a foundation laid in the autumn of 
 1871. J. L. Brush was then president of the board, L. W. Teller 
 treasurer and William H. Post secretary. This work had been paid 
 for from money realized from sale of lots donated by the colony. A 
 half block was also donated for the site. The rest of the block has 
 from time to time been purchased by the school board from the indi- 
 A-idual owners. 
 
 Much more money was expected to come from sale of town lots to- 
 wards the school building fund, but this was used in ways before 
 named and was the cause of bitter contention between the town and 
 country party. That a large part of the money from this source 
 should go into a school building was to be expected from the New 
 York constitution, and in accordance with this view quite a number of 
 lots had been set apart for this purpose, and were sold for the most 
 part by the colony when it sold at auction other lots and lands on pur-
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 247 
 
 pose to enlarge Number Two. Much of the money from the sale of 
 the school lots so called had to be used to pay for the work on the 
 canal, and the Colony Board faced the responsibility of making this 
 diversion. 
 
 The failing of funds in this direction suspended operations on the 
 building until the summer of 1873. Heavy special school taxes for 
 building purposes were levied for some years, and a law passed by the 
 legislature enabled school districts to issue bonds for the erection of 
 school houses. Fifteen thousand dollars of such bonds were issued. 
 The rate was 12 per centum per annum, am\ it was with difficult}' and 
 delay that they were negotiated at 90 per centum. These old bonds 
 have been paid up long ago, and new ones issued to put up additional 
 buildings. The sum the district owes of these obligations is $22,500, 
 at the rate of seven per centum per annum. 
 
 There have been erected, besides the above, seven school houses at an 
 aggregate cost of $30,000. Three of these are in the country across 
 the river, since the district extends out as far as the colony lands to 
 the north and east. One of these country schools is a brick building, 
 in which two teachers are emploj^ed. It cost about $6,000. 
 
 This great extension of the district is not desirable, so far as ease of 
 management is concerned, on the part of the board. But no douljt 
 the countr}^ has Ijetter schools than if they were under local manage- 
 ment, and sustained by local taxation. The town board has better 
 facilities for procuring good teachers for these schools than would local 
 boards, and the tendency is to be more liberal in paying salaries. 
 Besides, the advanced pupils of the coimtry schools have the same 
 advantages of attending the high school as those of town, and this 
 no doubt encourages a greater number to take the high school course 
 than would if their parents had to pa}- directly for their education at 
 the high, school. 
 
 Mr. A. J. Wiiber was County Superintendent at the time that the 
 district was made of this large size, and advocated the theory that 
 districts should be large, with numerous school houses to ace ommo- 
 date the younger pupils, and one central high school. 
 
 The school board elected in 1872 consisted of Arthur Hotchkiss, 
 president; William H. Post, secretary, and J. C. Abbott, treasurer. 
 Before the adoption of the state constitution all three were elected 
 each year; from that time one a year for three years in succession. 
 This board was continued the next year, and the school building was 
 erected under its management and under the especial superintendence 
 of the president, who was himself a builder by profession. 
 
 The board elected in 1874 were J. B; Flower, OUver Howard and H.
 
 248 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 T. West. In 1875 S. D. Hunter took the place of J. B. Flower, the 
 rest of the board l^eing re-elected. 
 
 Renins Robinson was succeeded as principal in the autumn of 1875 
 hy F. J. Anuis, a graduate of the Michigan State Agricultural College. 
 He taught three years, when he resigned to accept the chair of chem- 
 istry in the Colorado State Agricultural College. For a young man of 
 limited experience in teaching he did remarkably well, and succeeded 
 in forming in the minds of many of the students under him an enthu- 
 siasm for learning and a pride in exact and precise scholarship. He 
 afterwards went to Ann Arbor and graduated at the law school there. 
 He has been practicing at the bar since his graduation at Fort Collins, 
 and is now also doing admirable work at the Agricultural College as 
 Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture and Experiment Station. 
 His reports in this line are admirable, and will be of great value to the 
 agriculture of the state. 
 
 The board elected in 1876 were David Boyd,. J. C. Shattuck and J. 
 L. Barrett. When at the next election for state officers J. C. Shattuck 
 was elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Mrs. Thirza 
 R. Wheeler was elected secretary in his stead, and since then that 
 office has baen filled by a woman. Mrs. Wheeler was followed by 
 Mrs. J. C. Shattuck, and she in 1881 by Mrs. Mary M. Gallup, who re- 
 tains that place at this writing. 
 
 D. Boyd resigned as president in 1876, on being elected county su- 
 perintendent, and was followed by 0. Howard, who had preceded D. 
 Boj^d as county superintendent. A. E. Gapsou followed him in 1882, 
 and held that office until his removal to Denver a few months ago. 
 The office of president is now filled l)y Charles H. Wheeler, cashier of the 
 *Hunter & West bank and husband of the formerly mentioned secre- 
 tary of the board. James Benedict was elected treasurer in 1881, and 
 held that place until his resignation about a year ago, when . he was 
 followed bj' the present -incumbent, George W. Currier. 
 
 W. C. Thomas, now the county superintendent of Weld, was princi- 
 pal 1879-'80, and was followed by Robert Casey for two years. Both 
 of these were gentlemen of ability. Under the first the schools were 
 graded and a complete course of study printed for the guidance of 
 the corps of teachers. 
 
 The present incumbent, A. B. Copeland, entered upon his duties in 
 1882. He now performs the double duty of superintendent and prin- 
 cipal, giving about equal time to each function. He is ably assisted 
 in the High School by Ada B. Coates and Julia B. Harvey. The date 
 is not distant wheu a superintendent will be employed exclusively for 
 supervising the schools.
 
 ' THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 249 
 
 Mrs. A. K. Clark is the teacher longest in the service, commencing 
 in the fall of 1873. She had just graduated from the State Normal 
 school of Nebraska. She has steadily stuck to first primary work, and 
 has a high reputation in that line. 
 
 Mrs. E. P. House is the next longest iu the service, having com- 
 menced about thirteen years ago. She is now teaching in the gram- 
 mar grade. She is an excellent disciplinarian, which is supposed to 
 be especially desirable in that grade, from experience in our schools. 
 In addition to this she is also a most thorough instructor. 
 
 A number of our own graduates are teaching. Jessie Dresser grad- 
 uated iu our first class 1880, and at first examination got a first grade 
 certificate. The autumn following she was engaged as a teacher iu 
 this district, and has held the place up to this time, confining herself 
 to primar}' work. Miss Grace Armstrong of the class of 1882, and 
 Theodora Law of the same class, Julia B. Durkee of 1886, Marian 
 Howard and Laverne Goodwin of 1887, and Kittie I. Marsh of 1888, 
 are also teaching in the district. Grace D. Norcross of 1886 also 
 taught three years, but has deserted the ranks and, as is usually the 
 case with deserters, has changed her name. 
 
 The total teaching force numbers, seventeen, including the music 
 teacher. The school census for 1889 was 797, being some less than the 
 year before, because a portion of the district on the southeast corner 
 had been set off to form a new one. The census for 1880 was 523. Th9 
 number of teachers in the latter year was only 6, including the principal. 
 This shows a great reduction of numbers per teacher and a consequent 
 increase of expense for teaching per capita. However, the enroll- 
 ment of the school population has increased as compared with census. 
 The total eni-oUed in 1889 was 710, giving a i^ercentage of 92; the en- 
 rollment for "80 was 412, a percentage of 77. If the total enrollment 
 for 1880 "be divided bj' the number of teachers, it give 68 per teacher, 
 while if the same is done for 1889 it gives only 46 for each. 
 
 Our total expenditures for 1889, exclusive of interest on Ijonds, was 
 $19,738.76, which gives a cost per pupil per year of nine months of 
 $27, or three dollars per month. In Denver for 1883 the cost per pupil 
 per month was $2.90. Have before me no later figures from that city. 
 
 The number of persons of school age (then from 5 to 21) was 330, 
 andthe number enrolled 154. The cost per pupil per month for those 
 enrolled for that year was $1.66. It remained the same to 1874, when 
 the census was 498, enrollment 395, or nearly 80 percent. In 1881 the 
 ^•ost per pupil was $2.22. The preceding figures show how there has 
 been a steady increase of expenditure per pupil. This is partly caused 
 by an average mcrease of salarv. but more due to the relativelv lar^vr
 
 250 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AXD 
 
 number of teachers employed. There was no music teacher employed 
 until 1884. The salary paid last year to the one employed in that ca- 
 pacity was $800. The salary of the principal and superintendent is 
 11,500. Twelve other teachers receive each $70 per month, while three 
 teaching in the country receive |50 per month. The twelve receiving 
 the same salaries include the two teachers in the high school and the 
 two in the grammar school, as also in the ijrimary, and there is no dis- 
 crimination made between experienced teachers and those who are 
 only apprentices. The writer does not beheve that this leveling pro- 
 cess in salaries is either wise or just. He believes that wages should 
 correspond to performance and not to effort, as Mr. Edward Bellamy 
 would have it. Our directors seem to be anticipating the last part of 
 the twentieth century of that social reformer. The only reason our 
 board gives for this leveling of salaries is that it prevents complaint. 
 But are we not likely to lose the best and keep the worst by it? 
 
 Of one thing in regard to our schools there is no doubt, and that is 
 the steady gain of eni'oUment as compared with the census. We have 
 seen that it was 92 per cent in 1889. We must remember that the cen- 
 sus embraces between the ages of 6 and 21, and that there are quite a 
 number of that age married. It is doubtful if there is another dis- 
 trict in the state that has so high a percentage of enrollment. The 
 percentage for the whole of Arapahoe county w^as 60, and as the coun- 
 try districts had an enrollment of 70 per cent, this gives for the city 
 about 58 per cent. It may be farther stated that in our schools for 
 1889 the average attendance for those t)?louging was 92 per cent. 
 
 The laying of the foundation of our High School in 1871 ante-dated 
 that of any school building of importance in the state. The corner 
 stone of the Arapahoe school building in Denver was not laid until 
 May, 1872, and until this edifice was erected Denver rented rooms for 
 school purposes. Tliere was school held in the Denver building one 
 term before it was in ours. 
 
 In addition to our public school, a private commercial college has- 
 been in operation here in Greeley for six years. It has been running 
 longer than any other institution of this kind in the state. Many 
 others were commenced before it, but tliese institutions are usually 
 ephemeral in contact with a well devised public school system. 
 
 This institution has been built up here by D. W. EUiott. He was 
 for a number of years a teacher in the schools of the county. Before 
 coming here, he tried a venture of the same kind in Denver, which 
 failed to be remunerative. Then he looked over the whole field in this 
 state and W^yoming, and decided at last to open up here, being prin- 
 cipally influenced in making this decision by the fact that parents
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 251 
 
 would be more likely to send their children to a temperance town than 
 to one offering the temptation of saloons. 
 
 Mr. Elliott first rented " Barnum Hall," but his business overgrow- 
 ing its capacity, he rented the spacious hall over the Hunter Opera 
 House. But one difficulty has to be met here as in Denver. The ex- 
 cellence of our free public schools brings it about that but few from 
 this place send to the Business College. Out of an attendance of sev- 
 enty-five onl}^ seventeen are from Greeley. Parents who look only to 
 a narrowly practical education for their sons and daughters, send them 
 here for a year after they get through the grammar grade instead of 
 giving them four years in the High School. To those w;ishing to give 
 their children such an education, the presence here of this college 
 affords an opportunity right at their doors, and this is a great advan- 
 tage over having to send off to a distance, in more ways than one. It 
 might farther be said in this cou^ection that Greeley is perhaps the 
 most economical p)lace to board in the state, as board and furnished 
 rooms can be had as low as $3.50 for these students. 
 
 The first Teachers' Association ever held in the state met in Greeley 
 in the autumn of 1874, and was organized l)y A. J. Wilber when he 
 was county superintendent. It is true that it was only a county asso- 
 ciation, but leading teachers were here from other parts of the state, 
 notably, H. M. Hale, territorial superintendent, and Aaron Gove, 
 lately arrived in Denver. 
 
 The first general association of teachers met in Denver in the early 
 daj's of 1876, when the constitutional convention was in session, and 
 in part formulated for that body the educational provisions of the 
 organic law of the state. 
 
 J. C. Shattuck, A. J. Wilber, Oliver Howard and David Boyd at- 
 tended this association, going there and back in a lumber wagon. 
 Rates on the railroad were then five dollars each way, and funds 
 were scarce with farmers during those grasshopper days, and all four 
 were more or less engaged in farming. Of course they were all 
 talkers and had their say in this important meeting. Two of the four 
 are now fife members of the Colorado State Teachers' Association by 
 virtue of having attended all the fifteen sessions that it has held, a 
 rule of the association making that provision. The other three so 
 honored, are Horace M. Hale, president of the State University, Aaron 
 Gove, superintendent of the East Denver Schools, and James H. 
 Baker, principal of High School. 
 
 The association did Greeley the honor of holding its ninth annual 
 session here, and at that session elected a resident of this town as its 
 president for the coming year. The state also did us the honor of
 
 252 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 electing for three different terms J. C. Shattuck, superintendent of 
 public instruction. As this gentleman was the first superintendent 
 after Colorado became a state, upon him devolved to a great extent 
 the formation of our public school system, which is recognized as one 
 of the best in the United States. As a lecturer at the leading centers 
 of the state he aroused a high degree of interest in educational 
 matters, and has honored himself and us in the administration of 
 the otfice. 
 
 The county has ever since 1872 elected its superintendents from 
 Greeley. Incidentalh' we have mentioned the first three, who were 
 liberal or skeptical in 'their religious views. These have been followed 
 by three preachers, John Taylor, A. K. Packard and J. B. Cooke. The 
 present incumbent, W. C. Thomas, has been a» teacher in the higher 
 branches for some fifteen years, and is eminentlj' quaHfied for the 
 place. He has taught in different parts of the state since he was 
 principal here, as before recorded, and was superintendent of Lake 
 countv for one term; but Ixis family has always lived in Greeley since 
 he taught here. 
 
 These honors from state and county have been bestowed in recogni- 
 tion of the early stand the people of Greeley took in favor of the 
 broadest and most complete system of education comjDatible with the 
 material progress that underlies it, and we wlio are growing old see 
 with pride that the same sentiment animates the rising generation. 
 
 In Appendix F wnR be found the different classes which have grad- 
 uated from our High School, also the class soon to graduate. The 
 total number is sixtj-.-nine, of whom fort^'-seven are girls and twenty- 
 two ai"e bo3s. This is about the same ratio of the sexes as is generally 
 found among high scliool graduates. All save one are ahve. Evanthie 
 C. Boyd, of the class of 77, died October 16, 1888. 
 
 In death's eternal silence sea ed those lips 
 
 That uttered for her class its fond farewell ; 
 And severed soon those ilear relationships, 
 
 That bound her to it. with their magic spell. 
 
 The following graduates of oUr High School are in the State Univer- 
 sity.: Psyche E. Boyd, Abram L. Mumper, Emery H. Bay ley, Hattie 
 C. Hogarty, Mary T. Hogarty, Maud C. Clark, John C. Xixon and 
 Weslej' \y. Putnam. Greeley has more students in the State Univer- 
 sity than any other city in the state save Boulder, the city in which it 
 is situated. Hubert Shattuck has graduated from Denver University, 
 and Oreille will this year and Everett F. Benedict next. D. Stockton 
 Monahan graduated at the law department at the University of Mich- 
 igan last jear and has been admitted to the bar and is practicing in
 
 THE UNION COLONT OF COLORADO. 253 
 
 this place. Milton Cage also graduated from the same law school 
 aud has been practicing in Denver for some years. George X. Law 
 is soon to graduate from the State School of Mines. Some dozen of 
 the alnmrue have changed their names, l)ut all the a hi nmi remeLin 
 even to this day bachelors so far as report has reached this writer. 
 Co-education does not seem to be catching in a matrimonial point of 
 view. Some ten of the girls are teaching, and our countj^ superinten- 
 dents say that they usually pass well in examinations. None of them 
 have gone into the book or sewing machine agency business. Some 
 are farming, some in business and main' are keeping books, and all 
 doing manj}' or womanly work — a credit to themselves, their friends^ 
 aud our schools. 
 
 A fit conclusion of this view of our schools will be an account of 
 the State Normal School located at Greeley b}- an act of the last 
 legislature. 
 
 This was conditional upon the donation of a site of forty acres of 
 land near Greeley and a contribution of $15,000 to go towards the 
 erection of a building. This sum was paid into the State Treasury 
 last summer by the '' English Company " for the above purpose, and 
 the greater part of the site also donated b}- the same party, the re- 
 mainder by Mr. Cranford, of Brooklyn, New York, who owns a large 
 tract of land near the location. 
 
 Plans were prepared by the State Board of Education for a build- 
 ing to cost some 1125,000, a wing of which was to be built first, cost- 
 ing .125,000. This was the sum that was to go into the first building 
 erected by the act of the legislature, and the state was to furnish the 
 remaining ten thousand out of moneys not otherwise appropriated. 
 This it was found would be zero or less, and so the Normal School 
 Board was unable to proceed with letting the contract for the Ijuild- 
 ing. In this dilemma the people of Greeley were called upon to fur- 
 nish this ten thousand by subscription, which was done in less than 
 two weeks. Less than a year before 110,000 had been raised by sub- 
 scription as a bonus to induce the Irrigation Pump company to locate 
 its works here. 
 
 The nameAf the subscribers to this Normal School fund are given 
 iu Appendix E. However some are deserving of special mention here. 
 Peter Breene, of Leadville, one of the Normal School Board of di- 
 rectors, subscril)es .f5(X); J. H. Young, of our formerly rival town of 
 Evans, subscribes |200. The same amount is subscribed by A. G. 
 McLeod, of Denver, a non-resident, but owner of real estate in 
 Greeley. 
 
 The sum total for which securities are given is $11,185, which will
 
 25i ' A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 all be needed. The contract has been let for 125,000, but leaves all 
 the building unfinished save the first floor. The list is worthy of 
 study as it illustrates how little relationship there is between liberality 
 and financial ability. 
 
 AVhat the free school is to the young, the free circulating library is 
 to the adult. Both afford the means of extending knowledge, and of 
 discipline in virtue. As the instruction at schools occupies nobly and 
 helpfully the leisure during which the organs, faculties and functions 
 are developing, being a humanitarian substitute for the education of 
 the street, so the library affords the means of exercising the mind 
 and heart during the leisure that may be won for this |3ursuit from 
 the busiest, well-ordered life. The free library is also a powerful 
 adjunct of the schools. Without doubt the young people from the 
 <j-ranunar grade up in our schools use our library more in proportion 
 to their numbers than the adults of the place. One of the choicest 
 fruits of education is the tast^ it gives for reading the noblest pro- 
 ductions of human genius. All wise teachers direct the minds of 
 their pupils in that direction, and the tendency grows and heljjs to 
 subordinate evil tendencies inherited from an ignorant, savage, brutal 
 past. 
 
 So it was the intention of the founder of the colony, as will be seen 
 in his circular letter, that there should be a free library and reading 
 room established from funds derived from the sale of town lots. But 
 we have seen where this money had to l^e used, and hence the gener- 
 ous intention had to be put off until we got our feet under us in an 
 industrial direction. However, during the first winter a reading room 
 was maintained principally supplied with periodical literature and 
 some books donated. 
 
 It was always the expectation of N. C. Meeker that Horace Greeley 
 would make us a donation for a library, but the death of that philan- 
 thropist and statesman, near the last days of 1872, blighted all hopes 
 in that direction. Accordingly, at the close of the year certain Gree- 
 ley men got up a magnificent lottery scheme to procure a library. 
 One hundred thousand tickets were to be sold at one dollar apiece, 
 three-fourth blanks, and 150,000 in prizes. The remaining $50,000, 
 less expenses, were to be expended upon a library and reading room. 
 The editor of The Tribune opposed the scheme with all his might, 
 while it received a weak endorsement by the editor of The Colorado 
 Sun. As this scheme excited the most lively interest at the time, it is 
 well here to reproduce something of what was said upon the subject. 
 As there are no files of The Suit we shall be forced to give the con- 
 troversy from The Tribune side, and hence not to be able to do justice
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 255 
 
 ■to the arguments offered iu favor of the scheme. However we give 
 the following paragraph from The Sun as quoted iu the following 
 issue of The Tribune : 
 
 " In our advertising columns is printed the full scheme of a lottery 
 for the benefit of a library fund for the town of Greeley. Since 
 custom has sanctioned this method of creating funds for useful pur- 
 poses, we ma}' as well avail ourselves of it, without questioning its 
 propriety. The object is a good one, and the managers of the enter- 
 prise are prominent citizens who will deal fairly with the public, and 
 may be relied upon. Those at home or abroad desiring to invest iu 
 the chances of this drawing need not hesitate because of any doubt 
 as to its being a legitimate undertaking for the purpose named." 
 
 Iu The Tribune issue of December 25, 1872, we find the following : 
 
 " We notice, and we hear complaint, that a lottery scheme is on foot 
 in this town. It is not likely that much progress will be made here, 
 for our people generally have no faith in these games; but we take 
 occasion to advise people at a distance that, although coming from 
 Greeley, it is discountenanced and unworthy of confidence; and al- 
 though claiming to have a literary character, none of the literar}' jjeo- 
 ple have any hand in it. If we mistake not the scheme is unlawful, 
 and ought to receive the attention of our magistrates." 
 
 In the New Year's number following we have an account of the 
 discussion of this scheme before the Young Peoples' Literary associ- 
 ation in the Methodist church. 
 
 Mrs. J. C. Abbott, sister of S. B. Wright, read a paper in opposi- 
 tion to the scheme of which this is the closing paragraph : 
 
 " I do not care if custom has sanctioned this method of raising 
 funds for useful purposes; we all learned long ago that customs are 
 not always right, that they frequently are not backed by good, sound 
 principles; and no true man nor woman should avail themselves of 
 schemes to enrich themselves at the public expense, however pla,usi- 
 ble it may appear, without first considering whether it be justifiable. 
 You may say that the object is a good one and that the managers will 
 deal fairly with the public; but allowing this to be true, I cannot see 
 that it makes the lottery business any more honorable or worthy of 
 patronage. The more honest and good the men are, who institute 
 such schemes, the worse the influence. They tell you they do not 
 ask you to give your money for nothing, but give you a chance to 
 win a competence in a day, to which I say, remember the proverb, 'He 
 that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and cousidereth not that jdov- 
 erty shall come upon him.' 
 
 " N. C. Meeker— -If I have a certain knowledge of anything in this
 
 256 A HISTORY OF GRKELEY AND 
 
 world, and if my studies and labors have led to any definite conclu- 
 sion on any one subject, it is that the people of this town and colony 
 are in a mass opposed to selling liquor, opposed to immoralities of 
 all kinds, and decidedly opposed to lotteries. This is an industrial 
 community, not a speculative, dishonest one, and if we want a library - 
 or other literary advantages, we propose to pay for them, and do not 
 expect to get otlier people, b}^ any game or trick, to help us. Men 
 make a great, a tremendous mistake in supposing that tliey can run 
 any such thing in this town, and the soouer'they come to understand 
 it the better. We cannot afford to have these circulars go out for any 
 amount of money; indeed I would not have them go out for all the 
 money that can be crowded into this church. It is true we are not 
 rich, but we have a reputation that is precious, and the men who got 
 up this lottery did it with the intention of using this reputation of 
 ours to float their dishonest scheme, and I object." 
 
 " Captain Boyd— When Mr. Greeley was a hoj, and it was seen by 
 some rich and influential men that he had great ability, they proposed 
 to give him a classical education. But after due consultation his 
 parents refused. They would do the best they could to educate him, 
 but they would not bs depaadent on charity. Such independence I 
 honor, and I say of this method of getting a library, we want no 
 such assistance; we will not have it; we disdain it; we scorn it." 
 
 " Mr. W. H. Brockway said : Any -one not personally acquainted 
 with the manner in which this scheme was conceived and brought 
 forth, would, by reading their circulars, immediately form the opinion 
 that the town of Greeley, in its corporate capacity, had opened a mon- 
 ster gambling house for drawing for a public library. There is, to be 
 sure, a resolution in very fine print, stating the nativity of the enter- 
 prise, but is surroundrd with such a vast display of ' laudable enter- 
 prise,' ' town of Greeley,' ' towii library,, ' temperance town,' and ap- 
 peals for aid, together with a description of the surrounding country, 
 'irrigating canals, 'colony fence,' 'town board,' 'colony trustees,' 
 'churches,' 'schools,' etc., that casual readers would conclude that 
 their money would go directly into the town treasury, or at least into 
 the hands of responsible parties under bonds to insure the safety of 
 their investments. 
 
 " Under the scheme as set forth in the circulars, the town of Gree- 
 ley stands in a position to receive all the odium, all the discredit at- 
 tached to lottery schemes generally, and liable to arise from various 
 causes, such as dishonest drawing, or a failure to draw at all, which 
 is no unusual occurrence in the history of lotteries; while on the other 
 hand what security have we, if the 100,000 tickets should be sold.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 257 
 
 that the proceeds would be devoted to the purposes named t How 
 do we know, after furnishing all the ammuuitiou, that we would get 
 any share of the game ? Why, sir, we have the signature of five men, 
 to that effect ; and I venture the assertion that five thousand dollars 
 could not be obtained in the territory on a joint note of hand executed 
 by those same five men. I believe if the Army and Navy club or any 
 other body of men takes the credit of a community into their hands, 
 they should give some securitj^ to maintain it. It would be a hard 
 matter for five-sixths of the property owuers, even in this town, to 
 borrow a hundred dollars without giying a trust deed, or some other 
 real estate security, while here we are asked to lend our name, our 
 fame, all we are, and all we hope to become, to this lottery scheme, 
 under a board of managers, without any substantial security, three- 
 fifths of whom could leave the territory within forty-eight hours from 
 any given time and not hs one hundred dollars out of pocket. I con- 
 sider such a proceeding an imposition on good nature, an outrage on 
 the town of Greeley, and I am sui"e that a more cheeky j^roposition 
 could not he manufactui-ed outside of a brass foundr3\" 
 
 "Colonel White, the chief manager of the lottery, made quite a 
 speech, showing that this method of raising money is practiced in 
 many places with approval, and he thought it singular that any one 
 should object to having a good library-; in fact, he believed every one 
 would be glad to get it. He dwelt at considerable length on the prac- 
 tice of the churches in getting money by various lottery schemes, -and 
 he said, and several times repeated, that they were going to carry out 
 the scheme — that he believed in pushing things — and he was going to 
 push it. 
 
 '■ Mr. Wilber — Out of all the churches, the Free Church is the only 
 one that does not gamble. 
 
 "S. B. Wright — If I understand this business, a deception has been 
 practiced, in representing to people abroad that this lottery scheme 
 has the indorsement of the town of Grreele}^ hence whoever buys a 
 ticket can maintain an action against the managers for getting money 
 under false pretenses. 
 
 "Mr. (Judge S. B. A.) Haynes made the longest speech, and de- 
 feuded the lottery by a great variety of arguments, but as it was after- 
 wards charged that, as a lawj'er, he had been engaged to make the de- 
 fense, and he has not denied it, no farther report need be made. 
 
 " Two or three other speakers defended the lott^iry, mainly by the 
 practice of the churches; in fact, every friend of the lotterj^ stood with 
 his back against a church, the result of which will undoubtedly be a 
 radical reform in all the churches of Greeley.
 
 258 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 " At the couclusiou a vote was taken whether the lottery should be 
 disfouuteuaneed, and almost the whole of the vast eougreg-ation arose 
 to its feet in condemnation." 
 
 It has been thought best to give a large part of the report of the 
 debate, since it reflects the spirit of the times, and also preserves the 
 words of some who have not appeared in this history. The able 
 speech of Mr. Brockway is especially worthy of notice. Here is a 
 man that is engaged daily in the common avocations of life, in fact 
 for the last ten years has been janitor at the High School, and he can 
 get up when occasion demands and talk like a lawyer. It also seems 
 good to the writer to quote a letter from a farmer on this subject. He 
 wrote frequently for The Tribune, and we might ijreserve this as a 
 specimen : 
 '• To the Editor of the Greeley Tribune: 
 
 "Shall we exclude the rum-seller, but invite the blackleg? I would 
 as soon tolerate the former as the latter. The desire to obtain money 
 bv gambling proceeds from an immoral, depraved condition of the 
 mind, and should never be fostered or indulged any more than the 
 appetite for strong drinks. Those who in any way incite its longings 
 are surely sapping the virtue of the people. Church lotteries are evil, 
 mainly because of their example and the excuse they afford, and I 
 could never be induced to countenance them; jet the real poison in- 
 fused into the mind is comparatively slight, because no one hopes to 
 make money by attending them. The lottery of White & Company is 
 calculated to })roduce as bad an effect on the minds of those who par- 
 ticipate in it as any species of gambling, and shotdd therefore be ob- 
 jected to with as much earnestness and unanimity as though it did 
 not claim to have a pubHc object in view. Yes, a great deal more, be- 
 cause it assumes an indorsement by the town, and who wants our fair 
 name so stolen or thrown away? Let every one hasten to set himself 
 right on this subject. I do not assume that the motives of those en- 
 gaged in it must necessarily be wholly base, for we almost all do some 
 bad things thoughtlessly; but the scheme, when closely examined, will 
 be seen to be reeking with infamy. No party can make it respectable. 
 The procuring a public library in that way would not be a credit to 
 our town, but an everlasting disgrace. The robber is not justified be- 
 cause he builds churches, nor the rum-seller because he makes school 
 houses, neither will the gambler be, if he founds public hbraries. 
 There are none worthy of honor except such as ' noble ends by noble 
 means attain.' Let us all try not for the prizes in the lottery of $100,- 
 000, but for the willingness to earn our own fortunes. 
 
 "Samuel Blodgett."
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 259 
 
 The town board had committed itself so far as to indorse the re- 
 spousibihty of the jjarties, but the ckib had announced that the mem- 
 bers of the town board would attend to the drawing and so insure fair 
 play. This it did without authority, and it called forth the following 
 resolution, offered in that body by Joseph Moore and adopted by the 
 board : 
 
 " Resolved, That the Board of Trustees of the town of Greeley do, 
 for the honor of the town, and their own protection from unjust impu- 
 tations, not having given their consent to supervise the drawing of 
 said lottery, disclaim any connection whatever with the scheme." 
 
 Of coiuse the Colonel was routed " horse, foot and artillery." Quite 
 a sum had been expended in advertising, postage, etc., and at one time 
 it was proposed to make up this sum to the projectors by subscription, 
 but it was abandoned so far as the writer knows on account of the con- 
 tumacy of the parties involved. It was hard on the Colonel, who was 
 a Free Mason, that this fraternitj^ just at this time repudiated a simi- 
 lar scheme gotten up in Omaha to build a temple for the Chapter of 
 that order there. 
 
 With the exception of C. A. White, the men engaged in this scheme 
 were of insignificant consequence; they* have all left the place long 
 ago, and the name of not one of them is rememl^ered by the writer. 
 The " Army and Xavy Clul) " founded by them was likely a smoking, 
 card-playing club, at which Greeley " saints " were roughlj- handled. 
 
 But of course those who had so strenuously opposed a lil^rary from 
 this source were the very men Avho most wanted to see Greeley have a 
 library procured in an honorable way. However, we were now enter- 
 ing on the four grasshopper years, and not much could be done as yet. 
 An effort was made b}- a few, notably Charles H. Wheeler, A. E. Gip- 
 son, George H. West, Florence X. Haynes and the Rev. R. G. Thomp- 
 son, at whose study we frequently met. Considerable sums were sub- 
 scribed, with the understanding that they would be called for when a 
 certain sum total should be sul^scribed, but as that was not reached, 
 nothing was really accomplislied farther than keeping open a reading 
 room. Miss Haynes had, however, paid in her subscription, which 
 was used in running the reading room, and she was never reimbursed. 
 
 The first part of our jireseut lil^rary was purchased by the District 
 School Board in 1880. The following is the account given of this mat- 
 ter in the report of that bod}- for the year named : 
 
 " During the past year the board expended |4()0 in the purchase of 
 a school library. This money was obtained from the sale of lots be- 
 longing to the district, the remaining part of those originally donated 
 by Union Colony to this school district. The selection of books con-
 
 260 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 tains principally standard works in history, poetry, fiction, science and 
 translations from the ancient classics. There are in all about -400 vol- 
 umes. 
 
 " The Board of Directors is pleased to know that this action has 
 met with cordial acceptance on the part of the people, and would rec- 
 ommend that annuall}' a small sum be set apart for its augmentation. 
 We earnestly recommend to the fostering care of the people this en- 
 terprise so auspiciously begun. We deem it of the highest import- 
 ance that there is now within the reach of every one so many, we 
 might say most, of the choicest thoughts, the richest experience of the 
 wise and illustrious of all the ages." 
 
 The coming board did not take the hint to keep adding, except a 
 few juvenile books, which class was almost wholly wanting in the first 
 collection. 
 
 The next movement in this direction was inaugurated by J. M. Wal- 
 lace, president of the First National Bank, in 1886. Subscriptions 
 were opened with the understanding that they would be paid in when 
 the total amount subscribed reached $2,000. This proposition was 
 met with alacrity, and that s^m was soon reached. Judge Wallace, 
 besides subscribing one hundred dollars, gave the free use of a fine 
 room in the First National Bank block for one year, and the library 
 still remains there. Some six others subscribed one hundred dollars 
 each, and the rest was contributed by the people quite generally, 
 
 A stock company was formed with shares of stock at $10 per share, 
 and one of these entitled the holder to free use of the library, and all 
 others could have the same for a contribution of one dollar a year. 
 
 A fine collection of books was now made, and the chief credit of it 
 is due to F. E. Smith, whose extensive knowledge of books, good judg- 
 ment and business tact enabled him to make purchases of the right 
 kind at low figures in New York, where he attended to this while on 
 business there for himself. 
 
 The school library was added to this and handled by the same hbra- 
 rian, but was, as before, free to all the district, a small deposit being 
 exacted of each who mshed to take out books, so as to insure the dis- 
 trict against loss. Recently aU of the school liljrary having value 
 chiefly for reference, has been removed to the High School for the use 
 of the students. 
 
 Miss Florence N. Haynes was chosen librarian by the association, 
 and remains still in that place. Her extensive reading and good taste 
 in hterary matters enable her to be of great use in guiding the 3"0ung 
 in making selections. Ability and experience in this line are of great 
 value to the reading community.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 261 
 
 About a year ago the stockholders donated the hbrarj to the city, 
 •which now defrays the running expenses. It sets apart yearly for the 
 librarj' $400, of which about .$10(3 is available for the jDurchase of addi- 
 tional books. The management is in the hands of a board of seven — 
 three from the City Council, two citizens yearly elected by the council, 
 and two ex-officio members, viz. — the president of the school board 
 and the superintendent of the city schools. All the stockholders of 
 the old compau}^ have free use of the library, and others can become 
 life members by paying one dollar. The number of volumes is about 
 two thousand. 
 
 As an offset to what has been said in condemnation of the course of 
 C. A. White in the lotterj^ scheme, it is here to be recorded that this, 
 gentleman was Mayor of the city when the council, of which he was 
 head, had the courage to midertake the control of the library, and pro- 
 vide for its continuous maintenance, so far as a changing body can leg- 
 islate for the future. It is always important to take the first step, and 
 backward steps are not likely to be taken in this direction in Greeley. 
 There are many citizens, it must also be said, who admire as much his 
 audacity in other directions as the writer does in this.
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 SOME EARLY INSTITUTIONS OF GREELEY — THE LYCEUMS ACCOU^^TS OF THESE 
 
 IN THE NEWSPAPERS — HOW A " FOURTH " WAS CELEBRATED AT THE 
 LYCEUM — ATTITUDE OF THE PULPIT TOWARDS THE LYCEU3IS— DIFFER- 
 ENCE BETWEEN THE GREELEY OF 1872 AND THE GREELEY OF 1890— 
 CORRUPTION IN OUR POLITICS — FARMERS' CLUB — ITS ORGANIZATION — 
 THE WORK IT UNDERTOOK AND WHAT IT ACCOMPLISHED — ITS DECLINE 
 AND SUPERSEDURE BY THE GRANGE — AN ACCOUNT OF THIS BODY AND 
 THE EDITOR OF ITS NEWSPAPER, A. J. WILBER — OTHER SECRET SOCIE- 
 TIES IN GREELEY, 
 
 CLOSELY couueeted with the schools and library, as educa- 
 tional instnimentaUties, stand the Lyceums and Farmers' 
 Club of the early days. These formed one of the most 
 notable features of what we may call colonial times. Taken together 
 W'ith our frequent mass meetings, at which were discussed questions 
 of vital importance to the whole community, they made our town, 
 especially during the winter season, a lively arena. 
 
 In coming to a country which offered so many new questions for 
 solution, and presented so many new aspects of life, the minds, even 
 of those past their prime, experienced a sort of rejuvenation. So too, 
 being nearly all strangers to one another, each was ambitious to 
 begin his new record as well as possible, and so put the best foot 
 foremost. 
 
 Writing on this subject in The Tribune of January 3, 187^ N. C. 
 Meeker says : 
 
 " On Thursday and Friday evenings Colony Hall was filled to over- 
 flowing on the occasion of the meetings of the two lyceums. It is 
 impossible to make reports of the proceedings which give even a tol- 
 erable idea of the sprightliness and absorljiug interest. In all our 
 experience we have never seen such institutions so well sustained; and 
 if we wanted to show strangers the best that is to be seen of^Greeley 
 w^e would have them visit the lyceums. There is still a deficiency in 
 lady speakers, not because they are incompetent, but becau.se they 
 are timid. It seems evident that these lyceums are destined to exer- 
 cise a powerful influence upon society, not only in Greeley but in 
 Colorado."
 
 THE UNIOX COLOXY OF COLORADO. 
 
 263 
 
 In The Rocky Mountain News of these days we have several hum- 
 orous descriptions from the pen of its Greeley correspondents on these 
 gatherings. For instance : 
 
 " The town of Greeley is a delectable arena, for of the entire popu- 
 lation three- fourths are members of clubs that are eternally in session. 
 Day may sink into night, flowers may bloom and fade and the 
 seasons roll round with the year, but Greeley clubs are unchange- 
 able." 
 
 And again : " For a civil, social, religious, moral, temperance and 
 anti-drinking community this place is certainly ahead of anything 
 outside of heaven. They begin the week by singing the ' doxology,' 
 and conclude it with ' Old Grimes.' Monday night there is a church 
 festival, or some such lottery scheme; Tuesday night a 'war dance,' 
 Wednesday night the ' Farmers' Club,' Thursday night the ' old men's 
 lyceum,' Frida}^ night the ' young men's ' ditto, Saturday night the 
 'good tipplers,' and occasionally between times the Masons slip in a 
 meeting and also the Odd Fellows ; and the backbiters dodge in their 
 share; and the sewing circles, the prayer meetings, the colony meet- 
 ings, the singing meetings, with a little preaching and some prayer, 
 together with an occasional temperance lecture by some peripatetic 
 woman, besides what work they have to do fills up the entire week, and 
 gives an activity to affairs that simply renders Greeley the most bust- 
 ling community in Christendom." 
 
 Still another touch from the same hand : "' At the lyceum on. 
 Thursday evening the question of the removal of the Xatioual capital 
 to the Mississippi Valley was satisfactorily settled to the audience, 
 and therefore to the world at large. It cannot be removed to the City 
 of the Plains ' since the inhabitants of the aforesaid city, notwith- 
 star.cling the Demosthenean appeal of the handsome and urbane 
 General Cameron, or the suavity of President Meeker's address, de- 
 cide to have it remain where it is. Besides, when according to X. C. 
 Meeker's idea, we shall have annexed Canada and the British islands, 
 would it not be quite central enough ? 
 
 In addition to discussing questions in politics, science, philosopliy, 
 literature and art, practical questions of home interests, like that of 
 the lottery scheme, were discussed under the auspices of one of the 
 lyceums, instead of as earlier, at the ' Colony meetings.' The Fourth 
 of July, 1872, was celeljrated in the Methodist church in a program 
 given there b_y the Young Peoples' lyceum in the evening. 
 
 Oil this occasion Dr. Hawes, newly arrived, made his debut by 
 reading a thrilling poem on some patriotic theme; J. C. Shattuck fur- 
 nishes the fun for the evening by delivering a regular spread eagle
 
 264 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AKD 
 
 Foui-th of July oration. Then come the toasts, ' Our Country,' re- 
 sponded to by A. J. Wilber, who about two years ago shook the dust 
 of the soil of his native land from his disgusted feet and sought for 
 ' equity ' under the banner of Old Mexico. N. C. Meeker spoke on 
 'Union Colony,' David Boyd, 'Agriculture,' Mrs. Price, sister of 
 J. Max. Clark, ' The Ladies,' J. G. Cooper, ' The Press,' and Rev. G. H. 
 Adams, 'Greeley Lyceums.' This latter gentleman, among other 
 things, said : 
 
 "He thought the two lyceums worthy of great praise in having 
 furnished rational entertainment so long and uninterruptedly, and the 
 members should feel highly flattered in having a people so intelligent 
 uniformly fill the house. He would be happy to serve the lyceums 
 in any capacity the members might indicate, for he believed these insti- 
 tutions were doing much good." 
 
 For some three or four years the attitude of the preachers was the 
 same as that of Mr. Adams towards the lyceums, and they quite gen- 
 erally took a part in them. But sometimes scientific and philosophic 
 questions were handled in such a way as to trejich on the domain of 
 theology, and in a manner that was thought to have a tendency to 
 unsettle faith in the dogmas of orthodoxy. One preacher said in 
 substance that more doubt could he planted in the minds of the 
 hearers by some of these skeptical speakers in five minutes than 
 coidd be eradicated in an hour by one defending christian evidences; 
 and he counseled his people to keep away. From that time there was 
 a general withdrawal of the religious element, especially from the 
 " Old People's Ljxeum," Avhere there was less timidity shown in hand- 
 ling subjects lying on the borderlands of science and religion. Sec- 
 tarian lines were yearly more scrupulously drawn, and amusements 
 and exercises furnished the members within the denominational limits. 
 Each preacher preferred to keep his flock nibbling within the small 
 enclosure of its own church. But the process of segregation went on 
 in more directions than this. A large number of secret societies 
 gradually begin to crystalize around different centers, and large 
 gatherings of the whole people for common purposes become rarer and 
 rarer. At length we have become like other old communities East, 
 and but little intellectual vigor is any longer displayed^ or general 
 fraternal feeling is left remaining. Our Fourth of July celebrations 
 now have taken on the physical type. We have racing, climbing 
 greased poles, catching greased pigs, hook and ladder companies' 
 races, and Firemen's tournaments, instead of the kind we had in 1872 
 as above narrated. Ah, well, quite other sort of folks can engage in 
 these things, and the Utes could no doubt beat our best and bravest
 
 THE UNIOX COLONY OF COLORADO. 265 
 
 at them. However the Fourth, of the j-ear 1885, was celel^rated iu 
 the old way, while in this year of grace, 1890, we are to have a Fire- 
 man's tournament for which our clebt-laden town can afford a dona- 
 tion of $1,000, while it felt too poor to give a cent to the State Normal 
 school. 
 
 But ui^on the decline of the lyceums intellectual vigor did not 
 quite subside. The arena of debate was changed to the local news- 
 papers, especially to The Tribune, which was hospitable to the views 
 of thinkers upon opposing sides of nearlj^ all questions. But upon 
 this field of debate the contest has for the most part come to an end, 
 largelj' no doubt because most of the grave and pressing questions of 
 the former time have beau settled and little remains but routine. The 
 liquor question remains the o\i\j one of general interest, and from 
 time to time can bring together the masses as in the former daj^s. But 
 whoever should now visit us could write no such accounts of the place 
 as those we have quoted. They would and do speak of our material 
 prosperity, of our beautiful homes, of our large business blocks, of 
 our spacious halls of audience, and if they looked deeper would 
 speak of the solid business basis of our merchants and bankers, and 
 of the reliability of our credit generally. They would see that one- 
 third of the people in town keep a horse and carriage of some kind, 
 and that nearly all the farmers come to town in buggies, and have 
 two-horse carriages, or at least spring wagons in which to bring their 
 families to church Sundays, while for some six years there was scarcely 
 to be seen any other vehicle in or around town save lumber wagons, 
 and the farmer was considered well off who had a saddle to jump into 
 when he had to hurry to town for repairs to the first self-binders that 
 needed so much of that kind of attention. He would see on the sur- 
 face of society a gay life largel}^ substituted for the serious duties of 
 the earlier years. Glancing at our papers he would see accounts of 
 dancing clubs, card-playing clubs, base ball clubs, foot-racing clubs, 
 gun clubs, hook and ladder companies, fire companies, all run by the 
 *' boys," who for a number of years have run the politics of the place, 
 all political aspirants deeming it prudent to cater to these " young 
 bloods." He would also find a large transient class hanging around, 
 who play an important part in determining questions in which they 
 have but the slightest passing interest. If he were inside of the ring 
 he would learn that there is a large fund collected principally from 
 the candidates, for the purpose of corrupting the vote of the county 
 and manipulated for this purpose by a most dexterous politician who 
 holds the destiny of his party in his breeches pocket. He would find 
 that in the dirty scramble for place only the most brazen office-seeker
 
 266 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 had the shghtest chance of getting a hand at the game, and that 
 every aspirant is at length sucked into this vile maelstrom. The can- 
 vass is no more conducted b}^ an open discussion of men and issues, 
 but managed by paid " button-holers," who backbite the opposing 
 candidates, and misrepresent their views.- 
 
 We now turn to the last institution which helped to contrast the 
 Greeley of the first few years from the Greeley of the present. This 
 was the Farmers' Club. 
 
 When Mr. Greeley was here in the autumn of 1870 he advised us 
 to start one as soon as possible. This of course had been our inten- 
 tion. Mr. Meeker had won great repute among the agricultural 
 classes on account of his animated reports of the New York Farmers' 
 Club, and we were to have here one as near like it as possible as soon 
 as a suitable place was built in which to hold meetings. The follow- 
 ing is the account of its organization given in The Greeley Tribune 
 December 28. 1870 : 
 
 " Last Friday evening about fifty members met in the colony hall, 
 and organized a Farmers' Club. The discussion on the occasion de- 
 veloped a condition of things worthy of special note. Three propo- 
 sitions were presented. First to unite with the lyeeum to form a 
 general scientific body under a charter; second to organize as an agri- 
 cultural society for Northern Colorado, with the Farmers' Club as a 
 branch; and third to organize simply as a Farmers' Club. * *, 
 As to uniting with the lyeeum it was vigorously opposed for the rea- 
 son that men simply gifted as speakers, and with literary qualifica- 
 tions, but who had never raised a bushel of potatoes, and who had no 
 real living interest in agricultural pursuits, would do discredit to a 
 Farmers' Club, inasmuch as they would be forever talking about mat- 
 ters the}" do not understand. 
 
 "After a full hearing from man}- speakers it was voted unanimously 
 that a Farmers' Club be ox-ganized independent of all other bodies. 
 The terms of membership were fixed at one dollar and Captain David 
 Boyd was elected president, J. Max. Clark, secretary, and N. C. 
 Meeker, treasurer. The first regular meeting is to be held Friday, 
 December 30, and the subject for discussion is • Tree Planting.' Thirty- 
 five joined the club." 
 
 It might as well here be said that Mr. Meeker especially opposed 
 the club's being a part of the lyeeum because he did not want Gen- 
 eral Cameron to have au3-thing to do with it since he was a more 
 fluent speaker than himself, and was apt to monopolize more than his 
 share of the time which was usually extended to him by the courtesy 
 of the audience when the limit fixed bv the rules was reached. Al-
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 267 
 
 though the General could not be called a practical farmer, and had 
 not the remotest idea of engaging in that pursuit here, still he was a 
 man of general ideas and his presence in the club would have l^een 
 \iseful and would have given animation to the ^proceedings. But he did 
 not attempt to join it as a s^arate body since from the discussion it 
 was made pretty clear that the general sentiment was against any l)ut 
 those intending to engage in agriculture joining. 
 
 The followii]g notice published in Tlte Denver Neirs, soon after its 
 organization, will explain in part the way the clulj went to work : 
 
 "A Farmers' Club has been organized in this town. We have only 
 been in running order a few weeks, yet we have sixty members. We 
 solicit letters, detailing experiences, from old settlers. Especialh' do 
 we desire information as to what varieties of fruit trees and plants 
 have proved hardy, also as to any that have proved too tender for 
 this climate. We rely much on the old settlers in these matters. All 
 letters received will be read before the club at its weekly meetings. 
 At present the meetings are held in the public hall Wednesday even- 
 ings, when we would be pleased to receive and hear from any persons 
 who may visit us and who are instructed in the cultivation of the soil 
 or stock-growing." 
 
 There was cjuite a generous response to the alcove, and much infor- 
 mation was received, though on the whole of a conflicting nature. In 
 addition to communications about the special matters named much 
 was furnished upon the subject of irrigation relating to the cpiantity 
 of water needed to irrigate certain areas, and how best to apply it. 
 From the farmers themselves we learned that much more vsater was 
 needed than the theorists writing for newspapers had Jjeen endeavor- 
 ing to make us believe. An inch of continual flow through the season 
 of irrigation was the usual quantity supposed to be required, but it 
 was soon made evident to us that this inch was a very variable quan- 
 tity. The discussions on these communications led us to investigate 
 the whole subject in concert, and to work together for the attainment 
 of certain ends, and also cultivated the ability to handle sucli subjects 
 either in oral debate or through the press. 
 
 When in town Mr. Meeker was always present, and reported the 
 proceedings quite at length for his j^aper, and this part of it for a time 
 was one of its most interesting features. 
 
 Experiments were planned to be carried out by particular farmers, 
 and reported to the club. The meetings were held regularly only 
 during the winter season, the members being all too Ijusy to give the 
 time while crops were being made and gathered. However, when we 
 were visited by any distinguished agriculturists, meetings were called,
 
 268 
 
 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 and there was a general turnout to hear and give information. In this 
 way we received an excursion part}' of agricultural editors, who visited 
 us during the autumn of 1871, and who spread far and wide the fame 
 of our yoiuig community and its learned Farmers' Club. 
 
 Some time after this we were visited by another agricultural sage of 
 the Neiv York Tribune, Solon KoIhuso* who had preceded N. C. 
 Meeker as editor in the same department. As we all had been readers 
 of that journal, we were much interested in seeing and hearing the 
 man, but were a good deal disappointed. His address lasted some 
 two hours, and was made up of Ijuncombe, spread eagle platitudes 
 about the climate, scenerj' and the immense capaljilities of the soil. 
 We had been making some experiments iu this line ourselves, which 
 had been detrimental to much of this kind of conceit. In fact, we set 
 dbwn the man who, unseen and unheard, had been considered as a 
 prodigy of agricultural wisdom, as a good deal of a huml^ug. But he 
 was listened to respectfuU}' and gave us several puffs through 'the 
 journals to which he contributed. 
 
 But as the years passed, interest in the proceedings of the club be- 
 gan to fall off. Many of the experiments undertaken were rendered 
 abortive by grasshoppers and insufficiency of water. All our attempts 
 at tree culture had been pretty much failures, except with the despised 
 cottonAvood. Many bright hopes of the early days in reference to 
 being able to control the circumstances unfavorable to agriculture had 
 been blasted. We had to maintain a stern hatid-to-hand conflict with 
 a hostile environment, and naturally speculation and aspiration had 
 their wings clipped close. The fine, keen edge of the early interest 
 had been dulled in a routine of more or less baffled efforts. 
 
 So it happened that the club easily gave way to the grange when it 
 was oganized early in 1871:. Many believed that there was need of a 
 more powerful and secret organization of the agricultural class to 
 manage the markets and do away with middlemen, who appeared to 
 some to be reaping all the profits. It appeared to most that it was 
 more important to have good prices for products than it was to stimu- 
 late more production. The writer did not share in the great expecta- 
 tions of the Grangers, and gave them a wide berth. He was always 
 cosmopolitan in his views, and believed that farmers as a class would 
 fail in undertaking large business enterprises in connection with their 
 own pursuit. He never has been in harmonj' with the clamiish class 
 spirit, and has a sort of inbred dislike to secret organizations. As a 
 matter of fact, aside from all prejudiced views of the author, the 
 grange never flourished here, and never accomphshed anything which
 
 THE UNION COLONY. OF COLORADO. 269 
 
 it undertook. It has b^en revived again, and we understand it has 
 been able to give several farmers' dances. 
 
 Soon after our (?lub started, several others were formed in different 
 localities in imitation, as at Denver, Clear Creek, Longmout, and were 
 in correspondence with us. These also died out upon the advent of 
 the grange. Men who have views on these subjects, and ability to 
 write upon them, henceforth avail themselves of the press of tne state 
 as a vehicle of their opinions, and thus exercise a wider influence. In 
 this connection it might be said that the state organ of the grange 
 was published during the greater part of its life in Greeley, and edited 
 b}' A. J. Wilber, and that for this writer it was al)Out the leanest, least 
 nutritious, intellectual pabuliuti he ever undertook to assimilate. He 
 took it and whiles glanced over it through friendship for its editor, 
 and also so as not to keep too far removed from those engaged in the 
 same pursuits. It is liighl}-^ probable that he was looking at it from 
 the wrong point of view, and that the members of the order foimd in 
 it the sustenance their appetites craved. On the other hand, we saw 
 our friend of the former days becoming dwarfed and dwindling in in- 
 tellectual stature as he became the mouthpiece of one hobbj' after an- 
 other. Mr. Wilber took quite a conspicuous jaart in the Lj'ceunf and 
 Farmers' Club, and still more in educational affairs, and gave promise 
 of still better performance during our first years. However, he was 
 much more effective as a speaker than as a writer. In oratory he had 
 taken Wendell Phillips as his model, endeavoring to say the most 
 biting, cutting things in the coolest manner possible. In writing, his 
 theory of conciseness resulted in baldness, and it would have pleased 
 him if he could have communicated his written thought in the symbols 
 of an algelDraic formula. Some writers as Tacitus and Emerson have 
 attained great effectiveness through the instrunientahty of a terse, 
 compact style, but it is the result of great art acquired by close study. 
 If the unadorned or unstrengthened substantive is to be depended 
 upon almost wholl}' for effect, there is need of the choicest selection of 
 the most apposite and striking words. Such style, while appearing 
 unadorned, is adorned the most. In a language like the Italian, in 
 which the substantive assumes so many forms to indicate so many dif- 
 ferent delicate shades of meaning, there is less need of the adjective 
 to bring out complete expression; hence the effectiveness of this part 
 of speech in the hands of such a master as Dante. Our language is 
 said to surpass all others for the purposes of brevity in telegraphy, 
 but an expert in writing out telegrams of the fewest letters is not 
 likely to be the master of an effective style, and Mr, Wilber's concise- 
 ness was of the telegraph dispatch order.
 
 270 A HISTORY OF &KEELEY AND 
 
 Here what is deemed suitable to be said about the other secret or- 
 ganizations ma}- fith' have its place. Of the general meliorating ten- 
 dencies of all these organizations there can be no doubt. The objects 
 of all are social, ethical and fraternal. Perhaps no other set of agen- 
 cies have done so much to break down sectarian bigotry in religion. 
 Hence, sects that fear defection from their ranks, or who have narrow 
 views about the beliefs that are necessary to salvation, endeavor to 
 keep their adherents out of these organizations. The opposition of 
 the Church of Rome is well known, and Protestant sects that are the 
 farthest removed from Romish doctrine and ritual conduct themselves 
 in the same wa}- in regard to secret societies. Sects who believe that 
 there are but a few that can be saved under the most favorable condi- 
 tions, and that their own method of ijresentation offers at least the 
 best chances, necessarily endeavor to keep the denominational enclosures 
 in more thorough repair than others who believe that not only in the 
 •' Father's house are man}- mansions," but that there are ways to it 
 from man}- widely scattered folds. Leckey says that Catholics used 
 to try to gain converts by this kind of an argument : " Protestants be- 
 lieve that Catholics may be saved. Catholics believe that Protestants 
 cam^ot be saved, therefore your chances of salvation are better in the 
 Catholic church than in a Protestant one," thus making the bigotry 
 and narrowness of their views a reason why they would find acceptance 
 in the sight of God. Blaise Pascal gave this absurd theory a wider 
 application, and Protestants have taken it up in reasoning with those 
 of skeptical tendencies. It runs thus: "If Christian belief is true, 
 then the believer is saved and the skeptic is lost; if the skeptic is 
 right, then the Christian is as well off as he, therefore you had better 
 become a Christian, even if there is not a chance in a thousand that 
 his views are true." All of which is rendered absurd, since the Christ- 
 ians all agree that only sincerity of conviction is acceptalile to God, 
 and that the icill cannot constrain th^ reason to accept as true what 
 the evidence tnafces appear to it false or doubtful. 
 
 AY hen however, men enter into so close fraternal relations as those 
 which bind together Free Masons, Odd Fellows, or Knights of Pythias, 
 it is easy to be seen even by one who has never belonged to either or- 
 der that the sectarian lines which divide those within the brotherhood 
 must more and more vanish. The love, charity, brotherly kindness, 
 disposition to help, to lend a hand, to comfort and console the suffer- 
 ing or the bereaved, will soon be felt to be beautiful human traits, 
 forming ties stronger than death, and dependent upon no dogmatic 
 theological opinions. It will soon become impossible to believe that 
 the brother who has watched with you in the hours of sickness, and
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 271 
 
 smoothed for 3'ou the thorn}- pillow of disease, will, as the reward of 
 a just judge, have his own head through all eternity tossed on the crest 
 of a wave of fii'e and brimstone, according to Dante or John Bunj^an, 
 because he did not and could not see things above reason as you saw 
 them or perhaps only imagined you saw them. 
 
 Still, secret societies of nearly all shades or names exist only for 
 men, if they are sincere, who hover in the middle, regions of belief as 
 regards supernatural or transcendental matters. While most that is 
 obligatory or of direct statement is ethical and can be accepted hj 
 one whoU}' skeptical about supcrnaturalism, yet in the ritual and obli- 
 gations there are very obvious implications demanding assent to the 
 recognition of a Supernatural Being and many other Christian doc- 
 trines, such as the resurrection of the body, all of which can only be 
 dishonestly acquiesced in by him who thoroughly disbelieves such 
 opinions. Ethics and beliefs about the supernatural have been so 
 closely blended in the past that the ghosts of the old superstitions still 
 hover around all mystically fraternal human relations, and it is oul}' in 
 the open light of day, under the clear, blue sky of science, that these 
 shadows can die into nothingness. 
 
 Both the Free Masons and Odd Fellows organized earl}- here, per- 
 haps before the end of the first year. Each of these fraternities have 
 all the three grades of association pecuhar to each. All the fraterni- 
 ties meet alternately in the Masonic hall, which is in the Park Place 
 block, but only rented by that societ}^ for five years, the Masons sub- 
 renting to the other societies. The Odd Fellows are. however, at this 
 writing, engaged in building a block, which is contracted for for about 
 $13,000, besides the cost of the two lots upon which it is built, which 
 was .$2,000. 
 
 The strength of the Odd Fellows and Masons is about the same, 
 being about 150. The Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of 
 United Workmen, though much later of coming into the field, num- 
 ber nearly or quite as mam'. Thus it would appear that there are 600 
 men in these four orders. This is not, however, the case, as perhaps 
 most are in two of these societies and many in three. Although none 
 of these societies have directly for their object the pohtical advance- 
 ment of their members, yet it is to be ol^served that men who have po- 
 litical aspirations usuallj' l>elong to a number of them, and other things 
 being equal, there is no doubt that indirectly a large connection of 
 this kind is a great advantage, next to being on good terms with and 
 generous to the " boys." 
 
 The Order of Modern Woodmen of America have also latel}^ started 
 a camp here, but it is to be hoped that they will find more employment
 
 272 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 in planting than in clearing forests in this vicinity. 
 
 We have left the U. S. Grant Post No. 13, G. A. R., last of the male 
 organizations to be mentioned. It is presumable that it stands in 
 closer relations to the people at large than any of the others. Its 
 members have done something for their countr}' besides parade and 
 make patriotic speeches. Twenty-five years have passed since the 
 surrender of Lee at Appomattox. So nearl}' all are turned of fifty. 
 To few, indeed, remain the light, elastic step of the early sixties, but 
 to " Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys," their hearts respond with the old, 
 quick beat. Although the writer has only contempt for a ritual which 
 embodies in it the traditions and superstitions of an ignorant past, 
 borrowed from an older secret organization, at the time of A\hose origin 
 these things had a terrible significance, yet for the most of the objects 
 for which the Grand Army exists he has the profoundest regard. 
 
 Captain M. V. B. Gift'ord organized the first post here, and was the 
 first post commander. Of this organization there is now no record. 
 Mr. Gifford returned to his native place, which was Erie, Pa., about 
 1880. 
 
 The present post was organized in 1882, and was designated Poudre 
 Valley Post Xo. 22 of the Department of the Mountains. It had four- 
 teen charter members. The number was soon changed from 22 to 13. 
 
 In 1885 the charter and name were changed to U. S. Grant Post No. 
 13. The name of the department was changed from that of the 
 Mountains to that of Colorado, and from that to Colorado and Wyo- 
 ming, the last change being authorized at the last National Encamp- 
 ment, 1889. 
 
 The number of members in good standing is eighty-two. There are 
 some fifty old soldiers in Greeley and vicinity who have not yet seen 
 fit to join the post. 
 
 The present commander is I. H. Paine. The past commanders in 
 the order in which they served since the organization in 1882 are L. B. 
 Willard. W. M. Boomer. Thomas Stimson, H. C. Watson, M.* J. Hogarty 
 and B. D. Harper. 
 
 The Woman's Relief Corps at Greeley has a membership of about 
 80, and is one of the best managed in the state. The present presi- 
 dent is Mrs. B. D. Harper, the secretary, Mrs. N. F. Cheeseman, and the 
 post presidents are Mrs. A. W. Jones, Mrs. M. J. Hogarty and Mrs. O. 
 Howard. « 
 
 There is still another secret order in Greeley for the women — that of 
 the Eastern Star — an adjunct of Free Masonry. The one connected 
 with the Odd Fellows, namely the " Daughters of Rebecca," has not 
 been organized here. There appears to be no reason why these insti-
 
 «
 
 THE UXION^COLOXT^OF COLORADO. 273 
 
 tutions are not as good forewomen as for men. Both squander away a 
 great deal of time that wise men and i^women should use for higher 
 and better purposes. As to the^benefit to be derived from these socie- 
 ties in the way of breaking down religious bigotry, they are destined 
 to have as salutary an effect uponfwomen as upon men, the former of 
 whom are even narrower in the^wayj^of tolerance no doubt, because 
 their relations bring them^less^widely in contact with those of varying 
 creeds. Bigotry and recluseness^are^ reciprocally cause and effect of 
 each other.
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 THE CHURCHES OF GREELEY — MR. MEEKER's IDEA OF ONE COLONY CHURCH — 
 ENDEAVOR TO HAVE A UNION EVANGELICAL CHURCH — EARLY SEPARA- 
 TION AND ORGANIZATION OF DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS — THE FREE 
 CHURCH — THE ECLECTIC SOCIETY — THE UNITARIAN SOCIETY OF GREE- 
 LEY, A SUCCESSOR TO THE LAST TWO -THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, 
 ITS EFFORTS TO FORM A UNION WITH THE PRESBYTERIAN — A WOMAn's 
 CHURCH AT THE START — THE ZEAL, ENERGY AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THESE 
 FEW WOMEN — THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH- OF GREELEY— THE 
 BAPTIST CHURCH HAS FIRST BUILDING DEDICATED — THE METHODIST 
 EPISCOPAL CHURCH — THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH— THE UNITED 
 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH — THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN GREELEY— SCARCITY 
 OF CATHOLIC-IRISH AND NEGROES IN GREELEY — GERMANS IN GREELEY. 
 
 MR. Meeker's idea at the time he made his first proposal for a 
 colony was to have one church edifice. However, there was 
 no relig-ioLis test demanded as a condition for membership. 
 As a consequence all the leading Protestant denominations were rep- 
 resented. If there were any Cathohcs here during the first year the 
 writer is not aware of the fact. There were a number of Irish nation- 
 alitv who had been born and bred in that communion, but had be- 
 come skeptical or Hberal in their rehgious opinions. There is but 
 little doubt that four-fifths of the original members of Union Colony 
 belonged to the classes just named. From the reports furnished the 
 writer by the different churches in this place it appears that those 
 organized during the first two years had an aggregate membership of 
 about 100. We have seen that there were some six hundred or over 
 heads of families here during the first year. This was to be expected 
 as Horace Greeley was liberal in his religious views, and one who 
 had been reading N. C. Meeker's letters before his call for a colony 
 could easily have seen that he was also. It turned out that his 
 assistants, R. A. Cameron and H. T. West, were, if not liberals, 
 hardly to be called orthodox. Mr. Cameron stood on the Henry 
 Ward Beecher platform, and Mr. West, if he had any definite views 
 on the subject, may be classed with those of Second Adventists who 
 believe in the destruction of the wicked and not in their everlasting 
 punishment. This absence of orthodoxy was characteristic of nearly
 
 THE UXION COLONY OF COLORADO. 275 
 
 every one of the men who took a prominent part in shaping the des- 
 tiny of the colony during' its formative period. Here l:)elong A. J. 
 Wilber, J. Max. Clark, Solon and Henry Martin, B. S. LaGrange, 
 Samuel Blodgett, Oliver Howard and Rev. E. Holhster. The latter 
 preached frequently during the first year and may be classed as a 
 disciple of Carlyle, but in theology very nearly a Channing Unitar- 
 ian. But the Rev. Alfred Baxter, who was a Presbyterian, preached 
 the first colony sermon to an audience in the open air. There was 
 alwaj's some one preached every Sunday and the skeptics generally 
 attended as well as the believers. There was an effort made to have 
 a Union church, but a lot for each denomination was donated by the 
 colony, and as a matter of fact all the orthodox denominations, save 
 the United Presbyterian, had effected organizations within eight 
 months of the settlement of the colony. 
 
 Perhaps General Cameron made the most strenuous effort towards 
 bringing about a utiion organization of all the churches. With him 
 the differences that separated evangelical denominations were trivial. 
 According to the opinion of all these denominations, as evidenced by 
 the very organization of an evangelical alliance, eternal salvation 
 could be secured by the believer within the fold of any one of the 
 denominations, and hence the distinctions must be unessential. But 
 he who reasons in this way overlooks the powerful influence of cus- 
 tom and habit. Men and women, especially the latter, feel more at 
 home where they find the forms to which they have been used since 
 childhood; they mosth' also like only to hear those peculiar views of 
 religion preached which agree with their own. Hence J. C. Shattuck 
 replied to General Cameron's proposition for a Union church, that if 
 he were going to have to put his hand in his pocket and pay for a 
 preacher he must be one who preached exactly what he believed. 
 
 It was imfortunate for the success of the General's proposition that 
 he named Thomas K. Beecher as the person whom he would like to 
 see hired to fill the Union pulpit. Unfortunate, because he was a 
 Congregationalist to which denomination he belonged, and in fact 
 before coming here had been a member of his church at Elmira. In- 
 deed it was in general found that any one would be in favor of a 
 Union church provided the preacher was to be of his own denomina- 
 tion. However, there would have been trouble about adopting a 
 common creed satisfactory to all, and withotit a creed no orthodox 
 assembh' could be imagined to get along. 
 
 But here to the point are some remarks of Horace Greeley in a 
 letter to X. C. Meeker concerning Thomas K. Beecher, about whom
 
 276 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 the latter had evidently made inquiry of the former; they are as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 "Now as to Tom Beecher. He is the dearest, sweetest soul on 
 earth, but utterly lacking in stability of performance. At Elmira he 
 is a pretty good co-operationist; with you he would be just the other 
 way. He revels in paradoxes, and is the captive of every passing 
 sophistry. I wish you had him as a wheel-wright or engine builder, 
 for he has a mechanical genius, but as a preacher he is likely to do 
 more harm than good. Get him and see." 
 
 So far as the writer remembers there was unanimity among the non- 
 church members about the desirability of having a Union church 
 with some able, well-paid preacher, who, of course, was expected to 
 be of some one of the Evangelical denominations. They expressed 
 both willingness to help to support and to go to hear such a preacher. 
 Whether, however, they would have continued long of this mind is 
 quite another question, and the writer has no belief that they would. 
 It is a source of sore irritation to sit and listen to opinions which one 
 believes to be contrary to reason and common sense, and no good can 
 come of it. If the exercises of religion cannot bring to the soul a 
 holy, restful calm, a spirit of tender brotherly loving-kindness, they 
 are of no manner of use. The skeptic — and by that word I mean the 
 man who asks a sufficient reason for opinions however hoary they 
 ma}' be with age— can only suffer mental irritation in listening to 
 opinions advanced from a desk which is sacred against direct attack. 
 If he retorts he is a source of irritation to the believer; if he quietly 
 '■ digest the venom of his spleen " it is not a healthy condiment, and 
 he compromises his principles. Only place-seekers and time-servers 
 subject themselves to ordeals of this kind. 
 
 So it happened that when each denomination withdrew from the 
 Union church the liberal religionists and free-thinkers formed them- 
 selves into a society called the " Free Church." This was a compro- 
 mise name. The Unitarians and Universalists wanted the name 
 church, and the rationalists condoned the inappropriate name in con- 
 descension to their weaker brethren. But as conducted, it was in no 
 sense a church. No preacher was ever engaged. There were essaj's, 
 addresses and readings by the lay members, and they usually met at 
 one another's houses. It so happened that nearly all the talent in 
 this line belonged to the most skeptical element. Unitarians and 
 Universalists stand upon equivocal ground and in the experience of 
 the writer the lay members hardly know what they believe, and hence 
 have no position to defend. But they had certain vague religious 
 seutimetits which were distressed at out and out free inquir3\ Hence
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 277 
 
 thej soon withdrew and the Free church hved on awhile as a ration- 
 ahstic chib. Mr. Meeker belonged to the Free church awhile, but 
 withdrew because of its hostile attitude to the dogmas of the churches- 
 He thought that these ought to be let alone, and ihis society should find 
 its work in doing some good in the world and in bringing " relief to 
 man's estate." The churches were doing that in their own way, and 
 the skeptics could only lay claim to attention by doing the same thing 
 in at least as efficacious a way. 
 
 The society gradually declined both in numbers and in interest. 
 Those who undertook to conduct the exercises were usually busy men, 
 overworked at hard labor, harassed by the difficulties which have be- 
 fore been recorded, and therefore much that was offered was crude 
 and ilh^ digested. 
 
 The next free religious movement that was set on foot in Greeley 
 was inaugurated by the Spiritualists, but culminated in the fusion of 
 all the liberal elements under the name of " Eclectic Society." The 
 title shows the heterogeneity that was acknowledged by those who or- 
 ganized it. This had a history wholly similar to that of the Free 
 Church, the more skeptical, audacious, and, in the opinion of the 
 writer, the better logically equipped, driving Spiritualists and the lib- 
 eral Christians from the field as before. It cannot be said that either 
 of these societies did any particular good any further than cultivating 
 the spirit of free inquiry among the members. There never was any 
 intention of making proselytes. The meml^ers did their duties as cit- 
 izens and neighbors on considerations purely human and rational, and 
 the record of their activitie'-: may challenge a comparison with that of 
 any equal number within the church. To a man, they were not only 
 staunch temperance men, but strictly total abstainers. They eschewed 
 gambling, and all frivolous pursuits and follies. In fact^ so far as 
 morals and manners were concerned, they were more Puritanical'than 
 those professing to believe the dogmas of the Plymouth Rock Pil- 
 grims. These men had not left the church or refused to join it on ac- 
 count of its moral restrainfs—a charge which may be rightly brought 
 against perhaps nine-tenths of the unchurched in Christian lands. 
 They stood much farther away both in practice and in sympathies 
 from this thoughtless, frivolous rabble, than they did from earnest, 
 conscientious Christians, with whom they often worked in harmony 
 for moral ends. To reach this lower stratum of society and amel- 
 iorate it, however, rationalism is much more powerless than evangeli- 
 cal Christianity. It can offer no reward for well-doing or well-being 
 save the inward consciousness that in doing right one has acted the 
 part that becomes a man, has sustained the grand dignity of a noble
 
 278 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 manhood. There are many incapable of understanding the meaning 
 of this, who may be acted upon by considerations of rewards and pun- 
 is timents in the hereafter, but many less in our day and nation than 
 formerly and elsewhere. Scoffers are abundant, skeptics few. Faith 
 in the dogmas of religion has suffered shipwreck for many, and with 
 it has gone not only respect for things divine, but for the higher and 
 nobler humanities. 
 
 Some time during 1880 the old elements again united, and a new 
 society was formed, this time under the Unitarian name. Its hetero- 
 geneity is quite as marked as either of the other two which preceded 
 it, but it has lived now some ten years, and yet the different elements 
 cohere as well as the}' did at the start. The reason, it appears to the 
 writer, is that the new society employs a preacher. In the other or- 
 ganizations the differences of views were brought together face to face 
 as the individual members took parts in leading the meetings. Weak 
 men or weak positions soon exposed themselves and withdiew, and as 
 a matter of fact only the skeptics and agnostics remained masters of 
 the field. But when the opinions are handled by one man, and in con- 
 nection with forms of worship, and under the sanctities that still lin- 
 ger around even a Unitarian pulpit, all this is changed. For those 
 who stiU fondly cling to the mysterious symbols of the old faith even 
 after the substance of it has ceased to command their intellectual as- 
 sent, there remains the old sacred tunes sung to new words, and the 
 recognition in even the agnostic prayer of a mysterious something not 
 themselves, influencing their lives and fashioning their destiny. Such 
 meetings bring a calm in harmony with the day of rest that has de- 
 scended to us with a benediction, however unscientific its origin, while 
 the meetings of the Free Church and Eclectic Society only increased 
 the tempest raging in the soul. 
 
 It piay be said that the Unitarian Society here has never formally 
 connected itself with either of the two now contending factions of that 
 body — the American Unitarian Association of the East or the Unitar- 
 ian Conference of the West — but the greater portion of the members 
 sympathize with the views and attitude of the latter, but contributions 
 are sent to aid in the benevolent and humanitarian work of both. 
 
 There is no creed, but a basis of fellowship. At the organization, 
 in July, 1880, it was thus stated : 
 
 " Wishing to secure the greatest freedom in our search after truth, 
 desirous of receiving the best aid, the best thought this or any age can 
 afford ; so that to us, to our children and to others the highest and 
 truest life may be possible, we form ourselves into an association which 
 shall be called " The Unitarian Church of Greeley." The objects to
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 279 
 
 be secured by this society are : Worship for those desirous of wor- 
 ship ; charity and hospitality for those who need either, and religious 
 and social culture for all." 
 
 Under Mr. Hogeland the following basis of fellowship was adopted : 
 
 " Rehgious worship, and the furtherance of virtue, intelligence, so- 
 ciability and righteousness among its members and in the community. 
 
 " No assent shall be required for membership, nor other condition 
 imposed by this society, except subscribing to these by-laws." 
 
 " These bj^-laws "' simply relate to the routine of the business. All 
 seats are free, the expenses being met by voluntary subscription. 
 
 The number who have subscribed to the above simple statement, is 
 small — only thirty-five — but those who attend the meetings and sup- 
 port it by their contributions are much more numerous. Many re- 
 fused to subscribe to the first platform because the organization was 
 called a church, which for them was a compromising name. The soci- 
 ety, about the time the building of a house was undertaken, was in- 
 corporated as " The First Unitarian Society of Greeley." This name 
 suited the free-thinkers better, but its leading object was said to be 
 worshijy, and the agnostic element is at a loss to find a suitable form 
 of ceremony in which to reverence its unknowable something behind 
 the knowable phenomena of the universe. The motto of the organ of 
 the Western Unitarian Conference is " Freedom, fellowship and charac- 
 ter in religion." Agnostics probably accept this heartily by substituting 
 the word life for religion. They could also cordially subscribe to a plat- 
 form stating the object of the association to be the " Promotion of love , 
 truth and righteousness in the world." Frederick Harrison has aptly 
 symbolized the God of the agnostics as X" which is the unknowable 
 all-being of unknowable character and attributes ; and how to influ- 
 ence such a being as to make ourselves his or its favorites must of ne- 
 cessity be an unknowable process. 
 
 The first preacher engaged by the society was Joseph E. Gibbs. 
 He had been educated for the Congregational j)ulpit, and had occu- 
 pied one for a time, but his studies in historical criticism changed his 
 views in regard to the Christian evidences, and he left the denomina- 
 tion and had preached before coming here to an independent religious 
 society at Syracuse, in the State of New York. He occupied the desk 
 here for some five 3'ears. Being a trained theologian, much of his dis- 
 course had a bearing upon the disputes relating to the debatable ter- 
 ritorj" bordering the domains of orthodox}- and heterodoxy. 
 
 He was followed by N. S. Hogeland, a graduate of Meadville Uni- 
 tarian Theological School. He remained some two years and a half,
 
 280 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 and devoted himself largely to promoting the well-l^eing and well- 
 doing of his people. 
 
 While he was in charge, a sort of spontaneous movement among 
 the members developed itself in the direction of Ijuilding a church ed- 
 ifice. Before this the society had rented halls. In the first two years 
 P. T. Barnum had allowed the society the use of his hall free, except 
 running expenses. Then S. H. Southard had rented it his hall at a 
 merely nominal figure. But these places did not seem home-like 
 enough, especially to the ladies, who in this, as in all religious bodies 
 of the day, are the most numerous and deeply interested. Two lots 
 were purchased cornering on the Court House Square at a cost of 
 .f 1,500, and a building erected on it at a cost, including seating and 
 fixtures, of .|5,200. The Unitarian Building and Loan Association 
 loaned the society $2,400 without interest, to be paid in eight equal 
 annual installments, and $1,500 remain yet unpaid ; otherwise the so- 
 ciety is out of debt. 
 
 The new building was ready for occupation July, 1887. Mr. Hoge- 
 land resigned about the end of that 3'ear and was followed by R. W. 
 Sav'age, also a graduate of the Meadville Theological School. Mr. 
 Savage occupied himself outside of his work in the pulpit chiefly in 
 promoting the intellectual activities of his people. A scientific society 
 was organized and devoted its time to a study of the doctrine of evo- 
 lution, taking as a guide the program of the " Brooklyn Ethical Asso- 
 ciatioa." During the winter of 1888 and 1889 he organized a course 
 of some twelve lectures, delivered by as many laymen of the society, 
 Sunday evenings. These lectures called out full houses, and are a 
 proof of the literary and scientific ability of the men who adhere to 
 this organization. The writer believes it the most unique organization 
 in Greeley, and in it is retained more of the characteristics of the 
 Greeley of the first years than elsewhere. It may be claimed that 
 there is in it more literary and scientific abilit}^ and scholarly attain- 
 ment than there is iu the total lay membership of all the six orthodox 
 churches with a membership of some eight himdred. The above 
 course of lectures was given, with the exception of three, by non- 
 professional men, one of them ])y a clergyman of an orthodox church. 
 The subjects had the widest range and represented all shades of 
 heterodox opinion, save the one mentioned. Yet they were all re- 
 ceived not only in a tolerant spirit but with a just appreciation of the 
 point of view of the speaker, and were a means of greater cordiaHty 
 not only among those participating in them, but among the represen- 
 tatives of the different shades of opinion so widely divergent iu this 
 heterogeneous societ}'. It is especially worthy of remark that the dis-
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 281 
 
 <»ourse of the Rev. A. K. Packard, on " A view of Salvation by Faith," 
 was received in the same tolerant and cordial spirit. 
 
 Mr. Savage resigned in the autumn of 1889. Since then there has 
 been no regular engagement of a pastor, but the desk is ably filled 
 every other Sunday by Dr. Henr}^ Wilson, of Denver. 
 
 But whether there is preaching or not a Sunday school is steadily 
 maintained. This owes its origin and continued existence largely to 
 Oliver Howard, who may be called the most pronounced Unitarian 
 among the male lay members. The Sunday school has an enrollment 
 of about one hundred, and has a library of 2.50 volumes. 
 
 The ladies of the society deserve especial mention. Aside from the 
 part thej take in the intellectual movements of the association, to 
 them belongs the credit of its bright, social gatherings. They have 
 an auxiliary organization named " Unity Circle." It is constantly en- 
 gaged in helpful, l^eneficent work, which aids many a worn and weary 
 sister. Its effoi'ts were largeh- directed and stimulated by the exer- 
 tions of Mrs. J. J. Stevens before her lamented death, and are now 
 quickened and ennobled by her saintly, benignant memory. 
 
 These ladies, in addition to their devotion to good works, are mostly 
 engaged in courses of study to widen their field of knowledge and 
 broaden for them the intellectual horizon. Their field of inquiry em- 
 braces politics, social science, biology, psychology, history and general 
 literature. Of course they are all in favor of impartial suffrage and 
 a fair field for their sex in the industrial world, and the other sex of 
 this society are nearl}^ to a man in harmony with them on these 
 points. 
 
 It is worthy of record here that upon the vote for impartial sufPrage 
 to be embraced in the state constitution there were 279 votes for, and 
 only 117 against this provision. The writer is of opinion that no such 
 favorable vote could l^e taken on this question to-day, owing to the 
 much larger preponderance of orthodoxy which is, if consistent, fet- 
 tered by the reiterated opinions of Paul asserting the subordination 
 of woman. There is also a large increase of the sporting, frivolous 
 element which is also opposed to enfranchisement. 
 
 We will next speak of the Congregational church here which lies 
 somewhat closely near to the Unitarian. In fact many conservative 
 Unitarian women of this place prefer its services to that of the more 
 radical society. It owes its growth and prosperity almost wholly to 
 the capable, bright women who for a time formed almost the total 
 membership. Rev. A. K. Packard WTites me that when he took charge 
 July, 1874, "There was not a man to come to the mid-week religious 
 service. I sent a serious and truthful account of the condition to the
 
 282 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 secretaries of the Home Missionar}- society which the}' affected to re- 
 gard as humorous. Judge Hayues remarked to me that the church 
 seemed to him more hke a chib thau a church, as churches were usu- 
 ally conducted. Perhaps you remember that Mrs. General Cameron 
 and her sisters, Mrs. Ingalsbe, Mrs. McClellau, Mrs. J. H. Johnson, 
 Mrs. Plumb, with the help of younger ladies, made a great success of 
 sociables, oyster suppers and hterary and musical entertainments I 
 often noticed that on the Sunday following one of these efforts of the 
 ladies the congregation would be unusually large." 
 
 The writer remembers that among other devices for getting money 
 the ladies made arrangements for a course of lectures, and that such 
 was their freedom from theological bias that he was in\-ited and gave 
 two of the course. The able but eccentric Miss S. E. Eddy was for a 
 long time their leader, although if she really belonged to any orthodox 
 body it was the Episcopalian. 
 
 There were several efforts extending down as late as Septeml^er, 
 1875, during the pastorate of Rev. A. K. Packard to unite in forming 
 one society with the Presbyterians, and a full account of these var- 
 ious attempts will be found in a historical review of this church writ- 
 ten by that gentleman pubhshed in The Greeley Tribune, October 
 23, 1878, and from it we quote the following : 
 
 " At a meeting of worshippers one Sunday afternoon, in Colony 
 Hall, when this proposition was under consideration, Rev. Sheldon 
 Jackson, Presbyterian superintendent of Missions for the northwest, 
 was present, and argued earnestly against the union project, and in 
 favor of denominational churches, and of securing Eastern help to 
 build churches and pay salaries, and said he could secure that fall 
 $5,000 to build a Presbyterian church in Greeley. A vote being taken 
 only two in the congregation favored his plan, as opposed to the 
 union project; but that evening he organized a Presbyterian church 
 of ten m«nnbers. This was August 21. Dr. Jackson has been much 
 complimented in his OAvn denomination for his vigilance, activity and 
 persistence in starting Presbyterian churches in Colorado. Congre- 
 gationalists have sometimes complained that he has been more zeal- 
 ous in this direction than christian comity would approve. It has 
 been said, " Dr. Jackson is in no way responsible for the division of 
 Presbyterians and Congregationalists in Greeley." But that he took 
 the part I have attributed to him in the meeting referred to I have 
 the amplest testimony of witnesses, given independently with various 
 details. I have inquired carefully as to this part of our history, and 
 am confident that but for him there would have been no Presbyterian 
 church formed at that time or near that time, and that the Congre-
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 283- 
 
 gational church would have inckided the members that were organ- 
 ized in the two. 
 
 "It has been represented that the Presbyterian church here was 
 formed, and, oftener, that individuals intending to join the Congrega- 
 tional church went into the Presbyterian, because the Congregatioual- 
 ists planned and finally adopted an imsound creed. There is not a 
 Presbyterian bod}- in America or Great Britain that would deny the 
 orthodoxy or the fulness of our creed, which has never been modified 
 since its adoption. It is probably true — and this, so far as I can learn, 
 is the only basis of the representation referred to — that one or two work- 
 ing towards the organization of the Congregational church desired 
 and advocated a more " liberal " creed than was adopted, and that 
 one or two or three may have gone to the Presb3'terian church from 
 fear of their influence or want of complacence in them. 
 
 " The history thus far given shows that the CongTegationalists were 
 at last under the necessity to become Baptists, Methodists or Presby- 
 terians, remain out of church relations here, or organize themselves. 
 It is admitted that they were decidedly superior in numbers at the 
 time the churches were organized. That they were the last of the 
 four to move separately was liecause they did not plan to be by them- 
 selves, but hoped and expected to unite in a church congregational 
 in government. Catholic in creed, generous in spirit of fellowship, but 
 not subject to any other ecclesiastical body or distinctively associated 
 with any denomination, or because, as was probably true of 
 most, they expected to secure to a Congregational church elements 
 that were organized othertvise.'' 
 
 When the Rev. A. K. Packard arrived here, October 1, 187-1, he found 
 a letter awaiting him from the Secretaries of the Home Missionary Soci- 
 ety asking him to ascertain if it were possible to unite the Congregational 
 an<l Presbyterian churches in Grreeley and in Longmout — " the Con- 
 gregatioualists holding Grreeley and the Presbyterians Longmont," — 
 and if not possible, to report why not. The plan was acceptable to 
 the Congregationalists of Greeley, and to the Presbyterians of Long- 
 mont, but not otherwise. The surrender plan of union is not always 
 Christian and ls rarely happy. When the whale swallows Jonah, it 
 may be satisfactory to the whale, but seldom to Jonah. 
 
 " A year from that time the church, desirous, as it ever had been, to 
 avoid the waste by two organizations where one would be sufficient, 
 and believing that, with a charitable and self-denying spirit in both 
 churches, a union might be effected without the sacrifice of principle, 
 and without dishonor to either party, and with gain to the cause of 
 Christ, invited the Presbyterian church to a friendly Christian confer-
 
 284 
 
 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 ence as to the possibility and expediency of union, either by organiza- 
 tion — for instance, into an independent, undenominational church — or 
 for worship and work, each church still retaining its organization. 
 When, after considerable delay, the letter containing this i^roposition 
 was, by consent, printed in Tlce Tribune, September 29, 1875, a reply 
 was addressed to us through the same paper, October 6th, admitting 
 the advantages of the union we had urged, if the union could be ef- 
 fected on a Scriptural basis, etc., but suggesting caution and delay, 
 and assuring us that our proposition had been under prayerful consid- 
 eration and should continue to be till some definite conclusion could 
 be reached. None has yet been announced. Still, neighboring and 
 nearly allied churches perhaps seldom have more fraternal relations 
 than these. There are serious difficulties in the way of uniting 
 churches. Union of Christians into one body, before separate organ- 
 izations, is easier than afterward." 
 
 It has always appeared to the writer that if the people of the two 
 societies had been allowed to manage their own affairs without the in- 
 terference of a denominational zealot, they would have formed a single 
 strong society. In Fort Collins this has been done. One organization 
 there embraces the three Calvinistic phases of organization which here 
 has for each a separate church. 
 
 The following additional facts in relation to the Congregational 
 church are given from a report made to the writer by Rev. A. K. 
 Packard : 
 
 "The church was organized September 15, 1870, with twenty-six 
 members. One hundred and ninety-two have since been added, and 
 one hundred and fortj^-one names are on the roll of membership now. 
 
 " Work on the present house was begun in 1880. Services were be- 
 gun in it June 3, 1881, before the house was completed. It was not 
 finished, paid for and dedicated until September 17, 1885. It cost 
 about 19,000. 
 
 " The first stated supply of the pulpit was Mr. Cooper who preached 
 from February 10, 1872, to August 4, 1872. Rev. L. Wheaton Allen 
 preached for the church from October 13, 1872, to September 23, 1873. 
 Mr. Q. L. Dowd, a theological student from New Haven, supplied the 
 pulpit from January 1, 1871, to some time in July. Rev. A. K. Pack- 
 ard from August 25, 1874, to August 27, 1882. Rev. Daniel Staver, 
 who had been for about five years a missionary in Turkey, and return- 
 ing on account of his wife's health, and had been a pastor two years 
 in Minnesota, preached here from August 1, 1882, to October 1, 1885. 
 Rev. Greorge Michael, who came from a pastorate in Maine, preached 
 from October 16, 1885, to October 30, 1887. Edward S. Parsons, a
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 285 
 
 graduate of Amherst College and New Haven Semiuary, began work 
 for the church July 8, 1888, was ordaiued August 29, same year, and 
 installed October 9, 1889. 
 
 The church has been self-sustaining since 188.5, and now pays its 
 pastor a salary of $1,500. 
 
 March 26, 1881, the church adopted the following as an article in its 
 constitution, to take the place of one previously existing with relation 
 to the same matter : " If any member of the church becomes con- 
 vinced that he is not a Christian, or for any reason finds himself so 
 out of sympathy with the church in its doctrine, worship, works or 
 aims, as to feel that he cannot honorably maintain his membership, 
 and asks to be released from it, the church may yield to such request 
 after due endeavor to restore the member, provided the case be of such 
 a character that, in the judgment of a majority of those voting when 
 the action is taken, the general good will not be promoted by a pubHc 
 trial." 
 
 At the beginning of last year the church adopted a form of baptism 
 and of reception of members to the church. In doing this, it adopted 
 a new form of creed and covenant — this not because any dissatisfac- 
 tion had been expressed with the old one. The church had before no 
 written baptismal service, and no written form of reception of mem- 
 bers. The committee in preparing these, prepared also a new form of 
 creed and covenant, which proved acceptable to the church in place of 
 the old one. 
 
 CUBED OF THE FIKST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF GREELEY, COLO. 
 
 We believe in one God, Jehovah, miide known to man as the Infinite Father of all 
 created b.nng, as the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lived upon earth for our 
 redemption, and as the Holy Spirit, who fulfills the promise of the Son to abide with 
 us and in us forever, our sanctifler, our strength and our guide. 
 
 We believe in rcdemotion from sin aud the power of hell by our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 who took upon himself our nature, being born of the Virgin Mary, who endured temp- 
 tation, was crucified, dead and buried, and, glorified, ascended to the throne of His 
 eternal dominion, and ever liveth the Almighty Saviour of all who trust in Him unto 
 obedience. 
 
 We believe in a regenerate life, showing as the fruits of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, 
 long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control. 
 
 We believe in baptism aud the Lord's Supper, in the Lord's Day, in the communion 
 of all saints in the one body of Chri.st. 
 
 We believe in the king 'om of God, which Jesus Christ established among men, and 
 of which He is the head— the reign of truth, love, righteousness and peace ; tliat it is to 
 prevail over all the earth, till Christ shall be acknowledged by all the wjrld as Lord to 
 the glory of God the Father 
 
 We believe in the resurrection of the dead, in a Judgment after dRath, from which 
 the wicked are to go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal 
 life. 
 
 We believe in the Written Word, the record of God's revelation of himself to men, 
 able when interpreted and enforced by the Spirit to make us wise unto salvation. 
 
 [When this creed is read to candidates for church membership, these sentences fol-
 
 286 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 owit: "This is the confession of faith adopted bj the church. We do not require 
 you to assent to it in every particular. But does it coincide in the main with your own 
 religious belief ? "] 
 
 The preceding creed is far from that of the New Theology. Com- 
 pare what it formulates about the resurrection, the final judgment and 
 the future everlasting condition with these utterances of Lyman Al> 
 bott in The Fonim for April, 1890 : " We no longer draw any sharp 
 lines between this world and the other world. We dismiss as a part 
 of the dualism of the past the notion of a long and dreary sleep, a 
 fleshly resurrection, and a great gap between the dying and the rising 
 again. Life is continuous, life is one, and death makes no break in it. 
 The dogma that all hope of repentance necessarily ends at the grave, 
 we banish into the lumber room which holds the otl^ier fragments of 
 an abandoned dualism. As a man goes out of our sight, such is he on 
 the other side of the veil which hides him from us. We are now in 
 eternity ; this world and the other are one. 
 
 ' God and nature are not dual. We are substituting for this the far 
 o-rander conception of God omnipotent in nature, and of nature as the 
 thought and not the handiwork of God. W^e think of him as the soul 
 in the body, omnipotent in all its parts. We beheve that all force is 
 in its last analysis, his will ; that all so-called natural forces are the 
 out- workings of the divine purposes ; that all so-called natural laws 
 are only habits of the divine activity. But this is pantheism, exclaims 
 some frightened reader. If it were we should not be alarmed. But it 
 is not. That God is All is one conception ; that he is in All is another. 
 To believe the latter is to be in company with all the elect thinkers of all 
 ages and of all religions. We have, therefore, forever done with the 
 distinction between nature and the supernatural. What man calls the 
 supernatural is but the Spirit force in natiue." 
 
 Hence, if any considerable number of the Congregationalists of 
 Greeley believe in all the above creed, they are far behind -the succes- 
 sor of Henry Ward Beecher in Plymouth church, pulpit. But the 
 sentences Avhich follow the creed let down bars sufficiently low to 
 let in people who hke the social advantages of this society, while 
 they care little about the creed, and never take the pains to understand 
 its significance. 
 
 It is to be hoped that the Presbyterians after they have accomplished 
 the agitated revisalof their standards, will be able to offer their peo- 
 ple a more liberal and enlightened creed than the above of our First 
 Congregational church. 
 
 " Mr. Staver was a man who worked very hard and unselfishly, and 
 was a faithful and good man, and, I think, better appreciated by the
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO, 287 
 
 people after he left than before. He had au efficient and beloved 
 helper in his wife. Together they did a work for the church for which 
 they ought to be held in grateful remembrance, as I think thej^ are. 
 Mr. Michael was a very active and enthusiastic pastor, and many, es- 
 pecially young people, came into the church during his stay. 
 
 Between the time of the organization of the church and my coming 
 here twenty-nine had come into the church, all from other churches. 
 It was nearly five and a half yea,YS after its organization before a mem- 
 ber was received " on profession." In the eight years of my ministry 
 sixty-four members were received, in the thi-ee years of Mr. Staver's 
 thirty-eight, in the two of Mr. Michael's fifty-six." 
 
 It will be seen in what a feeble condition Mr. Packard found the 
 church — few in numbers, with a debt and no church edifice. It re- 
 quired much courage on his part and the few, nearly all women, as 
 we have seen, to maintain a separate organization rather than be swal- 
 lowed up in the other less liberal denominations. We have seen the 
 various overtures they made to their Presbyterian cousins, but un- 
 availingly. During Mr. Packard's pastorate, not only was the debt 
 paid off, but a 19,000 church built, and all paid for save |2,000 when 
 he resigned. The church was built from his plans, and he superin- 
 tended its erection during every stage of its progress. It is of unique 
 architecture, as will be seen from the cut published in this work. 
 Such is his kindness of heart, the broadness of his views, his consider- 
 ateness for every one, that he has become endeared to the hearts of 
 the Avhole people. He has served the county some five j-ears as super- 
 intendent of schools. He had always taken a great interest in educa- 
 tion, and hence n-as better qualified for that place than the usual run 
 of preachers. 
 
 The following is the account of the formation and gi'owth of the 
 First Presbyterian church of Greeley furnished the writer by the 
 society : 
 
 Rev. W. Y. Brown, of Denver, visited Greeley on Saturday, August 
 6. 1870, and preached the following day. Upon his report to the Pres- 
 bytery of Colorado, in session at Denver the following week, Rev. 
 Sheldon Jackson, D. D., was instructed to visit Greeley. He did so 
 immediately, and on Sabbath, August M, 1870, organized the First 
 Presbyterian church of Greeley, with ten members. Of these original 
 charter members, Mrs. R. L. Hall alone is now in active connection 
 with the church. The services were held in the "Pubhc Hall" 
 (Fisk's). The next day lots 12 and 13 in Ijlock 25 were donated 
 by the Colony as a site for the church building. 
 
 On the arrival of the Evans Colony, Rev. John F. Stewart became
 
 288 A HISTOEY OF GEEELEY AND 
 
 the first regular supply. Under his ministrations the present edifice 
 was completed, and dedicated January 21, 1872. There were present 
 at the dedication Revs. John F. Stewart, Sheldon Jackson and R. G. 
 Thompson, of the Presbyterian church ; Rev. Mr. MacDouald of the 
 Baptist church, and Rev. G. H. Adams of the M. E. church. The 
 building cost about $2,000. Ou February 8, 1872, Rev. R. G. Thomp- 
 son became pastor of the church, continuing in that relation until 
 March 1, 1877. In May of the same year, Rev. J. W. Partridge took 
 charge of the double field of Greeley and Evans, serving them with 
 great acceptability till June, 1879, Avhen he resigned to go to Canon 
 City, Colorado. During his ministry the church rapidly grew in mem- 
 bership and influence. Under his leadership, in the summer of 1878, 
 the building was moved to its present desirable and advantageous 
 location. 
 
 In October, 1879, Rev. John L. Taylor became pastor— the church 
 at the same time assuming self-support. He remained till August, 
 1882. In September, 1882, Rev. John Laird took the place made va- 
 cant by Mr. Taylor's resignation, and supplied the congregation till 
 March, 1884. The load of entire self-support proving heavier than 
 they were able to sustain, the congregation was obliged in 1884 again 
 to ask temporary assistance from the Board of Home Missions. 
 
 In June, 1884, Rev. John G. Reid, who for four years previous had 
 been General Missionary Superintendent for the Presbyterian church 
 in Colorado and Wyoming, was called to the pastorate. He remains 
 to this writing. During his ministry the church has steadily advanced 
 in prosperity, its membership increasing in the six years from sixty- 
 five to one hundred and twenty-two. Ninety-two new members have 
 been received; thirty have been dismissed, and five have died. 
 
 Among other less notable seasons of revival and special accession, 
 the most worthy of record is that of February, 1886, when sixteen 
 were added to the membership, all ou first profession of faith; the 
 residt of the faithful presentation of the simple gospel truth, accom- 
 panied by the promised blessing of the Holy Spirit. 
 
 In the twenty years history of the church, 247 members have been 
 at difi:"erent times connected with the church; of whom 125 have been 
 dismissed or died. 
 
 In the first fourteen years of its history, prior to 1884, the society 
 had raised for all purposes, including the cost of the church edifice, 
 about $9,000. In the last six years they have raised nearly $10,000, 
 of which not far from $1,000 has been for benevolent objects outside 
 of the local society— such as missions, etc. The church is self-support- 
 ing, and has the exceptional good fortune to be out of debt.
 
 THfi UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 289 
 
 The Sabbath school has an enrollment of 135, possesses a library 
 of 550 volumes — the largest in the city — and because of lack of ac- 
 commodations in the present building, has an infant department in a 
 separate building. As the church approaches its second decennial it 
 begins to feel the necessity of moving toward the erection of a new 
 edifice which shall better serve its purposes than the present one can. 
 Its plans contemplate a large and commodious structure on the 
 sightly and advantageous location it possesses, which will be a credit 
 both to the city, and to the enterprise of the church. 
 
 This church was the first to organize a " Young People's Society of 
 Christian Endeavor," which has had a very prosperous career, and 
 stimulated the organization of similar societies in the other churches. 
 The church has also an energetic Ladies' society, which has contributed 
 very materially to its success both in establishing its prosperity, and 
 in swelling tlie amounts contributed to missionary enterprises. 
 
 The officers for 1890 are : Rev. J. G. Raid, pastor; session: Thomas 
 Hadley, J. K. Thompson, B, S. Pier and W. H. Searing; trustees: 
 R. L. Hall, president; B. D. Harper, secretary, and D. W. Elliott, 
 treasurer. 
 
 The Baptist church was the first to complete a churcli edifice, and 
 hence secured the .'?500 which the Denver Pacific railroad offered as a 
 premium to the church which first achieved that object. The follow- 
 ing is the account of the .church as furnished by its present pastor : 
 
 The first steps toward the organization of a Baptist chin-ch in 
 Greeley were taken at a meeting held in the school house on the 25th 
 day of July, 1870. At this meeting preliminary measures were also 
 entered upon looking to the selection of lots, and the erection of a 
 chapel. Several meetings were subsequently held in the interests of 
 the enterprise; nothing definite was accomplished, however, until the 
 8th of Januarjv, 1871, when, at the residence of J. F. Sanborn, an 
 organization was effected. Twenty persons composed the constituent 
 membership, of whom two yet remain as members of the church. 
 Dr. S. K. Thompson and Mrs. J. N. Sanborn, 
 
 This church was the second to choose lots, donated by Union Colony 
 for church purposes, and the first to erect a house of worship. The 
 building was completed at a cost of about .|6,000, and dedicated"in 
 the autumn of 1871, Rev. Dr. W. W. Everts, of Chicago preaching the 
 sermon. 
 
 Eight men have served as pastors. The first pastor was Rev, S. M, 
 
 Brown, who served the church a short time. He was follow^ed by 
 
 Rev. J, McDonald, who was pastor from March to September, 1872, 
 
 Rev. H, C. Woods became pastor in March, 1873, and resigned in 
 
 19
 
 290 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AXD 
 
 October, 1874. He was svicceeded by Rev. A. B. Whitney who sensed 
 the church from July, 1875, to September, 1876. Then came Rev. 
 
 B. H. Yerkes, whose term of office covered a period of three years, 
 to Jnly, 1880. Rev. T. J. Knapp served as pastor from December, 
 1880, to December, 1881. During the four years following the church 
 was under the care of Rev. J. B. Cooke. The present pastor. Rev. 
 
 C. H. De Wolfe, entered upon his duties September. 1886. 
 
 During its history 3-16 persons have been connected with the 
 church. The present membership is 165. The periods of the great- 
 est accession to the membership have been during the pastorates of 
 Woods, Yerkes and Cooke, under each of whom from fifty to sixty 
 persons were received into the church; and during the present pas- 
 torate, in which there has been an accession of ninety-five. The 
 chiu'ch received aid in the early years of its history, but has been 
 self-supporting for the .past ten years or more, besides contributing 
 liberally to all benevolent objects. The Sunday school has an enroll- 
 ment of about 175. 
 
 It might here be said that C. W. Sanborn, uncle of B. D. Sanborn, 
 took a decidedly leading part in the erection of the building, and the 
 society owed it especially to his energy and push that it was able to 
 be in ahead of the rest for the aljove donation. 
 
 The following is the history of the Methodist Episcopal church as 
 furnished In" the secretary : 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1870 Avith a 
 membership of thirtv-five. Rev. G. H. Adams was appointed pastor 
 at Greeley and Cheyenne, with Rev. Ed. Brooks as assistant, and in 
 the summer of 1871 Rev. Adams was reappointed to Greeley charge. 
 On March 21. 1871, articles of incorporation were filed of the Metho- 
 dist Ei^iscopal church, and during the spring great efforts were put 
 forth to secure a location and erect an edifice. 
 
 A deed for the present location was secured April 15, 1871, and dur- 
 ing the summer the present edifice was erected through the persistent 
 efforts of the pastor. Rev. Adams, and his few members. On account 
 of the many trials and hardships experienced by the colonists, and 
 known only to those who passed through the first few years of the 
 early settlement, a heavy debt remained over the little band until the 
 year 1879. when, through the determined perseverance of Rev. W. F. 
 Warren, the indebtedness was all paid. 
 
 The following have been the respective pastors : Rev. G. H. Adams, 
 1870 to '72; R. AV. Bosworth to 1873, Geo. Skene to 1874, O. L. 
 Fisher to 1879, W. F. Warren, 1880, S. W. Thornton to 1882, J. H. Mer- 
 ritt to 1884, A. H. Lucas to 1889, B. T, Vincent at present.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 291 
 
 During O. L. Fisher's pastorate great interest was manifested and 
 many accessions were made to the church, and much of the floating 
 indebtedness was paid. 
 
 The church has worked very efficiently since organization and each 
 pastorate work has been }:)lessed with deep interest. 
 
 Present membership about 210. The society has always been self- 
 supporting. 
 
 Sunday school numbers about 175, with an average attendance 
 of 125. 
 
 The following facts relating to the Protestant Episcopal church 
 here are furnished the writer by S. D. Hunter : 
 
 Trinity Parish, Greeley, was organized under Bishop Randall, since 
 deceased, in December, 1870, with a memljership of about fifteen 
 communicants. 
 
 The church was buiic in 1877 and cost |3,500, and the parsonage in 
 1881 at a cost of about the same amount. 
 
 The following is a list of deacons and priests who have been in 
 charge of the parish in the order in which the}- appear below : 
 
 Ed. L. Greene, deacon, 1871; Jas. C. Pratt, deacon, 187J:; Daniel ]S\ 
 Allen, priest, 1874; Henry T. Bray, priest, 1878; John Gray, priest, 
 1880; Joseph R. Gray, priest, 1882; W. B. Bolnar, priest, 1882; Ben- 
 jamin Hartley, priest, 188.3; John T. Protheroe, priest, 1884; Wm. G. 
 Coote, deacon, 1890. Salary paid, one thousand dollars. The church 
 property is encuml^ered with no floating debt. Sunday school con- 
 sists of about thirtj^-five children and five teachers. The sittings in 
 the church are free. Salarj- raised b}^ subscription. 
 
 In reference to the Protestant Episcopal church in this place it 
 ought to be said that it largely owes its existence to the efforts of 
 S. D. Hunter, who is the only man of considerable wealth belonging 
 to it. The parsonage is of free gift of his in memory of a deceased 
 daughter. There is little doubt that at times he has paid half the 
 salary of the pastor and now he pays one-fourth of it. Hon. L. 
 Ogihy, since his advent here, has been quite liberal in his subscrip- 
 tions for the support of this church. He is not a member, but it is 
 the church to which his family belongs, and the Scotch cling with 
 tenacity to family ties. 
 
 It will no dou])t be interesting to others besides Episcopalians to 
 know that Henry Truro Bray has become an author since leaving here 
 and of the most pronounced radical type. His great ability and still 
 greater aggressiveness will be remembered. When here he was a 
 high-church-mau of the narrowest type. The apostolic succession of 
 priests, or rather bishops, of the English church was a position he
 
 292 
 
 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 was ready to defend against all comers. But he was well read in 
 both modern science and philosophy. These seem at length to have 
 got the better of his Athanasian theology, and historical criticism has 
 npset his former views upon miracles and the Christian evidences. It 
 appears that he is now out of the church, whether driven out or gone 
 of his own accord we are not informed. Still the church that can still 
 keep within its communion and priesthood Heber Newton ought to 
 have a place for Henry T. Bra}', if he wished to remain. 
 
 The United Presbyterian, the last of the orthodox churches of this 
 place to fall into line is far from the least in performance. Its fine 
 church edifice has cost 117,000— more than the two next best in town. 
 The denomination though small is said to be very wealthy, and if its 
 representatives in Greeley are fair specimens, there is no doubt that 
 this body of Christians has solved the question said by high authority 
 to be impossible, namely, that of serving successfully God and 
 Mammon. However, the individual members are both free-hearted 
 and free-handed in helping forward all generous and humanitarian 
 movements, and the}' have done far moi'e than their proportionate 
 share in building up the new Greeley of the last decade. 
 
 The following report furnished by the church at the request of the 
 writer, gives a complete view, and is highly creditable! to the pluck 
 and energy of the few who undertook and carried this work to so suc- 
 cessful an end. The growth has been a steady one, and amply proves 
 the vitality of the gospel simply and forcibly preached. 
 
 The congregation of the United Presbyterian church was organized 
 February 24, 1884, by Rev. W. H.'McCreery acting under the direction 
 of the Presbytery of Colorado. Previous to that time the Board of Home 
 Missions had appointed the Rev. H. F. Wallace to act as pastor of the 
 church. He came to Greeley in November of 1883. There had been no 
 preaching by any United Presbyterian minister previous to his coming. 
 Jackson's Opera House was secured in which to hold service. On 
 December 2, 1883, the first service was held. There were but few 
 members, only two families living in town. Feeling their need of a 
 house of worship, steps were taken to erect a building. Some of the 
 members had in anticipation of such a movement secured the lot 
 where their present chuix'h edifice now stands. The erection of the 
 present building was commenced in the spring of 1884. The build- 
 ing committee consisted of J. L. Ewing, J. W. McCreery and R. Pat- 
 terson. The contractor was Mr. W. S. McElroy. The building was 
 so far completed by October 1 that the lecture I'oom coidd be used. 
 The first service being held October 5, 1884. The pastor preached 
 from the text, " My presence shall go with jon and I will give 3'ou
 
 THE UN'IOX COLONY OF COLORADO. 293 
 
 rest." At the organization there were twenty-four persons enrolled 
 as members, and at the time of entering the church there were forty- 
 two. 
 
 Mr. Eli Taylor, J. W. McCreery and J. L. Ewing were elected rul- 
 ing elders. Mr. Taylor died August 12, 1884, aged 92. He had been 
 ruling elder in the United Presbyterian church since 1854. He was a 
 soldier in the war of 1812, and was present at the battle of New- 
 Orleans. He was faithful to his trust and was received home, " In 
 a full age, like a shock of corn cometh in his season." 
 
 On February 7, 1885, a call was made out for the pastoral services 
 of Rev. H. F. Wallace, who had been laboring previously under ap- 
 pointment of the Board of Home Missions, and he was publicly in- 
 stalled as pastor April, 3, 1885. At the same time Mr. J. M. Wallace, 
 who had been a ruling elder in the congregation of Chicago, was 
 installed as a ruling elder, also Mr. C. S. Patton and Mr. Richard 
 Patterson were ordained and installed into the same office. 
 
 The congregation continued to worship in the lecture room of the 
 church which was well suited to their use; but in the fall of 1888, 
 finding that the room was too small to accommodate those who de- 
 sired to worship there, steps were taken to complete the main audi- 
 torium. 
 
 On July 7, 1889, the church was formally opened and dedicated; 
 Dr. W. T. Meloy, of Chicago, preached the sermon. In the morning 
 the Methodists and Presbyterians joined in the service; and in the 
 evening the members of the Baptist and Congregational churches. 
 About four hundred were present at the morning service, and more 
 than five hundred in the evening. It was an occasion of great joy to 
 the congregation. All had united heartily in the effort to raise suffi- 
 cient means to complete the auditorium; and all were happy in seeing 
 their efforts crowned with success. 
 
 The congregation has now a membership of a hundred and seven- 
 teen. They have a Sal)bath school of a hundred and forty members, 
 a society of Christian Endeavor among the young people numbering 
 forty-one mem] )ers ; also a junior society of Christian Endeavor for 
 the children numbering thirty-one members. A Ladies' Missionary 
 society has been in operation from the beginning. They also have a 
 Children's Mission band numbering over twenty members. The con- 
 gregation, besides the erection of the building and contributing to the 
 pastor's salary and current expenses, have contributed over fourteen 
 hundred dollars to the general work of their denomination. God has 
 abundantly l^lessed them as a congregation in the past, and their 
 prayer is that the past may be but the earnest of the future."
 
 294 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 There is still oue small Christian body that has a local habitation 
 aud a name in Greeley. Some five years ago the Catholics bought a 
 lot and put up a small building as a vestibule for a larger building in 
 the future. Here the Catholic priest, who has a fairly large congre- 
 gation at Fort Collins, comes occasionally and administers to the few 
 faithful the sacraments of the old church. 
 
 The building, such as it is, was erected by a few, mostly servant 
 girls, and we understand that they were helped in their pious endeavor 
 b}^ some not belonging to any church. 
 
 Catholics, especially of the male sex, have always been scarce in 
 Greeley. Some may see a connection between this and the temper- 
 ance principles of the place. It is true that the priesthood of that 
 faith in the United States is taking a strong stand in favor of temper- 
 ance, but it appears to the writer that not one in ten of the men be- 
 longing to this most numerous branch of the Christian church is in 
 favor of prohibition. As a matter of fact they have given this town a 
 wide berth, and a Catholic-Irishman is as rare a sight to see in 
 Greeley as a negro. The scarcity of this race seems less exph cable 
 than that of the former, as nearly all the first settlers were not only 
 Republicans but Abolitionists. For a number of 3^ears not one was 
 to be seen here, and now they coidd be counted on the fingers of one 
 hand. Even our barber shops are all run by white men. The writer 
 is not aware of a single piece of real estate in either the town or 
 colony being owned by a negro. The few that are owned are tran- 
 sients. 
 
 The comparative strength of the Catholics in Fort Collins is worthy 
 of note, and would seem to prove the surmise that Catholicism, at 
 least Irish-Catholicism, and whisky go in harmony together. 
 
 It is farther worthy of note that scarcely any Germans were among 
 the original colonists. L. Von Gohren and family were about the 
 only ones. They are still scarce here. We put them to too much 
 trouble to get their lager beer, which they are supposed not to be able 
 to get along without. It is a subject for speculation how much in- 
 fluence upon the moral and social character of his countrymen, the 
 following sentiment of Martin Luther has had : 
 
 " He who loves not woman, wine, sons, 
 Will live and aie a fool his whole life Ions." 
 
 We know that it is universally quoted by them, and no douljt has 
 ten times as much influence over their lives as his dogmatic theology. 
 
 In fine, it may be said that the Evangelical churches work in 
 harmony for moral and social ends, and that the sectarian bitterness 
 so common fifty jeavs ago has here no existence.
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 HORACE Greeley's letters to n. c. meeker, with cojimexts — death of 
 
 HORACE GREELEY, AND HOW COMMEMORATED IX GREELEY — PORTRAIT 
 presented TO THE TOWN BY SINCLAIR TOUSEY, AND THE CEREMONIES 
 ATTENDING IT — POEM OF WM. E. PABOR READ BY H. T. WEST, WRITTEN 
 
 SEPT. 28th, 1870. 
 
 IN the concluding portion of this work it is the design to speak of 
 individuals, who have especially contributed to the success of 
 the colony; firstly of those who are dead or gone aw'ay; and 
 secondly, of all those old colonists still alive and withiu the fence. 
 We shall now speak of him who has been called our '' Patron Saint," 
 and whose name our town bears. 
 
 It would be out of place to give here any general biography of 
 Mr. Greeley. His career is a part of the historj' of his countiy. We 
 shall only speak of his relations to us, and those existing between 
 him and N, C. Meeker from the time of founding the colony until the 
 death of Mr. Grreeley. 
 
 Some forty letters written by Horace Greeley to X. C. Meeker tlar- 
 ing the years 1870, 1871, 1872, have been put into my hands by Mrs. 
 Meeker. It appears from an article accompanying the copies of these 
 letters that Mr. Meeker had prepared them for publication in two 
 issues of The Tribune. This article, which we here print as introduc- 
 tory, has no date, and the author is unable to find it from the family. 
 It is the opinion of the writer that Mr. Meeker changed his mind 
 about publishing these letters through modest}'. They frequently are 
 cj^uite complimentary, and Mr. Meeker did not relish parading things 
 of this kind. Aside from the date the document explains itself, and 
 is as follows : 
 
 '' MR. GREELEy's letters. 
 
 " Mr. Greeley wrote about forty letters to the editor of this paper 
 in relation to the affairs of Union Colony and other matters, running 
 through the years 1870, 1871 and 1872, and the last letter was dated a 
 short time before his final fatal sickness. We intend to print these 
 letters next week ; perhaps two issues of our paper will be required to 
 complete them. They will form a valuable addition to what is known 
 of Mr. Greeley's character, since his interest in common affairs wiU
 
 296 
 
 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 be brought into clear light; and besides they will form historical 
 matter of great importance in enabling the general reader to get a fair 
 knowledge of the condition of the colony during the early, critical 
 years. The letters written by the editor of The Greeley Tribune to 
 Mr, Greeley contained important accounts of passing events, and they 
 undoubtedly had value in a historical sense, but it may be taken for 
 granted that they are lost. 
 
 " It is by no means likely that Mr. Greeley ever wrote so many 
 letters on a subject to which he gave so much attention, nor which 
 are destined to have so lasting an interest. There are many passages 
 which show his acuteuess, judgment and comprehension of mind 
 in a remarkable degree, and frequently there are sharp epigrammatic 
 touches w^hich are in his best vein, but it will be seen that he had 
 many troubles, and that at times his health was bad, even a year 
 before he died— a fact not hitherto suspected. Notes of explanation 
 will be added when required." 
 
 While I do not attach so much importance to these letters as Mr. 
 Meeker does in the above, still it appears fitting to publish most of 
 them with the few notes the editor of The Tribune has left. On 
 suitable occasion farther comments will be made for the purpose of 
 elucidation or criticism. Mr. Greeley's information concerning col- 
 onial affairs came through Mr. Meeker, and was distorted at times by 
 the prejudices of the medium. 
 
 " New York. Jan'y 31, 1870. 
 '' Friend Meeker— I think well of the beet sugar as an ultimate 
 crop in Colorado, but you will recollect that a new country must be 
 five years in getting ready to grow anything beyond the supply of its 
 own urgent wants. Building, fencing, breaking up, irrigation, etc., 
 are to engage every energy for at least five years. It may be well to 
 locate with a view to ultimate sugar making, but bread and butter 
 are all that can be looked to at present. 
 
 " Yours, 
 
 " Horace Greeley." 
 
 " New York, Feb y 19, 1870. 
 •' Friend Meeker -You will have heard that we have a large sum of 
 money for the colony— I believe nearly |30,000. I understand that it 
 has nearly done coming. I doubt that your visit to Salt Lake will 
 pay. Mormon irrigation is a rude affair— nothing that you cannot 
 easily imagine, and I much doubt finding in Utah so good an oppor- 
 tunity to combine irrigation with water power as in Colorado, where 
 the Boulder, Thompson, or Horse creek, issues from the mountains.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 
 
 297 
 
 I liave seen uothiug equal to them except ou Carsou river, though I 
 hope you may find its equal in the sources of the Arkansas. I would 
 like to hear that you had settled where corn will grow, peaches ripen 
 and where grapes are not impossible. Still the region be^^ond the 
 Boulder is fine for grass and I think for winter grain and roots also. 
 
 " Yours, 
 
 " Horace Greeley." 
 
 Mr. Greeley was right about the uselessness of the Locating Com- 
 mittee visiting Utah. There was, as he said, nothing about their system 
 of irrigation that they could not easily imagine. We have seen from 
 Bishop Musser's statement made some years afterwards, that the 
 ditches of the Mormons were small and had on an average the ex- 
 cessive fall of twenty-three feet to the mile. It was no doubt through 
 Mr. West's influence that the committee visited Utah. He had rela- 
 tives there, and had visited the country several times before. He had 
 a high opinion of Mormon irrigation and was in the habit of quoting 
 their methods for our imitation, after we had outstripped them far in 
 the art. There is, however, one thing that the committee could have 
 learned of the Mormons that would have been of the highest im- 
 portance — the size of ditches needed to irrigate a given area. Learn- 
 ing this, together with the slope of their ditches, they would have had 
 something like adequate ideas of the size to make our ditches, and 
 hence of the cost of them; and it would have hindered them from 
 squandering the money of the colony on comparatively unimportant 
 enterprises. 
 
 It wiU be seen that Mr. Greeley was somewhat familiar with this 
 country, having visited it ten years l^efore; and had then had an eye 
 to its agricultural capabilities; but his knowledge was general and 
 oould be of no use in advising the committee. 
 
 Mr. Greeley's next letter is dated July 10th, and is especially de- 
 voted to the subject of loaning the colony funds still in his hands so 
 that it should get interest. It also speaks of his having been quite 
 sick for some weeks — quite unable to attend to business. 
 
 " New York, August 25, 1870. 
 
 " My Dear Mr. Meeker — Sickness and hurry have prevented my 
 answering your letter as I would gladly have done, and now I have 
 nothing to say but that I have faith in your energy and rejoice in 
 your prosperity. 
 
 " Did Ralph or any one hold out an expectation that those who were 
 sick or dissatisfied, or anything of the sort, might have their |150
 
 298 A HISTORY OF GBEELEY AND 
 
 returned on application ? I cannot believe that any one ever made so 
 suicidal an offering. 
 
 "At all events I urge that all these home-sicks be bought out, even 
 on their own terms. They give trouble and create ill-feeling. Sup- 
 pose I were to buy a few shares at $150 each, could I not sell them 
 soon at $200 ? 
 
 " I would prefer that the colony should buy, but if that is not best. ^ 
 let us devise some way to stop the grumblers' mouths. They can 
 never help the colony except by leaving it. 
 
 " I hope to see your colony October 10th. My health is improved, 
 but not restored. I am just home from a visit to the Adirondacks. 
 
 " Yours, 
 
 '' H. Greeley. 
 
 " N. C. Meeker, Esq." 
 
 In reference to Mr. Greeley's question as to whether he could l^uy 
 " certificates at $150, soon to sell at $200," it may be said that the 
 colony raised about this date the price of certificates to $200, but were 
 able to sell none at that figure. Certificates upon which good loca- 
 tions had been entered sold above par, especially if they had well 
 located business lots on them. But at this date unlocated certificates 
 were below par. As has been noticed quite a trade was going on in 
 these certificates. 
 
 ••August 31. 1870. 
 
 "Dear Sir— I have yours of the 2.5th iust. I must answer hur- 
 riedly. I think I can let you have $1,000 in October, if you want it, 
 or I might buy out some of your investment to that amount and 
 thus give you the money you need. I presume there is httle doubt 
 I shall be able to do one of these. As to The Tribune your remuner- 
 ation must depend on the value of your services. This can't be de- 
 termined beforehand. The Tribune pays me for what I do. not 
 whatsoever it seems I may need, and the rule is the same for ail. '" -^ 
 
 " Yours, 
 
 " Horace Greeley."' 
 
 The above offer of a loan of $1,000 was accepted and its history de- 
 tailed elsewhere. 
 
 The next letter is dated December 26, and hence after his visit here, 
 to which there is no allusion; but he gives his A-iews about The Greeley 
 Tribune, which had been commenced in November, as follows : 
 
 "I feel more hopeful of The Greeley Tribune; the first number 
 was unworthy; the last that reached me (No. 5) was good and I no- 
 ticed it accordingly (in A\ Y. Tribune). * * 
 
 '' H. G.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO, 299 
 
 "New York, Jan'y 15, 1871. 
 
 " Dear Sir— Presuming that my lot is where it caii be irrigated, I 
 ask you to hire some good man to plow it as deeply as possible at as 
 early a day as may be. Then, if it is safe from wandering cattle, I 
 want it planted or sowed with locust, well scalded. At all events I 
 A\'ish I could find a bushel of hickory nuts, and two of white oak 
 acorns that would germinate. I would like also to sow white pine 
 seed, if they could be had in a fit condition. I do not want to p/ani 
 trees that would cost too much; but mostly to sow seeds of the best 
 varieties for your soil and climate. If we cannot find any that are 
 just right but locust, let us sow that, and let a part of the land be 
 sowed to grasses or roots till next fall., when we can get acorns and 
 hickory nuts. 
 
 " If you have time to think of the matter, please make any improve- 
 ments on any plan that may suggest itself. I may send on some one 
 to occupy my land next spring, but for the present it seems to me the 
 
 best to put it into forest trees. 
 
 "H. G."" 
 
 This land that Mr. G. speaks of was a two and a half acre tract 
 east of the railroad which had been located on a certificate 
 that had been presented to Mr. Greeley by the colony for 
 his freel}' rendered services. It was unfavorably located for 
 irrigation by Mr. Meeker, who had poor judgment in these things, 
 and the colony was at great expense to build a dyke to it — costing far 
 more than the value of the land and making others grumble when the 
 colony would not do hkewise for other lands similarly situated. Be 
 sides this dyke was made of sandy soil which gophers worked in and 
 made the running of water over it a hard task and had much to do 
 with the failure of Mr. Meeker in growing trees for Mr. Greeley. 
 The following is Mr. Meeker's comment on the above letter : 
 " Mr. Greeley's lot was planted in the spring with 1,000 small ever- 
 greens, 2,000 larches. Water was obtained with great difficulty. A 
 few hved until next year; then all died. The locusts and acorns were 
 sowed, a few came up, fewer lived. The oaks grew only a few inches 
 high. Then the whole was sowed to black walimts which came up 
 well, but winter killed. Mr. Greeley had no idea of the great difii- 
 culty that is presented in growing even hardy trees on this soil. The 
 only trees now growing are cottouwoods and box elders, which are 
 
 doing well. 
 
 " N. C. M." 
 
 It may be farther said that there is not a tree on this lot save a row
 
 300 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 of large cottonwoods on its western boundary on the edge of the 
 above named dyke. The curious can find this i^iece of land by know- 
 ing that this row of trees stands about one-fourth of a mile directly 
 west of the county hospital. It has been sold, like all of Mr. Gree- 
 ley's projjerty here, by his heirs, and is so jDOor a piece of land that it 
 has not been cultivated for some years. 
 
 "New York, March, 1871. 
 
 " I have your long, cheerful letter only five days old. I am in no 
 hurry about the plowing of my lot, but want it seeded thick with 
 trees — thin out and trim up hereafter; for I want the trees to keep 
 down the weeds. Tune will tell which ought to be cut out and which 
 to be left to grow. 
 
 "I never feared our town would have tratlickers enough; I did fear 
 that too many would cling to the village and shop-keeping. 
 
 '' Production is, after shelter, the first need of every settlement. I 
 know the obstacles to this, lack of fence, water, teams, etc. Still 
 I want to hear that our 1500 people have 15,000 acres growing crops 
 before 1871 is closed. I know I shall not hear anything like this, but 
 I doubt not that more will sell tape and candy than place themselves 
 between the handles of the plow— I don't know when a man looks 
 better. Do let me hear of 500 fields started before June. * * * 
 Let us have all the ujoney devoted to improving the north side as 
 soon as may be; that big ditch will never pay interest until that is done. 
 
 "H. G." 
 
 We can here see that he was laboring under the delusion of believ- 
 ing that the ditch on the north side was big enough to irrigate 15,000, 
 when in reality we lost half of the 2,000 acres of crops under that 
 ditch the season following. Yet Ave can see how well he understood 
 human nature at large — ready to shirk hard work — and how he 
 honored the men who faced it. 
 
 Next letter relates mostly to his trees. 
 
 May 17, 1871, he AVTites : "Of course I know that yowc river must 
 be bank full at this season, as I crossed it early in June thirteen years 
 ago, and found it a great, swift stream. But the last was a very snowy 
 winter, and your irrigation wiU soon call for many times its present 
 demand, and so do not be too confident. Cameron promised to obtain 
 and send me the exact statistics of cattle losses last winter in Colo- 
 rado. He does not supply it. Can't you make good the deficiency? 
 I guess one-half your cattle died or came tiirough very poor. How 
 is it? 
 
 " I must not leave here till my invalid wife gets better, which will
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 301 
 
 be a month hence; then I presume the many tasks of the canvass will 
 keep me here throughout the summer. But I have thro\vu off The 
 Tribune and breathe freely. Be good to ni}' trees." 
 
 He had seen Cameron when he was in New York city lecturing on 
 behalf of the " Fountain Colony," and he appears to have promised 
 him as above about rejjorting the loss of cattle. But the General was 
 too crafty for that. He was looking to the suffrage of the stock in- 
 terest some day, and it did not like to have the truth told. Mr. Meeker 
 we shall see was less cautious. 
 
 " June 9, 1871. 
 
 " As to loss of evergreens and grass we made a mistake in ordering 
 them, and I am sure there was a mistake in not using the water on 
 the north side. If the main ditch had been running full by Januarv 
 10,000 acres might have been well soaked. But we only live this life 
 to know how to do better in the next. We mu.^t realize that all our 
 land must be irrigated in April and May, and to plow and let on the 
 water from October to May in jjreparation for next year's crop. 
 
 "Now please, if my evergreens fail, ask Ralph to get a cask of 
 acorns, hickory nuts and chestnuts to be planted in rows next Novem- 
 ber, and send me a liill, and don't let them go to ruin any more than 
 they must. 
 
 " I am home two days, but have hardly slept, and am very weary. 
 I hope you will have no bad luck, Jxit I tremble at the thought of 
 collecting water rents, (to keep the works in order.) My wife is in 
 London, suffering less, but no nearer recovery." 
 
 Here it will be seen that Mr. Greeley imagined that we could irri- 
 gate all winter and plow also, not knowing that during most winters 
 both are impossible. He was thinking of our having an Italian 
 climate, but during this first winter the mercury reached — 36. But we 
 need not be surprised at Mr. Greeley misunderstanding in this matter, 
 when we know that tlie agricultural press of the state keep giving us 
 this advice impossible to follow. Besides if all the ditches that are 
 now constructed should try to irrigate in the winter there would not 
 be water enough to run through them even if it did not freeze up. 
 
 " June 29, 1871. 
 
 " I have been very sick and sorry I could not promptly answer 
 yours of the 21st. I have not been able till now. I am sorry my 
 pines are lost, but better luck next time. * * * 
 
 "This year's experience is not too dear, if it brings you to irrigate 
 in winter or at least early in spring. Of course if ail wait to seeding 
 time there must be want and consequent loss. Plow in the fall, sow
 
 302 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 wdnter grain. When you told me water was not needed till June, because 
 there were spring rains, I should have known better. But we are always 
 wise to-morrow. Let us be sure not to mistake next day. Another set- 
 back would shake the colony. 
 
 '' I guess we ma}' as well keep out of endorsing any other colony 
 till this one gets fairly on its legs. I repeat the request that I be al- 
 lowed to appl}' $155 now, or an)' time for a new certificate. I am 
 better but not M'ell. The climate and living in the South did not 
 
 agree with me. 
 
 "H. G." 
 
 " July 1, 1871. 
 •' I believe you never wrote an article for The Tribune that was not 
 printed therein, and I do not see why it should not continue to be so. 
 But if you write about the Pike's Peak colony (Fountain), it must be 
 clearly understood that you are to write about what you see, and not 
 as a paid advocate. Better state facts and let readers draw their own 
 inferences. 
 
 H. G." 
 
 The above is worthy to be, printed in letters of gold. 
 
 " July 22, 1871. 
 
 •' I am among the White Mountains, 2,000 feet above the sea, and 
 
 the air does me good, but I can only remain a few days. I am still 
 
 feeble and troubled with rheumatism, sciatica, etc. I hope to visit 
 
 you in October. Your letter gives no direction about the colony 
 
 money. I asked for explicit directions. All values are distorted by 
 
 the European war, so that it is hard to say who or what is surely 
 
 solvent. 
 
 "H. G." 
 
 ■'Note — Mr. Sinclair borroAved some ciolon}- money for The New 
 
 . York Tribune association and paid us interest. 
 
 " X. C. Meeker." 
 
 " Xew York, August, 1871. 
 •• Ida cannot leave her mother wlio is unable to travel more than one 
 da}' by rail, if at all. They, including Gabrielle, are now in London, 
 and the girls would like to come home in October, but I do not know 
 that they can. Ida and she may decide to remain in Europe. Her 
 mother did quite well in the Isle of Wight last winter, and may try 
 it again. * * j want to see 10,000 acres in crops next sea- 
 son. That big ditch is not paying interest. I go northwest to speak
 
 THE UNION COLONT: OF COLORADO. 303 
 
 Tuesday uight. I am sick now, but must travel 800 miles right off, 
 
 I shall write at Chicago. 
 
 " New York, October 3, 1871. 
 
 •• I rejoice that you have almost concluded not to borrow. Better 
 
 sell all the land still owned by the colony even though you buy it 
 
 back when you need it. I have a horror of debt. If I can ever get 
 
 out I will stay out, and will never more go in, and I am only in on 
 
 account of others. Do try to sell lands in small tracts, if possible, 
 
 and keep out of debt. 
 
 "H. G," 
 
 " New York, October 10, 1871. 
 
 '' I don't believe the colony could borrow $10,000. I doubt the 
 
 wisdom of so doing. I dread debt in co-operation as I do poison. 
 
 It always breeds trouble. I am cotifideat you could advertise at 
 
 Denver, Cheyenne, Omaha, etc., and sell your lots and tracts at cost 
 
 or over, and so raise the money. I would rather sell cheap than 
 
 borrow and mortgage. 
 
 "H, G," 
 
 Note by N. C, Meeker : 
 
 " The advice was taken, and a large and successful sale was made." 
 
 To this it may "be added that our advertising in the papers of the 
 
 cities named was money thrown away, as all the land then sold at 
 
 auction was bought by our own people. 
 
 " New York, October 16, 1871. 
 
 "I don't like to see your colony discouraged. I don't like the 
 colony's getting into debt and mortgaging its property. Couldn't 
 you sell lauds to the requisite amount ? Co-operative deists are bad. 
 Your grist mill is all right, but it ought to run by steam. You can't 
 always have the water, if you do now. You ought to have made a 
 steam mill at the start, I am afraid your race will be in the way of 
 irrigation, and I guess 3'our pond, if you have one, will impair the 
 health of the town. The running of too much water in your streets 
 is the cause of your fevers. 
 
 " I hope your new railroad will go ahead, and I am very glad the 
 colonists do not have to put money into it. Railroads are good for 
 everybody but those whose money builds them. 
 
 * Look out for fires. Let those who can, insure. A fire might dis- 
 courage you. Your potatoes will all be needed. You ought to have 
 grown more wheat. Do push on my forest trees, and all other peo- 
 ple's forest trees. 
 
 'H. G."
 
 304 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AXD 
 
 " November 12, 1871. 
 "I rejoice that your folks have resolved to dig out, rather than 
 borrow out. Borrowing out is only getting deeper in. And now will 
 the land that is to be cultivated next year be thoroughly saturated 
 with water this winter ? One lesson like this year should sutfice. Do 
 let us have 10,000 acres grown in 1872, 
 
 "H. G." 
 
 " Xew York, November 5, 1871.. 
 
 " I have yours of October 30th, and it gladdens me that you have 
 resolved to do your own work, and not run in debt. If I can ever get 
 in sight of |1,000 again I mean to send it to you and have you invest 
 it for me in a piece of the colony land, that I can sell again at a profit. 
 That is the right way without increasing farther embarrassment, and 
 in that way induce several to purchase $2,000 or $8,000 woi'th of your 
 unoccupied land. 
 
 Of course it is right to have a grist mill; not right, I think, to run 
 it by water. You will soon need all that for irrigation, but I hope 
 you will have a railroad to coal by that time. 1 don't get your paper 
 this week. 
 
 "H. G." 
 
 P. S. — I have no wish to buy more land, but if the colonj^ does 
 need to sell laud, and there are no actual settlers who want it, you are 
 authorized to hnj §1,000 worth and draw on me for the cash. Give 
 me ten days' notice so that I can procure it. If I should buy more 
 land I should probablj' want to do something towards inclosing it. 
 But we will think of that after we get it. 
 
 "H. G." 
 
 Mr. Meeker purchased for Mr. Greeley from the colony $1,000 worth 
 of land. This laud la}' mostly in the Poudre bottom just north of the 
 cemeter}'. He paid for this about the price the colony did and it was 
 dear at that. I think it was an eighty-acre tract, which would be 
 $12.50 an acre. Some of it ran up in the bluffs and was worthless.. 
 I doubt if the Greeley estate, which has long ago sold out all the 
 interests of the family here, realized half of what Mr. Greeley paid 
 for this tract. However Mr. Meeker acted in good faith and thought 
 that he was making a valuable investment for his friend. 
 
 It will be seen that Mr. Greeley expected his example would in- 
 duce others to buy. It did one other, Mr. Cranford of New York, 
 who also sent one thousand dollars for ^Ir. Meeker to invest for him,, 
 and was by Mr. Cranford's wishes put into lands above the ditch south 
 of town. He has held on to it and it has become valuable property
 
 'kPmijM:Dirfir 
 
 ■ x.EELEY,
 
 "m^' c^^/^ .f:::::^^r. 
 
 '^ 
 
 ^^^^^^^^^^c^^e..-^^/ 
 
 /y^^ 
 
 ^^^^-^^-^ 
 
 7:^ 
 
 ^:^2^ 
 
 2^^^ 
 
 ?>£^ 
 
 ^w^,:^ ^rk---^ ^^:^^ 
 
 ^..-t/^ C --^^^^^^^-^ ^;^^„,.,^ <^c^.--^ 
 
 [Note.— The above is Horace Greeley's last letter to N. C. Meeker an<l us : and was 
 written only six days before his death, and three days before the fatal attack.]
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 305 
 
 since the Greeley and Lovelaud canal was built. The money coining 
 from both these purchases was put into the enlargement of Number 
 Two and helped us to cross one of the most dangerous streams the 
 colony met in its wa}'. 
 
 It is also deser\ang of notice that the advice of Mr. Greeley to sell 
 out and dig out of our difficulties rather than borrow out, was the 
 wisest kind of coxuisel and was very much needed, as Mr. Meeker set 
 so high a value on the colony lands that others who thought quite 
 differently would have had difficulty in inducing him to give his con- 
 sent for their sale, but for this positive and repeated insistence of 
 Mr. Greeley. This is the rock on which were split three colonies 
 which we have named. They mortgaged their canals and could not 
 realize when the obligations matured. We owe the memory of Mr. 
 Greeley a deep debt of gratitude not only for his persistent advice 
 but for the money which he invested here to help us out in this per- 
 haps crucial crisis of our existence. 
 
 " February 7, 1872. 
 
 •' I have yours of the .30th enclosing receipt. Thank you. I beg 
 you to tell the square truth about the losses of cattle in Colorado dur- 
 ing this winter. I believe that calves will be short-lived, the milk of 
 mothers being so scarce next spring. I directed a check to you of 
 $5.62 to pav balance due to close my account as treasurer. 
 
 "H. G." 
 
 It was Mr. Meeker's reply to the above urgant request of Mr. 
 Greeley that made the cattlemen so down on the former. Mr. Meeker 
 said he wrote only a private letter to Mr. Grealey on the subject, but 
 he thoxight that the world should know it, and published it in The 
 Tribtiiiii. We have seen with what consequences to his friend here. 
 
 " February 5, 1872. 
 " I guess you will not l^e able to leave the colony this year. They 
 cannot spare you till they shall have overcome the discouragements 
 of this cold winter. Then the trees are to be planted, and hquor 
 questions to be settled, and the big ditch on the north side to be set 
 to irrigating farms in great numbers. So you will have to stick a 
 year more. By that time you will be able to understand the trials of 
 Moses and his stiff-necked followers crying out ' Make us gods like 
 those of the Egyptians. Why have you brought us out into the 
 wilderness to perish ? ' etc., etc. Let no one think of being a reformer 
 till after he shall have read the l)Ook of Exodus carefully at least 
 three tim.es through. 
 
 20
 
 306 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 " I cannot understand wh}^ the ditch does not supply you with 
 water for all cuhuary purposes. Do you let it go dry in the winter ? 
 Please record with your authorities my solemn protest against letting 
 cattle nm at large within the fenced limits. There will be no use to 
 plant trees to be devoured by cattle. 
 
 " Yours, 
 
 "H. G." 
 
 "March 9, 1872. 
 " You ought to insist on being relieved from all official duties con- 
 nected with the colony. Keep up your paper; that is your share. 
 Throw all official labors upon others. Then you can obtain by work 
 your living. I know the paper will pay, but you must stop giving 
 credit. Now take hold in your paper and drive your people out on 
 the soil. It is a burning disgrace that you have not flour to sell and 
 wheat of your own raising. Resolve that you will have it this year. 
 Talk savagely as to the folly of shutting yourselves up in a village 
 and letting your water run to waste. Insist that the w-ater shall be 
 let on now, and 10,000 acres irrigated before May. You must govern 
 the colony through the paper. You don't talk half enough about 
 farming, irrigation, crops, etc., etc. I w^ant to get out to see the 
 colonv in the fall; but I never want to see my laud till it is green with 
 
 a-rowing trees. Don't let it go by this scoring. 
 
 "H. G." 
 
 The next letter reiterates his advice to plow in the fall and water 
 
 all winter, and then he adds : " It may be I shall come out to live 
 
 with you after my trees get a start. Please start all you can this 
 
 spring. I would like to have an acre of larch and some white pine 
 
 if they can easily be grown. You see I don't want four years more 
 
 of Grant. I won't stand it, if there is any reasonable alternative, and 
 
 that may drive me out of politics and newspapers. I feel that my 
 
 trade is a mean one, because it compels me to think other men's 
 
 thoughts. I prefer nw own. 
 
 "H. G." 
 
 " April 8, 1872. 
 ■:■ * I am afraid that your ditches and grist mill vnW pinch 
 each other for water. What do you say to that ? I do hope you wall 
 sell out xoiiT paper. One man cannot do everything. You are grow- 
 ing old like myself, and ought to take the world more easily. Just 
 sell out and you wiU no longer be bothered, in money matters or 
 otherwise. I heartily wish I was out of pohtics, out of journahsm,
 
 THE UIs-ION COLOXT OF COLORADO. 307 
 
 and able to work moderately for a humble livelihood. Too much care 
 is wearing me out. I do not yet see my way out, but I should like to 
 be able to spend at least a mouth with you next year, and the rest of 
 the season visiting the Pacific slope. 
 
 ''H. G." 
 
 He was soon to be deeper into politics than ever— alas I fatally 
 deep. 
 
 "May 22, 1872. 
 " I do want to see the general result of the losses of cattle and 
 sheep in Colorado. Cameron I thought promised it ; then I looked to 
 you for it. Shall we not have it ? 
 
 " Your article of the 6th, on the Cincinnati nominations, (when Mr. 
 G. was nominated for president) is the best I have yet seen. 
 
 "H. G." 
 
 In the next more impossible prescriptions about plowing, improving 
 canals, winter irrigation, and concludes : 
 
 " My wife is home, a hopeless invalid, but bright and active in 
 mind." 
 
 And in the next : 
 
 " Be patient with my oaks. They are slow, but sure. Have I no 
 hickories ? If not, try, please try another peck of real shagbarks for 
 me this fall, as early as you can get them. I hope to visit your town 
 early next summer." 
 
 This was ^Titten August 14, in the heat of the campaign, but noth- 
 ing could make him forget his trees. 
 
 " September 29, 1872. 
 
 "I am just ])ack from a long tour; rather weary but in good 
 health. 
 
 "jl would not go to Euroj^e without selling out j^our interest. 
 Ralph is very good, but you 
 
 " Your paper ought to pay or be given up. As the first and only one 
 in the colony, it must pay in time. But you cannot well carry it 
 while in Europe. You and I are getting on in years and ought to 
 diminish our cares, not increase them. If you go away please put 
 my trees in charge of some one who will take good care of them. 
 They must not be neglected. Ought I not to plant some on my larger 
 lot next spring ? I want to sell that lot. 
 
 " Your policy of selling land and enlarging canals is good. You 
 must carry it into effect before you leave for Europe. I don't work 
 on The Tribune now, but I guess there wiU be no troulole about yoiu-
 
 308 A HISTOBY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 engagement for Europe. Please make your proposition in business 
 form and enclose it to Mr. Sinclair. I wish this presidential election 
 
 was over. 
 
 ''H. G." 
 
 " October 15, 1872. 
 
 " * * I still look with apprehension on your leaving, while 
 the colony owes or owns or holds anything. In an important sense, 
 you are the colony. What would the Exodus have been without 
 Moses, and Joshua, I fear, has not yet appeared, 
 
 " If you can find one who will break my land for the first crop, let 
 him at once. If he ought to have two crops give them. But my 
 skies darken, and I must not agree to pay out more money unless it 
 be very little. But don't starve my trees. Plant some on the lower 
 lot if desirable. 
 
 " My wife is going at last ; I do not think she can last the mouth 
 out. She may. I am urged to speak out West or Chicago, but I do not 
 think I shall be able to leave her. I am glad you hke my speeches. 
 
 "H. G." 
 
 The above, how pathetic. But no accumulation of cares, sorrows 
 or pecuniary needs can divert him from his beloved trees. 
 
 " October 27, 1872. 
 
 " I rejoice in your resolution to take care of yourself. I \\dsh I had 
 
 done more in that line. Make a proposition of your visit to Europe 
 
 and send it to Mr. Sinclair, and it shall be considered. I do trust you 
 
 will be able to sell the company's land, and some part of your own 
 
 if 5^ou want to. Couldn't you sell out your paper to those proposing 
 
 to start another. Surely one is enough for Greeley. 
 
 "H. G." 
 
 " November 7, 1872. 
 
 " We are in no condition to make new contracts to-day, nor I think 
 
 can we soon. Our luck is very bad. Nor can any of us buy land. I 
 
 would much rather sell mine at any price. If there is a chance to 
 
 seU either piece let me hear of it. 
 
 "H. G." 
 
 The above was wTitten when he was suffering from the first shock 
 of his terrible election defeat, but he soon rallies and is more hopefid 
 in the next, and is again ready to make sacrifices to buy more land 
 and help us out of our pinches. The following proposed purchases 
 were never made. He soon fell into his last short, fatal illness, and
 
 THE UNIOX COLONY OF COLORADO. 309 
 
 with him died the long cherished hope of N. C. Meeker to be sent to 
 Europe as a correspondent of The New York Tribune. 
 
 "November 18, 1872. 
 
 " I have yours of the 13th, but not your last paper. I presume 
 that will come to-morrow. 
 
 " I will try to buy you a draft for the lands you select for me, and 
 shall no doubt do so. But you must see that something is done in 
 the way of planting this spring. I hope to be out to you in the fall, 
 but oh, do make the people jdIow and plant. You are now trusting 
 too much to railroads, too little to planting and tilling the soil. 
 
 "H. G." 
 
 " November 23, 1872. 
 " Friend Meeker — I have yours of the 7th inst. I presume you 
 have already dra^vu on me for the .$1,000 to buj- land. If you have 
 not please do so at once. I have not much mouej-, and probably 
 never shall have; but I believe in Union Colony and j^ou, and consider 
 this a good investment for my children. 
 
 " Horace Greeley." 
 
 The above were his last words to his friend N. C. Meeker and to us, 
 and they are precious, trustful, hopeful words. 
 
 Tliree days after writing the above Mr. Greelej^ lost his conscious- 
 ness — his sleeplessness, first induced while watching at the bedside of 
 his dying wife, turning into brain fever. He passed away on the night 
 of the 29th or only six days after writing the above. His last words 
 were, " It is done." 
 
 The Greeley Tribune following the report of his death was draped 
 in mourning.. We take the following from its editorial : 
 
 " Horace Greeley dies, and a most remarkable period in the world's 
 histor)' closes. He dies, as the noblest and best have died, with those 
 he served most, his enemies. He dies, and his followers, who are to 
 have a name because they followed him, denied that they ever knew 
 him. Weary and broken-hearted he dies. He is gone, but the essence 
 which is to remain on earth, shall dwell in this valley, and his mag- 
 nanimous soul shall glow in these institutions, and the name and the 
 fame of him shall continue for innumerable ages, growing fresher and 
 brighter, luitil these snowy mountains shall sink away, and the rivers 
 become dusty and the sun itself die." 
 
 By a resolution of the board of trade, the public schools and public 
 buildings of Greeley were draped in mourning for thirty days. A 
 public meeting was held on the 30th here or the daj' after his death.
 
 310 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 On the occasion speeches were made by General Cameron, N. C. Meeker,. 
 E. Hollister, S. S. Kennedy and Judge Hanna. W. E. Pabor read a 
 poem which maj^ be said to have been improvised for the occasion, 
 from which we quote the following stanza: 
 
 Dead, and we to whom he stood. 
 
 As a sponsor and a friend, 
 We in sorrow lowly bend, 
 
 Like children in their orphanhood. 
 
 After the reports of his obsequies in The Greeley Tribune for De- 
 cember 25th appeared another worthy poem by Mr. Pabor, and in the 
 same issue one read at the Greele}^ Lyceum the meeting before from 
 which we cjuote: 
 
 " Not overwork upset his niip;hty brain, 
 
 Nor yet domestic sorrow's added train ; 
 Smote down by their ingratitude !ies slain 
 
 The people's champion, now mourned in vain. 
 
 Though gone, his vitalizing life abides. 
 His thought with every honest impulse rife. 
 
 Has worked itself into the Nation's life, 
 And still shall more it. sis the moon the tides. 
 
 Ah. if thy weary wounded spirit see 
 
 The deep, sincere and universal grief— 
 A Nation led by its sad victor chief 
 
 Pours on thy bier, sweet solace it must be. 
 
 For not yon sunny azure fields of day 
 Have bahn to heal thy wounded spirit's smart. 
 
 Like that distilling from thy Nation's heart 
 Subdued by grief, now thine henceforth, alway." 
 
 Mr. Greeley's death was ruinous to Mr. Meeker in many ways. We 
 have seen that The Tribune under Mr. Greeley had never rejected an 
 article of his. Now all is changed. The new editor, Mr. Reid, ap- 
 pears to have had but little use for his productions. In standing by 
 his friend he had lost the regular repubhcan patronage for his paper, 
 and a rival journal had been started, and with the design of breaking 
 him up. From tiien to the day of his death Tlie Tribune was a ter- 
 rible burden to him. We have related how that the loan given him by 
 his friend to help him to start and sustain the paper was now demanded 
 with interest by the executors of the Greeley estate. After reading- 
 the foregoing letters it is easy to see that Mr. Greeley would never have 
 made the demand, and his daughters the heirs of their father's benig- 
 nant spirit quite as much as his worldly estate, released him from em- 
 barrassment when the management fell into their own hands. 
 
 It will also be seen wliat a friend the farmers of the colony had in 
 Mr. Greeley, and how clearly he saw in what line lay our prosperity.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 311 
 
 Advocate as he always was for home maaiifactures he had no faith in 
 those that had to be coddled into being, nor in railroads to build up a 
 place that had no permanent, self-sustaining industries. Could he 
 visit Greeley and the fine agricultural country that surrounds it, he 
 would largely see his hopes realized, and that at last the bi<j ditch was 
 paying interest. We had to reach this land of Beulah by slow stages, 
 up " Hills of Difficulty," through valleys of the " Shadow of Death" 
 and " Vanity Fairs," the latter by no means left behind yet. 
 
 Some thirteen years after the death of Horace Greeley, a fine life- 
 size portrait of him was presented to the town by Sinclair Tousey, of 
 New York City, through N. F. Cheeseman. It was accepted with ap- 
 propriate ceremonies and hung up in the high school behind the desk 
 of the principal. We quote the following from the proceedings which 
 took place from the front steps of the high school on " Arbor Day," 
 May 5th, 1886: 
 
 " Professor Copeland then announced that as Governor Eaton was 
 unable to be present, Captain Boyd would take charge of the ceremo- 
 nies connected with unveihng the portrait of Horace Greeley presented 
 to the city of Greeley by Sinclair Tousey, of New York. 
 
 Captain Boyd made a few brief remarks on the character of Mr. 
 Greeley, speaking of him as a man of integrity, a friend of the people ' 
 and an uncompromising opponent of slavery. In closing the speaker 
 said, ' I am not here to pronounce an eulogy on Horace Greeley, but 
 this I will say: although he did not found the town of Greeley, yet I 
 may speak of him as our ' patron saint.' 
 
 Mr. Cheeseman here read the following letter from Mr. Tousey, after 
 which he unveiled the picture: 
 
 New York, April 21st, 1886. { 
 14 East 46th Street. \ 
 
 Mr. N. F. Cheeseman, Greeley, Colo. : 
 
 Dear Sir : I have sent by United States Express to the town of 
 Greele3% addressed to your care, a life-size portrait of the great man 
 in whose honor ycu have named your village. This portrait has hung 
 in my office for over thirteen years, and I consider it a most excellent 
 likeness. I have often been told of the thrift and prosperity of your 
 town, and thougli I have never seen it, I feel a great interest in its 
 welfare and in the welfare of its inhabitants. If every one of these 
 could walk in the footsteps of its illustrious founder in integrit}-, gen- 
 erosity and ujirightness, in both private and business life, you would 
 soon become the model village of the world. 
 
 I directed that the picture be properly pacJiod for transportation
 
 312 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 and hope it may be received in good shape and to the satisfaction of 
 your citizens. Your sincere well wisher, 
 
 Sinclair Tousey. 
 
 The Hon. J. C. Shattuck then presented the portrait to the city of 
 Greeley in a neat and appropriate speech, a few extracts only can be 
 here given. He said: 
 
 HON. J. 0. SHATTUCk's ADDRESS. 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen : I have been accustomed, in witnessing 
 ceremonies of a kindred character, to hear the speech and then have 
 the picture or statue unveiled. I am very glad to have this order re- 
 versed, for now if the speech wearies you, you can rest yourselves by 
 turning your eyes upon the picture of this benign sage, philospher 
 and friend not only of the city of Greeley, but of mankind. It is 
 told me that this picture was a present from Mr. Greeley to Mr. Tousey, 
 who now, coming as he knows towards the close of his life, thinks 
 that the city of Greeley is the proper custodian of such a treasure. 
 
 Only a few years ago these features, either as they are, or in carica- 
 ture, were familiar to every eye among the miUions of America. His 
 name was a household A^ord from one end of the land to the other, 
 revered and honored by many and reviled hj others. This man is 
 one of the products of American civilization. Such a life as his is 
 possible only in the society which has groAvn up upon tliis continent. 
 Out of the lowest surroundings he forced his way up by the sheer force 
 of his intellect, until his name stands, and will stand as long as the Eng- 
 lish language is spoken, as one of the great ones of earth. In the 
 passing years the asperities of partisan conflict are dying out, and all 
 are coming to recognize this man as one of the great educators and 
 benefactors of the human race. His early advantages were poor. 
 Now, my young friends, do not make the mistake that because Horace 
 Greeley had few and poor school advantages in his youth and yet at- 
 tained fame and great honor, that you can be great by sHghting those 
 that are offered you. What he would liav.e achieved had he had the 
 advantages that you now enjoy, no man can tell. 
 
 * * * ^: * * * * 
 
 I believe that his course after the war was simply a part of the man, 
 a necessity which he could not avoid with his mind formed as it was. 
 He cherished no malice; the object of his life had been accomplished. 
 He knew full well, wonderful student of history that he was, that the 
 South that had been conquered could not be held as a conquered prov- 
 ince, and he was eager to have it transformed into a loyal, self-govern- 
 ing, integral part of this nation. If he made any mistake it was that
 
 THE tJNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 
 
 313 
 
 he did not estimate fully the importance of time,' in the accomplish- 
 ment of the ends which he saw with his clear vision must come before 
 we could again be a nation. He saw the future then, as he and Mr. 
 Meeker saw, when they looked over this prairie in their dim, prophetic 
 vision, the city which is given to us to see with eyes of flesh. So he 
 saw the united country and took his stand in favor of it then and there, 
 in words and acts that for a time alienated many of his friends who 
 thought he was wrong. 
 
 Let no man say that he was great because he had opportunities such 
 as can never come again; that in his day there rose a great and vital 
 question upon which it was possible for a man to take a stand and be- 
 come great, and, that question being settled, the opportunity has 
 passed forever. It is not so. There are upon this land to-day ques- 
 tions not less vital, not less intricate or difficult to solve than the slav- 
 ery question of fifty years ago. The opportunity for some man to 
 be a second Horace Greeley, to mould public opinion and thus lead us 
 as a people out of the great difficulties that are accumulating to-day, 
 is upon us now and here. Here is an opportunity for some man to 
 lead us to a peaceful solution of these great problems. Who can look 
 forward to the questions with which these children must grapple in 
 the coming days of this country, without his heart standing still with 
 dread. I found upon my arrival here yesterday that the question as 
 to who founded the town of Greeley is agitating the community some- 
 what, and that one of your local papers in its last issue was largely 
 devoted to the discussion of that question. I cover the case, from my 
 standpoint, by saying that great and good as this man was, marvelous 
 as was his hfework, he did not found the town of Greeley. He did 
 not originate the idea, but he lent the use of his great name to the 
 man who did originate the idea and gave his endorsement to the 
 scheme. He went still further and consented to be called the treasurer 
 of the society and l^ecame responsible for the money that was sent in. 
 He did not invest a cent in the town until during the dark days of 
 1871-2, when he sent Mr. Meeker $1,000 to help us out, and took a 
 forty-acre lot in exchange therefor. Honor to whom honor is due. I 
 detract nothing from his fame when I say that he did not found the 
 town of Greeley. I know something as to how this town was founded. 
 I know amid what heart-breaking disappointment its pioneers wrought. 
 I know how they wrestled for years to wring a sustenance for them- 
 selves and their little ones out of the stubborn desert. And I am 
 proud that I was accorded the good fortune to be among that noble 
 band of pioneers. I thank God that these streets are filling up with 
 happy, luxuriant homes, ^lay the good work go on. May you realize
 
 314 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 your condition, accept your good fortune, work as faithfully as did the 
 pioneers to make this a first-class town. Vigilance, eternal vigilance 
 is the price of liberty. You must stand to your principles. You have 
 a name here, as well as throughout the land, of which any man and 
 any woman may well be proud. See to it that it is not blurred. And 
 you, friends, who have so recently come here, and have already done 
 and are still doing much to build up and beautify this lovely city, I 
 beg of you not to forget the patience, labor and tears through which 
 the pioneers wrought to lay the foundation, to plant the sapling which 
 you can now nourish into a strong and beautiful tree. (Applause.) 
 
 The resolutions were as follows: 
 
 Resolved, That we send greeting to Mr. Tousey and assure him of 
 the steadfast determination of the people of Greeley to abide by the 
 principles of its founders; that we thankfully accept his beautiful 
 gift, and assure him that it is the height of our ambition "to make 
 Greeley the model city of the Avorld." 
 
 Mr. H. T. West, one of the members of the locating committee of 
 Union Colony, in an appropriate speech received the gift on the part 
 of the city, and paid a glowing tribute to the donor for his generosit}^ 
 recited several interesting incidents in the history of the colony and 
 town and closed witli a humorous poem which pleased the assembly, 
 and the exercises were closed. 
 
 We have given Mr. (now Doctor) Siiattuck's speech so far as it was 
 published in The Tribune for two i-easons. It was appropriate to the 
 occasion and the memory of the philanthropist and statesman in the 
 relation in which he stood to us. and also because it is our desire to 
 preserve liere something from the lips of our friend J. C. Shattuck 
 who has been honored by and an honor to our people on many occa- 
 sions. 
 
 The poem referred to as read by H. T. West was the production of 
 Wm. E. Pabor, published in The Denver News, September 28th, 1870, 
 and as it is one of his happiest efforts in a humorous line and also 
 explains the situation in the early days, we insert it here also. 
 
 VRt'M KREELEY. 
 •' Vonce upon a time I says t • mine vrow, 
 
 Vot j-ou dinks, hay ? Out to de crate vest 
 A Goiony g-aes ; iseeking up a ci-ati; row 
 
 An pikling .i town on de orarees prcst. 
 Unci dc old man und de old vooman und de youui^ v luw 
 
 Und lie papie:;, und de bot-, de kettles und de bans, iley ko luit de rest. 
 
 Vel Schon, says mine vrow, lets go niit them too. 
 
 Und dake Hans uiid Karl, und der leetle Katrine : 
 Saner Kraut und S^ eitzer Kase. und ' puUy bjy tor you '— , 
 
 I shouts right out on der village green ;
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 315 
 
 Und I schumps up und hug's mine vrow like every "ingrs. 
 Till she cries " vy Schon, ain't you shamed to be seen i" 
 
 So we backs cop mit der railroad cars in May, 
 
 Und pids good by, niit all der beepies round ; 
 Who shalce mit der hi'ts ebei-y time, un:' say, 
 
 Schon Schackhass on a fool's errant bfumd. 
 But I trinks schwei laser beer und I feels goot, und 
 
 I says nix cum rous, till I gits mit der railroads on der ground. 
 
 Und den, vot you dinks ? Sooch a hlace we did vinde ; 
 
 Midoiit drees, midout krass, und mi lout anydirig ; 
 Und iter vind plows before und dor vind plows behind, 
 
 Und vistles and skreems like anyding. 
 Und vent j'ou sits down you kits up quicker'n scat ! 
 
 Und skratch yourself like mat ver der briklee bares sting. 
 
 My vrow cries, Schon, Schon, vot you dinks, hey? 
 
 But I sit mit der drak till a scheneral gum 
 Und says dere's a goot blace mine frient for to stay 
 
 Till you pilds you a hou.se, te un, te um, turn. 
 Den he pring.s us to vot he galls Hotel de Gumfurt, 
 
 Vere all der volks stay vot hai'nt cot no home. 
 
 Den der scheneral vinks at mine vrow du, dree dimes, 
 
 Und says, look mit der mountains nop dere krand ; 
 Von of dese days van y^u goes oop dere und glimbs, 
 
 Und sees de crate town of Kreeley vere it stand, 
 You'll dink vot a beepies, vot a koontry, und you 
 
 Von't dink vonce uv der briklee bares sticken in der sand. 
 
 Yaw ! so I stays mit mine vrow und mit Paiil, 
 
 But mine vrow says Schon, you're a nix goot Schack ; 
 Und der vind plows in der spring und vind plows in der fall, 
 
 Und der krasshoppers sit mit der hind legs on der drack 
 Und say : ' Schon Schackhass und his f row 
 
 Geeps a vishing dey could co pack '."
 
 CHAPTEK XXIII. 
 
 N. c. Meeker's career from the death of horace greeley until his 
 
 OWN — HIS HARD LIFE DURING THREE FOLLOWING TEARS — EDITING THE 
 " GREELEY TRIBUNE " -QUARREL WITH GENERAL CAMERON ABOUT POL- 
 ITICS — THE DISAGREEMENT ALL AROUND OF THE MEMBERS OF THE 
 
 LOCATING COMMITTEE MEEKER AND WEST BOTH RUN AS DELEGATES 
 
 FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION AND BOTH DEFEATED — MR. 
 MEEKER APPOINTED ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR COLORADO TO THE 
 CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION — APPOINTED TO THE WHITE RIVER INDIAN 
 AGENCY, 1878 — HIS REASONS FOR ASKING THIS POST — HIS LETTERS TO 
 " THE TRIBUNE " FROM THE AGENCY — MR. MEEKER's ADHESION TO THE 
 GREENBACK PARTY — HISTORY OF THIS PARTY IN GREELEY — JOS. MURRAY 
 — HIS VISIT TO GREELEY' AND LETTERS AFTER HIS RETURN — LAST LET- 
 TER — "bullets and PLOWS." 
 
 WE will now sketch the career of Mr. JMeeker from the death 
 of his friend and helper, until his own some seven years 
 after. For the three years following he had a hard life of it. 
 These were the grasshopper years and he had undertaken to make a 
 living for himself and family by gardening and small fruit culture. 
 These were disastrous occupations in those days. We have formerly 
 quoted an article from his pen setting forth all the dilhculties. Both 
 his and the rival paper were simply starving, in a financial point of view. 
 Messrs. Vickers & Painter, who had been induced to start The Colorado 
 Sun soon bitterly regretted the step they had been led to take, for 
 Meeker had the grit to hold on and fight it through, and his far more 
 ably edited paper had no doubt double the circulation of theirs. In- 
 deed The Greeley Tribune was a journal that even its enemies could 
 not do long without. It was so intensely devoted to the best interests of 
 the place, and so honestly and ably conducted that it commanded a 
 hearing even from its opi^onents. 
 
 At the close of the summer of 1873 Mr. Meeker, not taking warning 
 by the fate of his friend, entered politics and offered himself as a can- 
 didate for representative to the lower branch of the Territorial Legis- 
 lature. He was defeated in getting the Republican nomination. As 
 a party measure he ought to have known better than expect it. The 
 fall before he had put at the head of his paper the Union Liberal Re-
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 317 
 
 publican and Democratic ticket. But in spite of this, and the general 
 ill-will his course had excited among the old settlers, he at least 
 thought that he would have got the nomination but for his betrayal by 
 his old friend and co-worker General Cameron. Long before this there 
 had been a coldness and jealousy between them quite visible to all 
 observers. But now there was an open rupture. In a long article in 
 The Tribune for August 27th, 1873, headed "Pohtics in Greeley," Mr. 
 Meeker attacks the General savagely. He accuses him of an old 
 standing jealousy, of undermining him, and of poisoning the minds of 
 the old settlers against him. He gives a history of the convention 
 and Cameron's double dealing, and calls him a Judas. Cameron re- 
 torts as well as he can in the Sun. But on this arena he is no match 
 for Meeker. The following from the Denver Daily Times shows how 
 disinterested spectators at a distance viewed tlie contest : 
 
 " N. C. Meeker and General Cameron are discussing each other in 
 the daily papers. The former having been defeated by the latter in a 
 nomination for the legislature, proceeds to tell what he knows about 
 the latter, accusing him of deceit, vaulting ambition. hy|X)crisy, etc., 
 etc. General Cameron replies by accusing ' Father Meeker ' of false- 
 hood. Cameron is the smarter politician, but we doubt if he is en- 
 titled to greater consideration than Mr. Meeker. Cameron has spread 
 himself over quite a large part of tl^^ Territory, but Mr. Meeker has 
 given his energies to his own town. We have considered Meeker as 
 the father of the place, and the one above all others who has given it 
 the good name it bears after three years lease of life — which it bears 
 not only in Colorado — but throughout the countr}'." 
 
 The distinction here drawn is a just one, but it must be said that 
 both disputants misrepresented the character of the other. Showing 
 only the weaker or worse side, being blinded for the moment to the 
 nobler features that each recognized in the other in their calmer less 
 impassioned moods. But wounds were then inflicted which never 
 healed over. They remained substantially enemies until one fell from 
 the lists in quite another field of contest. 
 
 It may as well here be said that by this time there was a triangular 
 dispute or disagreement carried on among the "Triumvirate" who 
 located Union Colony and the town of Greeley. Meeker and West, who 
 was then President of the Town Board, had during the latter part of 
 1871 a severe contest in the papers on the liquor question, the former 
 accusing the latter of slackness and favoritism in administering the 
 ordinances on that subject. Cameron and West had a dispute over 
 the boundaries of lands of theirs which lay contiguous, and which 
 erroneous wordings of the deeds gave to the parties other lands than
 
 318 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 were intended. The change was to the disadvantage of Flower & 
 Cameron and to the advantage of Emerson & West. What lands were 
 intended to be convej-ed and understood to be conveyed was conspic- 
 uous, as both parties had been cultivating, as boundaries were under- 
 stood, without any misunderstanding, until Mr. West discovered the 
 advantage the wording of the deeds gave his firm. It may be said 
 that the error in description arose from dividing eightj^-acre tracts as 
 if their greatest length was north and south, which is usual, but in 
 this case it was reversed, or east and west. There was but one opinion 
 on the part of the Colony Board, and that was that Flower & Cam- 
 eron had all the equity of the case on their side. The writer was del- 
 egated bj' the Board to bring about a just settlement of the matter 
 which we held to be for both parties to give up their deeds to the 
 Colony and it to give the parties new ones properly describing the 
 lands intended to be conveyed. Mr. West's refusal to do this was only 
 excused by him on the ground that the two firms were now rivals in 
 the banking business and it was a sort of bad faith on the part of 
 Cameron to go into this on account of a previous private understand- 
 ing. Dr. Emerson was east when this matter came up and nothing 
 definite could be done until his return. When he did, he held that 
 they would be justified in a business point of taking the advantage 
 of rivals who had acted in bad faith. It was pointed out to 
 him that the Colony had only to do with this one thing, and was 
 bound to see that justice should be done if possible. The Doctor 
 yielded the point and the deeds were made as intended at first. 
 
 It is only justice to Mr. West to say here that Flower & Cameron 
 had the postoffice and also the drug business and that the latter had 
 been Mr. West's last business in Chicago. West went into the bank- 
 ing business with Emerson & Buckingham and it is highly probable 
 that Cameron had agreed, as West says he did, to leave them that 
 business while he and his friends retained the postoffice, and were 
 left, so far as W^est was concerned, undisturbed in the drug business. 
 
 It also ought to be said that in the matter of liquor selling Mr, 
 W'est has proved himself as good a friend of proliibition as any reas- 
 onable man could be expected to be. During the last session of the 
 legislature he drafted a bill with his own hand enabling colonial charters 
 to be renewed. So that the liquor clause in the deeds could be enforced 
 for another twenty years. He has done all his present feeble health 
 will permit in seeing to it that the requisite number of shares of stock 
 voted iii favor of the renewal of the Colony's corporate life, and has 
 seen his efforts crowned with success, as narrated elsewliere. How- 
 ever, at the time we are speaking of. there was reason on the part of
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 319 
 
 Mr. Meeker and the extreme teinperauce part}^ to suspect that an old 
 druggist was hkely to sympathize with his guild, and treat delinquen- 
 cies with a charity which amounted to weakness, and bore only the fruits 
 of cruelty to the victims of intemperance. 
 
 Mr. Meeker was again a candidate for delegate to the constitutional 
 convention. He failed to get a nomination on the Republican ticket 
 but was put on the " People's " ticket. This was really a combination 
 of Democrats and Liberal Republicans. There were three districts 
 for Weld and Larimer counties. J. S. Wheeler and S. J. Plumb were 
 on the People's ticket and were elected for the first district, Weld 
 county ; W. C. Stover, also on People's ticket, was elected for third 
 district, Larimer county ; but N. C. Meeker was defeated on the Peo- 
 ple's ticket, second district. Weld and Larimer counties, and A. K. 
 Yont, Republican, elected. Had Mr. Meeker been on for Weld county 
 alone, he would have been elected ; but Larimer went nearly solid for 
 Yont. The vote in Weld county was, for Yont 227 ; for Meeker 525, 
 but Larimer gave nearly every vote for its own man. It may further 
 be said that H. T. West was on the Republican ticket opposed to 
 Wheeler and the vote stood 494 for Wheeler, 286 for West. Plumb 
 was on both tickets and got the full vote, which was only 569 in his 
 case. The real reason why Larimer county voted solid for Yont was 
 that that county wanted to have a provision in the constitution fixing 
 the site of the Agricultural College at Fort Collins, and it was well 
 known that Mr. Meeker wanted it at Greeley. This provision was 
 put in the constitution. 
 
 The result was that the colony had not a single man in the Consti- 
 tutional convention and that two Republican counties only sent one 
 out of the four delegates. This formation of a People's party was 
 largel}^ the work of Mr. Meeker, and kept up the hostility of the Re- 
 publican party against him. 
 
 Mr. Meeker soon after this was honored by being chosen assistant 
 commissioner for the state of Colorado to the Centennial Exposition. 
 This honor he highly appreciated, although the pecuniary profits did 
 but little in relieving his financial embarrassment. It, however, afforded 
 him the opportunity of making the acquaintance of men of influence 
 in iDrocuring government appointments, and out of the chances in 
 that hne he unfortunately chose that of being appointed Indian 
 agent. 
 
 It would be unjust to Mr. Meeker's fame to say that the only rea- 
 son determining him to ask this place was pressing need of the money 
 that was in it. He had for a long time cherished the belief that the 
 Indian could be led to pursue an industrial life, and that this would
 
 320 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 be the salvatiou of the race. His letters to Tlie Tribune from the 
 White River Agency prove this, and also how bitterly he was disap- 
 pointed in this hope. As the White River catastrophe brought sorrow 
 to so many homes in Greeley and a general grief to the whole people, 
 it seems fitting to make copious extracts from these letters which are also 
 written in Mr. Meeker's happiest vein. It will be seen that he entered 
 upon this new work with the enthusiasm of a man in the early vigor 
 of manhood, although for him the sun was nearing the western 
 verge. 
 
 " White Rivee Agency, May 12, 1878. 
 
 " This place is about two hundred miles south of Rawlins on the 
 Union Pacific, and at the mouth of a canon on White river. There 
 are no settlements at all between here and Rawlins except on the 
 Snake and Bear. At present everythiug is in the oiiginal natural 
 state; the roads are only tracks over the most favorable ground, and 
 from Bear river ours was the first wagon for nine months. Of course 
 there are no bridges; when night comes the traveler sleeps on the 
 ground, and in these days frost settles everywhere, and one who is at 
 all feeble requires time to recover from the privations. 
 
 '' In a place difficult of access, and to ^vhich the cost of all freight is 
 from four to five cents a pound, only necessaries are to be had. Bed- 
 steads are made by the carpenters, the chairs are stools, and fortu- 
 nately there is not a looking glass on the ground. A man of varied 
 experience in ' backwoods ' life may think he knows something about 
 primitive affairs, but he will learn a thing or two here. The mail 
 comes once a week on Saturday, and goes out Monday morning b}" 
 horseback, the whole six days being spent on the road. It looks as if 
 in such a slow progress, the world with its stirring news would pass 
 by and be forgotten." 
 
 He goes a fishing, catches as his fnst luck a trout weighing near 
 two pounds. 
 
 " Spotted, wet, fresh, but oh, how he flopped ! Scarcely afraid I 
 took him in my hands, and tried to get the hook out of his mouth ; it 
 would not come, for it was deep in its flesh, and the blood ran out of 
 its mouth. The only thing to do was to take my knife and cut out 
 the hook; and while I did so, his prominent eyes looked pitiful on 
 me, as much as to say — ' How can you ? ' Alas, fish have been caught 
 for ages, and even long ago in Lake Galilee ; still I could not help 
 saying to myself, ' There will be a settlement some of these times for 
 all this cruelty.' 
 
 The next letter is headed '' Lonely." 
 
 " Altogether there are six of us — one a lady,^ quiet and young, four
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 321 
 
 employes, one away most of the time, or perhaps two or three away; 
 often during the day all gone. So the sun goes down over the moun- 
 tains, covered with grass to the top, other mountains with cedar on 
 the north, and one looks dowm the narrow valley which opens a little 
 a mile or so to the north, looks along the wagon road where only one 
 track has been made this year, as if some one were coming tired 
 and read}- for a warm supper, looks out through the gap in the 
 range as if a four-horse team might be discovered in a hurry to 
 make the five or six miles before dark, but not a soul is seen, nothing 
 moves. 
 
 " If there were neigh]:)ors five miles away, or ten or twenty, it would 
 be quite cheerful and one could ride over for a visit once a month, 
 and receive one as often, but it is ;-ixty-five miles to the nearest house, 
 where, by the way, no family is now living, the woman having gone 
 east because it was so lonely, though she had neighbors somewhere 
 up the river; still she was so far away as to be out of the world. The 
 lady here came two years ayo; the one who left two Aveeks ago, had 
 been here four j-ears, and never been out once; but she got a fashion 
 paper once a week, anr\ how she felt when she reached the railroad 
 nobody will proljably ever know. 
 
 •'Of course we have Indians ;' have them till you can't rest,' and 
 there are plenty of people who think they would be happy if they 
 could see Indians on their ' native heath,' see how they dress, how 
 their clothes are put together, what the}^ do when they get up in the 
 morning, how long they wait for breakfast, and what ihej have to 
 eat and how they eat it, how the insides of their dwellings look, what 
 kind of society they have, and how they employ and enjoy themselves 
 generally. Yes, it would be so interesting to know them, that is when 
 you don't know them; but after you do know them and things are not 
 as 3'ou tnink they might be, a change comes, it is lonelj-, so lonely; if 
 it is a young lad}^ perhaps with a laddie, not unnatural!}^ may she 
 view the tlrawing in of night over the grand scenery, while the river 
 roars like the ever moaning ocean, and she looks with misty eyes 
 towards the vanishing gap in the range. 
 
 "It is but a little over two hundred miles straight to Greeley, a dis- 
 tance made by the cars, if we had them, in seven hours, but this 
 letter say leaving here Mondaj* mornmg will not reach you till Sun- 
 day afternoon. An answer cannot start till the next week. So that 
 three weeks are required for a return letter from East Colorado. 
 However it is only when we stop to think that loneliness appears, for 
 we have enough to do to keep busy all day long." 
 
 June 17, 1878, lie writes a very funny letter about Indian ladies, 
 
 21
 
 322 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 how they dress, how they jiaek the horses when they are going ou a 
 hunt, and how the men in general look on. 
 
 He came back to Greeley in July and returns with J. S. Titcomb to 
 survey an irrigating ditch. Mrs. Meeker and Josephine had gone on 
 a week ahead with W. S. Fullertou. He was not going to be lonely 
 any more. Yet this was a great undertaking for a woman so frail as 
 Mrs. Meeker. Josephine went to teach the young Indians if forsooth 
 their parents could be induced to send. The most were too proud, 
 and her school was mostly orphans. The Indians were afraid that 
 education was one of the steps towards their degradation, of the 
 white man, who has to work for a living. Of itself it required a cer- 
 tain application most irksome to the wild nature. 
 
 Mr. Meeker had been looking the ground over and had concluded 
 to move the agency buildings some twenty miles lower down the river 
 where he found some land suitable for cultivation, and for the irriga- 
 tion of which he was going to take out a ditch. For all these things 
 he needed some G-reeley boys. Fullerton, besides being a farmer was 
 also a stone mason and plasterer. Ed. Clark took through a party 
 from here reaching the Agency August 6th. Titcomb reported that 
 he found a good route for the ditch which was to be built two and a 
 half miles long. The Greeley boys went to move the buildings and 
 superintend the building of the ditch. Fullerton and he made a 
 journey among the mountains to hunt coal, limestone, etc., about 
 which there is a two-column letter in The Tribune. They made valu- 
 able mineral finds. 
 
 For The Tribune of September 25tli he finds time to wTite an 
 article on finance, and like all men of that date badly in debt, is fav^- 
 orable to the Greenback party then coming into prominence in 
 Greeley, and embraced by some of our ablest and most earnest men. 
 The talents, enthusiasm and fidelity of those who embraced this 
 financial delusion in Greeley, gave it a life amongst us more vigorous 
 and enduring than it had probably in an}' place of its size in the 
 Union. TJie Rocky Mountain, Hoivitzer, edited here by Mr. Messinger, 
 was for a long time the organ of the party and it survived after the 
 cause was dead nearly everywhere else in the state. At last it ex- 
 pired only about a year ago of sheer inanition. 
 
 Perhaps its ablest advocate here was A. J. Wilber who not only 
 gave much time and ability to the cause, but did a thing most extra- 
 ordinary for him in the support of any cause— gave $100 cash to 
 carry on the campaign when his friend Jos. Murray was running for 
 Congress ou this ticket. Without doubt it was through his Greeley 
 friends, especially A. J. Wilber, Captain Hogarty and Samuel Graham,
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 323 
 
 that Mr. Murray was led to enter the ranks of which he soon became the 
 leader. He had left Greeley in 1872 and from hence had his head- 
 quarters at Fort Collins, but he was always at heart more firmly con- 
 nected with Greeley. He used to say after he became a widely known 
 orator that he learned his art at our mass meetings and lyceums of the 
 early days. He remained long- with the party in all the Protean forms, 
 and various names it assumed, but at last he became weary of drag- 
 ging its dead carcass after him and went back to his early love and 
 campaigned for Harrison and protection to the great scandal of a few 
 who still languidly lingered in the Greenback ranks. He is now en- 
 joying his reward as " King " of the Seal islands in Alaska, where he 
 will have a chance to worry his old enemy, the British lion, in whose 
 dominions he passed his pinched and suffering youth. 
 
 And here we must tell one anecdote which Mr. Murray tells of him- 
 self connected with our early history and the bad odor we had among 
 the "heathen around about us." Diu-ing the summer of 1871 he was 
 engaged freighting to Colorado Springs, then building and growing 
 as we had done the year before. When asked where he was from, un- 
 like most of his countrymen, he said he was from " Ireland " that was 
 so much more respectable than to hail from Greeley. 
 
 But to return to Mr. Meeker at the White River Agency. In The 
 Tribune for October 2nd we have from him a three-column article on 
 " Industry among the Indians." He shows how hard and poorly paid 
 labor Indian hunting is and speaks of their " State Fairs," which is 
 being interpreted " horse racing." Here are some of the finer traits 
 he finds in the Indians. He is beginning to like them better but his 
 love is not destined to be lasting. 
 
 " The women are modest, chaste, retiring and of course industrious. 
 There are but two or three half-breed children here. The men love 
 and protect their wives as much as civilized men. I think it true that 
 the women have fully as much influence with the men as white women. 
 They seem to be low-down and overworked, but this is only apparent. 
 They are respected and loved, and when they get together and talk 
 and complain, they are certain to bring an influence to bear on the 
 men, and keep them up to a proper state of raspiness. 
 
 " The children are remarkaljly obedient, always doing as they are 
 bid, and quickly too, and their parents have great affection for them. 
 The whip is seldom or never used, and their obedience may be 
 ascribed to this fact, or, possibly to their being bid to do only what 
 will please them. Certainly the children are neither stul>born nor 
 wilful. 
 
 " Indians delight in music, and they have ' concerts ' at least twice a
 
 324 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 week. Recently they came up in full force and gave us a grand treat 
 in the way of music and dancing. There is a drum standing on four 
 legs with little flags above. Five or six sit around it, and with sticks 
 covered with i-ags they strike the drum with a most regular beat, this 
 being of two notes, one a little longer than the other. Then a dozen 
 or more 3'oung men form a circle and dance by rising on their heels 
 and toes alternately, and also on their knees and hips, while they bend 
 forwards slightly and at the same time they sing the two notes of the 
 drum — and they do not move from their tracks. When they get 
 through they yelp like a coj'ote and sit down to rest. Women never 
 dance, which may seem strange, but the reason why they do not is 
 probably because they would like to, but sometimes they sing and 
 pretty well, too. Once or. twice they sang a short air that had real 
 melody, but it did not last long, as might be expected. We took great 
 pleasure in seeing the dance, bacause they showed equal progress in 
 this with white people, and both feel that they can never be happier 
 or more admired. 
 
 " Two young men have hired out to work on the farm, being paid 
 fifteen dollars a month and board. It is necessary to treat them care- 
 fully, for fear they may explode and go off. Besides they are clothed 
 in good garments, for with their blankets dragging around them, as 
 if the}^ were Jewish patriarchs, or Roman senators, they could do no 
 Avork. Others will be hired as they can bear it, but great caution is 
 required. It is the fixed determination of the Indian department 
 to refuse the raiions and everij kind of supplies unless they icork. 
 (Italics ours). Accordingly a large breadth of land will be put in cultiva- 
 tion next year, and everything in shape so that they can work. It is the 
 impression that when the time comes, and they are shown the shovel and 
 the hoe and given to understand what they must do, the scene will be 
 as well worth viewing as a grand circus; and the opinion has been 
 expressed that it will he well to stand a little to one side." 
 
 From the above it will be seen that Mr. Meeker was only carrying 
 out the instructions of the Interior Department in setting the Indians 
 to work, and that he f ally understood the delicacy and danger of the 
 undertaking. To be sure he had entered on this mission with the full 
 belief that the thing could be accomplished. In a later article he 
 said that there were four main divisions of the Utes, and that one 
 of them in Utah was agricultural and industrial, and there was no 
 reason why the rest should not be if the thing Avas properly managed. 
 But apprehending as he now did the dangers of the attempt at trans- 
 forming the life of the Indian into an industrial one it is unfortunate 
 that he did not insist on the government's sending troops earlier to
 
 THE UXIOX COLONY OF COLORADO. 325 
 
 enforce the new system before the Indians had become exasperated 
 by a series of futile attempts. What the function of the army ought 
 to be in this matter Mr. Meeker sets forth in a subsequent article re- 
 viewing a proposition then in Congress to turn the Indians over to the 
 army. But we must here quote farther from this letter where it 
 speaks of the Indian Johnson and his wife Susan, the latter having 
 fully vindicated the high opinion that Mr. Meeker here records of 
 her, when afterwards Mrs. Meeker and Josephine were captives in the 
 hands of the Indians. 
 
 " Some of them planted potatoes last spring, and the one who is 
 making most of them is Johnson, a considerable chief, and one who 
 takes the lead in progress and enterprise. He is not given to politics 
 at ail — by the Avay, thej' have parties as well as anybodv, but there is 
 neither space nor desire to tell about them — and he devotes his ener- 
 gies to improving his domestic affairs. He has three coavs from which 
 he has milk, butter and cheese; and poultry and goats. A table has 
 been made for him at which he and his eat; he has crockery, 
 dishes, and if he had a house lie would probabl}- make things shine. 
 Susan, Johnson's wife, is a good genius. She is a large, handsome 
 woman, reminding one of that Boston lady, Louise Chandler Moul- 
 ton ; she has dignity and good sense, and she makes her husband do 
 as she bids. Her dress is of the finest buckskin ornamented with 
 elaborate fringes and bead-work, costing fully as much as a good silk 
 dress. 
 
 " When Johnson dug his potatoes he hired his retainers, fifteen or 
 twenty women and children, gi\"ing them about half a bushel a day 
 for their work, and they made an interesting sight. He was busy 
 among them to see that they did their work well, and he helped to 
 sack. During much of the time he smoked cigarettes like a first-class 
 business man, but once or twice he got tired and lay down on the 
 ground, back up, and slept awhile, and was up and Ijus}- again. He 
 wore a bottle green flannel shirt, buckskin leggings and moccasins, 
 and a blanket strapped around his middle so as to form a sort of short 
 petticoat. His plug hat was by the fence because he had work to do. 
 His face was painted, first with crimson streaks on his forehead as 
 brilliant as the rays of an autumnal setting sun, and then there was 
 a band of bright yellow an inch wide, commencing at his left eye- 
 brow, and apparently running across his eye, then running diagonally 
 across his nose to the right corner of his mouth. On each cheek were 
 three short, bright bands of red, yellow and ))lue. 
 
 " His crop of potatoes amounts to al^out fort 3- bushels, of which he 
 has sold half at the rate of two dollars a bushel cash. The vield has
 
 326 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 been first rate, though the area planted was small, and it' looks as if 
 next year a good many more will be planted. They like potatoes so 
 well that they eat them raw, but they are so fastidious as to pare 
 them. 
 
 " Johnson has his troubles like all great men. and this in regard to 
 one of his mves, whom he found it necessary to whip, but as to the 
 cause let there be silence. You see Johnson is one of those men who 
 lead from the savage to the barbaric life on the way to civilization. 
 He is not quite as far advanced as Cedric, the Saxon, the master of 
 Garth, in Scott's Ivanhoe, but he is probably equal to the best among 
 the British chiefs who tried to withstand the invasion of Julius 
 Caesar." 
 
 The next article in The Tribune we shall consider is the one we 
 spoke of above relating to turning the Indians over to the army. 
 
 " There is no subject more difficult or more perplexing than how 
 best to treat the Indians, for the attempt that is all the time being 
 made to ci\'iMze them and to remove them from the condition in which 
 they are paupers to one in which they can be self-sustaining, has in a 
 great degree failed. The question then is, really, whether the army 
 will do any better, that is whether army oflBcers have more qualities 
 for carrying out civilization than civilians. 
 
 " If civilization is the main object it seems to me that army officers 
 would have a great advantage in bringing the Indians into industrious 
 habits, because they can use force, that is, if an Indian refused to 
 plow, etc., a detachment of soldiers could bring him up to the field 
 and set him at it. I judge that almost every other plan has failed, 
 and as this is the only one left untried, this will succeed if anything 
 can. It seems to me that by furnishing rations to the Indians they 
 see no necessity for working, and as they do not know how to work 
 they will not set about it. * * The army, if put in charge, 
 could make them toe the mark, and those who know the Indians best 
 would be glad to see it done. 
 
 " But work is not all that is required to civilize. There is the great 
 subject of the social relations, involving religious instructions, educa- 
 tion, habits of the famil}' and household, all of these are connected 
 with work, in fact they are all inseparable, and these the army must 
 take hold of — must teach the women to live in houses, to cut gar- 
 ments, to sew, to make bread, wash dishes, clean, make butter, keep 
 the children in order, ' and above all estabhsh family discipline, but 
 the idea of this is so absurd, being entirely out of the line of soldiers, 
 that it looks as if the army must either enlarge its capabilities or con- 
 fine itself simply to keeping the Indians alive, and let civilization alone.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 327 
 
 " But leaving the domestic relations out of consideration, can the sol- 
 diers teach the Indians farming ? Those who understand farming have 
 spent years in learning it. Certainly army officers were never taught 
 an}' kind of rural industry at West Point, and nobody supposes that 
 officers or soldiers have any qualities, either theoretical or practical, 
 by which they can teach anybody to farm. Probably there is 
 not a single instance of the officers of any military post in this 
 country raising any kind of food supplies or even forage, even though 
 the}' have time and opportunity; and everything has been haided to 
 them vast distances and at enormous expense. 
 
 " Besides it is well known that wherever there is a militarj^ post 
 there is a sutler's store where whisky can be had, and that a large per 
 cent, of the soldiers will get drunk, for they are recruited as a general 
 thing, from that class in the community which is without morals or 
 enterprise or industry ; hence the plan before Congress proposes that 
 a body of men shall undertake to civilize^ while they need to be civil- 
 ized themselves." 
 
 Another important consideration which he mentions at length, is 
 the social evils likely to arise from a large number of unmarried men 
 of low morals being brought into close relations with Indian women. 
 He concludes this important article thus : 
 
 " But it does look as if an army, or say regiment, might be got 
 tgeether of really capable men, picked out here and there among 
 farmers and mechanics, men of industry, of culture, and of honest 
 religious convictions, who, after being thoroughly drilled and disci- 
 plined, would be able to solve the Indian question in the most satis- 
 factory manner. But the same thing may be said of communism, for 
 there is no difficulty in establishing a community of property in which 
 esvery one shall have his rights, and a heaven on earth will be built up 
 if you can pick out here and there the right kind of men. Alas, the 
 men will not enlist." 
 
 The above explains why Mr. Meeker came back here to pick his 
 men, young farmers and mechanics, out of good families, and if he 
 had had enough of them and had had them well drilled and disci- 
 phned and armed and a good fort built, there would have been no 
 massacre. Still, it would have been hard to hold these young men, 
 and few of the right kind could have been induced to enlist for five 
 years, a time none too long to bring forth any valuable or permanent 
 results. But our boys had to work instead of drill, and no precaution 
 seems to have been taken for self-defense in case of an outbreak. 
 Had Mr. Meeker combined in himself the military character and 
 ability with the civilian, he and our boys would not have been so help-
 
 328 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 less victims at the mercy of enraged savages. But it must be remem- 
 bered that Mr. Meeker had no authority to do otherwise than he did, 
 and he must not be blamed as if he were the autocrat of his little 
 band of civilizers. 
 
 Ed. Clark came back to Greeley about the beginning of October by , 
 way of Middle Park, and took back with him Albert Woodbury the 
 same way. 
 
 They started from Boulder on the 15th of October and were eight 
 days on the road encountering severe snowstorms and blizzards, often 
 sleeiDing out without shelter while the snow was falling. Albert 
 Woodbury went out as blacksmith. Fullerton and his brother were 
 about to engage in the stone mason business for the agency. 
 
 In The Tribune for December 11, 1878, we have from Mr. Meeker a 
 most characteristic letter, and although it has nothing directly con- 
 nected with this history, it is well worthy of preservation on account 
 of its grajDhic portrayal of Indian customs and manners. It is headed 
 " Woman, the Natural Savage." 
 
 After a long observation of the Indian life and character com- 
 menced 3'ears ago and latterly continued day after day and month 
 after month, the conclusion has been reached that it is the woman who 
 opposes every step made by the government towards civilization — 
 that she is the master and that her husband is the slave. Perhaps 
 the reader will come to the same conclusion from the following 
 facts. 
 
 Then follows some speculations as to what was the compact be- 
 tween the man and his wife in primitive human society; but this 
 original compact in which the man had his full share in the hardsliips 
 of the human lot has been changed by the issue of government 
 rations, lai-gely relieving the man, while the woman has as laborious 
 a life as before. 
 
 "'■ Each day as the sun descends, she and her davighters come into 
 the village from the timbered valleys loaded with firewood — the load 
 weighing from twenty to one hundred pounds; she rises first in the 
 morning, and builds the fire and prepares the breakfast, in some cases 
 cooked better than many white women cook ; as soon as this is over 
 she is out in the sun stretching or dressing buckskin or buffalo hides, 
 or stroking down beaver or otter skins, or cuttmg out garments, or 
 sewing or ornamenting them with bead work or embroidery, often in 
 a neat artistic manner, with symmetrically flowing lines, and except in 
 rare cases she has no idle hours. The truth is, an Indian villiage is, 
 so far as the women are concerned, as full of active industry as any 
 factory village of New England. Meanwhile the men have nothing to
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 329 
 
 do. The young- men often lie sleeping as late as ten or eleven o'clock 
 in the morning, and when they get up and stretch, possibly wash them- 
 selves, they go to the camp kettle for meat and to the frying pan or 
 bake-kettle for bread, wasliing it down with weak coffee. After that 
 they sit around in the shade or by the fire with their companions, 
 smoking cigarettes and enjojn ng themselves fully as much as young 
 men at Newport or Saratoga. If there is to l^e a dance they call on 
 their mothers for their best clothes, consisting of all sorts of buck- 
 skins straps, leggings that barely reach the hips — adorned around the 
 bottoms and along the sides with buckskin fringe more elaborate and 
 complicated than the fringes of the finest lady in the world ; a Ijlanket 
 is strapped around the middle to cover the buff that of necessity 
 would be exposed, and then comes a calico or flannel shirt, and per- 
 haps over this a buckskin coat fringed to death. The mother's tailoring 
 seems never to have aimed at making the leggings fit any part of the 
 body above the hips. Accordingh' a strip of ])uckskin, or of red flan- 
 nel, three inches broad, and often two feet long, hangs down between 
 the legs both behind and before, and the gift by the government of 
 pantaloons does not help the matter, for these are worn onl}^ on rare 
 occasions, or they are cut off so as to make leggings, the body part 
 being thrown away, or converted to other uses, and therefore every 
 Indian in full dress exposes the native buff on and around the hips, 
 though never to such an extent as may be suspected. 
 
 " Now the women dress in every way modestly, consisting of a full 
 gown, though there is always an opening of six or eight inches long 
 under the arms, exposing the buff when the arm is raised, which is 
 seldom — an arrangement apparent!}^ devised for nursing mothers. 
 Said gown reaches to the ankles, while there are buckskin leggings, 
 often combined with the moccasins — a garment extremely well suited 
 fo^ riding on horseback, man-fashion. A shirt is generally worn, but 
 it is of the same fashion as a man's. Modestj- and propriety of dress 
 being so highly characteristic of the Indian woman, not the least at- 
 tempt being made at showing off any of the bodily charms, it is cer- 
 tainly a matter of suriDrise, and even of speculation, that she should 
 have adopted, and should keep up, the style of men's garments, lead- 
 ing to exposure, and also one would think to great discomfort on ac- 
 count of cold. But it is true that nothing is more diflicult than re- 
 form in this respect. 
 
 " When weekly rations are issued by the government, at tlie agenc}'', 
 all the women come in riding on horseback, and after the cross for a sig- 
 nature is made they seize the supplies with eagerness, getting all they 
 can, and if a mistake is ever made in their favor they will hide it if
 
 330 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 possible. Such a thing as being honest with the agent never enters 
 their heads. They pack the flour, sugar, etc., on their horses in an ex- 
 peditious and worknianhke manner, while the men dressed in all the 
 finery they possess, particularly the young men, sit around on their 
 horses, admiring and passive spectators, nor have I ever, except in ex- 
 treme emergency, seen a man assist a woman to load her horse, or 
 help her in any of her labors. The consequence and outcome of this 
 is that the Indian women are as active, as energetic and as keen and 
 observing as a human being can well become. Her muscles are solid 
 and wiry, her body is strung together as firmly and as harmoniously 
 as a newly tuned piano. Whatever she has learned she is perfect in; 
 she has no doubts, no hesitation ; and whatever work she has in hand 
 is performed with the energy and enthusiasm of a nimble mechanic 
 working by the job with the expectation of making ten dollars a day. 
 Thus it is that the mind of the Indian woman is the master mind, and 
 there is no greater mistake than that which seems deeply rooted, that 
 she is the slave and her husband the master, for the contrary is the 
 truth. She being the worker is the master, the same as it is the world 
 over, and in all conditions and ages — the true worker being the master 
 whatever may be the outward appearances. * * * * 
 
 " This matter requires some deeper investigation, so do you try to 
 carry out any measure with the Indian men, except by a power back 
 of yoti, or in you, without consulting the Indian woman, and see how 
 you will come out; or even consult the women and you will find them 
 immovable. The case is this. They know as if by instinct, that the 
 worker is the master, and they are utterly opposed to the men work- 
 ing, and utterly opposed to any change in any respect that shall tend 
 to an abridgment of their power. The Indian man is their subject, 
 their necessary instrument. He can hunt for them, he can defend 
 them and their children the same as a dog, and he is allowed to; and 
 his wishes are consulted, for here come in love and affection always 
 and everywhere most powerful; but when he proposes to share her 
 laljors, in other words to divide her throne, she rebels — in fact he dare 
 not make the attempt. We have had plenty instances of this in 
 young men induced to work and wear white men's clothes— since it 
 is folly to undertake any kind of work in the garments of a Roman 
 senator — and the result being that they go back in a short time to 
 their buckskin and leggings, for they cannot stand the jibes and 
 sneers and ridicule of the women; for say what we may, every man 
 is controlled by the opinion of at least one woman. It is only by 
 tremendous pressure and power that the women wiU consent to have 
 their children go to school^n fact they never do consent, and the
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 331 
 
 only pupils are motherless children whom no one will care for; yet 
 even of these the great majority are cared for, rather than let them 
 fall into the hands of a white teacher, and be dressed in nice clean 
 clothes and eat with a knife and fork. Several young men or large 
 boys attended school one winter and learned to read and WTite a little, 
 and they became quite a show; but they would neither cut wood for 
 their own fires, nor bring water to drink, and the white employes did 
 it, and one of them learned so much of the blacksmith's trade as to 
 forge a key with which the gang entered tlie store-room and stole 
 several dozen canned fruit and helped themselves to cakes and pies. 
 Long ago they went back to the tribe, and to this day they laugh at 
 the education they acquired. 
 
 "Deeper observation leads to the heart and core of the great diffi- 
 culty that lies in the way of Indian civilization, and indeed of all 
 human progress, and this is the blind tenderness which the mother 
 feels for her children. An Indian child, or at least boy, must never 
 be whipped — the mother can't stand it, and she will not. It is true 
 she herself will knock the youngsters around, and she can scold " till 
 all is blue;" probably she swears, but when the father takes a boy in 
 hand to make him perform any service out of prescribed or long es- 
 tablished custom, which of course, must be approved by the woman — 
 there is trouble in the camp. Thus what we know as discipline or 
 training cannot exist among the Indians, the mother's bhnd tender- 
 ness forbids; and so one has a condition in which the maternal 
 instinct, short-sighted and foohsh, is imited with energy and force 
 that is derived from unremitted labor, and this in the woman becomes 
 the master, while effeminacy, affection and idleness combine to make 
 the man in all things regarding progress and elevation a slave. 
 Therefore, woman, in the Indian social state, is the natural savage." 
 
 Then we have more about " Johnson," some of which is a repetition 
 of what we have had before. He says that he is studying his charac- 
 ter, and thinks that he is on the way to independence or rather to 
 emancipation. " And the last proof of this, shocking as it may seem, 
 is that he has whipped one of his wives, and when she ran away with 
 another man and finally for some reason came back, he whipped her 
 again, and now all is peace. Whether such a man can, during his 
 hfe, become truly civilized, is extremely doubtful, because he is fond 
 of painting his face in all the gorgeous colors of the setting sun; he 
 disdains trousers, and his appetite is so enormous he wants a dozen 
 meals a day. A good-sized potato makes only a mouthful, biscuit 
 ditto. He runs horses twenty times a day, and he is still afraidfto 
 send his children to school. But he has the true grit of a business
 
 332 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 and progressive man, for besides being a practicing physician, putting 
 money and buckskin in his pocket, he has raised a fine lot of potatoes. 
 He has perhaps a hundred horses well cared for, and he intends to go 
 ahead. 
 
 " So standing as if among ancient Britons, or the Germans, who, as 
 Tacitus relates, were subject to their women, one cannot help seeing 
 that the only road from the savage to the civilized state is first by the 
 elevation and emancipation of the men, making them in some respects 
 equal, and in others superior to the women, by reason of assuming 
 new duties and labors, the two sexes working in harmony. The great- 
 est progress in this direction has been defined as civilization. But 
 there remains a vast field of operation in which the woman and the 
 man shall engage yet more seriously, energetically and harmoniously 
 together seeking a common happiness and destiny. This social con- 
 dition is for the future. 
 
 " Finally it is to be said that extensive plans are in operation to 
 change all this into the hopes that the Indian may become self-reliant 
 and self-sustaining. If success shall follow, you shall have accounts 
 of the same in due season, but if failure ensues nothing need l)e 
 said, as when a ship is lost at sea no word comes any more." 
 
 Here we see plainly that Mr. Meeker understood quite well the 
 nature of the arduous task that he was undertaking, and that his fore- 
 boding of disaster was stronger than his hope of success. In less 
 than a year his bark with himself and nearly all the crew went down 
 in tempest and raging waves. His whole reasoning on the matter 
 went to teach him that races can only be civilized slowly, but he had 
 a hope that a beginning could be made — a foundation laid upon which 
 others might build. 
 
 He writes for TJiS Tribune again, November 28, 1878, from the 
 agency : 
 
 " Meanwhile about twenty-five Indians, with Douglas, the chief of the 
 tribe, at their head, have been engaged now five weeks in digging the 
 irrigating canal. They have completed about a mile six to ten feet wide, 
 and the work is as neatly done as you ever saw. It would make quite 
 a history to tell how a commencement was made on them to get them 
 to work; they never having worked before, how they despised the 
 notion, how they wanted no land, and, as the boy says, " no nothing." 
 But finally they came around, proper inducements being presented, 
 and they have worked steadily and well. U. M. Curtis, well known 
 in this region and about Denver, a first-rate interpreter, was largely 
 instrumental in getting them in this frame of mind, and now they 
 want land to work next vear, and have horses and wagons and
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 333 
 
 harness, and they mean to raise watermelons as big as they can lift, 
 all of which is as fine as can be, and it is to be hoped that they will 
 hold out faithfid to the end. 
 
 "All the Greeley boys are well. They have built themselves a good 
 big house, of which they are masters and mistresses. Clark and 
 Dresser are up the river starting a lumber camp, preparatory to a big 
 drive next spring. Fullerton Brothers are a little in the stone-mason 
 hne. Mansfield and Dunbaugh are building bridges and roads, and 
 the new blacksmith. Woodbury, holds the institution together with 
 his expert iron work, being liked by the Indians as a pleasant young 
 man and a quick workman on guns and such." All of which shows 
 what good work the Greeley boys were doing, and how soon they 
 would have transformed everything, and what a fine beginning was 
 being made on the road to the new order of things. 
 
 A we?k later we have the winding up of the season's work in these 
 graphic words : 
 
 "After long arguments and explanations with one party of these 
 Indians, they finally agreed to go to work on the irrigating canal at 
 fifteen dollars a month and double rations. 
 
 "When this was accomplished the other party raised a howl; they 
 declared that the money to be paid was theirs anyhow; that white men 
 were the ones to do the job, and that it was beneath the dignity of an 
 Indian to work, nor did the ti-eatj^ call for any such thing; and now 
 if that other party was going to work, they would be disgraced for- 
 ever in the e3'es of the rest, particularly in the eyes of all the females. 
 So the plan failed — there seemed no chance to do a thing; but upon 
 the advice of Mr. Curtis, Sowerick, a chief, who was the head of this 
 opposition, was sent for and he came — grand as the King of the Isles. 
 Then Sowerick was told by .the agent what he had been doing, and 
 that the Commissioner would be ^vritten to, showing up his conduct, 
 and that if any more opposition was had from him there would be 
 trouble — lots of it. 
 
 " Upon this Sowerick wilted; he said they might go to work and he 
 would not object in any manner. Another chief, Jack, belonging to 
 the same party, and equally violent, kept out of the way meanwhile, 
 but soon came around and said if the Commissioner would write him 
 a letter, telling him to dig the ditch, he would put on his band and 
 do it. He was told the season was so late no letter could be had. 
 Then he said he must have some of the money, but he was assured 
 that he would not have a nickel unless he worked. So he pulled out 
 and went to Bear river, where he has been camping ever since. 
 Sowerick went twenty miles down the river with his wife, lodge, and
 
 334 A HISTORT OF GREELEY AND 
 
 ninety horses, and when he came back to the agency he went around 
 to where the Indians were to work, and never once showed himself. 
 So these two chiefs were bluffed off, instead of their bluffing others, 
 as has been their practice. For whenever a poor little Indian at- 
 tempted to work they would shame him out of it, and not one could 
 be got to do any kind of work for love or money. 
 
 " The other party having Douglas, the chief of the whole tribe, at 
 their head went to work, being twenty-five in number. A regular 
 boarding house, in a tent, was established and, as the weather was 
 favorable, they worked every day — moderately at first, then faithfully, 
 and as they continually made progress and conld see what they were 
 doing, they became encouraged and held out faithfully to the end — 
 which means frozen ground. The cook was Mary, the wife of one of 
 the workers who got as much pay as any of the rest, and she is quite 
 a fair workman. They had plenty of beef which was cooked in a 
 large camp kettle; they had potatoes, dried apples, and coffee, and 
 some of the time butter. When they eat, tin plates are in a circle on 
 the ground, and the comj)auy sits down to enjoy their food earned by 
 the sweat of their brow. 
 
 " All this time Curtis encouraged them, he ate with them and had 
 his tent among them where he slept, and in work he was with them 
 all the day long. He had made a triangular frame of two-by-eight 
 joist, fourteen feet long, set on edge, and six feet wide at the base, 
 and when the oxen plowed four furrows, his machine came after, and 
 threw out the dirt, leaving after two rounds quite a little ditch. Then 
 the Indians took hold with their shovels, and a little more plowing 
 was done and the Indians shoveled, and soon a ditch six feet wide and 
 fifteen inches deep was made rapidly. But then came deep cuts 
 where the machine could not be used, and hard ground like cement, 
 where only the mattock and pickax could make impression, and 
 boulder beds that had to be patiently mined so to speak. So that in 
 digging a ditch of any extent of average ground it is as hard work as 
 in traveling the road to wealth or felicity. But these Indians were 
 faithful, though their arms and back grew lame, and they got colds 
 from being sweaty and then resting, and i^robably sleeping soundly 
 at night without waking to get more covering. On the 28th of Novem- 
 ber they finished 5,4:00 feet of as nice a looking ditch as was ever 
 made — when the water was let in along the whole line, pouring out 
 at the end in a beautiful stream, all correct, thanks to Titcomb, the 
 engineer. Well, now these Indians are proud, for they know what it 
 all means, and they are going to have farms next year, and to raise
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 335 
 
 corn aud oats, and to have wagons and harness, so that clearly enough 
 the (work) party has gained a great victory." 
 
 So hopefully ends the year and the first experiment a great success. 
 There is but httle doubt that things would have gone on satisfactorily 
 had it not been for the pride of the Indian noblemen — the chiefs— as 
 we shall see, and perhaps we may add the women who are as con- 
 servative of ancient customs as are the privileged class. 
 
 Mr. Meeker finds time during the winter to discuss the mysteries of 
 money where we will not follow him, but we hear a hopeful account 
 of his wards in his article in The Tribune for April 16, 1879. It is 
 headed " Will the Indians Work ? " 
 
 It starts out with the way m which Indians bury their dead, which is 
 here and there, wherever they happen to die— there being no grave- 
 yards and no thought of the burying place afterwards. Then we 
 have an attack on the sentimental writers about Indian affairs. 
 Cooper & Co. " I wish these sentimental scribblers could live a few 
 months among genuine Indians, and by the time they got covered 
 with lice and fleas aud have seen how the finest land under the sun is 
 held in contempt for the jDurpose for which it was made, they would 
 get new notions. 
 
 " And yet after all, it is actually strange that there are so many 
 things in common between the Indians and fashionable people, for 
 both think labor a disgrace, both pass their days in frivolous amuse- 
 ments, both dearly love horse-racing, dancing, and discordant music, 
 and both live on the labor of other people. But this parallel ceases 
 when you throw a fashionable family on its own resources — make them 
 poor as people well can be, and ten to one but their children will meet 
 the reverse with fortitude, and go out manfully into the world making 
 their fortune, which they are quite likely to do, and be all the better 
 for it. This is because they are the genuine heirs and successors of a 
 long line of working families; they are filled with vital force and 
 nervous energy, and cannot die for generations, perhaps for centuries 
 to come. But the Indian has no such qualities; and now because 
 he has not, the sentimentalists of the East declare that he is robbed 
 of his lands and that his fathers' graves are desecrated. By the way, 
 I should like to know where are the lands that belonged to my fore- 
 fathers, and why they should not be given up to the rightful heir. 
 
 " Millions on millions of money have been spent in clothing and 
 feeding the Indipa and only faint efforts have been made in making 
 him self-supporting. * * 
 
 " All this is a solemn and awful truth, and if we had congressmen 
 and rulers who would investigate as they should there would be a
 
 336 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 diiferent storj' to tell about Indian civilization. Some may think this 
 opinion a wild one, but let us have solid facts. There are four agencies 
 where the Utes are cared for— three in Colorado and one in Utah. At 
 the three former the Indians have never done any work, no land has 
 been put in cultivation, in fact no progress has been made; but at 
 Uintah, the greater portion of the Indians have farms, they have 
 plenty of all kinds of grain and vegetables, and they may be said to 
 be entirely self-supporting. It is true they are backward in education 
 and they will be till, having settled down as a working people, they 
 come to understand that knowledge is power. At any rate there is a 
 vast difference between them and other Utes, and to-day, flour, oats, 
 corn, chickens and eggs can be "bought of them fully as cheap as 
 these articles can be bought in Central Illinois. Of course the agent 
 they had went to work and drove the fashionable nonsense out of 
 them about labor being disgraceful. 
 
 "A great mistake was made at an early day, in supposing the 
 Indians capable of civilization equally with the whites, and only in 
 isolated cases has it been corrected. Early New England settlers 
 took the ground that the Indians were a species of devils, and the 
 first thing to do was to convert him and make a Christian of him. 
 My maternal ancestor, John Elhott, called the Indian apostle, trans- 
 lated the New Testament into the Narragansett tongue, and probably 
 no Indian ever read a chapter of it, but he worked faithfully in this 
 direction while so totally ignorant of common affairs that one time 
 his wife asked whose cows those were in tlie road, to which he ans- 
 ■wered he did not know; so she told him that they were his own. 
 
 " Farther, it is a fact that Harvard University was founded for the 
 especial purpose of educating Indians for the ministry, and when 
 only one graduated and he died of consumption shortly after, and 
 the rest died of the same disease before graduating, the plan was 
 given up. The proper course to pursue was to teach them to engage in 
 common industries, and then a basis would have been laid for their ed- 
 ucation and improvement; for it is only upon rural life and its duties 
 and cares that civilization and Christianity can rest, and if I were 
 going to start a new religion I would make this the first article of the 
 creed.'' 
 
 He then gives his experience in working the Indians, already re- 
 lated, and adds : 
 
 " Treated as if they were children, for they are little more, and en- 
 tirely dropping the notion of their awful poetic chaf-acter, and the 
 sacredness of the land of their fathers; in short, coming down to the 
 common sense of things, and in a few years they are boimd to become
 
 |illlii]lll!|!iillimi!i!llll|iliilljllllll|imilll|lllllllll||M^
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 337 
 
 as decent human beings as the average of us. But if an agent comes 
 out with the idea that he is to have charge of a company of cherubs 
 who are too good to earn their hving in the way laid out before the 
 foundation of the world, and that all he has to do is to hand out 
 government gifts and draw his pay once a quarter, he will come to 
 the conclusion that the Indian won't work, that his native wildness 
 never can be got out of him, and that the best thing to do is to let 
 him be gradually crowded out and become extinct." 
 
 With the knowledge of what follov/ed, it is easy to say that Mr. 
 Meeker was crowing Ijefore he got out of the woods, and that instead 
 of being making, as he thought, a bee line for the open country, he 
 was only gliding around in a delusive circle. But on the whole was 
 he not reasoning soundly from the data before him ? Was he not 
 forecasting the future as well as it is given man to judge of the ac- 
 tions of men in advance, since these are so capricious and incalcul- 
 able ? Much had been accomplished by the small force at Mr. Meeker's 
 disposal. Twenty miles of wagon road had been built over a most 
 difficult mountain route, where blasting had frequently to be done, from 
 the old agency to the site of the new. Some 100,000 feet of lumber 
 were in the log, cut in the winter and ready to be floated when the 
 river should rise. Coal had been discovered near, and a bank opened 
 up aud worked and all things seemed most promising, but in a short 
 time trouble l^egius. From a letter dated April 21st, published in The 
 Tribune, we quote : 
 
 " We have an eighty-acre field fenced in, and somehow Douglas, the 
 chief, got the idea that it v/as his field, and accordingly he began to 
 direct what was to be planted, when it was to be done, and who was 
 to have the crops. W^hen the adverse or democrat party of the In- 
 dians saw how pi'oud he was of his possession, they told him he did 
 not owm a foot of it, aud that he was making a fool of himself. Then 
 he Avanted to know of the agent whose field it v/as, and was told that 
 it belonged to the government and was for the benefit of the Utes, 
 one as much as another. Then he got mad and told his retainers not 
 to work any more. Some fifteen or twenty had been at work pretty 
 steadily at fifty cents a day and extra rations, but they all knocked oft' 
 and would not do another lick. Still Douglas came around every day, 
 and one day he made a great speech; he was a poor man now, he 
 would go oft' hunting and they would all live as before — long time ago. 
 ' W^ell, go.' said the agent, ' but you'll get no more money, no more 
 extra rations, and Jack, another big chief, will come in and take your 
 place.' This staggered him, but he was altogether too mad, and his 
 retainers sat around on the floor, looking from him to the agent as if 
 
 22
 
 338 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 these were sorrowful days. Then those who had shoes given them 
 because they worked, pulled them off and threw them in a heap on 
 the floor, when they all went off in savage grandeur. The agent 
 thought they would be more consistent if they had left the blankets 
 and other goods they got from the government. 
 
 " A night or two after they had a grand council to see what was to 
 be done, for their grievance was not to be borne. On this occasion 
 Johnson, who has frequently been mentioned in this correspondence, 
 made them a speech which he afterwards related to Clark, and was as 
 follows : ' What is the matter, where you get flour, where you get 
 sugar, where you get blankets ? Me no mad; me see all these things, 
 me knows a heaj) — who makes guns, who fixes them, who makes 
 wagons, where will these things come from ? And you heap mad, mad 
 all time. What's the matter, me no mad, me like 'em heap; and now 
 you go travel all the time and hunt in the mountains deer, and elk, 
 and Jack come — you see.' 
 
 " At the conclusion of this conference Douglas went around to all 
 the tents, where the women were gruml)ling, and called out to each 
 wife as Jane ' Want no talk,' so every one was bidden to shut up. The 
 next thing, of course, was to be reconciled at headquarters, so the 
 next morning he came down to the agent's house and sat down in a 
 chair; previously he sat on the floor, which was a sign he was coming 
 round; and the agent took a paper and went to reading, while Doug- 
 las sat still. At last the question was asked : ' What you say 
 Douglas ? ' He was ready to talk, and the sum of it was, they were 
 all ready to go to work, but no grievance was redressed nor was any 
 complained of. This strike lasted just a week, and when night came, 
 there was joyful shouting in the tents up and down the river, for 
 gentle peace had come once more, that is they were going to have 
 extra rations of sugar, coffee and beef. And this was not the first 
 strike, for they had Ijeen made several times before, but this time they 
 were going to do something big, that is, get that eighty-acre lot in 
 full control; however, they are likely now to keep a strict watch over 
 sugar and coffee whatever becomes of the land. 
 
 •• There is a vast sight more to this, and it can only be hinted at. 
 This eighty-acre field has been plowed and fenced under great disad- 
 vantages, and after many delays and as might be expected, for it 
 takes a vast sight of work to bring new, raw land into cultivation, 
 particularly when a host of other things have to be done. But this 
 is only a commencement, and what is now more needed than any- 
 thing else is allotments of land, little farms for each family, with a 
 house thereon, and as these have been promised, and they do not come,
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 339 
 
 the Indians are impatient, not having the least idea what is to be done, 
 and it is impossible to explain why there is delay. In fact it often 
 seems that the more one tries to tell, the less thej^ understand. 
 
 " These few things may, perhaps, give the reader a faint idea of the 
 vast amount of labor, and care, and bother, and vexation, our ancestors 
 underwent in progressing from the savage to the civilized state. The 
 thousands of objects of utility, comfort, convenience and elegance 
 surrounding us, were obtained only after a time, overcoming immense 
 difficulties, and with the exercise of great patience, and it may be 
 added with some profanity, for while these Indians are breaking cows 
 to milk they use English words they have heard before under similar 
 circumstances." 
 
 The next and last letter to The Tribune, before he made his final 
 visit to Greeley, is headed " Jane." She, when a girl, had been raised 
 in the family of Judge Carter, had some education, spoke good Eng- 
 lish, but for all this, when she was grown she joined her tribe, the 
 White River Utes, and was married to an Indian named Parviets. 
 Mr. Meeker says he was something of a dand}'^ and was in repute as 
 a retailer of his wife's gossip which she, from her knowledge of Eng- 
 lish, was able to gather by overhearing the conversation of the em- 
 ployes, some of whom were quite free to tell her everj^thing she 
 wished to know, and to add their most decided ojyinions as to the 
 ability of the agent, and as to what was likelj' to take place; but now 
 that these have emigrated to other shores, Jane's sources of informa- 
 tion have dried up on her and her husband's position as reporter has 
 dwindled awa3\'' 
 
 Jane had generally been petted at the agency. Before Mr. Meeker 
 came the other agent, had given her the garden which had been 
 planted to a variety of vegetables. She went oflP with tlie other In- 
 vliaus on their usual summer hunt, and left Mr. Meeker to weed it and 
 carry water in a pail to keep it alive. When she returned she took 
 possession, merely thanking him for his kindness. He asked what 
 was to be his reward for taking care of it. She said she would give 
 him some beets, which she did on three occasions, three at a time, 
 while she had more than ten bushels. She also had a fine crop of 
 potatoes, which she sold the agent at three cents a pound. So in the 
 spring Mr. Meeker thought it were better to have an intervie\\^ with 
 her before the Indians went off on their hunt, and which he reports as 
 about as follows : 
 
 " Now Jane, as you are going to plant potatoes and have a garden, 
 and some ten or fifteen other Indians, it is to be understood that last 
 year's and all the other years' style of farming is ' played out.'
 
 340 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 " ' Played out ? How so ? ' says Jane. 
 
 " Well, I'll tell you. After the things are planted, it will not do for 
 you to run off and leave me and the other white men to plow, hoe 
 and pull weeds ; you or some of your family must stay here all three 
 moons and work your crops, for no one will touch them, and in that 
 case you will havA nothing; or they will be given to some other In- 
 dian to work and he will have all. 
 
 " ' You say we must stay three moons. What for ? Hoeing the 
 things once is enough.' 
 
 " You must hoe them three or four times, and must keep watch of 
 them all of the time ; nobody will do it for you, and you need not 
 undertake to tell me how the work is to be done. 
 
 '' ' But we never done so before and we had heaps.' 
 
 " But I tell you the thing is ' played out.' If you get anything you 
 must work for it. Do you understand ? 
 
 " ' What is the reason white men cannot do all this work as before, 
 as they used to ? They understand it, we don't.' 
 
 " I tell you it won't do. Now I worked your garden last 3'ear; I 
 carried hundreds of pails of water, and you had a nice garden and 
 got lots of money; but this year we have a big ditch and plenty of 
 water, and you must attend to things yourself, and all the other Indians. 
 You must tell them what I say, so that they can understand and not 
 go off. 
 
 '' ' But. Mr. Meeker, aiut you paid for working ? ' 
 
 " No, not to work for you. 
 
 " ' Well what are 3'ou paid money for if not to work for us ? ' 
 
 " Yes, I see how it is, but I'll tell you. I am paid to show you how 
 to work and to help you. 
 
 " ' Yes, but the Utes have a heap of money. What is it for if it is 
 not to have work done for us ? ' 
 
 '' I'll tell you, Jane. This money is to hire me and all the rest of 
 us to teach you to help yourselves, so that you can be like white folks, 
 and get rich as they are rich by work. You are not to be waited 
 upon like children, and to be supported in idleness all your lives. You 
 have got to take hold and support yourselves or you will have trouble , 
 and you tell all the Indians this. 
 
 " ' Ain't all these cattle ours and all this land ? Isn't it all Utes' 
 country to do as we like and have it always ? ' 
 
 " The cattle may be, but the country is not. 
 
 " ' Well, whose land is it, and whose is the money ? ' 
 
 " The land belongs to the government and is for j'our use, if you 
 use it; but if you won't use it and won't work, and if you expect
 
 THE UNIOX COLONT OF COLORADO. 341 
 
 white men to raise potatoes and onions and beets for you, white men 
 away off will come in and by and by you will have nothing. This 
 thing can't go on forever. As to money it is to be used to make you 
 helpful, and it is time you turn to and take care of yourselves, and 
 have houses and stoves and chairs and bedsteads and crockery, and 
 heaps of things. Do you understand ? 
 
 " ' Yes, I understand; but you cannot tell, Mr. Meeker, how bad you 
 make me feel to talk that way. Nobody ever done so before.' 
 
 " I can't help it, it is the truth, and the sooner you all come to act on 
 it the better. I will help you all I can, and show you in everything, 
 let you have plows and harness and hoes and seed, and everything 
 you need, but you must take hold and help yourselves, all the same 
 as white folks, and there is no reason you may not have everything 
 you want and become rich. 
 
 " So Jane went away sorrowful, for she thought she had great pos- 
 sessions in the agency people being obliged to work for her and her 
 people to the end of time. The result was that after long talks with 
 Douglas and others they agreed to attend to their croijs, and they 
 have done .so; some one at least of a family staying, but it is clear 
 they have been driven info it by a force that may be compared to 
 galvanic shocks, while as to anything like what may be called con- 
 viction, or abiding care, which includes foresight and activity, they 
 feel the least possible. To get them to work and continue at it is 
 much like getting a spring-poor calf on its feet; there is certainly 
 some vitality in him, and if he is raised carefully, and his legs properly 
 spread he is likely to stand, and he may walk in a straggling way, 
 and possibly pick a little grass, but there is all the time danger that 
 he will, after swaying to and fro, give a headlong plunge and lie with 
 his quivering feet in the air. To ordinary apprehension the notion 
 that farmers even half resolute can be made out of such fellows seems 
 ridiculous; still it is i^recisely what the government demands shall 
 be done and one can try and make the best of it that can be made. 
 (Italics ours) . 
 
 " Jane is of medium height, weighs a little above the average, has a 
 broad face painted in red and green spots like eyes, with a fairly or- 
 ganized head, rather slow in her movements, economical in the use of 
 things she gets hold of, and has one child, a girl eight years old, 
 which she loves. Whatever she has she holds on to with a terrible 
 grip; if she has anything to sell she wants the biggest price she can 
 get; for instance, her potatoes are three dollars a sack, if a sack is 
 divided and put into two sacks the price of each is still three dollars. 
 Nor will the Indians in general lightly part with anything they get
 
 342 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 from the whites, or which they think they need, while as to giving' 
 anything of the kind to each other they are as mean as cats ; in fact 
 civihzation seems to arise first in the possession of property, and in 
 holding on to it with all the tenacity and meanness that can be con- 
 ceived. I know that all this (speculation) does not amount to much, 
 and that the reader wants to know what is the prospect of civilizing 
 the Indian, To this the answer is, that after an experience of several 
 years a conclusion may l^e reached, but at present no opinion is 
 offered. 
 
 So Mr. Meeker has become wiser, less sangiiine, begins to see the 
 nature of the task he is undertaking, and what is more important sees 
 that the policy of the government, which we have marked in italics 
 above, is driving him into too hasty an attempt at transformation. 
 That the above statement is the true attitude of the government there 
 can be no doubt, as it was made by a servant of the government in a 
 public newspaper of which he was editor. So it will not do to lay 
 the blame wholly upon Mr. Meeker of forcing rashly the industrial life 
 upon the Indians under his charge. It would appear, however, that 
 in the interview with Jane, his position was too plainly unmasked, 
 and that the Indian had placed before him the alternative of working 
 or having his supplies cut off, and he was right in regarding this as a 
 violation of treaties. It is true there is no distinct statement made 
 above, that the usual and stipulated supplies will be taken away as 
 punishment, if the Indians refuse to work; but there are rewards for 
 the workers, which the Indian thinks belongs to him as a ward of 
 the government and as Howiug out of his- treaty with it of which he 
 has the vaguest kind of a comprehension. 
 
 All summer the Indians keep brooding over this state of affairs, and 
 when Mr. Meeker returns from his visit to Greelej^ related elsewhere,, 
 they are ripe for revolt. Before leaving, Mr. Meeker saw the storm 
 that was brewing, and in a conversation with the writer plainly said 
 that he had no longer any hope of making the Indian w^ork by coax- 
 ing. He needed troops to enforce his orders and prevent an out- 
 break. He saw General Pope at Denver, then in command of the 
 department, his wife tells me, and told the General that he thought 
 it no use making farther attempts at civilizing, and said he was going 
 to resign. The General advised him to persevere. It would seem 
 that Mr. Meeker should not have returned until he had the troops 
 with him. But while this would have saved himself, there is no rea- 
 son to believe that it would have prevented an outbreak, and his wife 
 and daughter and the white employes would have been treated as 
 they afterwards were. But he never thought the Indians intended
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 348 
 
 going to the extremes they did, thinking that they would see the 
 absurdity of it. If the troops had not attempted to go in, Mr. 
 Meeker would only have had to yield to the Indians for the time 
 being, and when the troubles had quieted down the troops might have 
 been brought in without a fight, and if they had, there is no ground 
 for doubt that Mr. Meeker would at length have accomplished his 
 task and would now be living and enjoying the reputation of not only 
 being the founder of an industrious and prosperous colony of white 
 men in Colorado, but also the reformer of the social and industrial 
 customs and habits of an Indian tribe. 
 
 Still it may well be doubted whether Mr. M(5eker was by his charac- 
 ter, and above all by his manners, the best man possible to undertake 
 a work of this kind. We all know, even those who knew and loved 
 him most, that he had a curt, brusque, impatient manner that was very 
 repellent to strangers. He easily saw the childish nature of the In- 
 dian, but he took the compulsive rather than the coaxing way of get- 
 ting him along. He should have known that while mentally a child, 
 physically he was a man, and that it is not safe for the parent to un- 
 dertake to drive an idiotic, physical giant of a grown-up son. Such a 
 man as General Adams, who procured the restoration of the captive 
 women would be much more likely to succeed in such an undertaking, 
 if it were worth while doing. It seems to me best for the future of 
 humanity on this continent that the Indian should perish as a race. 
 Let his departure be as gentle as the nature of the case will permit, 
 and " by some sweet oblivious antidote " let him softly sink into the 
 bosom of the eternal silence that nature prepares for races as for in- 
 dividuals, that are unable to adapt themselves to a change of environ- 
 ment. Not a few would be glad to see the future promising a like so- 
 lution for the difficulties that beset us in contiguity with the negro 
 race. It was believed that his enfranchisement would soon bring 
 about his extinction. On the contrary his great and unrestrained re- 
 productive capacities and propensities now threaten a growth that will 
 in no long time overshadow and crowd out the white race. Strange if 
 this should be the ultimate destiny of this continent ! Be that as it 
 may, in the struggle for existence on the face of this globe few things 
 tell so power fidly for the success of a race of organisms as capacity 
 and tendency to prolific reproduction. While, therefore, we should 
 be the reverse of Nature, kindly and careful to the individuals of an 
 inferior race, we should at least take no pains for the perpetuity of the 
 race itself . The white race— for that matter the Teutonic family of 
 that race — in no long time will be able to populate this continent — or 
 the whole habitable globe, if it pleases better, as closely as conve-
 
 ^4 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 nient. But if the uegro race prove the fitter, where will the loss be? 
 But the fitter does not always mean the higher. It only means the one 
 best adapted to the environment, regardless of human standards of ab- 
 stract excellence. The two forces that now seem pitted against each 
 other are superior intelhgence on the part of the whites, and superior 
 fecundity on the part of the negroes, and there is no telling which 
 force will prove the master in the long run. A third factor will have 
 much, perhaps all, in determining the outcome, physical degeneracy, 
 the fruit of intemperance in its broadest significance. 
 
 In going back Mr Meeker met with a bad accident. The wagon 
 upset and he was badly bruised. " The shoulder," he writes, " is never 
 likely to get quite well, or will the arm ever be as sound as before: 
 perhaps it will remain an idle one." The letter, in which he so vividly 
 relates this journey and his situation and suffering from the time of 
 the wreck two hours before sundown, till the middle of the night 
 when the driver and Ed. Mansfield reached him, is headed " Almost 
 There." It is among the best he has written ; and one feels that it was 
 so sad that a man of his years and physical frailty should find it 
 necessary to face such hardships, privations and dangers in order to 
 extricate himself and family from the financial bog they for years 
 were mired in, as a consequence of the sacrifices he had made in estab- 
 lishing the colony. We have not room to quote more than the t\\-o 
 opening sentences which, in the light of coming events have a mourn- 
 ful significance. 
 
 " The pleasant part of life is when we are conscious we have nearly 
 reached a desirable object. But often as we pass through fife, we are 
 taught by experience that little is enjoyed beyond being almost there; 
 for accidents and obstacles arise, and when the object is finally reached, 
 it is things that are adverse that most strongly impress the mind." 
 He got back about the middle of August and the next is dated Sep- 
 tember 8th, — and with the ominous heading, ' Bullets and Plows." 
 
 A tract of some two hundred acres near the new agency buildings 
 and under the ditch, was about to be fenced and plowed as had been 
 contemplated, but Jane and Subchief Antelope objected, claiming the 
 land as pasture for their horses. Jane's husband, contrary to orders, 
 having lately put a corral on part of it. It was so handy for Jane who 
 wanted to hang around the agency gathering gossip, as we have seen. 
 
 " The claim that Jane and Antelope made was that this is Ute's 
 country ; and that they had fixed themselves and did not want to 
 move, for grass was good, and they wanted it all the while for their 
 horses. Besides they said the Utes did not want any more land 
 plowed, there was enough now, and they wanted to live as they always
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 345 
 
 had lived. Jane was told that there was plenty of laud just as good, 
 that the employes would move everything without trouble to her; she 
 was further told that if the buildings were moved again she would be 
 sure to follow and claim close by, and so the agent would have no 
 chance to plow at all. She said he might plow off in another place, and 
 she indicated as Douglas and others did afterwards, that a certain 
 tract, covered with grease wood, cut up with sloughs, and white with 
 alkali was good to plow, though it would take three months to clear 
 the surface. She would listen to nothing; that piece of land was to 
 be theirs, and they would not have it plowed, for they had taken it, 
 like the case when Grreeley was first settled, when certain men wanted 
 to have their 160 acres next to the town center. 
 
 " The plows were ordered to run, but before a single round had been 
 plowed there came two Indians with guns and forl^ade the plowing. 
 When the plowman came back and reported to the agent, he told him 
 to go ahead. And so the sulky breaker went ahead for an hour or 
 so, but soon the plowman reported that he was shot at from a little 
 bunch of sage brush, where two Indians were seen lying, and the ball 
 whistled close to his person. Of course the plow was ordered stopped 
 and the team turned out. Then Douglas was sent for but he would 
 do nothing. This was Ute's country and they wanted it for their 
 horses. 
 
 " Jack was sent for and council was held and it was decided that 
 the agent might plow the bed plowed around, but no more— which 
 was foolish, as it was a long narrow strip, which it would be absurd to 
 fence. It was at last conceded that all might be plowed; but the 
 plow had scarcely been well started when Antelope and Jane's husband 
 came out and threatened vengeance, and another retreat had to be 
 made. The agent remarked to George Eaton, ' This is getting rather 
 interesting.' To which he replied, 'It may be to you, but I can't see 
 it for my part.' 
 
 •' Then Jack was sent for again, and a big long talk was had. The 
 agent sat for hours in a hot room filled with tobacco smoke, and listened 
 to speech after speech of which he understood nothing, and during all 
 the time said nothing. 
 
 " Among the speeches was one made by Douglas — which was the 
 closing plea, or summing of the case, lasting nearly half an hour, and 
 then it was understood why Douglas was made chief — that is on ac- 
 count of his eloquence. First, he spoke in poetic Ute— not in the com- 
 mon vernacular. Second, the words were uttered with perfect dis- 
 tinctness and yet quite rapidly ; third, the sentences were measured. 
 There would be three sentences of about fifteen words each; then a sen-
 
 346 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 tence of about thirty or forty words and so on. The Indians listened 
 to him with the utmost attention, and some seemed to shed the sym- 
 pathetic tear, for frequently in his gestures he seemed to embrace some 
 object, and with fervor and with love. It was afterwards learned that 
 he spoke of the union of all the Indians, * * * g^mj then 
 of the fatherly care of the government embracing and caring for all 
 as if they were children of one father. 
 
 " Soon after the speech Douglas asked the agent what he would do 
 for Jane if she would move off. The reply was that he would move 
 the corral, help her husband build a log house, dig a well, give them 
 a stove, and have everything nice. This was agreed to and the agent 
 was to have the land. The impression is that if the Indians had been 
 free to choose, they would have forbidden another furrow to be 
 turned." 
 
 " This stopping plows by bullets is by no means a new thing in 
 America, for so to speak, the plow has plowed its way from the 
 Atlantic to the heart of the Rockj^ Mountains, through showers of 
 bullets, and the American plow is 3- et to turn furrows across China and 
 the Steppes of Tartary, and even invert the soil around sacred Jeru- 
 salem—' Speed the Plow' ! " 
 
 " Speed the Plow," these are the last words, so far as I can find, 
 that N. C. Meeker wrote for his paper, and most appropriate ones. 
 The plow is the symbol of agricultural industry to which he had de- 
 voted tha best years of his active beneficent life. 
 
 A short time after the above letter was Avritten, Johnson made a 
 cruel attack upon Mr. Meeker. The circumstances as related to the 
 writer by Mrs. Meeker were these: One morning Johnson came into 
 the house looking angry and asked for the agent. Mrs. Meeker told 
 him that he was out of doors somewhere. Johnson went out but did 
 not meet the agent before he came in. He came back in a short time 
 and seized Mr. Meeker, who was sitting in a chair and still suffering 
 much from the injuries spoken of, by the shoulders and dragged him 
 violently out of the house and crowded him up against a fence near 
 by. There were plenty of Indians standing near Avho quietly 
 looked on. Mrs. Meeker cried for the white men to come to the rescue, 
 which they did, Mr. Post being the first to get there. He expostulated 
 with Johnson, who then let him go. Johnson gave no reason for 
 this attack and so far as Mrs. Meeker knows he had none but the 
 general ones. Indeed, he and his had been treated with, special 
 kindness. 
 
 No further trouble arose until the day of the massacre. Albert 
 Woodbury left only a day or two before and met the troops going to
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 347 
 
 the agency — those under Captain Dodge. He says there was no more 
 appearance of an outbreak then than there had been for months, and 
 he did not come from there on any accoimt of fear of one, but for 
 business reasons.
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 TJTE AND WHITE RIVER MASSACRE — THORNBURG's FIGHT AT MILK CREEK — 
 THE MARCH OF CAPTAIN DODGe's COLORED COMPANY TO THE RE- 
 LIEF OF THE BELEAGUERED CAMP — GENERAL MERRITt's MOVEMENTS 
 FOR SA3IE PURPOSE — ACCOUNT OF THE MASSACRE BY MISS SARAH E. 
 DRESSER AS TAKEN FROM THE LIPS OF MRS. PRICE — ACCOUNT OF 
 THE TOWN OF MEEKER AS GIVEN BY GEORGE L. SHEPARD — GEORGE 
 W. EATON, ARTHUR THOMPSON, WILLIAM H. POST — FRED SHEPARd's 
 LETTER TO HIS FATHER — LETTER OF N. C. JIEEKER TO THE AUTHOR SIX 
 DAYS BEFORE THE MASSACRE — MR. AND MRS. PRICE — ACCOUNT OF THE 
 MASSACRE FROM BIRS. MEEKER — HOW JOSEPHINE MEEKER WAS TREATED — ■ 
 THE TREATMENT RECEIVED BY THE CAPTIVES AT THE HANDS OF SUSAN 
 JOHNSON — CHIEF OURAY — RECEPTION OF THE CAPTIVES IN GREELEY — 
 C0NCER:^ING a monument to N. C. meeker — PORTRAIT OF N. C. MEEKER 
 IN HIGH SCHOOL — N. C. MEEKER's FAMILY — PENSIONS GIVEN TO THE REL- 
 ATIVES OF THE MASSACRED — NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE INDIANS AFTER 
 THE MASSACRE — POSITION TAKEN BY OURAY IN DEFENSE OF HIS PEOPLE 
 — THE government's INDIAN POLICY — RALPH MEEKEr's VIEWS ABOUT 
 THE PROPER COURSE TO PURSUE WITH THE INDIANS — REVIEW OF THE LIFE 
 AND CHARACTER OF N. C. MEEKER — THE REASONS FOR HIS UNPOPULARITY 
 — HIS SUPPORT OF HORACE GREELEY — MEEKER HAS A MONUMENT IN 
 GREELEY MORE ENDURING THAN BRASS, IN SPITE OF HIS ENEMIES AND 
 DETR.\CTORS. 
 
 MR. MEEKER, after the violent proceedings of the Indians 
 concerning the plowing, sent to Governor Pitkin and also to 
 General Pope for troops. Major Thornburg was ordered 
 from Fort Steele with three companies of cavalry numbering about 160 
 men. He was met by ten Indians on horseback with whom w^ere 
 chiefs Colorow and Jack, who iDrofessed friendship and rode off. They 
 again made their appearance, and this time asked Thornburg with five 
 others to accompany them to the agency for a conference. This was 
 declined since Thornburg remembered the fate of General Canby at 
 the hands of the Modocs. There was no more seen of the Indians 
 imtil the road reached Milk Creek, a tributary of the Bear, about 
 twenty-five miles from the agency. Here the road passes along a nar-
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 
 
 34:9 
 
 row canon of the river. The Indians had formed an ambush at this 
 defile but were discovered by Lieutenant Cherry before the command 
 got into the place of greatest danger. The lieutenant \^as ordered to 
 advance with fifteen soldiers and hail the Indians. Thornburg's orders 
 were not to fire first. Cherry, when within two hundred yards of the 
 Indians took off his hat and waved it, but the only response was a 
 volley from the Indians which killed Cherry's horse and wounded one 
 of his men. He dismounted his detachment and feU back to the 
 main body, skirmishing. The wagon train was about a mile in the 
 rear, guarded by a company under the command of Lieutenant Pad- 
 dock. Orders were sent back to park the wagon train and defend it 
 with the guard. " Sunultaueously with the attack on Thornburg's 
 front the Indians swept in between the command and the wagon train. 
 Major Thornburg was here and there and everywhere directing the 
 attack, the defense and later the retreat. He, seeing the danger that 
 threatened his command if the Indians should get possession of the 
 wagon train, put himself at the head of tw^enty mounted men and 
 made a desperate charge upon the Indians between him and the traiu. 
 While making this dash Thornburg was killed when within four hun- 
 dred yards of the wagon train, and thirteen of his followers also fell." 
 Before the train was reached every officer was wounded, save Lieuten- 
 ant Cherry, who was in the thickest of the fight covering the retreat 
 and holding the enemy at bay until the wagon train could be put in 
 a form to afford a temporary shelter. In the engagement twelve sol- 
 diers were killed and forty-two wounded. Some two hundred mules 
 were killed, the corral not affording them sufficient shelter from the 
 Indian sharpshooters covering the heights, which were within rifle 
 range. It is said that the Indians had got possession of a gun carry- 
 ing a large bullet and of long range, used at the agency for killing 
 beef steers on beef ration days, and that it was with this gun that the 
 horses and mules were killed. 
 
 The troops had only six days supplies. In the fight twenty-three 
 Indians were killed, how many wounded, was not known, as they were 
 taken from the field. During the darkness of the first night Joe Ran- 
 kin, the scout, left the camp and succeeded in escaping the vigils of 
 the enemy. His mission was to carry the news of the Thornburg dis- 
 aster to Rawlins and get succor to the beleaguered troops. The dis- 
 tance was one hundred and sixty miles, and he is said to have made 
 it in twenty-eight consecutive hours. 
 
 The men made breastworks of the dead horses and mules, covering 
 them slightly with earth. Water had to be got at night from the creek 
 by volunteers running the gauntlet of the Indian fire. The dry grass
 
 350 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 and dead sage brush, to the windward, was set on fire by the Indians 
 aad was extinguished with the greatest difficulty before setting the 
 camp on fire. Some three men were killed while in the beleaguered 
 camp and sevei'al wounded. 
 
 On the third morning of the siege Captain Dodge joined the com- 
 mand with a com]3any of forty-one colored cavahy. He had been 
 sent some time before to Middle Park to protect the settlers there 
 against Indian depredations. He had been ordered from here to the 
 "White River Agency. The third scout, Gordon, sent out to bear the 
 tidings to Rawlins, was intercepted by Dodge from whom he learned 
 the situation of Thornburg's command. Ed. Mansfield, a Greeley man 
 from the agency, Avas also with Gordon. These two acted as guides 
 to conduct Captain Dodge to the scene of the conflict. It was eighty 
 miles away, eleven miles were made l^efore sundown. Camp was then 
 pitched to deceive the Indians that might be on the lookout, but was 
 broken as soon as darkness had set in, and the remainder of the jour- 
 ney- was completed by daybreak. The ride thus accomplished was one 
 of the bravest on record, not so much from the daring or exposure as 
 from its rapidity, and the fact that an ambush was looked for every 
 moment. It joined the other command without any loss, and gave 
 security to the camp against an Indian attack, had it been undertaken. 
 
 General ilerritt was at Cheyenne and was ordered to take command 
 of a relieving force. The troops he was to command were at Salt 
 Lake, Cheyenne, Ogden and Fort Steele, and were concentrated at 
 Rawlins by the morning of the 2nd of October, three days after the . 
 battle. The force was about 300 cavalry and 250 infantry in wagons. 
 The distance was 160 miles and was made in three days. The time 
 actually spent in the March was about forty-eight hours. They arrived 
 about daj^break of the 5th and the Indians offered no further resist- 
 ance. '* General Merritt headed his command as it advanced to the 
 pits. When he saw the wreck and carnage, the dead and wounded, 
 and viewed the signs of the massacre on every hand, he turned aside 
 and wept like a child." So says the pamphlet gotten up by the Den- 
 ver Tribune shortly after the Ute outbreak, and what has been given 
 above is chiefly condensed from that source. 
 
 What follows is taken from the accounts lately given by Mrs. Meeker 
 to the writer, and also from the wTitten statements of Josephine.^- 
 Meeker and Mrs. Price. It is worthy of remark that neither of these 
 women had that bitter animosity toward all the Indians that was so 
 abiuidantly displayed at that time throughout the state. In fact they in- 
 stance many acts of kiuchiess on the part of the Indians of both sexes. 
 
 The massacre at the agency took place on the afternoon of the day
 
 THE UXIOX COLONY OF COLORADO. 351 
 
 of the battle at Milk Creek. The best short accouut of it that the 
 wTiter finds is contained in an article written by Sarah E. Dresser, the 
 elder sister of Frank and Harry, for the Beloit (Wisconsin) Free Press. 
 !Mr. Dresser's family had lived there before coming to Colorado. From 
 it we quote : 
 
 " Sunday, the day before the massacre, Mr. Meeker wrote a dis- 
 patch to Thornburg, and gave it to Hany Dresser to carry, but after 
 all the preparations were made, two Indian i-unners came in, and he 
 concluded to wait. That night Frank wrote his mother, 'It is now 
 half- past ten, and I must close as I must stand guard part of the 
 night. Meeker is afraid they will fire the hay. As regards danger, 
 don't fret, mother ; we are as safe and sleep as soundly as if in your 
 quiet town of Greele3^ To-morrow the soldiers Avill be in, and the 
 plowing will go on, for Meeker must carry out orders or resign.' " 
 
 " Mrs. Price, one of the women lately rescued from the Utes, sits by 
 my side. I give the story of the next day in her words: 'After 
 breakfast. Price loaded his Winchester, putting sixteen cartridges in 
 the magazine, and one in the chamber, and laid it on the table saying, 
 *we may have trouble, so don't be alarmed if I run in after the gun.' 
 During the afternoon Meeker sent Eskridge with a dispatch for Thorn- 
 burg. Sowerwick and Douglas ate dinner with us. After dinner the 
 men went to work as usual. Price and Frank Dresser were on a wagon 
 in front of the storehouse, and Arthur Thompson was on the roof. I 
 heard shots and saw Thompson fall from the roof headlong. I took 
 baby and ran into the room. In an instant Frank Dresser ran in shot 
 in the leg. Josie handed him Price's gun. The sweat was just pour- 
 ing from his face. He said, ' They have just shot Harry ; I saw him 
 faU.' Just then Tata, Johnson's brother, came towards the door. 
 Frank shot, and the Indian fell. Then we all ran into the milkhouse, 
 and after locking the door, we hid under the shelves. The windows 
 of the room we left were riddled with bullets. Frank was shot above 
 the knee ; it hurt him some, so we fixed it as well as we could. We 
 stayed there till nearly 5 o'clock. Once we heard footsteps, but kept 
 still, thinking it was a Ute, Afterwards I found it was my poor hus- 
 band. Frank wanted to make a hole in the \\all and shoot out, but 
 we persuaded him not to, for fear that it would be worse for us. Soon 
 we heard crackling of flames and smeiled the smoke, and knew the}' 
 Avere trying to burn us out. Frank said, ' Perhaps we can run and hide 
 in the sage brush.' He took off his boots and we went out as quietly 
 as possible. Josie said, ' They are stealing things from the storehouse. 
 Let us run.' We started, but the Utes soon saw us and commenced 
 firing at us. Frank ran like a deer, carrying Price's gun in his
 
 352 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 right hand. Mrs. Meeker soon fell shot in the hip, and we all had to 
 stop. Cojoe seized me, and just then I looked after Frank. He was 
 still running, and threw his head over his shoulder for a last look. I 
 saw no more of him, but thought till I got to Alamosa that he had 
 escaped. We were in the Indian camp three weeks. Tata died in 
 about two days after Frank shot him. We never saw any of the men 
 after they were killed, excepting Mr. Meeker. Mrs. Meeker saw him 
 lying dead, and stooped to give him a last kiss. At the end of three 
 weeks we were rescued by General Charles Adams and Captain Cline. 
 We had a horrible time in camp. In addition to the hardships inev- 
 itable on such a rough march, we endured the most sickening and hu- 
 miliating experiences that can befall women." 
 
 We then have an account of the movements of General Merritt's 
 army towards the agency, and we give what is further known of the 
 fate of Frank Dresser in the words of his sister. 
 
 " As the soldiers advanced down the canon towards the agency, and 
 about eighteen miles north of it, some of them stopped to drink from 
 what is known as Coal Bank Creek, and discovered traces of blood. A 
 halt was made, and going into the mouth of the shaft they discovered 
 the body of a white man. His coat Avas folded under his head and 
 he had a Winchester rifle cocked and clasped in his hand. In his vest 
 pocket was foxmd a dispatch from Mr. Meeker, and papers indicating 
 that he was Harry Dresser, and giving his age and address at Greeley. 
 So it was reported that it Avas Harry that was found here; but after- 
 wards there was found on a post in the coal mine this message, ' Have 
 been here tvventy-one hours. All killed at the agency. Send my 
 money to nn- mother at Greeley. Frank Dresser.' 
 
 ■' He had bound pieces of buckskin around his feet. The history of 
 the hours after he left the agency will never he known, but he must 
 have returned to get Harry's coat and vest, and probably met Indians 
 about daj'break, and fought them,, as eight cartridges were gone from 
 the gun. His fatal wound was in the right breast. There were signs 
 that he had gone several times to the creek for water. There was no 
 money found on Frank when he was taken from the mine. A soldier 
 was afterwards known to have robbed him. He had $125 on him. 
 Harry had over $400 at the agency of which nothing was ever heard. 
 
 " It is not necessary to give here in detail the scenes of horror and 
 desolation that met the eyes of the soldiers as they marched down to 
 the silence of the ruined sacked agency. One building was left stand- 
 ing and the ground was strewn with the murdered men. Father 
 Meeker was horribly mutilated, the rest were lying where they were 
 shot and were buried where they fell."
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 353 
 
 It ma}' be here added that the bodies were indentified by a man 
 named Taylor who accompanied Merritt's command and knew all the 
 men, having been a mail carrier to the agency, and markers with the 
 name of each were placed at the heads of the graves by order of Gen- 
 eral Merritt. Mr. George T. Dresser visited the scene of the massacre 
 next summer and moved all the bodies and rebiiried them in the edge of 
 this patch of sage brush bordering the meadow at the agency. Here 
 they were placed side by side, a fence put arouud the plat and a sketch 
 made of it. The remains of Mr. Meeker and Mr. Post were removed 
 about a year after the massacre, but the other six still lie there. Mr, 
 George L. Shepard visited the place last summer with a view to hav- 
 ing the bodies eitiier removed here or interred in the cemetery at the 
 town of Meeker. From him I learn the following : 
 
 The town of Meeker is about two miles up stream on higher ground 
 than the agency was. The meadow which Meeker undertook to plow 
 is now owned by a Jew, named Bernstein. It is fast becoming a 
 swamp from seepage from the ditch which Meeker had the Indians 
 build. This has been much enlarged and, irrigates lands below. The 
 town of Meeker is irrigated by a new ditch taken out the river farther 
 up the stream. The place numbers about two hundred inhabitajUts, 
 It is now approached from the south, the nearest railroad point being 
 Newcastle, on the Midland railroad, which is distant fifty miles, while 
 it is nearly two hundred miles to Rawlins, from whence the agency 
 got supplies. Bxit the road from the south is a very mountainous one 
 and so the place is still difficult of access. The town is only a trading 
 point for the ranchmen far around it, mostly engaged in stock raising. 
 The vallej's along the White river are narrow and not much cultivation 
 can be done. 
 
 The people of Meeker prefer to have the remains of the massacred 
 emploj'CS left there, as visitors have a curiosity to see the spot where 
 they lie. Hence when the new cemeter}' is enclosed it is proposed to 
 move the remains there and probably the town will bear the expense. 
 It is understood that the relatives here, vt'ho are all fairly well off, 
 think that this is the suital)le thing to do, rather than bring them here, 
 away from their historic resting place. 
 
 We will now say a word further about the other men killed at the 
 agency. All save Eskridge were from Greeley. This man was sent 
 by Mr. Meeker, as we have seen, on the day of the battle, with a dis- 
 patch to Thorn burg. Two Indians accompanied him and they shot 
 him when about two miles from the agency. 
 
 George W, Eaton had been at the agency but a short time, having 
 been engaged by Mr. Meeker when on his last visit home, and he had 
 
 23
 
 354: A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 driven through a mule team purchased at that time. His trunk had 
 never been brought from Rawhns to the agency. George was one of 
 the earhest colonists. He accompanied his brother Oscar and Mr. and 
 Mrs. A. J. Wilber, the latter of whom was his sister. He was a grad- 
 uate of the Michigan Agricultural College and used to take quite an 
 active part in the Farmers' clubs and lyceums of the early days. He had 
 speculated a good deal in Greeley real estate, making money at first, 
 but holding over too much during the reaction in grasshopper times. 
 He went out with Mr. Meeker principally to repair his injured for- 
 tunes. His mother and three sisters still live in Greeley. 
 
 Arthur Thompson was a bright, capable young man, the son of a 
 well-to-do colony farmer, T. F. Thompson. The young man had just 
 come of age and went out to the agency to make some money to give 
 him a start in farming for himself. He was as promising a young 
 man as there was in the whole country. His father and mother have 
 for a number of years been retired from the farm and live in town. 
 
 Wm. H. Post was assistant agent under N. C. Meeker. He had 
 been secretary for the colony some three years, and in addition carried 
 on a book and stationery business. But he left here about 1875, re- 
 turning to Yonkers. where he remained until Mr. Meeker asked him 
 to join him at the agency. The latter knew that Post was a good 
 accountant and business man. He appears to have been well hked 
 by the Indians and had an opinion that if there was an outbreak the 
 Indians would never kill him. Indeed all the employes seem to have 
 labored under this delusion. Only Mr. Meeker and the Indians had 
 really any difficulties. They seem to have hked all the boys. Fred 
 Shepard. of whom we v.'iU. now speak, seems to have been an especial 
 favorite. He had a violin with him and used to play evenings for the 
 Indians, to their great dehght. His father had a letter from him 
 written but three days before the massacre. We quote from it to 
 show the general feelings of the " bo3-s " about the danger, and their 
 views about the management of things by N. C. Meeker. It to some 
 extent is on the Indian side of the question. Indeed, if they had 
 only killed X. C. Meeker they could not be blamed so much for 
 savagery. With him, from their point of view, they had a quarrel, 
 and if the speculations of the employes about what their fate would 
 be in case of an outbreak had related to the probable conduct of white 
 men. they would have reasoned wisely. But when the Indian is mad 
 he knows no relation between desert and punishment, and hence he 
 is so dangerous a neighbor. But to return to Fred Shepard. His 
 father had heard of the order for troops to be sent in, and being sure 
 that there would be a fight, wrote his son to get out of there as quick
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 355 
 
 as he could. Three days before the massacre he received a letter from 
 his son, from which we quote the following : 
 
 " As regards my getting out here soon, I have not felt as if I was 
 in any danger, so far as my life is concerned, since I have been 
 here any moi-e than ever I did in your door-yard. I don't blame the 
 Utes for not wanting this ground plowed up. It is a splendid place 
 for ponies, and there is better fanning land, and just as near, right 
 west of this field, but it is covered with sage brush. Douglas says he 
 will have his boys clear the sage brush away if N. C. tvill only let 
 the grass land alone. But X. C. is stubborn and won't have it that 
 way, and has sent for soldiers to carry out his plans. Don't know- 
 how it will turn out, but you can bet if they touch anybody it will be. 
 the agent first. Danforth, the agent before X. C, used to have regu- 
 lar fights with them every little while. He fought with Johnson once 
 about two hours, there being no one to stop them. When Johnson 
 took hold of X. C. the other day, George (Eaton) and I ran up to him 
 and he quit. He did not calculate to hurt him. As regards their 
 shooting at Price, when he was plowing, I haven't the least idea in 
 the world that they shot at him. They are shooting all the time at 
 marks and they are xerj careful about a gun. I have been at work 
 for over a week tearing down a barn at the old agency, and have com- 
 menced to put it up down here. 
 
 " You say you are very anxious about me. You can be assured that 
 I am in no danger here more than I would be anywhere else, but I 
 guess old settlers ' have got it bad,' as Lithgow is in here now, and 
 says if we were outside we would not dare come in here. He had 
 heard that the agent was killed and the Utes raiding the White 
 and Bear rivers.'' 
 
 This was the state of confidence of the boys. They did not under- 
 stand Indian nature. The old settlers, whom we see the boys were 
 disposed to laugh at for their fears, understood the Indians better. 
 We have seen fit to print the part relating to the plovvingjthe land, as it 
 gives the Indian side of the difficulty. To this it may be added that 
 they had a race-course here, and this was one objection. But as these 
 courses are straight tracks, there would have been no difficulty in get- 
 ting another just as good. It may be farther said that Mr. Meeker 
 kept a strict account with the Indians in- the smallest things. They 
 like little presents just like children, and an agent can make himself 
 popular with them by giving these things at the expense of the gov- 
 ernment. Still there would seem to be no latitude allowed the agent 
 in liis instructions, and the straightforwardness of Mr. Meeker dis- 
 qualified him for managing such an affair and yet be able to give the
 
 356 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 account he was required to make of all property put into his hands. 
 The following letter, written to the author only eight days before 
 the massacre, is here inserted, as it shows not only Mr. Meeker's in- 
 tentions about the management of the Indians, but his pecuniary 
 circumstances and jarospects. The first part is written to me as ex- 
 ecutive officer of the colony, and it might here be said that the land 
 he speaks about had all been purchased by J. M, Freeman, and is now 
 Arlington Heights addition. It was more than a year after this 
 (spring of 1881) before the charter was taken out for the Loveland 
 and Greeley canal, which waters this land, but Mr. Meeker always 
 beheved that it was only a question of time when this land would be 
 imder irrigation. 
 
 " White River Indian Agency, September 21. 1879. 
 " Capt. D. Boyd, 
 
 " Greeley, Colo. : 
 
 •' Dear Friend — I neglected to saj^ one thing to you when I was in 
 Greeley, and I now write. This is, if that piece of colony land, 
 known as ' College Reserve,' is not yet disposed of, I would like to 
 have it; in fact I always did want it. So if you will bear it in mind 
 and give me a chance for it, I shall be obliged. By the close of this 
 year I shall have all my debts paid up; and after that may expect to 
 save some money. 
 
 " How long I shall stay here I do not know, but I want to stay long 
 enough to have something ahead. 
 
 " I have had trouble with the Indians. They cannot stand it to see 
 progressive movements, and they rebel; but there are soldiers coming 
 in, and we shall see. By the way, the soldiers are negroes, and it is 
 significant that this race, once so despised, shall compel, to some ex- 
 tent, the civilization of the Indians. 
 
 " The season has been extremely dry, and only our wheat crop was 
 first-rate, though our cabbage, turnips and beets are excellent. Pota- 
 toes are next to nothing. We have had no rain save twice since last 
 
 fall a year ago. 
 
 " Regards to your wife and olive branches. 
 
 "N.C.Meeker," 
 
 Mr. Price was not an original colonist. He had come with his wife 
 from Missouri about two years before, and was farming on a rented 
 farm near Mr. Dresser. His wife was very young, said to have been 
 married to him at the tender age of thirteen. She married soon after 
 returning to Greeley and went with her husband and children to 
 Washington Territory. He was soon killed there by the falling of a tree,
 
 THE UNION COLOXY OF COLORADO. 357 
 
 and so she lost a second husband by a violent death before she was of 
 an age at which many other women begin to think it suitable to enter 
 the matrimonial state. She is married a third time, but has passed 
 from the knowledge of i^eople here. She got a pension of $500 for 
 twenty years. All the bereaved parents or wives of those massacred 
 got like pensions. However, that given to Mr. Dresser was only dur- 
 ing his life. He died about two years ago, and his widow survives 
 him without getting the pension. 
 
 It may be farther said that the Greeley " boys '' were induced to go 
 to the ageucj' on account of the wages being higher than usual in 
 commjon avocations. Sixty dollars a month was paid, and out of this 
 came fifteen dollars for board. As they were all temperate and 
 saving they would soon be able to make a start farming for them- 
 selves. 
 
 We will now return to the story of the captive women and children 
 as given more fully by Mrs. Meeker and her daughter. 
 
 When Mrs. Meeker was shot she fell, and the big Indian who did it 
 api^roached her and said: "Me no shoot. Do not be afraid. Me 
 mighty sorry 3^011 are hurt. But me mad because white soldiers kill In- 
 dians." He then asked her if she had any money. She said she had 
 not, but that she could get some at the agency. He then offered to 
 accompany her there. He gave her his arm as politely and helped 
 her along as tenderly as a polished white man would. He took her 
 up to where Mr. Meeker was lying, shot in front of his office, his face 
 upturned to the sky, there calm and placid in death. She stooped 
 down and kissed the silent lips for the last time, while the Indian 
 stood a little way off. She saj's that she thinks that he brought her 
 here on purpose to let her take this last farewell. She then went in 
 the house and got the monej^, some thirty dollars, and offered it to 
 the Indian. He would not take a cent of it, but told her that he 
 would take her to Chief Douglas and that she could give him the 
 money. This he did with the same care and considerateness as be- 
 fore. Douglas took the money without au}^ compunction and the big 
 Indian left. She says he was not a W^hite River Ute. 
 
 It is thought that Jane's husband, Parviets, and Antelope called 
 Mr. Meeker out of his office and shot him. We have seen that these 
 two had especiall}^ differed with him about the plowing, and this may 
 be all the ground that there is for the belief. The Indians seem not 
 to have given the captive women any information about the pai'ticulars 
 of the massacre. When Mr. Meeker's Ijody was found, some weeks 
 afterwards by General Merritt's command, it was mutilated and a log 
 chain about the neck, by which it had l^een dragged. This had no
 
 358 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 doubt been done in the drunkenness which followed, as the Indians 
 were more or less drunk for a day or two after the massacre. 
 
 Next morning after the massacre, the Indians started with the cap- 
 tives south to the camp where their women had been taken before the 
 battle. Douglas took possession of Mrs. Meeker, and an Indian 
 named Persune of Josephine. The night before, these two came 
 near having a fight over whose she should be, but Persune, who had 
 captured her, would not yield her up even to his chief. It was the old 
 quarrel with which the Iliad starts out— the contest between Agamem- 
 non and Achilles about the fair captive maiden Briseis, but " The 
 Douglas " yielded more readily than the mythical Greek " King of 
 Men.'' 
 
 Mrs. Price seems to have been treated quite civilly by the Uncom- 
 pahgre Ute who made her his captive. It is related that " He pulled a 
 watch from his pocket and asked her if she recognized it. It proved 
 to be a gold time-piece taken from Mr. Post, and a valued family 
 rehc. The Indian put the guard over jVIi-s. Price s head, saying that 
 it was her watch. 
 
 " Persune rode alongside of Josephine, driving his two pack mules 
 in front, and was not in the least rude or presuming. When she com- 
 plained of thirst he went to the river and brought her a drink in his 
 hat. To illustrate the different degrees of politeness among savages, 
 it may be related that Mrs. Price had also asked her Indian for 
 water. He gave it also out of his hat, but before handing it to her 
 always drank himself. This Persune did not do." 
 
 When they stopped, after a four hours' ride, Douglas approached 
 Josephine in a threatening manner. " He called her white squaw, 
 laughed at her, reciting his wi'ongs and threatened to kill her. He 
 said the massacre occurred because Thornburg told the Indians that 
 he was going to arrest the head chiefs, take them to Fort Steele and 
 put them in prison, perhaps hang them. He said Agent Meeker had 
 written all the letters to the Denver papers, and circulated wild re- 
 ports about what the Indians would do, as set forth by the ^Yesteru 
 press, and that he was responsible for all the hostihty against the In- 
 dians among the whites in the West. He manifested a perfect knowl- 
 edge of what liad been said in the papers, and quoted largely ahnost 
 word for word from them. * * While Douglas was telling 
 this he stood in front of the captive girl with his gun, and his anger 
 was dreadful. Then he shouldered his gun and walked up and down 
 before her in the moonlight imitating the employes who had kept 
 guard at the agency for three nights before the massacre. He sang 
 English songs he had heard the agency employes sing in their rooms.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. B59 
 
 He said the agent had always been writing to Washington. He 
 ahvays saw him writing when he was at the agency. He then walked 
 off a few feet, returned and placed his loaded gun at her forehead 
 three separate times and asked her if she was going to run away. She 
 told him that she was not afraid of him or death and was not going 
 to run away. When his repeated threats did not frighten her the 
 other Indians turned on him and laughed at him; then he sneaked 
 away and went over and tried to frighten her mother. 
 
 Mrs. Price sa.js *' They took a great fancy to my little child, and 
 when they found that they could not steal him they offered three 
 ponies for him. They made me do more drudgery than they did 
 Josephine. They had her cook and me carry water." 
 
 Finally Mrs. Meeker had a long talk with Johnson about agency 
 matters, and this seemed to explain things to him and she was taken 
 to his tent and treated well by his wife Susan. Here she remained 
 until the arrival of. General Adams. He came with instructions from 
 Ouray, head chief to the under chiefs to give up the captives without 
 parley or ransom. But not to have a big talk over it was more than 
 the Indians could stand. Douglas was sent for. He was now some 
 twenty-five miles off. When he came, a general conference was sit- 
 ting. It lasted five hours. "The council was marked by great 
 vehemence. There was a peace party and a war party, and for the 
 time war seemed to be in the ascendant. Susan, who, besides being 
 the wife of Johnson, is Ouray's sister, took a leading part in the 
 council, and consequently her words had great weight with the In- 
 dians. She was followed by her husband, who also advocated the 
 release of the prisoners. It is the first instance on record of a squaw 
 taking part in an important council, and it is thought that she brought 
 over her husband to advocate the peace policy, for he had until lately 
 been the most opposed to the agent and his plans." 
 
 There is a story that Susan when young had been taken captive by 
 the Sioux, and was going to be burned at the stake on the banks of 
 the Poudre near where Greeley now stands, and that a party of white 
 soldiers from Fort Collins had rescued her, and hence her lasting 
 gratitude and friendship for the whites, and defense of the women 
 when exposed to a fate like that which threatened' her. 
 
 But the logic of circumstances no doubt had more to do in determin- 
 ing the savage Douglas and his followers to sue for peace than the 
 eloquence of Doctor Johnson and his "Louise C!handler Mt)ulton " of 
 a wife. Merritt having waited for the coming of his reser\e was now 
 moving south. His force was large and its magnitude well known to 
 the savages. Their exultation at the victory over Thornburg was but
 
 360 A HISTORY OF GREELEY ASD 
 
 of short duration, aud was giving place to the gravest despondency. 
 The sub chief, Sapavanero, and Shevano had brought Ouraj^'s man- 
 date to stop fighting or he would turn in and help the white soldiers 
 to subdue the White River Utes. These men in the council en- 
 treated, expostulated, threatened, commanded. Finally Douglas said 
 that the women would be delivered up if General Adams would go 
 north with him and stop the advance of the soldiers under Merritt. 
 This Adams consented to, but on the condition that the women should 
 be sent off immediately. At last Douglas reluctantly consented to the 
 women being allowed to go before the return of^Adams from Merritt's 
 camp. 
 
 Ouray had been to Washington and had seen, the numbers and 
 power of the people of the United States, and knew that opposition 
 would be in the end suicidal. He had a large farm under cultivation, 
 lived in a good house and had a fine carriage to ride in, with a negro 
 to drive him around in fine style. So we see that 'there are Indians 
 and Indians, and Mrs. Meeker and her daughter Josephine knew it, 
 . and in the face of all they suffered had the justice and magnanimity 
 to say so, and as some thought, unnaturally, defend the Indians. 
 
 After the report of the Thornburg engagement until General 
 Merritt reached the agency, the people of Greeley were in an agony 
 of suspense. Conflicting reports as to the fate of agent and em- 
 ployes made hope and fear give place to each other in rapid succes- 
 sion. When it was known what was the fate of the men, and that the 
 women had been captured, the fate of these again was ever upper- 
 most in the thought of the whole people. A mass meeting was called 
 by the Mayor and the place went into mourning as it had done on 
 learning of the death of Horace Greeley. Appropriate memorial 
 speeches were made by a number of citizens and when the released 
 women were known to be returning, a deputation of citizens was 
 elected to meet them at Evans and present them with an address. The 
 committee were as follows : Chas. A. White and wife, Joseph Moore , 
 and Avife, F. L. Childs and wife, A. K. Packard and wife, B.H. Yerkes 
 aud wife. The following is the address, read by the chairman, C. A". 
 White : 
 
 "Dear Mrs. Meeker— The people of Greeley have mourned sincerely 
 and deeply with you for the death of your honored husband. We have 
 unanimously defended his good name, and will. We honor and will 
 proclaim the spirit of benevolence and generosity towards the Indians 
 with which he accepted the responsibilities, and entered upon the 
 work to which the government called him ; we recognize the careful- 
 ness and discretion shown in choosing his employes, all of whom jus.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 361 
 
 tified his selection by their conipeteuce and fidelity to him and his 
 plans. We cannot too highly* commend his goodness of purpose, his 
 strict obedience to the instructions of the government, his rigid faith- 
 fulness to it, to his convictions of duty, and to his cherished deter- 
 mination to deal justly by, and to improve his miserable and ungrate- 
 ful. wards. 
 
 " We have been anxious and distressed for jou and 3'our companions 
 in your trials, and in the perils and hardships of your captivity. Some 
 among us prayed daily for you, and gave thanks when we heard of 
 your recovery from the savages. We have: admired with enthusiasm 
 the brave, womanly and noble spirit of your heroic daughter^ as her 
 conduct has been reported to us. 
 
 "In reverent remembrance of your husband, the founder of our 
 colony, whose name is associated with its history to its honor; the 
 honest man, the faithful citizen and officer of the government, and 
 with high esteem for yourself, we desire to assure you of our deep 
 sympathy and of your hearty welcome back to your home and to us. 
 While we have been perplexed by what means we might best express 
 our sj-mpathy and our welcome, we heartilj- pledge you whatever we 
 can to comfort your sorrow and to help your future to be happ}'." 
 
 To Mrs. Price : 
 
 "Dear Madam — The people of Greeley desire to assure 3-ou of 
 their sympathy in your affliction by the cruel death of your husband, 
 and your terrible experience following it, of perilous captivity and 
 hardships. They have rejoiced in your recoverj- and gladl}' welcome 
 your coming among them. 
 
 "At a mass meeting of men and women last evening an earnest de- 
 sire was expressed that we might be permitted to provide a temporary 
 home for yourself and children, and whatever might be needed for 
 your welfare and comfort, till you shall have had time and opportun- 
 ity to plan and provide permanently for yourselves. It was an- 
 nounced that several families are each hoping for the privilege of 
 receiving you to their hospitalities. You may be certainly assured of 
 sympathy, welcome and good wishes, and desire to serve 3'ou on the 
 part of our people. 
 
 " We desire to thank j^ou for your generous and brave interposition, 
 together with her daughter's, in behalf of Mrs. Meeker against the 
 roughness and cruelty of her captors. 
 
 " May the future for yourself and your children be as peaceful and 
 prosperous as the recent past has been troubled and afflicted. 
 
 " By the Committee of Reception."
 
 362 A HISTORY OF GKEELEY AND 
 
 The response of the captives was as follows : 
 
 " Dear Friends — No words can express our gratitude for the deep^ 
 unspeakable heart-S3'nipath3^ which 3"OU have shown in so many ways. 
 We rejoice to be with you again, to walk in these pleasant streets, and 
 to greet you at our firesides, A few weeks ago this was a dream. We 
 thought we would never see jour faces again. But heaven be praised 
 we are back in this dear town once more — here in Greeley, where we 
 hope to live and end our daj^s with you. Dear friends, your delicacy, 
 your generosity, your honorable sorrow for those who can be here 
 with us no more, touch us too deepl}^ for farther utterance. 
 " With sincere thanksgiving we sign ourselves, 
 
 " Arvilla D. Meeker, 
 ■ " Josephine Meeker, 
 " Flora Ellen Price." 
 
 We farther quote from The Greeley Tribune, November 5, 1879 : 
 " When the train f. cached the station the entire population in a body 
 met them with tearful eyes, joyous faces and outstretched arms. 
 It was a ■ spectacle long to be remembered. Aged men, vener- 
 able women, young people, boys and girls, in fact everybody 
 extended a profound and respectful welcome. A line of carri- 
 ages was drawn up in front of the depot and Mrs. Meeker and Jose- 
 phine and Mrs. Price and the two children were driA^eu to Mrs. 
 Meeker's residence on Monroe street. A more remarkable event has 
 not been witnessed since the founding of the town." 
 
 Not ouh' at Greeley were the captives gladly welcomed. All along 
 the line of travel, from the time they reached the railroad at Alamosa 
 until the}^ came home, they were gladly greeted at every town through 
 which thej passed. The two railroad companies over whose roads 
 they were carried furnished the whole party free tickets, and hotels 
 were thrown freely open to them wherever they stopped over. Such 
 glad days come but seldom into life's weary round and are all the 
 dearer when they follow on the heels of days of suilering and dis- 
 tress. But the joy at their own deliverance could last but a moment 
 in hearts so lately, so terribly bereaved. Sweet solace this balm of 
 sympathy flo^ving into the wounded soul, and through it the recipient 
 feels nearer and more tenderly bound to his kind. But the sad, still, ■ 
 voiceless days follow and oppress all the same. The out-gush of 
 sympathy soon ceases to reach the bereaved, fresh sufferers come on 
 the scene to draw to them in turn the flow of public grief, and at last 
 we have all to bear our burdens alone to the silent grave where they 
 are buried with us.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 363 
 
 For all the parade of sorrow above recited not only Mr. Meeker's 
 family but his memory was destined to suffer cruel neglect at the 
 hands of the great majority of the people of Grreeley. At the first 
 public meeting called for the purpose of expressing the sentiments of 
 the people concerning the massacre of N. C. Meeker and the young 
 men from Greeley, the Rev. B. H. Yerkes spoke of the propriety of 
 the people soon raising a suitable monument to the memory of the 
 founder of the colony. We farther observe that at a regular meeting 
 of the Board of Town Trustees, November 3, 1879, A. Z.. Salomon of- 
 fered the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted : 
 
 " That in order to commemorate the meritorious services of X. C 
 Meeker, the father of Union Colony of Colorado, and the founder of 
 our town, and who, as the agent at the White River Agency, was 
 massacred by the Ute Indians on the 29th day of September, 1879, 
 therefore be it 
 
 •' Resolved, That the name of Main street in the town of Greele}' 
 be and is hereby changed and that the same be called for the future 
 Meeker avenue; and it is farther 
 
 "Resolved, That the Recorder be instructed to procure a first-class 
 portrait, in oil painting, of Father Meeker to be placed in 'the town 
 hall of our town. 
 
 •'On motion of Trustee L. B. Willard the foregoing preamble 
 and resolutions were ordered to be published in the town papers." 
 
 Well, no portrait of Mr. Meeker was procured at that time or ever 
 by the town authorities. Main street remained Main street until some 
 years after it was labeled by the board " Eighth Street," when num- 
 bers were substituted for the beautiful names historic, or from well 
 known American forest trees, which the more poetical fancy of 
 Meeker, Cameron and West had given them. With the old settlers. 
 ohese names still abide, and they never try to learn the numbers which 
 desecrate the places of these historic names. 
 
 We have mentioned that the remains of Mr. Meeker were brought 
 to Greeley about a year after the massacre. There was a rumor got 
 afloat that they would be taken to New York for interment. The 
 people here were very indignant at the proposal. About a year after 
 this there appeared in The Greeley Tribune for October, 1881, tho 
 following : 
 
 " A monument to the memory of N. C. Meeker." 
 
 '' Mr. Editor — I understand that it frequently happens when 
 strangers are visiting our cemetery they ask to be shown the last rest- 
 ing place of N. C. Meeker, and are pointed out a heap of red earth. 
 Of course they express astonishment at the indifference of the people
 
 364 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 of Greele}^ to the memoiy of their celebrated townsman who founded 
 their colony and town, and was all and all both in his life and death 
 as remarkable a man as has appeared in these latter days. 
 
 '' Now, I believe that this neglect is only apparent, and that it is far 
 from the intention of the people of Greeley and vicinity 'to leave in 
 barren desolation the grave of him whom we all feel honored in calling 
 ' Father Meeker.' To permanently neglect this duty of raising a 
 monument in testimony of our grateful appreciation of his memory 
 were to show an ingratitude of which I feel confident we are incap- 
 able. Whatever be the opinion outside to the contrary, I am per- 
 suaded that this is a generous people towards any object deemed 
 worthy. 
 
 " Without doubt it has been the expectation of a great majority of 
 oiu- people that some movement would be made in this direction, but 
 no one seems disposed to take the initiative. We all know how in- 
 dignant we were when it Avas rumored that his remains were to be 
 taken to New York for interment. This feeling showed that we be- 
 lieved that N. C Meeker belonged to us; that the work he had done 
 in founding and establishing the Union Colony was the great work of 
 his life, afld that we would be dishonored should his remains not be 
 suffered to repose side by side with our dead. For certainly it could 
 be the wish of no one that these remains should be laid in our cem- 
 etery to be left in neglect. On the contrary we only wanted the op- 
 portunity of honoring ourselves by generously contributing, each and 
 all, something towards a monument to keep green the memory of the 
 founder of Union Colony, the unswerving advocate and exemplar of 
 temperance, frugality and persevering industry, who bravely fell at 
 his post of dut\'. Hence it seems good to me to make the following 
 proposal : 
 
 " Let a su])scription be opened in the columns of Tlte Tribune, 
 which he has founded. Let each one w^ho wishes to contribute send 
 his or her name to the editor, which, with the amount shall be placed 
 in a column kept for that purpose. This list is to be kept open to the 
 first da}^ of the New Year. Then, if the sum of |1,000 is subscribed, 
 let the monument be erected by a committee appointed by the sub- 
 scribers. * * * 
 
 " As his successor, as president of the colony, I hope it will not be 
 
 deemed unbecoming in me who knew him so long, so well, and who 
 
 held his name and character in so high esteem, to take the initiative 
 
 in this matter. 
 
 "David Boyd." 
 
 Many having indicated that it would be well to have the names of
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO.' 365 
 
 the other Greelej' parties killed at the massacre, also on the monu- 
 ment, which it was expected would be raised in Lincoln Park, a notice 
 to that effect was pubhshed, and the following was the result at the 
 end of the year : 
 
 William McClellan, |100; Oscar Eaton, |100; A. Z. Salomon, |50; 
 David Boyd, |50; B. H. Eaton, |50; Hawks & Scott, .$50; Putnam 
 Brothers, |50; P. T. Barnum, $50; S. W. Hilton, $25; Morris Hast- 
 ings, 125; M. J. Hogarty, $25; T. F. Thompson, $25; J. Max. Clark, 
 $25; A. B. Clark, $10; B. E. Congdon, $5; A. W. Hancock, $5. It will 
 be seen that the sum total only reached $645, and it was contrary to 
 the conditions of the subscription to proceed except it reached a thous- 
 and dollars. Hence the matter was dropped and has never been 
 taken up again. It is the deliberate opinion of the writer that the 
 people of Greeley never acted so meanly in anything as they did in 
 this. It will be seen that there were only eighteen people in Cxreelej- 
 who had a cent to spare for a monument to the man who had founded 
 their town and but for whom there would be no such place as Greelej- 
 on the map of the United States. Not one of the Town Board, who 
 ordered the place to go into mourning and the flag to hang at half- 
 mast for five days, gave a cent save A. Z. Salomon. Some may call 
 him a Jew and, in the sense that he is a descendant of the race that 
 founded the Christian rehgion, he is. But he was the most public 
 spirited merchant Greeley ever had. 
 
 It will also be seen that not one of the committee of reception put 
 down a dime to the subscription. Talk is cheap, and those who are 
 the most profuse with it are usually the closest with their cash. 
 
 It will be seen too, that the names of our leading politicians and pro- 
 fessional men are conspicuous by their absence. Hawks & Scott are 
 the only ones that have held a town or county oflSice, the former as 
 Mayor and the latter as County Judge. It may be farther said that 
 the subscriptions of Oscar Eaton and T. F. Thompson were given 
 because the former lost a brother and the latter a son at the White 
 River massacre, and their names were to be on the monument. 
 
 However, after the donation of the portrait of Horace- Greeley was 
 made, as before related, a subscription was set on foot to procure a 
 similar one of N. C. Meeker. The sum to be raised was $100. J. M. 
 Wallace, president of the First National batik, started this movement 
 with a subscription of $10. Mr. Asch, an artist, then living in Gree- 
 ley, executed the portrait and it now hangs up in the High School, 
 facing that of his friend whose last words three days before his death 
 to N. C. Meeker, were, "/ haue faith in the Colony and in ijoii." 
 The images of these two benignant faces look down upon our youth
 
 366 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 as the}' sit preparing themselves for tlie duties and responsibilities 
 of life. 
 
 Meantime Mrs. Meeker, becoming tired of waiting for the people of 
 Greeley to raise a monument to her husband's memory, has contracted 
 with Greenlee & Co., of Denver, for a Scotch granite monument 
 which, with inscriptions, will cost about $525, and will l)e erected 
 sometime this spring or coming summer at the cemetery. 
 
 Three of his children also lie by his side. George, who died of 
 consumption at Evans, April 8, 1870, aged 22 years. Josephine, who 
 died at Washington, December 30, 1882, aged 25, and Mary A. Meeker 
 FuUerton, who died in Greeley February 22, 1883, aged 29 years. 
 
 Three survive him, Mrs. Arvilla D. Meeker, his wife, now aged 
 about 78. still bright in mind and cheerful in spirit, though infirm of 
 body and quite lame from a limb broken before she left here for the 
 agency. 
 
 Ralph, the eldest son, and now about 11 years old, has just returned 
 from London where he was helping to edit the Englisti issue of The 
 New York Herald. He has long been engaged on that paper. He 
 was its war correspondent during the last war between Russia and 
 Turkey, He seems to be a successful writer for the daily press, 
 bright, vivacious and to the point. 
 
 Mrs. Rozene Meeker Skewes lives in Greeley with her mother. Her 
 husband, Edward Skewes, is a miner and metallurgist by profession, 
 and only occasiouall}' makes visits to Greeley. He is exceedingly 
 kind and considerate to the old lady. He is a man of wide reading 
 and general information, and reveres the memory of his father-in-law, 
 N, C, Meeker, Mrs. Skewes has much of the talent of her father in 
 the way of expressing pointedly her views. She lectured about the 
 Indians after the massacre and had original opinions about this race 
 and how it ought to be managed by the government. It ought here 
 also to be said that Miss Josephine delivered at quite a number of 
 places in the state a lecture on her experiences as a captive among the 
 Indians. Her narrative was highly pictui'esque and interesting. She • 
 was a young' woman of superior mental endowment and noble, gen- 
 uine character. She had a bright trait of quaint originality about her. 
 Senator Teller procured her a place in the Interior Department and 
 she was his private secretary at the time of her death. She made 
 hosts of friends in the National Capital and left many here to mourn 
 her early death. She died of pneumonia. The family inherit weak 
 lungs. 
 
 Mrs. Meeker draws a pension of $500 a year. Mrs. Price and Mrs. 
 Post the same. Josephuie Meeker had a like pension while she lived.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 367 
 
 George L. Shepard, T. F. Thompson and Mrs. Eaton get 1200 each. 
 Geoi'ge T. Dresser got the same until his decease, but, as we have 
 seen, his widow does not get it. These pensions are all paid out of 
 the annuities of the White River Utes as a punishment for the 
 massacre. 
 
 The final outcome of the massacre will now l^e related. A com- 
 mission was appointed by the Interior Department, at the head of 
 which were Generals Hatch and Adams. The former had a military 
 force in the southwestern part of the state. Negotiations were opened 
 up at Los Pinos agency. The object was to have the Utes give up 
 those concerned in the massacre. General Hatch told Ouray that the 
 attack on Thbrnburg would be called a fair fight and no harm was 
 intended to be done those who took part in it, but those who had 
 murdered innocent, unarmed men at the agency should be given up 
 for trial and punished if guilty. The women had named twelve 
 White River Utes whom they knew had taken part in the massacre. 
 Chief Ouray objected to take the testimony of women against men. 
 It was contrary to Indian customs. 
 
 An attempt was made to get the Indians to testify as to who were 
 guilty of the massacre, but no one could be found to testify under 
 oath that he knew anything about it. Ouray defended with ability 
 his people, said these White River Utes have all directl}" or indirectly 
 been engaged in the massacre and you cannot compel a man to testify 
 against himself. Both Generals Hatch and Adams became tired at 
 last, and ordered Chief Ouray to have the twelve men named by the 
 women Ijrought in for trial or he would move forwards his army. 
 Then there was a serious time, given thus in the journals of the day : 
 
 " A death silence fell upon everything. Nothing was said and no 
 one moved for a few minutes. Then Colorow lighted a long pipe and 
 each Indian present drew his knife and laid it on his knee. In the 
 councils of the Utes, when the question of peace or war is hanging in 
 the balance, this practice is followed during the discussion, and 
 should war be decided upon, the blades of the kni\;es are locked to- 
 gether in the air, the pipe dashed to the floor, and a war song sung. 
 
 " In this instance, just as the pipe had gotten around the semi- 
 circle of Indians, Colorow, who had filled and lighted the pipe and 
 passed it to the next man without smoking himself, rose from his seat, 
 glanced at the Utes, and drawing himself up to his full height, 
 jerked his belt around in front of him, drew from its sheath a knife 
 and cast it on the floor in front, where it stuck and quivered. Each In- 
 dian present dropped his hand down to his waist and laid it upon his 
 knife or revolver. Each white did the same, and the two parties re-
 
 368 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 niained in this position, each urging the ghttering gage of battle and 
 each waiting an agressive movement on the part of the other. 
 
 •' Had Hatch not made the direct issue then and there, noth ing 
 would have been accomphshed. But for an instant his boldness 
 placed the commission in terrible danger. The result hung upon a 
 thread, and one word would have precipitated a terrible contest which 
 would have ended in the death of every white man in the room. 
 Twentj^-five Indians to six whites were terrible odds, and the fifteen 
 soldiers in the next room could not have gotten into the room in time 
 to rescue the endangered commission. Finally Ouray spoke : 
 
 ■' ' We cannot deliver up to you these Indians unless they are to be 
 tried at Washington. They must not be tried in Colorado. The Col- 
 orado people are all our enemies, and to give our men up to be tried 
 in this state would be as if we gave them up, knowing that they would 
 be luuig instantly. 
 
 " ' We will bring these men here for you to see, and those ^vhom 
 you decide to be guilty shall be taken to Washington, and the Presi- 
 dent shall determine their guilt or innocence. Douglas will have to 
 go. None of us deny that he was engaged in the White River 
 troubles, and you shall decide who else is to go. Upon this condition 
 and no others wiU we deliver these Indians.' 
 
 " ' How long will it take to bring these men here ? ' asked Hatch. 
 
 •' ' About a week,' returned Ouray. ' They will have to take their 
 own time." 
 
 " ' We w^ill accept the proposition as far as bringing the Utes here 
 is concerned, and w^e will telegraph to Secretary Schurz asking about 
 the trial at Washington,' replied Hatch. 
 
 " Jack and Colorow were instantly sent off by Ouray to the camp 
 of the hostiles, promising that they would have the twelve Indians 
 in five days, and all the other Utes except Ouray left the room im- 
 mediately. 
 
 " Then Ouray arose and spoke, again reiterating his statement that 
 the Utes could not get justice in Colorado, and could only get it in 
 Washington. 'You three,' pointing to Hatch, Adams and Valais, the 
 legal adviser, ' are all my Enemies. I am one against three. You hate 
 me. Y^ou are residents of Colorado and New Mexico and a French devil 
 (alluding to Valais), I have not one friend among you. You will not 
 give me justice, and that is why I want to go to Washington, where I 
 will at least have one friend.' " 
 
 It seemed surprising to people that Ouray, who had done so much 
 for the recovery of the captives and had ordered the war stopped on 
 the part of the White River Utes, should now turn round and defend
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 369 
 
 the murderers, for of the guilt of a numljer of them he could enter- 
 tain no doubt. It may l)e said that all he wanted was a fair trial for 
 his people. I think he wanted more. He looked upon himself as 
 their advocate, and like any engaged lawyer, wanted to have his clients 
 come off, whether guilty or not. No doubt he had not the nice dis- 
 cernment that could make a crime out of murdering the agent and his 
 employes — but a virtue out of killing Thornburg and his men. To 
 the Indian the man who had asked the soldiers to come along and 
 help him was as guilt}^ as those who had answered his request, and I 
 do not see by what code of ethics the Indian was not right in this 
 view. It appears to the writer that the Indians should be punished 
 for making unprovoked attacks upon our troops, who are not in the 
 Indian country for the purpose of making war, but as a sort of jjolice 
 force. They are officers of the law, and when they are attacked, those 
 doing so should have the same treatment as those who resist civil offi- 
 cers. This way of managing affairs would soon either exterminate the 
 Indians or make them behave themselves. This, after all, would be 
 only a peace policy, as it is the custom of civil life. But the ab- 
 surd theory upon which the Indians have been managed precludes 
 this way of viewing things. If he were brought under the laws 
 of the United States and made amenable to them, then the above 
 treatment would be consistent; but so long as each tribe is treated 
 with as if it had autonomy and a sort of iDdependent national- 
 ity, not to be ruled over but to have treaties made with it and 
 ol)served, in pretense at least, there must be kept up the show 
 of recognizing this autonomy and regarding a certain territory 
 as belonging to the tribe. Hence, when Thornbu'rg's force en- 
 tered the White RiA-er reservation, the Indians, according to theor}-. 
 had a right to attack it as an army of invasion, and the punisli- 
 ment of the Utes for resisting this invasion could not be the same 
 as for insurrection, but according to the rules and usages of war. 
 But the presence at all of the agent and his employes Avas quite an 
 anomaly and upsets the theory of the farce of autonom3\ This r^sts 
 upon quite another theory, viz: that the Indians are wards of the natio4i 
 and are to be fed, clothed, and educated until they become self-sus- 
 taining. This theory requires that those who assume this guardian- 
 ship, enforce obedience and have on hand the instrumentalities for 
 this purpose. The Indian is a sort of ward that at times needs the 
 whip, as well as moral suasion and pie and cake, to coax him along in 
 the way that his guardian wants him to go. The first theory should 
 be utterly abandoned, but still it cannot be without bad faith to the 
 treaties, so-called. Of course, whenever there is an outbreak the 
 
 2i
 
 370 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AXD 
 
 treaty is brokeu, and cannot be binding on the United States so far as 
 relates to those concerned in the outbreak. These outbreaks are 
 usually provoked, not by the government directly but by the adjacent 
 settlers, who are amenable to the government, and the fault is usually 
 on both sides. In fact white settlers on the frontier and Indians are 
 brought b}' the necessities of their situation into relations of conflict, 
 and we must expect invasions of ill-defined rights on both sides so long 
 as need and greed dominate the conduct of men, whether white or red- 
 -skinned. Still it appears to the writer that these Ute Indians could 
 have been put on the wa}- to civilization after the massacre. Jack and 
 Colorow, as well as Douglas, ouglit to have been told that they had vio- 
 lated the treaties and that now the nation had come to the conclusion 
 that they would have to go in the road that it thought best for them«,nd 
 not in their own. A thorough man as resolute as Mr. Meeker should 
 have been set to work pretty much in his wa}' to teach them to become 
 self-sustaining, and at his hand should have been placed the needed 
 militaiy force to keep them in subjection. They should be kept com- 
 pletely disarmed, and not allowed to hunt or go away from the scene 
 of their labors. If the peojjle of the United States were only half as 
 much in earnest about civilizing the Indian as they were in subduing 
 the rebellion, the thing would be done in less than a generation. But 
 as we asked before " Is it worth while? " Would the Indian civilized be 
 any more desirable as a part of the ijopulation of the United States 
 of fifty 3"ears hence than so many white men of English, Irish or 
 German descent who are to take their place? If he amalgamated, 
 would it not be to the detriment of the race; if he did not, would he 
 witli his race cliaracteristics be ahead of the white man? This is what 
 is vaguely felt by those who have to do with the Indian. Hence there 
 was far less, demand at bottom on the part of the people of Colorado 
 that the Indians should be punished for the massacre, than that the 
 Ute should leave our borders. 
 
 Colorow and Jack were exonerated for bringing on the fight with 
 Thoruljurg and freely confessed it when they learned that they would 
 suffer nothing. So the}' undertook to bring in the twelve men whom 
 the women had sworn had been engaged in the massacre. But they 
 could get none to come in save Douglas who was only indirectly en- 
 gaged in it. Some were sent to Washington, and nothing was done at 
 last with the murderers, except Douglas, who was confined at Fort 
 Leavenworth for a time and then liberated, and died insane soon after- 
 ward. ])ut the White River Utes were moved to Utah. It is said that 
 Oura}' would have fought himself rather than consent to having all 
 the Utes moved to the Indian Territory. The result would have been
 
 THE rXIOX COLOXT OF COLORADO. 371 
 
 a general ludiau war which would have cost millious of treasure and 
 thousands of lives, for it would have been no small undertaking to 
 subdue these mountain Indians in their native fastnesses. But of course 
 such a war could have but one issue. Ammunition would soon have 
 failed the Utes, and a great part would have been exterminated. On 
 the whole one is compelled to admire the conduct of Ouraj^ in stand- 
 ing up for his people. He did about as a leading Highland Chief 
 of two hundred j^ears ago would have done. Such a one we know 
 would have l^eeu just as far from delivering up the robbers and mur- 
 derers belonging to his tribes to the English for trial and execution as 
 Ouray was. The English changed all that when it completely sub- 
 dued the Highlander by taking away his rude autonomy and breaking 
 up his tribal relations and making him amenable to English law. He 
 ceased to be so interesting, but he also ceased to be a terror to his 
 peaceable, orderly neighbors across the border. But to do this would 
 be non-American and " so English, j^ou know." We, too, must follow 
 in the tracks of our own traditions, come of it what will. 
 
 After the massacre Ralph Meeker was placed in a somewhat delicate 
 position. He had to defend the character and intentions of his father 
 -against the Eastern press, the greater part of which laid the blame of 
 it rather upon the agent than upon the Indians. On the other hand 
 as correspondent of Hie New York Herald, he had defended Sioux 
 Indians and attacked the frauds of Delano, their agent. The fiercest 
 of the Colorado frontiersmen thought that his leniency towards the 
 Indians was tame and unbecoming the son of a father murdered by 
 them, and a mother and sister outraged. In an interview with a re- 
 porter of The Sf. Louis Globe-Democrat we get his views at full and 
 Ave here give the major part of them to our readers, and ask them, in 
 the calm of the present hour if they are not reasonable and quite san- 
 guinary enough? 
 
 '• ' What is your general imjaression concerning the peace policy 
 which has been adopted b}' the government towards the Utes?'' 
 
 '"That is a hard question to answer. The British government and 
 the Mormons have peace policies, and they are a success. In Trinidad, 
 papers in the archives show that in less than one hundred years after 
 the landing of Columbus, the Jesuits traveled from the Isthmus all 
 along the foot of the Rock}' Mountains, and no Indian hurt them. 
 Father De Smet spent thirty years among the Sioux. He never lied 
 to them; and they never killed him, because they knew him so well. 
 My father was a stranger to the Utes and he was misunderstood. 
 Many white men slandered him, but had he lived long enough with 
 them, and had power to carry out his plans, the Indians would have
 
 372 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 thought differently of him. To be an agent is one thing, to be a mis- 
 sionary is quite another. But it is an unchangeable law of the uni- 
 verse, among animals and men, that square dealing and decencj^ al- 
 ways win in the end. Wild men cannot be managed by mere talk. 
 The Indians have lost faith in American civilization and American 
 whiskey. I believe at first they need a gentle, humane despotism 1 
 
 "'Have you any idea that they can ever be coaxed or persuaded 
 that a life of agriculture and industry is better than the nomadic one 
 which they now lead ? 
 
 '"The Hudson Bay Company has employed Indians a hundred 
 years as hunters. They pa}' for the work done. It occupies their 
 minds, and they are so busy with their business that they forget to 
 growl and mutiny and shoot Avhite people, because the whites find 
 them employment. A man with wild nature with nothing to do is 
 dangerous anywhere. Deviltry goes out when work comes in. Hire 
 the Indians for money, which is always paid; then the}' will learn to 
 work for themselves and their children will not be born lazy.' 
 
 " ' Do you think civilization can be obtained without the enforce- 
 ment of law among them? 
 
 '' ' The Indians should be held accountable to law the same here as 
 in Canada. When they kill, enforce the law ; when the whites kill 
 them enforce the law also. Make them understand that they will be 
 hanged for murder, and they will keep the peace.' 
 
 " ' Are we not justified in saying that there exists in the Indian some • 
 inherent characteristic which precludes the idea of their ever being 
 civilized.' 
 
 " ' No. The Indians are preferable to the Fourth Ward bummers of 
 New York. The Ute massacre is no worse than the massacre of the 
 Chisholm family Ijy leading citizens, or the St. Bartholomew massacre 
 by the blue-blooded aristocrats of France. We all come from the 
 ground and were made of dust.' * * * 
 
 " ' Don't you think that the tribal relations that now exist, must 
 give way to positive law ? ' 
 
 '' ' The Indians ought to be subject to the laws of the United States, 
 the same as other people, Chinese, Sandwich Islanders or citizens of 
 New Jersey. But chiefs under the new conditions might still hold 
 their superior relations to the common Indian.' 
 
 " ' Are not these peace talks a kind of catering to the vanity of the 
 Indians ? ' 
 
 "' They evidently place the relations of the Indians to the whites 
 upon a wrong and dangerous basis. Law, citizenship and stern un- 
 yielding justice should be the basis of peace.'
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 373 
 
 " ' The result is generally, is it not, an impression that their style of 
 oratory is superior to that of the pale faces V 
 
 " " The}- think that they know more of warfare than the whites, and 
 the}' look upon educated contractors who sell them moldy flour as 
 mean white trash. Like most American orators they are conceited. 
 A good Gatling gun with plenty of ammunition in the hands of an 
 honest man would give them a wholesome opinion of the superiority 
 of agriculture and civilization over promiscuous massacres.' " 
 
 Ouray, seeing the hatred of the people of Colorado towards his 
 people, was in favor of having them moved out of the borders of that 
 state, and labored in the convention that met for that purpose to secure 
 this end ; but died before he could see it accomplished. His death 
 took place in 1881 and of his character we take the following from 
 Frank Hall's second volume of the History of Colorado, just published. 
 
 " In his ordinary bearing his manner was courtly and gentle, and he 
 was extremely fond of meeting and conversing with cultivated white 
 men, with whom he was a genial companion, compelling their respect 
 and favor by the broad enlightenment of his views. In his habits he 
 was a model ; never using tobacco, abhorring whiskey, and only tak- 
 ing a sip of wine when in company of those who were indulging, and 
 then only as a matter of courtesy to them. He never swore, nor used 
 obscene or vulgar language, was a firm believer in the Christian re- 
 ligion, and about t\YO years before his death had united with the 
 Methodist church." » 
 
 Here are related some anecdotes of Ouray, and the historian adds : 
 
 ■■ The foregoing incidents seem to illustrate the sterling honesty and 
 the general character of this remarkable chief, the statesman of his 
 nation, and the only man worthy of that high' distinction in the his- 
 tory of that people, (the Utes.) Though a warrior of renown, brave 
 to rashness in battle against the natural enemy, he comprehended that 
 the Caucasian had come to stay and to overspread the land ; that re- 
 sistance would be useless, and only result in the extermination of the 
 red man." 
 
 In concluding this chapter a final word will now be said about N. 
 C. Meeker. For the most part he has been allowed to speak for him- 
 self, but the lips are now silent, the hand that so regularly drove the 
 pen is still forever. It is becoming in his friend to defend him, who 
 is now for us in this vale of flesh at least, only a memory, from unjust 
 aspersion. The reader not familiar with all the circumstances from 
 the first, will especially ask if the character was so noble and deserv- 
 ing as a perusal of the foregoing pages woidd imply, why was it that 
 there was no more generous response to the imitation for a subscrip-
 
 374 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AXD 
 
 tion to erect a momiment ? As the writer took the lead in this matter 
 be can answer that better, perhaps, than any one else. In soliciting- 
 subscriptions he knows the reasons given for their denial, also he could 
 easily guess, when no reasons were given, knowing the relations that 
 each man had stood in to the colony and its president, as, also, to the- 
 editor of The Oreeley Tribune. 
 
 As president of the board he bore the brunt of the blame of refus- 
 ing selfish and unjust demands of individuals which would have 
 been prejudicial to the interest of the whole. About the time that 
 Greneral Cameron left the board, he remarked to the writer, who was 
 then entering upon his duties as a member of it, that corporations 
 were far more liable to suffer from unjust dealing than individuals. 
 Men will take it as a much greater discourtesy if you stand up against 
 them for the rights of a corporation than they will if you do for your 
 own. He said that he had had opprobrium enough in that line, and 
 therefore had refused to be a candidate for re-election. Besides, Mr. 
 Meeker had no gracious, suave way of denying these unjust solicita- 
 tions. His looks said if his words did not that "The thing you ask is 
 preposterous, unjust and absurd, and if you had either common sense- 
 or sense of right, you would not mention such a thing." The party 
 went away hurt and laid it up against him. Then there were the 
 half-hearted time-servers who were offended l^y the thoroughness of 
 his contempt for intemperate men who came and lived among us, and 
 on every occasion showed their disregard for our princij^les and in 
 fact took pains to abuse the Puritanical etliics and manners of the 
 leaders of those days. Mr. Meeker had invited only temperate and 
 temperance men to join the colony. It was an impertinence for others 
 to come here and especially to brag of their deviation from temper- 
 ance principles and practices. He had the largest charity for men 
 who were the victims of this habit and who deplored it and were 
 ashamed of it. He was quite willing that Greeley should be an 
 asylum for these, but not that men who gloried in their shame should 
 be treated with consideration and given office. In fact these latter 
 made it unfit for a refuge for those who had fled here for safety^, and 
 we owed it quite as much to these as ourselves that there should be 
 the least possible temptation, and that the voluntary practice of this 
 vice be branded with opprobrium. Hence all the tipplers and their 
 friends became Mr. Meeker's enemies. 
 
 Then again the pohticians were " down on him " for reasons which, 
 we have seen, but may here be profitably recapitidated. Nearly 
 everybody in the colony at the start was a Republican. But not all 
 were followers of that party because of a name. Some had become
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 8VO 
 
 Republicans because this was the humauitarian progressive party, the 
 name in itself being to them no bettor than that of Democrat. Im- 
 mediately upon Lee's surrender at Appomattox there arose in the Re- 
 publican party representatives of two lines of treatment of the con- 
 quered South, the one of severity and the other of leniency, and it is 
 remarkable that the abolitionists of the early days were largeh' on 
 the side of displaying magnanimity towards not only the rank and file 
 of the Southern people, in which all were agreed, but also towards 
 the leaders. The only marked exception to this was Thaddeus 
 Stevens. He advocated his gospel of vengeance with an insanity of 
 vehemence that shows his opposition to slaverj^ to have arisen from 
 hatred of the slaveholders rather than from compassion towards the 
 slaves. On the contrary, the attitude taken by Charles Sumner and 
 Horace Greeley proves that they were not only genuine philanthropists 
 but far-seeing statesmen. Any man who carefully studied affairs at 
 the South, prior to and during the war, ought to have been able to see 
 the absurdity of laying the blame on the prominent leaders. To he 
 sure there were Union men who were not at all to blame for the re- 
 bellion, and these should, at the close of the war, have been remuner- 
 ated for their losses and sacrifices far better than they were. But the 
 whole body of the Southern people who went heart and hand into the 
 rebellion and resisted the armies of the Union at every point for four 
 years were as guilty, if guilt there was, as the leaders. Indeed, to 
 single them out for punishment was like the crude method of the 
 Romans in punishing mutiny, selecting every tenth man by lot for ex- 
 ecution. The writer has always regarded Horace Greeley's act in 
 bailing out of prison Jefferson Davis as one of the most sublime acts 
 ever done by an American citizen. How well the people of the South 
 loved Jefferson Davis until his death is now a matter of history. The 
 WTiter. had an opportunity of seeing the enthusiasm of their attach- 
 ment to him at the opening of the New Orleans Exposition. From 
 the moment that he entered the door of the vast audience hall until 
 he had traversed it to the speaker's platform there was one wild con- 
 tinuous cheering, shouting and waving of handkerchiefs. In fact, the 
 people of the South took it, and justly, as an insult to their intelli- 
 gence and patriotism to have the secession movement imputed solely 
 to their leaders. 
 
 Besides, it was a great mistake to believe, as some of the Republi- 
 can party did believe, that the South could be ruled by negroes and 
 carpet-baggers. Intelligence, pluck and audacity will rule in any 
 country, and this can only be prevented by the extermination of those 
 displaying these qualities, and not by subjecting them to fines, pains
 
 876 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 and penalties. To attempts of this kind are to be attributed many 
 of the troubles that afflicted the reconstructed South, and the policy 
 of Greeley early adopted, and which finally had to be adopted, would 
 have saved the nation from many chapters of horror. 
 
 So when Horace Greeley was nominated by the Cincinnati Conven- 
 tion as a liberal Repubhcan candidate for the presidency, a goodly 
 portion of the people of Greeley would have voted for him or rather 
 for the electors of his party, if Colorado had l^een a state. They were 
 not only nearly every man Republicans but New York Tribune or 
 Horace Greeley Republicans. But the other Republicans of the 
 county belonged to the coercion, revenge wing, and all the politic, 
 place-hunting, Gre6ley Republicans went with them, or, as they term 
 it. remained loyal to the party whatever principles they might be- 
 lieve in. Of course Mr. Meelier, in taking the side of the Liberal 
 Republicans and their leader Horace Greeley, mortally offended the 
 regulars; for when he embraced a cause he never went half-way. 
 He published the defiant answer of Horace Greeley to the New York 
 Loyal League which had dismissed him because he bailed out Jeffer- 
 son Davis, and he called this answer sublime, and thus gave offense to 
 such soldiers as had gone into the army with no higher motives than 
 to take a hand in " hanging Jeff. Davis to a sour apple tree." But 
 the writer believes that fully a half of the old soldiers who came to 
 Greeley at first were Liberal Repubhcans. These have never consti- 
 tuted more than one-fifth of the voting population. Of those who 
 remained in the regular party at this time we may mention R. A. 
 Cameron, J. C. Shattuck and C. A. White; on the other side A. J. 
 Wilber, J. Max. Clark, M. J. Hogarty, Joseph Murray, Abner Baker 
 and the writer. Upon the death of Horace Greeley, General Cameron 
 not only pronounced a eulogy at the public meeting called upon the 
 occasion, but preached a sermon on the following Sunday at the .Con- 
 gregational church in commemoration of his great services to human- 
 ity. It was safe to praise him now that he was dead. The reader has 
 seen the attitude of J. C. Shattuck towards this great man's memory 
 fourteen years after his death, from the part of his speech we pub- 
 lished in relation to the presentation of the portrait of Horace Gree- 
 ley jto the town, by Sinclair Tousey. He there freely confesses that 
 Horace Greeley was right in his forecast of the future, but that he 
 was ahead of his time. This is equivalent to saying that he was able 
 to pluck from his heart the demon of revenge then, J. C. Shattuck 
 et al, only fourteen years later. 
 
 Well, from all this chivaky to principle, this opposition to injustice, 
 this outspoken denunciation of vice, crime, and intemperance, Mr.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 377 
 
 Meeker has come to be regarded by many as an honest fool. The fool 
 in their estimation is he who fails to win for himself f)ower, pelf, or 
 place, and downright honesty is no doubt a hindrance in either line 
 of occupation. Mr. Meeker was honest in a far higher sense than 
 merely trying to meet and fully acknowledge his pecuniarj' obliga- 
 tions. Perhaps some men were more scrupulously exact and punctual 
 in this respect than he — failure in his case arising from untoward cir- 
 cumstances. But he was honest to a degree that few men attain of 
 expressing his honest convictions in spite of consequences even when 
 he full}' foresaw them. In a certain direction, and that b}' no means 
 a common one, he had a ver}- considerable ability, and that was in 
 making just and deeply penetrating criticisms upon human life, man- 
 ners, character and conduct. As a writer he belongs to the school of 
 Montaigne, whom he studied as a model, and to Emerson, who said 
 in a public lecture about the time of his death, that he always read 
 with interest and profit the letters of N. C. Meeker. But we have 
 given our readers enough of his best writing to enable them to judge 
 for themselves in this matter. Still one word more needs to be said. 
 The writer was perhaps longer and more intimately acquainted with 
 N. C. Meeker than any" man in the colony. He was on the Colony 
 Board of trustees with him eight years. In many lines of policy they 
 differed and the writer always found that N. C. Meeker was ready to 
 listen and ai'gue points dispassionately and to yield to the better 
 reason. Indeed, he never appeared to us an obstinate man except 
 when it was a case of moral principle as clear to him as the multipli- 
 cation table, when he was unyielding. The writer has often been on 
 the other side with him in del^ate and always found him good-natured. 
 He never refused an article of his admission to his pajjer, however 
 much it might be opposed to his view. To questions of speculations 
 he extended a large hospitality, and often provoked discussion on the 
 part of his readers by taking the weakest side of social or .scientific 
 problems that had two sides to them. But on certain moral questions 
 he was intolerant and of right ought to have been. Moreover he had 
 no art of sugar-coating unpalatable truths. Still, he had the instinct 
 of clear and forcible presentation, which often conquered assent in the 
 facn of dislike. On the other hand it must be acknowledged that in 
 some instances, brought to the notice of the writer, he treated with 
 discourtesy strangers who deserved quite another kind of reception. 
 In such cases it is charitable to suppose that his temper was suffering 
 from the harrassing circumstances, in which we have seen him placed. 
 The reader of this history has more fully before him the extent andth^
 
 378 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 reasons for this fiiiaucial embarrassment than the people in those days 
 had, and can therefore more fully condone his conduct. 
 
 Truth compels us to sa^- farther here what may appear harsh, anid 
 certainly if the ^^Titer had any regard to policy would be left unsaid. 
 It is well known that X. C. Meeker did not accept Evangelical Christi- 
 anity as a system of belief. He had a high regard for the morals taught 
 by the writers of the New Testament. But he did not believe that man 
 was created a pure and holy creature, had fallen from that high estate, 
 that the guilt of this fall of a so-called representative first ancestor 
 was imputed to the whole human race, and that for this guilt alone 
 they would be eternally punished if they did not accept the atone- 
 ment made for them by a substitute, of which nine-tenths of the race 
 that have lived and died up to the present hour could not have heard. 
 What may be the fate of those who have never heard of the name of 
 Jesus or of the Evangelical plan of salvation is just now a question 
 mooted b}^ a few who stand on the verge of heterodoxy, but there can 
 be but one opinion among orthodox people about his fate in the other 
 world who, hearing deliberately, rejects. Still worse is his plight who 
 having once put his hand to the plow, delil^erately draws back. " He 
 that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three wit- 
 nesses; of how much sorer punishment suppose ye, shall he be 
 thought worthy, who, having trod underfoot the Son of God, and 
 hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified 
 an unhoh" thing, and hath done despite to the spirit of grace ? For 
 we know him that hath said, vengeance belongeth to me and I will 
 repav, saith the Lord; and again the Lord shall judge his people. It 
 is a fearful t^ing to fall into the hands of the living God." The 
 above is not the language of John Calvin, nor of St. Augustine, Imt 
 of the writer of the epistle to the Hebrews, who ends the chapter 
 from which we have quoted thus : "Now the just shall live by faith, 
 bnt if anj- man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 
 But we are not of them who draw back into perdition, but of them 
 who believe to the saving of the soul." The chapter next the last 
 ends yvith this verse, " For our God is a consuming fire." 
 
 It is true that the Campbellite sect, to which Mr. Meeker for a time 
 belonged, was far from being considered at that time an evangelical 
 denomination; but the apotheosis by the Christian world of James G. 
 Garfield, who was once a preacher of the sect and who ma}" be said 
 with certainty to have become no more orthodox in his views towards 
 the close of his life, now places the opinions of this branch 
 of the Christian church upon a more respectable if not upon 
 a more logically orthodox basis. Hence it may be considered nearly
 
 THE LTsION COLONY OF COLORADO. 879 
 
 as unpardonable to have fallen away from Campbellitism as from 
 Presbyterianism. the hurt being proportionate to the height from 
 which one falls. But whatever our reasoning in the premises be, 
 the fact remains, staring those who delil)erately reject the Evan- 
 gelical plan of salvation in the face, that the most liberal creed that 
 has been devised by any of these denominations oifers no hope in the 
 hereafter to such unbeliever, however conscientious he may think he 
 is in his convictions, or however exemplar}' in his conduct. Thei'e re- 
 mains for him " but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and 
 fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries '' as the same 
 ancient document before quoted advises us. This being the'case, how 
 inconsistent to honor the memory of him here on earth whom their 
 God is punishing to all eternity in the life beyond ? Hence we should 
 not be surprised to know that only tAvo belonging to the churches 
 subscribed anything for a monument to X. C. Meeker. These were 
 Judge James C. Scott and Morris Hastings, Scott however gives his 
 subscription rather as one of a firm than individualh-, the signature 
 being Hawks & Scott. Morris Hastings, sexton at the Greeley ceme- 
 tery, had brought to the notice of the writer the fact that* strangers 
 who visited there made the inquir}- before named, and that he was 
 ashamed at our apparent ingratitude and asked him to start the move- 
 ment for the monument. ^He then was on the borderland between 
 orthodoxy and hberalism, to which latter he has gone over. There is 
 one other church member's name on the list, that of T. F. Thompson, 
 but that was there because his son Arthur's name was to be on the 
 monument, being one of the victims of the White River massacre. 
 
 It will be noticed that the name of no woman is on. the list. This 
 does not arise from the fact that Mr. Meeker was disliked by that sex 
 more than by his own. Indeed his enthusiasm in certain moral direc- 
 tions made him almost revered by the best women in the place who 
 also were nearly all church members. The amiable inconsistency of 
 this sex would have seen no incongruity in honoring b}- a moniunent 
 here on earth the man whom their God was at the same moment 
 punishing in Gehenna. It is presumalily true that not one in 
 a hundred of them believes any such a thing, and that they never carry 
 out their creeds, if they really know what they are, to their particular 
 individual consequences. Perpetual torment at the hands of the 
 devil and his angels, for amiable, enthusiastic reformers who have 
 done ten times as much to ameliorate the human lot than any of our 
 brethren here within our own particular fold, may be accepted as a 
 general statement, but when it comes to include Charles Sumner, 
 Horace Greeley or N. C. Meeker definitely and personally, it is shrtuik
 
 380 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 back from with horror. But the oul}' loop-hole by which such a per- 
 sonal application can be evaded is that God by His Holy Spirit may 
 have worked the conversion of such in a moment, in the twinkling of 
 an eye. But if He does so in one case, why not in all ? and this 
 knocks the sides as well as the bottom out of the bottomless pit. The 
 fact is, the feelings of men, but more especially of women, are better 
 than their creeds, and had these latter had as much control of the 
 purse as the other sex, they would have subscribed liberally for a 
 monimient to N. C. Meeker. In truth those who loved him best were 
 not those best able to respond to the call through their purses. The 
 man who has succeeded in making wealth is apt to despise him who 
 has failed. For them there is but one kind of success. But N. C. 
 Meeker has attained a success greater than any of them. They may 
 refuse to contribute a cent to the granite monument proposed to be 
 raised in Lincoln Park more distinctly in recognition of him as the 
 founder of our town and colony, but. nevertheless, they too, will they, 
 nil they, are raising a monument to him more enduring than l^rass. 
 Every brick block, every church, every schoolhouse, every beautiful 
 residence reared in Greeley is a monument to N. C Meeker. Every 
 tree planted, every lawn clothed in grass and bordered with flowers, 
 e\;ery field waving with grain in and around Greeley is a monument 
 to X. C. Meeker. Every bird that sings in the branches of our trees 
 that border the fields and streets once covered with, cactus, every bee 
 that hums in our clover lawns or fields of alfalfa sings or hums a 
 requiem to the ashes of X. C. Meeker.
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 R. A. CAMERON AND H. T. WEST — THEIR LETTERS TO N. C. MEEKER — BIOGRAPH- 
 ICAL SKETCH OF R. A. CA3IER0N AFTER LEAVING THE COLONY — MRS. R. A. 
 CAMERON — H. T. WEST, DR. CHARLES EMERSON, CHARLES BLX'KINGHAM, 
 J. B. FLOWER, JAMES BENEDICT, B. F. JOHNSON, W. E. PABOR AND HIS 
 
 WRITINGS — J. HERON FOSTER, SAMUEL BLODGETT, WILLIAM FOOTE, JR., 
 
 F. H. ROUS AND FAMILY — A. D. MOODIE AND FAMILY — B. S. LA GRANGE 
 — M. J. HOGARTY AND FAMILY — HENRY DE VOTIE — ARTHUR HOTCHKISS — 
 JOHN THOMPSON — J. E. BROWNELL — MR. AND MRS. G. W. BUELL — ALFRED 
 
 BAXTER — THE ATKINSONS — ALLEN RAMSAY THOMAS MIMMACK THE 
 
 INMAN FAMILY — THE DIXON BROTHERS — DR. GEORGE PYBURN — .JOSEPH 
 
 MOORE E.J.CARVER J.J.ARMSTRONG AND FAMILY — JAMES ORR 
 
 THOMAS G. MACY — SAMUEL GRAHAM — DR. W. P. WELCH .JOHN LEAVY — 
 
 ELI HALL — NIAGARA HALL — JAMES HENRY — A. W. HANCOCK — JUDGE CLARK 
 — DR. J. S. SCOTT — JUDGE J. C. SCOTT — DANIEL CARPENTER — WILLIAM 
 
 m'cLELLAN OVID PLUMB DANIEL HAWKS AND -JAMES TUCKERMAN 
 
 AUGUST BOYE — DR. A. L. CA3IP W. H. DELBRIDGE J. C. KENDEL 
 
 C. W. WULFJEN — THE GALE FAMILIES — A. T. BACON — ROBERT HALE — THE 
 
 CURRIERS — E. K. PACKARD — A. GILCHRIST ROBERT KENNISON PETER 
 
 BROWN — CHARLES WALLACE — ANDREW SCOTT — S. B. WRIGHT — B. D. 
 HARPER AND WIFE — OLIVER HOWARD AND FAMILY — GREELEY LITERARY 
 WOMEN — DR. I. B. BARCLAY — MR. AND MRS. NORCROSS AND FAMILY — 
 DR. GEORGE LAW — HIS ARTICLE IN "<THE GREELEY TRIBUNE " ON EARLY 
 COLONIAL EXPERIENCES — J. F. FEZER — DR. JESSE HAWES — HIS TREATISE 
 ON C.4JHAHA PRISON — CONCLUSION. 
 
 TTHE man next in importance in founding Union Colonj'^, after X. 
 C. Meeker and Horace Greeley, was undoixbtedh- R. A. Cameron 
 and after him H. T. West. To the first named it has been proven 
 the honor belongs of the conception of the scheme atid the outlining of 
 a policy to be pursued in the settlement. Horace Greelej^ gave it the 
 prestige of his great name, endorsed its projector, consented to be its first 
 treasurer, and advanced money to purchase colony lauds when money 
 was needed to build the ditches. To all three of the locating com- 
 mittee belongs the credit of making a judicious selection, partly due 
 to good judgment but partly also to unforeseen circumstances. Upon 
 Cameron and West devolved the difficult task of putting the scheme
 
 382 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 into practical operation. We have blamed a part of the policy at first 
 adopted, and have offered, it appears to us, abundant proof to show 
 that it was not open, candid, or calculated to command the confidence of 
 men who were strangers to the leaders whom the first arrived colonists 
 found on the ground. We have given it as our opinion, that much of 
 the dissatisfaction of those early days would have been avoided if N. 
 C Meeker had l)een here from the first, and have related the general 
 disappointment expressed on not finding him here on arriving. We 
 have in our possession letters both from R. A. Cameron and H. T. 
 West written to N. C. Meeker while in New York, showing the anxiety 
 of these gentlemen for his speed}' return. Tliese have l^een put in 
 the hands of the wTiter b}' Mrs, Meeker, and perhaps should have 
 been quoted so far as relevant to our inquiry in the part of this work 
 devoted more particularly to a discussion of the opposition met by the 
 leaders, but are Ijetter inserted here than omitted. They show quite 
 vividly the difficulties which the leaders encountered here, and the 
 great confidence they had in the presence of N, C. Meeker here to help 
 them out of these perplexities ; thus acknowledging by implication 
 the great influence of his name and fame in setting the movement on 
 foot, and that their names and work were inferior and subordinate. 
 
 The first letter is dated at Evans, April 30th, 1870, and is from H. 
 T. W^est. It relates largely to the death and burial of Mr, Meeker's 
 son George. But in addition it advises that Horace Greeley make a 
 quit claim deed of the colony lauds to the colony trustees. This was 
 one of the things that the colonists disputed the jDropriety of doing, 
 since the original compact made Mr. Greeley hold the lands in- trust 
 imtil deeded to individual members; and the bulk of the colonists 
 had more confidence in the integrity of Mr. Greeley than in that of 
 these five men, strangers, except perhaps N. C. Meeker. He farther 
 advises Mr, Meeker to bring or send the records of the doings of the 
 Executive Conmiittee at New York, as a misunderstanding had arisen 
 between him and Mr, Cameron about the following point : " I have 
 always had an idea, and I think it is the true one, that all of our mem- 
 bers are obliged by the tenor of the constitution to buy a lot and im- 
 prove it. The General thinks not, and says that the subject was dis- 
 cussed in executive council and should be matter of record." 
 
 ■ Those wishing to decide the question here raised by Mr. West can 
 do so bj' referring to the New York constitution in appendix B. 
 
 The next is from E. A. Cameron, dated at Greeley, May 5th, and 
 from it we quote : 
 
 " It seems important that you should be here ; not that we are not 
 doing all we can, but people wish to see you, and consult with you
 
 THE rxiOX COLONY OF COLORADO. 383 
 
 about man}- things arising from day to day. * * * 
 
 " People arriving are illy provided with tents and shelter, and seem 
 surprised that lumber yards, hotels, stores, etc., are not on the ground. 
 We have all kinds of people to satisfy. Most of them having small 
 means are disapix)inted at the high prices which everything costs. 
 Then our surveying goes slowly, and it is difficult for them to locate 
 their places, and thus get them at work and satisfied." 
 And again, under date of May 7th : 
 
 " x\fter a long cold wind storm the morning appears warm and pleas- 
 ant; but not so with all here. We have some soreheads and malcon- 
 tents. Some growl that we are so far from the mountains, some that 
 the grass is so short, and some that we cannot give a quarter section next 
 the town. We have told them that they can have a quarter section 
 by going beyond the railroad limits; but some few appear to think 
 each can have a quarter section next the toAvu plat; some are ready to 
 return, and we the majority who are satisfied with the country think 
 best to procure them return colony tickets and let them go back. 
 
 " Do hurry back as quick as you can and help quiet the over san- 
 guine and now disapi^ointed." 
 
 From H. T. West of the same date we take the foUowing: 
 " I think we have about one hundred and twenty-five persons on the 
 ground. They are people of all sorts, and some of them are grumljlers ; 
 and one or two who, because they cannot get a quarter section quite 
 near town, and because the constitution is not in every respect adhered 
 to, are trying to breed discord. We need your counsel and advice, and 
 it is»ivith pleasure that we hear that you will start back soon. You 
 will meet with a hearty welcome." 
 
 It IS worthy of note here that the number expecting to get a quar- 
 ter section near town is reduced to two. These had eWdently gone or 
 changed their demand before the arrival of the writer, as he saw no 
 one who had any such expectation. 
 
 The next is ^vTitten the 9th, and is signed by both Cameron and West : 
 " Your second letter of May 2nd and 4th is at hand, and we are very 
 glad to hear from you. We are very busy and full of perplexities and 
 troubles, and it is our opinion that you should return at once. Don't 
 understand by this that there is any trouble that cannot be overcome; 
 but we need your counsel and assistance, and particularly your sanc- 
 tion to new things which we are obliged to say and do, not thought of 
 before. 
 
 " The supply of luml:>er is wholly inadequate, and people arriving 
 here under the instructions to Ijring no tents are complaining bitterly 
 that they find no sufficient shelter from the cold. The price of luni-
 
 384 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 ber has risen to |i5 jDer thousand feet, and cannot he procured in suf- 
 ficient quantities even at that price. Too many people are arriving 
 on the ground depending entirely on work for subsistence, being al- 
 most destitute of means, and as there is a great scarcity of every kind 
 of material, they cannot be employed. Men thus without emplo}-- 
 meut, and wdth limited means become restless and discontented. The 
 Indian scare amounts to nothing. You always have to go from home 
 to hear the news. Eighty-three arrived this P. M., Fisk senior and 
 junior, and Mr. Paul and other good men, some of whom you do not 
 know; and the best men are the best satisfied." 
 
 It should be remarked here that the want of means spoken of above 
 was with most only temporary. Man}^ upon hearing that a site was 
 selected rushed hei'e before being able to sell out. They knew that 
 the rule would be, "First come, first served." There was an attempt 
 made to prevent this, but to conciliate those who were here and clam- 
 orous, they were allowed to draw and buy lots about as fast as sur- 
 veyed. So it happened that when Mr. Meeker arrived June 7th he 
 could not get a single lot on Main street, nor a corner business lot 
 anywhere. This accounts for the location of The Tribune building. 
 Mr. Meeker was very much annoyed on coming to find that those here 
 had gobbled all the best locations. When the writer arrived three 
 days after the above letter was written, not a business lot was left on 
 Main street. Mr. Meeker used to call attention to the fact that Mr. 
 Cameron had secured for himself and partner, J. B. Flower, the best 
 corner in town, viz: the one on which Union Bank is now situated, 
 while he had to go off" on Maple street, on the other side from \fhere 
 his residence lot was situated. However, it is to be said that the ex- 
 ecutive committee here reserved for Mr. Meeker one of the finest and 
 l^est situated five-acre lots, and contiguous to it an acre building lot 
 where the family residence now stands. The writer is informed that 
 Mr. Meeker's heirs refused five thousand dollars for this five-acre lot 
 some years ago, although no buildings save a small shanty stable are 
 upon it. 
 
 West was more modest than Cameron in gralibing for himself a 
 business location, selecting the one which B. D. Sanborn now owns. 
 
 The next letter is ^vritten b}" Mr. West and relates to the purchase 
 of the building in Cheyenne, known after its erection here as Hotel 
 de Comfort. This was purchased on account of the scarcity and high 
 price of new lumber. 
 
 The next and last of those put into our possession is also w ritten by 
 Mr. West as secretary of the executive council, which was now nomi- 
 nally managing business, instead of the two gentlemen we have been
 
 ^/ \ 
 
 V /'^sv''*^ ^ 
 
 ,1/ 
 
 r-i'jiii 
 
 DE, CHAS. EMERSOK,
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 385 
 
 discussing. It is dated the 13th of May, 1870, or one day after the 
 arrival of the writer, and hence at the height of the opposition to the 
 manager. It is as iollows : 
 
 " The Trustees and Executive Committee in council to-day decided 
 that your presence here was absolutely necessary, and instructed me 
 to write you to that effect, and requesting you to bring with you the 
 fuJl records of everything done in New York with full list of mem- 
 bers, etc. We think it necessary to make a full starement to the mem- 
 bers in regard to our doings and intentions, and do not wish to do so 
 until you are present. We have some of the best material in the col- 
 oii}- and are hopeful." 
 
 From the above, which closes the correspondence, .so far as in the 
 posse.ssion of this writer, it will be seen the importance all attached to 
 the presence of Mr. Meeker, and wholly upsets the theorj- of some 
 that his absence was an advantage, since his place was filled by an 
 abler man. 
 
 In some respects Mr. Cameron was an abler man. He had more 
 executive ability; he was quick to see a point, and fertile in expedi- 
 ents to meet new and trying emergencies. He readily and gracefully 
 yielded to a heavy i^ressure — was a man of polic}^ rather than a de- 
 votee of principle. West on the other hand was just as obstinate as 
 Mr. Meeker, and even less disposed to hear the arguments of the other 
 side. Hence he was quite unpopular, but had in general a high rep- 
 utation for integrit}" and business honor, and had a following of men 
 who adn^ire these qualities. 
 
 Mr. West left the colonj- board before the end of the fu'st year, and 
 General Cameron, as we have seen, at the first election in May, 1871. 
 Both ran for town trustees for the new town organization, and Cameron 
 got the highest vote, 1-40; and West the lowest, 95. Cameron was made 
 president and West secretary. The former, however, resigned in about 
 three months to accept the place of superintendent of " Fountain Col- 
 ony," at a salary of -f 3,000 per annum. West then became president, and 
 did more than any other man to put the town organization in shape. 
 
 General Cameron was engaged in the affairs of Fountain Colon v 
 for about a year, and then returned to Greelej^ but took no promi- 
 nent part in public affairs. In the spring of 1873 he took a leading 
 part in the formation of the " Agricultural Colony of Fort Collins," 
 of which mention has been made elsewhere, and left this concern a 
 much poorer if not a wiser man. Returned to Greelej-, he found no 
 particular employment, but lost some more money in the legal contest 
 that took place between the stockholders and managers of the " Smug- 
 gler Mine." 
 
 25
 
 386 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 The General as soon as possible disposed of his Greeley property 
 and started off with W. E. Pabor to the Pacific coast with the inten- 
 tion of publishing there a literary magazine. They found little or no 
 encouragement in this undertaking, but stayed long enough to use up 
 the whole of their limited capital. Both parties returned to Colorado 
 poor indeed in this world's goods, but with hearts and hands strong 
 to meet life's now sterner duties and responsibilities. Nothing so tries 
 the stuff of which a man is made as one of these overthrows at the 
 hands of fate, and both bore the " arrows and the slings of outrageous 
 fortune " with equanimity. Nothing is so admirable in the American 
 character as its resilience. A Yaukee cast to the earth rebounds like 
 a rubber ball. 
 
 On returning to Colorado both took up their residence in Denver. 
 The General soon got a position as inspector in the United States 
 mail service, and made an efficient officer. Mrs. Cameron bore her 
 part in this reversal of fortune with the grace and dignity native to 
 her character. Soon a beautiful home was reared on Broadway and 
 adorned bj^ her own skillful hands. 
 
 When Governor Eaton entered upon the duties of his high office 
 General Cameron was appointed warden of the state penitentiary. 
 He engaged in the new duties of this position with that zeal and enthu- 
 siasm which are so characteristic of him, and displayed here again his 
 rare executive ability. He imdertook extensive jjrison reform meas- 
 ures, and in them was nobly supported by Mrs. Cameron. A reverse 
 turn in the political wheel brought a Democrat into the Governor's 
 chair, and turned Cameron out of his place as warden, before his plans 
 of prison reform could bear much fruit. But he has the honor of 
 having made an attempt in this humanitarian direction. 
 
 Before becoming warden he had purchased a tract of land near 
 Canon City for' the purpose of fruit growing, this locality having 
 proved itself the most favorable in Colorado east of the range. 
 
 A house has been erected on this fruit farm and Mrs. Cameron and 
 the children remain there while the General has been engaged for 
 some time in " booming " the country on the line of the Denver and 
 Fort Worth railroad. He has been working for a salary for some 
 time, but is now engaged in building up some particular town on the 
 line of this road in which he has a large personal interest ; so he may 
 yet come out a millionaire, or be fated to have another reverse like the 
 many he has already experienced. 
 
 Incidentally we have spoken of Mrs. R. A. Cameron. In her the 
 General has a noble companion and helper. She is one of the " Flower 
 Girls," as the callable and accomjilished daughters of J. B. Flower are
 
 THE UNION' COLONY OF COLORADO. 387 
 
 familiarly called by the people of Greelej- . She, as all her sisters, has 
 the faculty of making her home, whether spacious or humble, attrac- 
 tive to people of thought aud refiuemeut. The cordiality of both to 
 their guests is delightful, and one can converse with thorn freely and 
 fully upon the profoundest subjects of human life and destiny. The 
 deficienc}' of the General's sight, impaired in the army, has not been 
 for them wholly a misfortune, for it has ]3rought it about that Mrs. Cam- 
 eron has become for him largely the medium for his reading and study. 
 Hence to some extent she has been to him for eyes. So their married 
 relation has come nearer than usual in attaining Tennyson's ideal: 
 
 "He gain in sweetness and in moral strength, 
 Nor lose the wrestling thews that throw the world ; 
 She gain in mental breadth, nor fail in childward crire, 
 Nor lose the childlike in the larger mind." 
 
 Here a closing word is fitly spoken of H. T. West. He continued 
 in the banking business until some time in 1875. when he went into 
 the coal business with his relatives the Canfields, from whom the town 
 of Canfield, near Erie, is named. They had here the " Rol) R03- " coal 
 mine which was then esteemed a valuable property. Mr. West put 
 into the concern -112,500, and also went their security for some $18,000 
 more. Mr. W^est run an office for the sale of the coal in Denver, while 
 the Canfields attended to the mining operations. The business proved 
 a failure, Mr. West informs the writer, principally because of the 
 strikes of the miners just at such times as there was good sale for 
 the coal. In the course of two years not only was the capital Mr. 
 W^est put in the concern eaten up, but his other property was sold at 
 a great sacrifice to meet the securities he had given. Mr. West was 
 not only left penniless but all his property could not satisfy his obli- 
 gations. This wholly upset him. He was a man proud of his prompt- 
 ness to meet pecuniary obhgations, and now untoward circumstances 
 had completely fliuig him on his back. A fit of severe illness followed, 
 and kept him phj^sically prostrate as well as mentally. But his capable 
 and honora1)le son, George H., has been able to set him as it were, 
 both on his physical and financial feet again, and he is again recover- 
 ing that elasticity' both of step and mental attitude once so character- 
 istic of him. We have seen the prominent part he has lately taken 
 in having the certificate of the colonial organization renewed, and 
 that, too, in spite of a severe attack of the " grippe " undergone the 
 past winter. The writer again acknowledges his indebtedness to him 
 for much of the material which made this histor}- possible in some of 
 its features. Had Mr. West ke])t steadily at banking in Greeley as 
 he did for five years, he would no doubt lie to-da}' worth more than
 
 388 A HISTOHY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 1100,000, but would not be in the estimation of the author one whit 
 more worthy as a man. 
 
 Following Mr. West it were as well to say a further word of Dr. 
 Charles Emerson. He was the first man of large capital to identify 
 himself with the colony. There is no doubt but that upon the list of 
 colonists that joined at New York are the names of men of extensive 
 capital, but thej^ did not come and take their chances here as Dr. 
 Emerson did. Early during the first summer he was elected treasurer 
 of the colony, instead of Horace Greeley, whose non-residence made 
 his holding that office too inconvenient for us. The doctor held this 
 olfice some six years, and as the funds on hand were, after the first 
 3'ear, quite inconsiderable, it may be said that the work was done al- 
 most gratuitously. 
 
 Charles Buckingham also was in the banking business of this firm 
 for some four years, when he went to Boulder, where he still remains, 
 and has had the liberality to donate to the State University, at that 
 place, $2,000 for a library. 
 
 Dr. Emerson has been living in Denver for some half dozen years, 
 but his business is largely in the agricultural region below Greeley on 
 the Platte. He is perhaps the most extensive owner of laud under 
 irrigation in the state. In one body under the Lower Platte and 
 Beaver he has 5,000 acres in a body. He has also several other large 
 tracts notably near Sterling. These lands he is rapidly seeding down 
 to alfalfa and intends to graze it off with cattle for the most part. 
 He has studied up the question of danger from bloat and thinks if 
 cattle are kept steadily on alfalfa, with free access to both salt and 
 water, there is no danger. As a matter of fact he has had several 
 hundred head running on alfalfa for the past year and has lost none so 
 as the writer knows. 
 
 It might l)e here added that the Doctor is in theory quite the oppo- 
 site of his practice in regard to land-holding. In fact he believes that 
 land should be nationalized in accordance with the views of Henry 
 George. But so long as law and practice are thq other way he believes it 
 just to conform to the ways of the world, until they are amended by gen- 
 eral consent. Though he is now some three-quarters of a century old 
 he is actively engaged developing his new lands, and courageously 
 faces the hardships incident to these undertakings away from the 
 comforts of well settled localities. During the summer he is perhaps 
 more than three-fourths the time away from home and in the field, as 
 it were, at the front of civilization. 
 
 A farther word will here be said of J. B. Flower, who succeeded 
 Dr. Emerson as treasurer of the colony. Mr. Flower came early in
 
 THE UNION COLONY 6f COLORADO. 389 
 
 the summer of 1870, and is supposed to have furnished most of the 
 money which carried on the firm of Flower & Cameron. He was no 
 doubt a vakiable adviser of the General. He was always distinguished 
 for coolness, caution and sagacit^^ Few men are endowed with more 
 discretion than he. Mrs. Cameron came with her father and joined 
 the General about the first of June. Had both been here earlier it is to 
 be believed some mistakes would not have been rfiade that were made. 
 
 Mr. Flower has served the people well in many capacities, on school 
 boards, town l^oards and as delegate to political conventions, where 
 his far-seeing sagacity made him valuable for his party and friends. 
 He and his amiable partner, who " have climbed the hill together," 
 are now far on their road back to its foot where the long sleep is likely 
 to be entered on not far apart. They can " depart in peace," so far as 
 solicitude on behalf of their childrens' worldly condition is concerned, 
 all now being in affluent circumstances and loved and honored by 
 hosts of friends. 
 
 A more extended mention of Mr. Flower's son-in-law, James F. 
 Benedict, is here appropriate. He has the reputation of being one of 
 our shrewdest men of business. For a long time he was cashier of 
 the Union Bank ; and was also some eight years treasurer of the school 
 district. Though a Democrat he was elected treasurer one term for 
 this very Kepublican county. On the election of Cleveland he was 
 appointed internal revenue officer for the district of Colorado and 
 Wyoming. Since being superseded in that office by J. M. Freeman, 
 he is doing business in Denver, but his family still reside in Greeley. 
 The genial and witt}' George Adams slipped into Mr. Benedict's shoes 
 as cashier of Union Bank, while the latter was serving his country 
 under Cleveland, and is likely to remain there until his country asks 
 him also some day to step up higher. 
 
 Bruce F. Johnson has been president of the Union Bank now nearly 
 ten years, and is in many respects worthy of consideration. He is 
 one of the "59ers' " who has been able to fill for himself a large 
 purse. When the colony came here he was in partnership with G. S. 
 Hill on the Thompson, but dissolved that relation about that time and 
 went e.vclusively into the cattle business, in which he made a large 
 fortune during the rise in prices. The reduction of recent years has 
 no doubt shrunk it some, if estimated in dollars and cents, but as he 
 is still largely in the business the next upward wave will carry his 
 fortune along with it. He was for a long time proprietor of the Greeley 
 Mills, and is now an extensive stockholder in the Colorado Milling 
 combination, a cori^oration, however, which has failed to realize the 
 expected dividends.
 
 390" A HISTOBY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 Something has been said about W. E. Pabor in connection with Gen- 
 eral Cameron's magazine scheme, but a farther notice is here deemed 
 suitable. He has had perhaps as checkered a career as any of those 
 who took a prominent part in this settlement. He was secretar}^ of the 
 colony for a time and published before the close of 1870 a history of 
 the colony up to that date. Though several thousands of this, 
 pamphlet of forty pages were published, the writer has been able to 
 find only three extant. From this publication some financial statistics 
 were found of value, but the bulk of it -referring to agriculture, irri- 
 gation, mountain scenery, flora, etc., has too high a poetical coloring 
 for use here. We have quoted from its pages in reference to the fer- 
 tihty of Colorado soil only to show the extravagance of belief in that 
 regard. Mr. Pabor had the poetic temperament, and saw common 
 things "with his eyes in fine frenzy rolling." During the first sum- 
 mer his muse gushed forth so plentifully that ordinary English could 
 not afford a sufficient outlet. The reader has already been treated ta 
 the poem about the perplexed and puzzled Dutchman. Paddy also 
 had to have his say in verse, of which production the following i." the 
 last stanza : 
 
 " So bad or not, I tell you what, 
 
 Jim. pack and come to Greeley; 
 There's room for Pat ami Ned and Mat, 
 And though the land just looks like sand 
 
 It makes the praties maly." 
 
 A Yankee writes back to his sweetheart, Mehitabel Tumble, of 
 Squedunk, Maine, a la Lowell 
 
 " I reckon neow it's time I writ 
 . To yeou about eour teown, Jear Het: 
 Eout here on Colorado plains ; 
 I swaow to gracious, when I think 
 Of Squedunk, I begin to blink 
 My eyes, and people think it rains." 
 
 Mr, Pabor went into the real estate business in Greeley with his 
 friend Mr. Allen. They invested largely in town lots during the 
 spring of 1871, when, as our readers will remember, prices were higher 
 than they were for many years afterwards. He also bought the 
 McMaster farm, now owned by Albert Howard, and tried dairying 
 and hay-making, Richard Armstrong being his foreman. In his poetical 
 way he called this cat-tail swamp and nest of frog ponds " Valley 
 Home Farm." He never was able to make it pay half the running 
 expenses. From his experiments in farming and the depreciation of 
 values in real estate in Greeley he became financially ruined and ac- 
 companied Cameron, as related, to the shores of the Pacific, and came
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 391 
 
 back about as poor as a man ever gets. But his pen soon procured for 
 himself and family a living. He edited lite Colorado Farmer for 
 awhile with success, and since then various other newspapers. For 
 thejast half dozen of years he has occupied himself principally in 
 developing and making known the resources of the Colorado San 
 Juan region, and is now editing The Grand Valley Star. He may 
 be credited as the founder of the town of Fruita, a name of his coin- 
 ing. He appears to have steadily gained in this world's goods since 
 his second advent to Colorado. No doubt the toils and partial fail- 
 ures of the passing day are relieved and in part compensated for, by 
 living still largely in his " Castles in Spain," which never wholly leave 
 the poetic soul shelterless. A quotation from an article written by 
 him io The New York Saturday Review, about the beginning of 1873, 
 will give our readers an idea of his prose style at its best, and also of 
 his '-anguine expectations : 
 
 " GREELEY — THE PIONEER COLONY. 
 
 * * "I well remember the strange thrill of satisfaction I ex- 
 perienced when the telegraphic announcement was made by the 
 Locating Committee, sent out by the nucleus that had gathered in 
 the Farmers' club room of the Cooper Institute in the preceding 
 December, that a site had l)een chosen, lands selected, a home founded 
 for those who had cast their lots together in the well-nigh chimerical 
 scheme of founding a town in the ' Far West." For this was the 
 pioneer of the new system of settlements. It had nd precedent by 
 which to regulate its movements. * * * 
 
 " So we came from the bays of Maine and the capes of Florida, 
 from the forests of Minnesota and the swamps of Louisiana, from the 
 shores of the great inland lakes, and from the pavements of the mul- 
 titude-burdened cities; strangers, yet friends; kindred through a 
 common faith, a common purpose, and a common hope. And we 
 pitched our tents in the bright day-shine and the soft star-light of that 
 eventful summer, on the banks of the fair 'flowing river by whose 
 side we were to make or mar our destiny; from whose tide we 
 were to draw a blessing or a curse. The record of the times in 
 which the faith of manhood or the trust of womanhood were tried, 
 has never been fairly put upon paper, and never can be. The doubts 
 that chased each other as the swift antelope chases its fellow over the 
 prairies — these who can fathom ? The fears that came with the morn- 
 ing sunbeams, and were not dispelled by the shadows of the night — • 
 these who can count ? With many life had been one long mistake 
 of purpose and failure of accomplishment. Was this to be the cul- 
 minating mistake ? The grand climacteric of failure ?
 
 392 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 " So we asked ourselves as the days went by. But the hope and 
 the faith that had nerved us during our long journey hither, never 
 wholly died out of our hearts. There were to be gains as well as 
 losses, jjleasures as well as pains. The warmly tender bosom ,of 
 Mother Earth gave suggestions of the mighty forces concealed within 
 and bid us bend the witch-hazel rod of an indomitable will, and the 
 secret of the hidden wealth should be ours. 
 
 " Two thousand (?) people are happily settled upon the Union Colony 
 lands in and around Greeley. Half a dozen brick blocks within my 
 sight, as I sit writing at my office table, testify of the faith of the 
 builders and of the positive material prosperity of the town. Town 
 lots despised in June, 1870, at the fearful price of twenty-five dollars, 
 to-day cannot be purchased for $1,500. (It is to be suspected that 
 this last is a real estate man's imaginary estimate — as no inside lot 
 was then worth more than |500.) A schoolhouse of stately propor- 
 tions; to cost $20,000, is rising from the center of the town, to indicate 
 that the educational interests of the children are to be properly 
 looked after. Four church denominations invite the people to prayer 
 and praise. Two lyceums weekly tempt the citizens to listen to 
 original and selected themes, to music, to poetry, to discussions of the 
 arts and sciences, the politics of the nation, and the ethics of social 
 life. Two newspapers are published, two banks successfully teach 
 the rules of discount and realize the benefits arising from a tempting 
 two per cent, a Aonth policy. Three thousand acres of grain were 
 harvested this season, and the wheat averaged twenty-six bushels, and 
 the potatoes two hundred bushels per acre. Such agricultural exper- 
 ience in the heart of what was known to me in the days of niy youth 
 as the 'Great American Desert,' astonishes us even yet; and the half 
 has not been told as it is. Later I shall collate some of the farming 
 statistics of the present year, with which to astonish Eastern agricul- 
 turists. These evidences of prosperity tell their own story; others 
 could be added. Two steam saw mills are busy with the logs our 
 mountain men cut last winter in the mighty pine forest west of us, 
 and floated down the river when the early summer sun sent the snow 
 in streaming toi'rents down the winding river. A flour mill that can- 
 not fill the measure of the demand upon it produces a ' Snow-flake ' 
 brand unequaled in the length and l^readth of the United States of 
 America. And here let me say that I have noticed of late accounts of 
 Colorado wheat as far east as Boston, and I doubt not at even that 
 distance from its producing center it j^nijs to get it. * * * 
 
 " The taxable amovmt of town property for this year reaches the 
 remarkable figure of $800,000. The taxable property' under the irri-
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 393 
 
 gating canals of Union Colony amounts to 11,100,000. Weld county, in 
 which we ai'e located, shows taxable real estate to the value of $3.- 
 300,000. The area of lands in the. Cache la Poudre valley, between 
 its junction with the South Platte, four miles east of Greeley, is esti- 
 mated at 375,000 acres, all of which can be brought under cultivation; 
 within five years this property will be worth $25,000,000, exclusive of 
 building values that may be upon it, in the farm houses that are to 
 dot this charming valley. Allotting but one-third of this valley for 
 cultivation, it can be shown that this portion is capable of producing 
 two million, five hundred thousand bushels of cereals, or 150,000,000 
 ■pounds of food. This amount is capable of sustaining three hun- 
 dred thousand persons. For a moment we can scarcely realize our 
 .situation, or the magnificent future awaiting this valley, so beautiful 
 for situation, the joy of Northern Colorado." 
 
 The reader who has followed us so far need not have pointed out to 
 him the extravagance of the above. His attention, however, should be 
 called to the fact that the value of taxable property in Greeley is said 
 to be 1800,000. If that means assessed value, we have been going at 
 a snail's pace since, as the assessed value of property within the coi'- 
 porate limits of Greeley is only a little over 11,000,000 in 1889, or 
 seventeen years after the one spoken of by Mr. Pabor. The writer 
 feels sure that the real value of property to-day, both as regards im- 
 provements and the bare realty, is five times that of 1872, and the 
 moneys, credits and personals is not far from the same ratio. It may 
 therefore ])e supposed that iVIr. Pabor meant by taxable value the 
 real value just as a late circular published by the real estate operators 
 here puts the taxable lvalue of property in Weld county at 122,000,000. 
 when the assessed value is only one-third of this. It is? worthy of in- 
 quiry whether our real estate operators learned this trick from the first 
 of their guild among us. However, the assessment in those days was 
 nearer the real value than it is now, and the town property had then a 
 separate assessment for town purposes, and was made higher than the 
 county so as to get funds to meet the demands. 
 
 In regard to the estimated production of the Poudre valley, it may 
 be said that in 1889 the wheat is estimated at 600,000 bushels, which 
 is probably twice as much as ever was raised in one year before, and 
 is as high as it is ever likely to go for reasons already given. The 
 total wheat crop of the valleys watered by the South Platte and its 
 tributaries is estimated at 3,000,000 bushels for the same year. 
 
 We are told that the amount of cereal so estimated was " capable 
 of- sustaining 300,000 persons." This would be about eight bushels 
 of wheat per head, which would be more than sufficient for sustaining
 
 394 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 them with bread, but the modern man does not "live by bread alone,'^ 
 not even in a ph3"sieal sense. The cost of breadstuifs is less than 
 one-tenth of the total cost of living of even a frugal family. It is 
 much less than that, if the value of the iclieaf alone is taken into 
 account. Hence wheat producers would have to sell at least nine out 
 of every ten bushels raised to supply them with the other necessaries 
 of hfe. This would reduce Mr. Pabor's 300,000 to 30,000, and divid- 
 ing his 2,500,000 bushels by foin- we would have the population of the 
 Poudre valle}^ supported by wheat raising alone reduced to 7 500. 
 There is only about one-fourth of the cultivated land sown to wheat, 
 so it may be considered capable of sustaining the 30,000 by means of 
 agricultural industry alone. The population, not taking into account 
 those at work in the stone quarries, is probably not more than 12,CKJ0. 
 The above affords us a good instance of the incompleteness of view 
 characteristic of the poetic mind. 
 
 Of the other men who took a conspicuous part and made a good 
 deal of noise, but who long ago retired from the scene of their con- 
 flicts, we may mention J. Heron Foster. His estimate of things was 
 far from poetical. His reading in agricultural science and about 
 practical agriculture was extensive. 
 
 He had quite a turn for exact statistics, and the Farmers' Club af- 
 forded him a suitable arena on which to display his speculations, and 
 make report of his experiments. But the scientific turn of mind that 
 is so often led to undertake experiments js likely to prove as ruinous 
 to its owner as the poetic, when the latter remains satisfied with, its 
 " Castles in Spain." Mr. Foster had tliis turn for experimenting, and 
 the situation in which we found ourselves here was a new and tempt- 
 ing one. Much, nearly everything, was to be learned in this costly 
 school. Mr. Foster seemed to reason from an induction of conditions 
 to results aliout as closely as it is given us to make anticipating con- 
 clusions. His hne of work was mostly horticulture and nursery busi- 
 ness. New and unforeseen, to human vision unforeseeable, contingen- 
 cies were constantly arising. Water would fail and then the grass- 
 hoppers came. If anything escaped, there was but little market for 
 it. Health also failed. During the spring of 1875 he had a severe 
 eruption of the throat coming from scrofula. He lingered along dur- 
 ing the summer, and some time in September bought an old pony and 
 saddle and started away from the scene of his dissappointed hopes to 
 try his fortunes over again elsewhere. He had less than $25 in his 
 pocket. Wife and three children left behind who, however, get the 
 annual income from his father's estate, some |200. He pulls up some- 
 where in the arid regions now ironically called "rainbelt,"' of Kansas.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLOKADO. ■ 395 
 
 Tries a colonial scheme of his own, fails in this and finds there more 
 drouth and grasslioppers than in Colorado. Goes back to Pennsylva- 
 nia on a begging tour for "bleeding Kansas," gets into difficulties 
 about not accounting satisfactorily for funds. Leaves Kansas for 
 Florida, but not alone, having found a partner of joys and sorrows iu 
 the wife of some one else unhappily mated. Commences raising 
 3'oung orange trees and writes this author hopefully. Husband of 
 present partner follows and takes up a contiguous claim in Florida. 
 Both with no evil intent. Has no blood in his eye. On the contrary, 
 when Mr. Foster gets divorce for sufficient reasons from numl^er one, 
 this complacent husband, having become preacher meantime, now 
 unites the couple in the holy bonds of matrimony, and as Mr. Foster 
 puts it, they all at once became quite respectable. The transaction 
 seemed to be highly satisfactory to both. As the adage is " What is 
 one man's meat is the other man's poison.'' 
 
 It is understood that he has just finished a three year's experience 
 with " Philadelphia lawyers." He undertook to break his mother's 
 will, who had disinherited him for various things esteemed by her un- 
 worthy of his parents. The fatlier seems to have been a man of ability, 
 was editor of the Pittsburgh Dispatch, during war times, and when 
 he died had amassed a fortune of some $100,000. The mother and sis- 
 ters visited Greeley several times, and the younger sister, Rachel, won 
 here golden opinions. She will be remembered by many, especially 
 of our liberal peopl?, as having taken a conspicuous part in the Ne- 
 braska campaign in favor of impartial suffrage, and Susan B. Anthony 
 says that during it '' she gave more time than any other woman and 
 more money than all of them." She has some two years ago changed 
 her name to Mrs. Cyrus F. Avery, the co-partner being of course " all 
 right" on the suffrage question. 
 
 Strange combinations of persistent endeavor and insignificant ac- 
 complishment was J. Heron Foster. The poor outcome was largely 
 due to an inferior organization being dominated and driven to death 
 by a too active restless mind. Then it seemed as if the circumstances 
 always turned out against him. At the touch of some men everything 
 turns into gold, at the touch of others into slag. 
 
 In many respects Samuel Blodgett stands in contrast to the man of 
 whom we have been discoursing, but reseml^liug him in some par- 
 ticulars. Physically as weak, he was singularly efficient in accomplish- 
 ing his ends. He was one of our most successful farmers and a man 
 of the utmost integrity. He wrote for the local papers many articles 
 of marked ability. He was quite a thinker, especially on social, econ- 
 omic and religious questions. Though physically feebler than her
 
 396 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 liusbaud Mrs. Blodgett was equally ^'igorous as a thiuker. Their 
 union was a verv happv one. It was on account of her continued ill- 
 health that he sold out here in 1882 and settled at Knoxville, Teun. 
 He soon left there and settled in Florida, not far from J. H. Foster. 
 He made a large purchase of land partly contracted from a railroad 
 company. He undertook to found a town and colony at this place, 
 inviting in his circulars only those pf lil)eral religious opinions to join 
 him. His colonial scheme seems to have proved a failure and it is im- 
 derstood that he loses the land contracted for with the railroad, since 
 it failed to fuUfil its contract with the U. S. government. 
 
 A few months ago Mrs. Blodgett died. This sad separation is no 
 doubt mitigated for him by the firm belief that it is only temporary, 
 as both were firm believers in the life hereafter as expounded by mod- 
 ern spiritualists. J. H. Foster, if he had but little else in common, 
 had this belief, too. 
 
 Here also belonged Wm. Foote, Jr., who took quite a prominent 
 part in colonial affairs, especially in the Fence District management. 
 He was a man of very pronounced opinions, and especially prided him- 
 self about his knowledge of law. Though carrying on a large farm in 
 " Lone Tree " for a number of years and apparently doing well, some 
 five years ago he sold out and went back to his native Pennsylvania. 
 
 To this same band of si^iritualists belonged F. H. Rous and his 
 amiable well-informed wife. Their home, though humble while here, 
 was the welcome resort of liberal thinkers who, as if by some unseen 
 guidance, had found their paths meet here. Both had been raised 
 Quakers, he in England, she in Scotland. The road from the Society 
 of the Friends to the ranks of the Spiritualists seems to be an open 
 short one. The absence of a professional ministry trained in traditional 
 theology, gives the fullest play to the individual reason and con- 
 science. In this sect the theory of private interpretation imder the 
 giiidance of the Holy Spirit, who aided the humblest individual as 
 much as him highest in sacerdotal dignity, attained its most complete 
 recognition. The only restraint upon free inquiry was a parental and 
 traditional one, together with special education provided for the 3'outh 
 of the sect. It was believed that the Spirit of God revealed itself di- 
 rectly to the receptive human soul. It is but a step from this to the 
 belief that if the soul survives it, too, can communicate with another 
 still clothed in the flesh. 
 
 This calm contemplative couple came here from the Dominion of 
 Canada where Mr, Rous had been in the mercantile business. Both 
 had been teachers in Quaker schools in England. But Mr. Rous had 
 scarcely capital enough to go into business here and he found no
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. « 397 
 
 opening as a teacher. He stood au examination for that jirofession, 
 and although the conditions were considerably different here, got a 
 certificate with high marks. He had also been county superintendent 
 of schools in Canada and would like to have been here, but there were 
 tco man}^ hungry, younger, more pushing aspirants on the ground, 
 and well informed as he was his views were not quite American. 
 Hence he found no road open to make a living but that of cultivating 
 the soil. He undertook gardening and nursery business as well as a 
 little general farming. As we have seen, no one could at that time 
 make a living at these pursuits, but least of all one who had all to 
 learn, and was well turned of fifty and without the trained physical 
 powers of endurance needed for the drudgery imposed by these occu- 
 pations upon the man of limited capital. From this it happened that 
 his life here was a painful failure in a financial point of view. But -t, 
 too, had its compensations. Many congenial friends were found, and 
 happy hours of calm, delightful converse enjoj-ed with kindred 
 spirits — those here in the flesh are meant. Though faith seemed 
 strong, the writer fancies that communications from "beyond the 
 veil" were of the shadowiest and least xpfreshing of consolations. 
 
 Mr. Rous was secretaiy of the colonj- for about a Aear — following 
 W. H. Post in that office. Their daughter Lizzie put an end to days 
 that had become a burden to her, because her lover back in Canada 
 had proved unfaithful to her, and the fallen fortunes of her i^arents 
 left her only the prospect of drudgery, working out for others as she 
 was then compelled to do. With firm, courage6us hand she held the 
 pistol bought by her and loaded for the purpose, against her throb- 
 bing temple, and discharged its swift messenger of death into the 
 weary brain. Both parents bore the .shock calmly, philosophically, 
 believing that all was well with their courageous Lizzie, who was all 
 the braver since she did not share the hope of her parents regarding 
 the life eternal. About a year after they returned to Canada except 
 '* Will," who had learned the plasterer's trade and piu-sued it here for 
 some years after their departure. Where he went in leaving no one 
 knows. Miss Alice, the youngest and fairest, died a few years after 
 returning and was soon followed by her mother. About a year ago 
 the sire also passed over as he confidently believed to be united to 
 those he loved, and had for a season lost. Thus here and there and 
 ever3'where is Ijeing acted this sad human tragedy. 
 
 A. D. Moodie came to Greeley with Mr. Rous and from the same 
 place, and he and his family saw some of their darkest days in the 
 autumn of 1871. They, as also Mr. Rous, had settled under the newly 
 constructed " Mill Power "' canal, and typhoid fever prostrated Mr.
 
 398 ' A HISTORY OF GRKELEY AXD 
 
 Moodie for weeks. Funds were low and the family numerous, and at 
 that time, helpless. But upon recovering he went to work with a will. 
 Some land was taken up where he now lives, but the grasshoppers had 
 to be fought, and capital to carry on the farm was wanting. But Mr. 
 Moodie had l^een a miner as well as farmer. So he went to work and 
 developed the coal mine northwest of Eaton in company with Mr. 
 Higley, and this kept the wolf from the door. He then went to Can- 
 field and managed a mine there. Finally the grasshoppers left and 
 Mr. Moodie had managed to save something be.sides keeping tis 
 family, and was more al^le to go ahead farming. In this he has suc- 
 ceeded quite well, having now a farm of 480 acres. Part of the time 
 he and the family have lived in town on account of sending the 
 daughters to the High School, from which two have graduated, Agnes 
 Strickland and Bessie D. The former is now Mrs. Nusbaum. The 
 children are all l^right and scholarly in their ways as is to be expected 
 from near relatives of Agnes Strickland, the historian of the " Queens 
 of England," etc. Mr. Moodie's mother was a sister of the authoress 
 named, and was also herself an author of repute, and wrote a num- 
 ber of interesting works on backwoods hfe in Canada. His father was 
 Scotch, and had Ijeen an officer in the British army in India before 
 coming to the backwoods of Canada. Mrs. A. D. Moodie was also of 
 a literary turn, but she some eight years ago passed the gates into the 
 unknown void, leaving behind the fragrance of a beautiful hfe as an 
 inspiration for her daughters. 
 
 Mr, Moodie has nol been wholly occupied about his private affairs. 
 He has had much to do with the management of the Fence District. 
 He has also been a director of the Cache La Poudre Irrigating com- 
 pany (Canal Numl^er Two) and took a part in company with B. S. La 
 Grange m formulating our irrigation legislation at the 1882 session of 
 the State Legislature. Although Mr. Moodie is a genial not a quarrel- 
 some man, yet it is safer not to tramp upon his toes, as he is said to be 
 the hardest hitter inside what was the colony fence, and unhke his 
 Quaker friend Mr. Rous he has no disposition to turn the other cheek 
 to the smiter. 
 
 We have just spoken of B. S. La Grange in connection with A. D. 
 Moodie and irrigation legislation. But Mr. La Grange is stronger in 
 the line of applied irrigation than in that of the theoretical. He was 
 for a long time one of the trustees of Union Colony and afterwards of 
 the new company organized to manage Number Two. He has directly 
 or indirectly, had charge of nearly all the different enlargements and 
 improvements of Nimiber Two. and projected and executed the plan of 
 its dam. For the greater part of the time since the date of the decree
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. .399 
 
 of the court formulating water priorities in District Numl)er Three, he 
 has been water commissioner, and largelj' through his push this dis- 
 trict has taken the lead in getting a system of accurate measurement 
 and distribution in operation. He is now putting up for the district 
 a telephone system connecting the heads of the most important 
 ditches with his office at Fort Collins. He is a man fertile in expe- 
 dients to meet sudden emergencies and new situations. He has for a 
 long time been a member of the State Board of Agriculture and has 
 done valuable work in the practical line for the State Agricidtural 
 College. He has been employed by the State Laud Board to locate 
 the greater part of the State lands, a most difficult task in a country 
 where the value of the land depends upon its situation for irrigation 
 and the availal^le water supply, much more than upon the character of 
 the soil which is also of importance and requires the eye of a 
 practical, observing farmer to determine. His extensive travels in this 
 last connection have made him familiar with nearly everj^ nook and 
 corner of agricultural land in the state. He has a good eye and 
 sound judgment about the availabiUty of lands for agriculture, and so 
 has been of great use to the state. These pubhc services keep him 
 much from home, but the farm is ably managed by his wife, who like 
 French women in general, has quite a turn for business. She, like 
 her husband, is partly of French descent. Unlike most of the old 
 colonists they have more of a taste for rural than town hfe, and quite 
 soon went out on their farm and commenced to settle down with every 
 .appearance of having stuck stakes to stay. Trees and shrubbery now 
 nearly completely hide house and barns, and altogether the place has 
 a cosy and liomelike look. 
 
 While in their vicinity it will not be amiss to call uijon Colonel M. 
 J. Hogarty and wife, an interesting family even if at this writing 
 their two eldest daughters are absent at the State University. The 
 colonel lost an eye on the battlefield during the war of the reljellion, 
 and in reality is only a colonel by courtesy, being in fact a lieutenant 
 on the muster roll of the United States Invalid Corps. But his hard 
 service has not been able to suppress his indefatigable activity. He 
 makes a first class farmer and has one of the nicest, best cultivated 
 farms within the hmits of Union Colony. His house and its sur- 
 roundings stand upon a gentle eminence some quarter of a mile from 
 the road from which there is a drive bordered with now well-grown 
 trees. He and his well-read refined wife make this spot a delightful 
 home indeed, where their many friends are welcomed with genuine 
 Irish hospitality and American cordiality. 
 
 Mr. Hogarty and his brother, W. P., came to the colony in the
 
 400 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 spring of 1871 and built a fine house upon their five-acre lot southeast 
 of town. It is the same now occupied for a count}^ hospital and poor 
 house. It would appear that they intended to engage in horticulture, 
 like so many others who had come here on what proved for the most a 
 fool's errand. Thej- soon saw that this business would not do and 
 both went back to Missouri ; but M. J. and family returned in some 
 five months and purchased where they now live, and commenced 
 building and beautifying it until it has become what it is. 
 
 "Sir. Hogarty takes a prominent part in many public affairs, and is 
 c^uite public-spirited, as well as ready to lend a hand to any 
 fellow in need, even though the needy one be not a Free Mason, a 
 Grand Army man, a Loyal Legionary, or an Irish Land Leaguer. 
 He keeps independent in politics and votes for whom he regards as 
 the best man and for what he considers the best measures. Mrs. 
 Hogarty is a leader of women among women, has been president of 
 the Womans' Relief Corps, belongs to the order of the Eastern Star, 
 and accompanies her husband to the G-range, in which order the man 
 and his wife, or his sweetheart, are received on equal footing. She is 
 also a member of the Unitarian Unity Circle, which she helps iii its 
 beneficent work. 
 
 This La Grange district is quite a progressive community. They 
 have one of the finest schoolhouses to be found in a countrj^ district. 
 They usually keep a Lyceum agoing in the winter time, and are begin- 
 ning to collect what will no doubt soon become a fine lil^rary. Church 
 services are held every other Sunday, the preachers of the different 
 denominations in Greeley supplying the desk by turns, so that they 
 have a delightful variety. Colonel Hogarty is the orignator of this 
 novel plan of breaking up sectarianism. A Sunday school is kept ujj 
 every Sunday. 
 
 In addition to those nained we might mention in this district, 
 Henry DeVotie who long ago built him a fine house and has been one 
 of the most successful farmers of that neighborhood. He now lives 
 for the most part in his house in the suburbs of Greeley for the pur- 
 pose of sending his family to the High School and for the social ad- 
 vantages. Mr. De Votie was in Colorado before the colony came. 
 Was in fact in one of the regiments raised by Colorado during the 
 Rebellion, but was not at the Sand Creek Indian massacre— this time 
 by the white soldiers of Colorado. 
 
 Mrs. Fairchild is also in this district and is worthy of mention as a 
 woman who has made a successful farmer. On the outskirts of this 
 di.strict also lies the farm of Captain Xeff', who is now living in town 
 and doing a seed business.
 
 I-I, T. WEST.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 401 
 
 Farther up we come to the district of Captain Arthur Hotchkiss, 
 whose title was lately changed to Judge. The station of the Greeley 
 and Salt Lake R. R., near his country residence, is called Hotchkiss, 
 in his honor, so he has attained quite an enduring sort of immortality. 
 But the Captain, or Judge, if the latter is considered the more honor- 
 able, is not much out on the farm of late. He was for a long time 
 president of the Board of Comity Commissioners, and under his direc- 
 tion the County Court House was erected most economically and 
 honestly. Then he was elected County Recorder, and upon the death 
 of J. L. Barrett was api^ointed Judge. He is just now about starting 
 a bank in Fort Morgan. 
 
 To the Hotchkiss district belongs A. J. Forbes, whose hair is now 
 thin and white, but he still retains his vivacity and push. He too, 
 after toil, struggle and frequent discomfiture, has at length got firmly 
 rooted in the soil. An excellent hand he between the stilts of a plow 
 or the handles of a cultivator. May the evening of his day be 
 peace, and may he have all of his beloved greenbacks needed to 
 its end. 
 
 To this neighborhood belongs J. M. Wadlin, who has one of the 
 largest farms in that section — some iOO acres — and is supposed to 
 have money in the bank besides. This has nearly all been made since 
 coming to Colorado. He is one of the most cautious, industrious and 
 thrifty of men. 
 
 No great distance off lie the lands once those of James Storms, so 
 fitly named on this side the Lethean flood, but now calm enough in 
 his narrow cell in Linn Grove cemetery. For him the world was sadly 
 out of joint, but now he knows its purpose if one there be. 
 
 Returning eastward we are attracted by the fine, large barn and 
 spacious yards of John Thompson, now in the evening of his day, 
 reaping the reward of well-directed effort. His .son, J. H., has in 
 cultivation one of the finest half-sections under the Larimer and 
 Weld canal, and is now about to enter on his duties as County 
 Treasurer. 
 
 Just above him lies the farm of our old and tried friend, Job E. 
 Browuell. He and his energetic, hopeful wife were among the first 
 on the ground and have had more than their fair share of the sorrows 
 incident to the human lot. Four out of their six lie side by side in 
 the cold embrace of death, the last two meeting their tragic end to- 
 gether but a little more than a year ago. Without trope or figure it 
 is to be said their frail bark foundered on the uncanny ice's fragile 
 edge. The audacious daring which sacrificed for Harry and Oscar 
 their lives, as boys, might have won for them as men. distinction ajid 
 
 26
 
 •402 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 renown. A hair's breadth of difference in the incalculable circum- 
 stance, makes for us safe landing or shipwreck. 
 
 Mr. Brownell was an artilleryman in the regular army during the 
 war of the rebellion. He seems as impassive as an iceberg, but is 
 possessed of that cool audacity that makes a man stand by his guns 
 whatever the personal risk. Mrs. B. has quite a turn for writing 
 poetr}', and with this amiable foible as a companion, whiles away de- 
 lightedly many an hour that woidd tediously drag itself along if 
 spent in unproductive reverie, or in idly brooding over irreparable 
 losses. 
 
 Thp sightly house upon the hill just this side of Mr. Brownell's no 
 longer echoes to the voice and footfalls of those who planned and 
 Ijuilt it. George W. Buell, long in the clutch of life's grim adversary, 
 strove in vain to get free of the fatal grasp. In spite of both medical 
 science and Christian science the fated separation had to be made in 
 life's middle prime. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Buell in the literar\" and social circles of the early days 
 took a leading part. Both were well educated and well read, and given 
 to thought, and the serious consideration of human life in its various 
 relations. But these things, while health remained, did not interfere 
 with their success in managing rural affairs. It was a pleasure to 
 pass their farm during the summer and see the thorough, clean, cul- 
 ture and the promise of an abundant harvest'. Mr. Buell often wrote 
 for the papers of the state, articles on agricultural affairs, and what 
 he said was always to the point. His wife and two children now live 
 in Greeley and her agricultural affairs are managed in company with 
 her brother. Will Clark. They have a property above Eaton on the 
 " Buell Lake," watered from the Larimer and Weld. She has just 
 been elected secretary of the Greeley School Board. 
 
 Both of the Rev. Alfred Baxter's farms are near here, but the old 
 gentleman some time ago gave up carrying them on himself and tdok 
 up a claim near Carr station, Denver Pacific railway. There he busies 
 himself in part with raising horses and cattle, but spends most of his 
 time in study of his Greek New Testament, the higjjer algebra, geom- 
 etry, and perhaps qiiaieyiu'Qns, As has been said he preached the 
 first sermon delivered on the site of the city of Greeley to a crowd of 
 half-hopefid, half-distracted people seated or standing on the cactus 
 plains in the open air, which probably was in no sluggish mode of 
 liiofion. 
 
 He was born in the North of England and educated at Westminster 
 College, London. For some four years he was principal of an Acad- 
 emy at Stratford-on-Avon. the home of Shakespeare. For all of these
 
 THE I7N10N COLONY OF COLORADO. 403 
 
 literary and scieutifie habits he made a successful farmer, and while 
 engaged at it .put money in his purse. Many a day he put in with his 
 mule team scraping on the various enlargements of Number Two. 
 It seems that the Briton is born naturally a farmer. It might he said 
 that Englishmen and people from the Western States have made our 
 most successful farmers. In our colonial days, of all foreign countries, 
 England was the best represented, indeed there were twice as many 
 from that country as from all others combined. From there were the 
 three Brothers Atkinson — James, Sharon and Thomas, all of whom 
 made successful fai*mers, although before coming here they had been 
 operatives in factories, first in Old then in New England. All three 
 have made money at farming, but have lately retired into tow^n and 
 are engaged in other lousiness. To this group also belongs Allan 
 Ramsay, who should be a Scotchman, as he bears the name of Scot- 
 land's distinguished pastoial poet. Ralph Hilton also belongs to this 
 English farming group, and Thomas Mimmack whilom miller, but 
 now farmer, and also James Harris, all three successful in their busi- 
 ness. From the same part of Great Britain were also Thomas Inman, 
 senior, and his four boys, all of whom tried farming, but who have 
 found that their '' forte" was not in that line, the boys achieving more 
 renown as a ([uartette singing club than as plowmen. 
 
 Our solid drayman, James Beetham, also betrays his nativity by 
 the occasional use or abuse of his /I's. He has never done much at 
 farming, but is considered one of our substantial men, worth far more 
 in cash than many who make much more of '•' a spread." His name 
 will })e found at the end of this volume as one of the town aldermen. 
 His son " Joe,'" used to have the reputation of being the swiftest 
 footed man in the state, but it is to be feared his premature rheuma- 
 tism has spoiled him for the race course. 
 
 Prominent in this group of Englishmen stands Joseph Moore. He 
 started life in England as a radical, both in religion and politics. He 
 was skeptical, a Chartist and a good deal of a communist. He in 
 later years became quite conservative in politics and religion. He is 
 now a pillar in the Methodist church of this place, that is if that 
 chiu'ch has any pillars that are not clerical. Note has been made of 
 backsliders from the church to the ranks of liberalism, so it is only 
 fair to notice backsliding the other way. 
 
 Mr. Moore has taken a conspicuous part in the pvxblic affairs of 
 Greeley. As will be seen from a reference to the Appendix he was 
 for a long time magistrate and also president of the Town Board. He 
 was also long connected with the Fence District, whose business was 
 frequently of quite a distracting nature. The leading part he took
 
 404 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 in bringing about the renewal of the colony's corporate life we have 
 noticed in the chapter on temperance. Before coming here he was a 
 member of the Connecticut Legislature. He has made some study 
 of the law and is also quite well up in chemistry and metallurgy. He 
 seems to have almost completely rallied from a physical breakdown, 
 which overtook him some years ago. Take him all in all he is a man 
 of sterling worth, and in passing through this stage of a journey 
 which he believes \vill have up end, has left behind some "foot-prints 
 upon the sands of time." 
 
 The present editor of The Greeley Tribune, E. J. Carver, is also of 
 English birth and education. He had been employed on The Neiv 
 York Tribune before coming to the colony, which was in the fall of 
 1871. His notions about the make-up of a newspaper are rather 
 English than American. He believes that the statements made in it 
 .should be truthful rather than sensational^ and that details of scandal, 
 \ace and crime, which minister tOj and stimulate a depraved appetite, 
 should have no place in a decent family newspaper. In this respect he 
 does not differ from the founder of the paper, but in the strong, bitter, 
 harsh denunciation of men and measures that he opposes he does not 
 follow the example of his predecessor. Mr. Carver takes no delight 
 in giving needless pain to the feelings even of an opponent. He has' 
 jjursued the policy of doing what may be judiciously done towards 
 healing the wounds inflicted during the controversies of the earher 
 days between contending factions within the colony, and between 
 Greeley and rival towTis of the county. He has aimed at making The 
 Tribune a county paper, and is modest about making claims for the 
 people of Greeley as immeasurably superior to their neighbors in 
 virtue and intelligence and, hence, he has been able to disarm much 
 of the hostile criticism that was wont to be directed against the peo- 
 ple of the town during the editorship of N. C. Meeker. Yet it is to 
 be said that Mr. Carver will not yield one iota of what he considers 
 just and salutarj^ principles. He is independent in politics though in 
 the main Republican, and will not support what he considers unjust 
 measures, or corrupt men pushed forwards by the party. In fact he 
 wishes to edit a clean, reliable, instructive paper. 
 
 James G. Cooper was also a New York Tribune man who took a 
 conspicuous part in the early days. He had the honor of raising the 
 first National flag that floated over the town of Greeley at the top of 
 the liberty pole. He did not find agriculture, as it had to be carried 
 on in the early days, a congenial occupation, so he went back during 
 our third year, but not empty handed, as he carried off with him 
 a fair and accomplished Greeley maiden. Miss Mattie Ranney, the
 
 THE UXIOX COLOXT OF COLORADO. 405 
 
 daughter of John Kanney, long a citizen of Greeley, but now passed 
 beyond the mortal horizon. 
 
 Man}^ men have come to Colorado on accoiuit of their health, or 
 what is quite as frequent on account of that of some one of their 
 family. In doing this sometimes very considerable sacrifices have to 
 be made in an industrial point of view. Men who are trained to a 
 particular trade, wliich is only pursued in old, well-settled communi- 
 ties, are thrown badly out of joint when the}' change to a pioneer 
 community requiring versatilit}- of capacity to which their training is 
 aver.se. In this situation James J. Armstrong found himself on com- 
 ing to the site of the town of Greeley early in May, 1870. His wife, 
 who was a .sufferer from bronchial troubles, came along and suffered 
 with her three children the privations of those early dajs. But she 
 felt so much improved that she bore it all cheerfully, as well as the 
 discouragements attending farming, in which Mr. Armstrong was en- 
 gaged during the gi-asshopper 3-ears. He had been a moulder in iron 
 in New England before coming here, and being a proficient in the 
 trade commanded good wages and steady employment. He had be- 
 fore marriage been a sailor, and his wife was the daughter of a sea 
 captain. Old sailors have a better repute than old soldiers when they 
 engage in other employments. The steady work to which they are 
 accustomed under the severest exposure inures them to a life that is 
 readily exchanged for the farm. Mr. Armstrong was also born in 
 England, but has long been thoroughly Americanized. Indeed it 
 appears that those of no other nationality coalesce so easily in every 
 particular with the Americans, and quite frequently they become more 
 republican in sentiment than the natives. The people of no other 
 couutrj' ai'e so ready to hear with calmness the faults of their govern- 
 ment and the foil>les of their countrymen severely criticised. It is 
 doubtful if the people of any other nationality are so thoroughly cos- 
 mopolitan, making it a point of honor to treat fairly men of all races 
 and complexions. 
 
 On the whole it may be said that Mr. Armstrong has gone through the 
 trjdng ordeal of a new country, where a new set of circumstances had 
 to be met, witn credit, and has succeeded in gradually improving his 
 financial condition, and raising and educating a family of five chil- 
 dren. Mrs. Armstrong is a woman of reading and refinement and 
 did much towards giving tone and character to our early society. Two 
 of the daughters have graduated and are teaching, the elder in our 
 schools and the younger at Fort Collins. The writer has always ad- 
 mired the man and woman who spend laborious days, cheerfully de- 
 voted to the well-being of their offspring, who are for them their
 
 406 A HISTORY OF GR£ELET .^'I> 
 
 choicest treasures; and mau}^ such there are in Greeley, but none 
 more conspicuous than Mr. Armstrong and his wife. 
 
 The new situation in which we have found ourselves here has de- 
 veloped a new sort of business— that is the superintendence of irri- 
 gating canals. There is needed a variety of ability, good judgment 
 and honesty in dividing water, and quickness to meet emergencies. 
 Mr. Armstrong, during a number of 3-ears, has been engaged in this 
 occupation, and has for some years been in charge of the largest canal 
 in the Poudre valley. 
 
 While speaking of old sailors, we may here mention James Orr. 
 He is a native of the North of Ireland, and in addition to belonging 
 to the merchant marine, was also in the United States navy during the 
 rebellion. Mr. Orr plowed the first furrow turned in Greeley, having 
 taken the job of running furrows to mark the boundaries of the 
 streets. He did this with a yoke of oxen — the same team that Jos. 
 Murray afterwards owned and for which reason attained notor- 
 iety, as it often figured in his speeches to point a moral or 
 embellish a figure of rhetoric. Mr. Orr early moved out into 
 the country, where he has kept his family all the time, but during the 
 Black Hills mining excitement he engaged in freighting^ and ran 
 many a time the gauntlet of the hostile Sioux. Engaged in this same 
 business our townsman. Captain Thomas G. Macy, who is also an old 
 "tar," was attacked, and two out of the four of his party shot, and train 
 destroyed. He and the other two escaped as if by a hair's breadth. 
 Men in our midst, Avho have had experiences of this kind, do not shed 
 many tears over the prospective extinction of the noble red race. 
 
 To this group of old " salts " prominently belongs the name of 
 Samuel Graham, now a denizen of the silent city to our southeast, 
 where the forefathers of our colony shall soon one by one be gathered. 
 Like Mr. Orr Samuel Graham was born in the city of Belfast, Xorth 
 of Ireland. He went on several whaling voyages and had many hair- 
 breadth escapes in that perilous employment. He had been settled 
 down in New England a long time before removing to Greeley and 
 there were born his family of three sons and four daughters. He tried 
 farming on the '* Delta " after coming here where, of course, on ac- 
 count of known disadvantages, he failed, but it must be owned that 
 he had not the proverbial close industrial habits credited to the sailors. 
 He found hotel-keeping more congenial than fighting grasshoppers 
 and plugging gopher holes, and bought from the colony the " Ex- 
 change " Hotel and Colony Hall, erected by Russell Fisk, but aban- 
 doned in the days of dechning real estate prices, to the colony for 
 the $2,500 it had advanced him towards its construction.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 407 
 
 Through the hard work of wife and daughters Mr. Graham made a 
 fair success of hotel-keeping, though by no means a model landlord, 
 many a foot-sore, hungry tramp l^eing freely fed and lodged by him. 
 On all questions he was a radical of the most pronounced type. Dur- 
 ing slavery days he had been an abohtionist dyed-in-the-wool. He was 
 a skeptic in religion, fearless and outspoken. In temperance he was 
 uncompromising, both in principle and practice, and was never 
 afraid to lead in prosecution the violation of our ordinances on that 
 subject. But the theme which during his latter years engrossed most 
 of his attention, was finance, as set forth by the Greenback party. 
 For this he was ready to do battle at any time against all comers. He 
 became fairly monomaniacal on the subject. Through him largely 
 Tim Rockjj Mountain Howitzer was started and kept on its feet. 
 There is no one except, perhaps, Mr. Messinger, the publisher and 
 editor of the paper, knows how much he expended to keep it afloat. 
 ^Vhen the party was dead nearly everywhere else, it was not dead for 
 him. Joseph Murray was his redoubtable hero, and if he had lived 
 to have seen him stumping Indiana for Harrison he could hardly have 
 survived the shock. It may be said that this party here had a )>and 
 of devoted, sincere, capable, earnest men, and for that matter women, 
 too, who would have given even a worse cause respectability. Here 
 belonged A. J. Wilber, Jos. Murray and M. J. Hogarty, of whom some- 
 thing has been said elsewhere. We may add the names of Dr. W. P. 
 Welch, John Leavy, J. E. Billings, Abner and Ed. Baker, Horace 
 Clark. Joseph Moss, Madison Smith and his two sous, Pitts and "Obe," 
 the Pollock brothers, Stephen Spencer and other men of note and 
 ability. A few of these ought to have more particular mention. Dr. 
 W. P. Welch on coming here in 1873 found the profession crowded, 
 and resolved to try something else. He undertook farming on the 
 delta, and soon united to that business sheep husbandry, and has suc- 
 ceeded remarkably well in both. He is a man who watches his busi- 
 ness closely, and is blessed in having a noble, capable woman for his 
 wife. They are rearing a large family as it ought to be reared in 
 knowledge, virtue and habits of industry. 
 
 John Leavy it appears was the first one to write to N. C. Meeker 
 proposing to join the colony after the latter had issued his circular. 
 He also first proposed that the name of the organization be " Union 
 Colony "—a very fit name for a body which proposed co-operation as 
 its basis of settlement. He was one of the first on the ground and 
 enlivened proceedings at the Hotel de Comfort pow-wows, as Dr. Law^ 
 irreverentl}' calls the oratorical exercises in which the Greeley pio- 
 neers amused themselves, to the consternation of Cameron, West &
 
 408 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 Company. No tongue there could cut with half the sharpness into 
 the faults or the foil)les discovered iu the crowd of fresh arrivals. But 
 though Mr. Leavj^'s nights were spent at the hotel, his dijs were busy 
 in preparing his plat of ground on Main street for his greenhouse, 
 hot-beds and flower borders soon to make for a time the most attrac- 
 tive spot iu Greele}'. He had come here to build up the place, not to 
 break up the colony, which he had the honor of baptizing. So he put 
 into it his all, preparing for his family the needed shelter before sending 
 for them. The conversation of the gardener was as fresh and exhil- 
 erating as the hues of his violet and verbena beds, and no passing 
 stranger left his premises without carrying away the impression that 
 here at least was an original. There are now many more attractive 
 spots in Greeley, his flower borders being elsewhere surpassed; but 
 his conversation is said to have gained rather than lost in its pun- 
 gency. A loyal and true friend to whom he is a friend, but an unre- 
 lenting and implacable euemj- to whom he is an enemy. 
 
 It would be unpardonable to pass by Eli Hall, when we are speak- 
 ing about Main street gardeners. A little farther up the street just be- 
 yond the verge of the original touTi site, as surveyed into residence lots, 
 comes the beautiful five-acre lot of Eli Hall. This was for a long time 
 the most skillfull}- cultivated tract of ground in or near Greeley. The 
 fine crops of vegetables he grew here attracted the attention of all 
 visitors who took a stroll up Main street. Piece after piece has been 
 sold, much at more than .SI.OOO per acre, and now he has remaining 
 only the small corner where his neat, well-painted house stands. But 
 this is all the ground he needs. His gait is now that of the old man, 
 moving slowly but surely to the not distant goal of earthly hopes and 
 fears. 
 
 Mr. Hall is far from being a greenbacker in politics. In fact he was 
 so far as this writer knows the only Democrat among the original 
 colonists. The precinct always cast a small Democratic vote, Ijut this 
 came from the old settlers during the first year who lived on the out- 
 side of town but Avithin the precinct. The county was Democratic be- 
 fore the coming of tlie colony, when this was all changed; and if the 
 Kepubhcans did not split into factions the Democrats could not elect 
 an officer. 
 
 In connection with Eli Hall may be mentioned Niagara Hall; both 
 were from the state of New York, but not otherwise connected. 
 Mr. Niagara Hall also intended to engage in horticulture, l^ut finding 
 it unprofitable for reasons already given, he went into merchandise, 
 and has succeeded in that line. He is a quiet man of known integrity, 
 who never kuowingh- misrepresents the quality of his goods. Our cli-
 
 THE r>'IOX COLOXY OF COLORADO. 409 
 
 mate has afforded him much rehef from the asthma which afflicted 
 him before coming here. 
 
 James Heurj was a Greenbacker dyed in the wool as long as there 
 w-as a tatter of the party hanging together. Xow I suppose he is a 
 Xationahst, and only his advanced age prevented him from join- 
 ing the colony of Albert K. Owen in Sinaloa, Mexico, whither went 
 many of our advanced social reformers, mostly, however, to return 
 again. Mr. Henrj^ in companj- with A. W. Hancock, laid up the first 
 brick buildings in town. Tliese were sunburnt or adobes. Both soon 
 went out on farms and made good farmers. ]\Ir. Hancock, however, 
 soon retired into town and built a number of residences on his town 
 property. He is supposed to be well to do and is passing the evening 
 of his day quietly. James Henry on the other hand sticks to the 
 country and his first eighty-acre lot from which he has made a good 
 living. He is one of the most thorough cultivators witliin the colony, 
 and is an exception to the rule that city mechanics of advanced age 
 are not apt to succeed if they betake themselves to farming. When 
 J. Max Clark used to live in town and carr}' on his farm which was 
 some three miles out he was wont to meet, as he was going out of a 
 morning to his farm, Mr. Henry coming in from his to work at his 
 trade in town, which he occasionally did for a few years. This led J. 
 Max to write an article to Tlic Ti-ihnne in which he happily quoted 
 from the odes of Horace showing that people in general hanker for 
 some other kind of life than that they have been leading, and hence 
 Mr. Henry's preference for the country and his for the town to gratify 
 which whim each was sacrificing some hour and a half daily. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Henry's only daugliter is married to a young farmer Benja- 
 min Reinks who lives across the street, and who has made his money 
 since coming to Colorado and is now erecting on his farm a fine brick 
 building with stone foundation. 
 
 The venerable Judge Clark, father of J. ^Nlax, Horace G., Edgar E. and 
 Arthur B., is still on this side of the grave, upon whose edge his foot 
 has appeared to be even longer than he has been in Greeley — some 
 nineteen years. He w^as one of the pioneers of Wisconsin, and was a 
 member of one of its earliest legislatures and also for a time county 
 judge. He gave a great deal of attention to horticulture in that state 
 and w-as a born experimenter. He has amused himself in Greelej' 
 some at his old favorite pursuit, but his eyesight has long been very 
 deficient and his physical strength apparently exhausted, yet by a 
 most careful method of living the frai! bark has l)orne its voyager 
 over troubled waters, or to speak literallj' through a recent attack of 
 typhoid fever, without the aid of a ]3h3^sician — all schools of "medicine
 
 410 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 being abhorred by him. Perhaps if his old friend Dr. James S. Scott 
 had been hving he would have consented to have him call, but he 
 passed over some dozen years ago. His mild, benevolent face was 
 like a holy benediction at the bedside of the sick and the dying. He 
 was the poor man's friend, h(?lper and healer, and such was the confi- 
 dence the people had in him that he was not allowed to lay his har- 
 ness off until his limbs, yearly growing feebler and feebler brought 
 him to the very edge of the grave where he now sleeps in peace, and 
 the sweet aroma of his name now lingers after him. His cripx^led son 
 James C. has the genius for moneA-making and is rapidly becoming, 
 if he is not, one of our wealthiest men. He was county judge for 
 three terms and a most just one. Sometimes, at least, the righteous 
 prosper. 
 
 Here a word might as well be said about Daniel Carpenter who now 
 for some five years has laid his burden down. Perhaps he saw more 
 returning springs than any one whose remains repose in Linn Grove 
 Cemetery. He wanted but eleven and one-half years of filling out a 
 century. He was for many years a pensioner of the government for 
 services rendered in the war of 1812. He came here with his family 
 in 1871, and his fine farm house and barn built the next year on the 
 brow of the hill overlooking the town, were a standing evidence of his 
 confidence in the future of farming xmder Union Colony canals. His 
 son Leroy succeeds him, and his talented wife is a leader in the hu- 
 manitarian movements of the M. E. Church of this place. 
 
 Few men went into our colonial movement with more enthusiasm 
 than William McClellan, and to an observer with more promise of suc- 
 cess. Before coming he had a long experience in general farming and 
 stockraising in Illinois. He brought with liim a large capital, got two 
 fine bodies of land and also imported fine breeds of horses and cattle. 
 He was by nature diligent in business and diverted from it by no 
 frivolous pursuits or pastimes. He also was a close thinker and cal- 
 culator, and is a man of mental acuteness. Yet his success has in no 
 sense been marked. It is doubtful if one year with another lie has 
 made more than expenses. Of course his real estate has increased in 
 value, at)d so he may be worth more money than when he left Illinois, 
 and that is by no means certain. What then is the cause of this want 
 of success? Trying to do too many things, squandering eifort in too 
 many directions. Want of succeeding in managing men, and in se- 
 curing reliable managers in his absence. His two farms were far apart, 
 and his cattle business often took him away from both. 
 
 Since the death of his wife his life has been a sad one. She seems 
 to have been the one oasis in the dreary desert of his pilgrimage. She
 
 THE CXIOX COLONY OF COLORADO. 411 
 
 was the golden link uuiting him to what was worth hviiig for on earth. 
 Of his sad faikire in attempting to restore tliis lost relationship little 
 need be said. To some women is given the divine mission of softening 
 and sweetening lives otherwise harsh and hard, and in the hands of such 
 women they become docile and manageable. Their unselfish generosity 
 breeds a reciprocal generosity, and mutual magnanimity will sjjringup 
 as naturalh" as the grass grows under rain and sunshine. It is not 
 however here to be hinted that ^Ir. McClellan is without native gen- 
 erosity, on the contrary he has liberal impulses in certain directions. 
 It is worthy of notice that he made the largest subscription towards 
 the Meeker monument. He was one of Mr. Meeker's wai-mest friends, 
 and the aljilitj- to appreciate such a man as Mr. Meeker argues that 
 the one displaying this quality is a genuinely upright and sterling- 
 man. His activity continues remarkable for one of his age and 
 emaciated frame, and in it he no doubt finds the best antidote to the 
 loneliness which hangs over his life since the l:)ereavement mentioned, 
 and whicli is greatly intensified by his nearly complete deafness. . 
 
 Of the four lady friends mentioned by Mr. Packard as so instru- 
 mental in building up the Congregational Church two passed away 
 near!}' about the same time, some twelve vears ago, ilrs. McClellan 
 just mentioned and Mrs. Ingalsbe. Mrs. J. H. Johnson survives her 
 husband but has long been living in Detroit, Michigan, though mak- 
 ing frequent visits to Greeley where she still has manj^ warm friends 
 especially among the ladies who worked together to build up the 
 chvux'h named. Mrs. Plumb, no doubt the oldest of the four, still 
 survives, active and cheerful as ever, and this leads us to speak more 
 particularly of Mr. Ovid Plumb's career particularly since joining the 
 colony. 
 
 He was one of the few who brought here a large capital and put it all 
 either into real estate in Greeley or into agricultural ventures. He 
 once owned all the lots fronting Lincoln Park on Monroe street, that is 
 from the corner occupied by the National Bank block to and including 
 that occupied by the Unitarian church. He has gradually disposed 
 of all these business lots and now owns but a few lots in town near 
 his own residence. Mr. Plumb finally concluded to engage in an ag- 
 ricultural venture independent of the colon}-, selhng out his outside 
 claims and buying a large tract of land on the south side of the Platte 
 about five miles from Greele}'. There were about 1,200 acres of this 
 farm, which was nearh' all bottom land. However, he took out an in- 
 dependent ditch to irrigate it and turn it all into productive meadow. 
 Extensive reading on the subject led him to the conclusion that in all 
 countries first-class meadow lands were the most valuable, and that
 
 J:12 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 the most productive meadows were irrigated. To bring these lands 
 under irrigation Mr. Phunb had a careful survey made and large 
 ditches constructed, in which openings were made by boxes at the 
 highest points of the land so that big heads of water could be let 
 loose and require but little attention. A system for meadows he clearly 
 saw must be entirely different from one for plow land, and his plans 
 were conceived with good judgment and executed with ability. Mr. 
 Plumb has also experimented wdth quite a large number of cultivated 
 grasses, not indigenous to this region, and finds many of them worth- 
 less here for meadows. He finds that some winter kill while others 
 are crowded out— are not able to stand the competition in the struggle 
 for life. Of the substitutes he finds only three valuable: red top for 
 the lower, wetter places, and timothy and meadow fescue for the lands 
 that need irrigation. Mr. Plumb is a man of broad views and a care- 
 ful experimenter. He has had a collegiate education. He attended 
 Wilhams College, Massachusetts, two years, when Mark Hopkins was 
 president, and had as one of his classmates the now celebrated Amer- 
 ican philologist, W. D. Whitney, of Yale. He had a reputation for 
 eloquence among his college classmates, as he was appointed on one 
 occasion Fourth of July orator for the undergraduates of Williams 
 college. It would appear, however, that like the celebrated parha- 
 mentary orator, Hamilton, his maiden effort was his only one, as 
 during all our exciting public meetings of the early days his voice was 
 never heard; nor do we remember to have ever seen an article in the 
 Greeley papers from his pen. He sometimes dropped into meetings 
 of the Farmers' Club, but never took any part in the lyceums. He is 
 well read, not only on agricultural subjects but in general science, and 
 his conversation is valuable and fruitful on a variety of subjects. He 
 brought here one of the largest, best selected, libraries of our early days, 
 especially valuable in scientific works. Besides the two years spent at 
 Williams he took a year at Brown University, Rhode Island, and then 
 had one year in law, which profession, however, he did not enter, but 
 entered upon the paternal farm which was situated in Chemung 
 county, New York. He soon left that and engaged in manufacturing 
 lumber and wood work, in which he was engaged some twenty years 
 before joining the colony. His lands, which were selected with wise 
 discretion from the evidence then before the mind, have not turned 
 out so valualile as the first-class agricultural lauds he could then have 
 purchased for the same money. This is owing to the fact before Inen- 
 tioned of the revolution brought about by the cultivation of alfalfa as 
 a forage plant— so short-sighted are the Avisest in forecasting the future. 
 Mr. Plumb's family have always lived in town, until lately his sons
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 
 
 iVS 
 
 Augustus and Edward have taken the management of the farm, cattle^ 
 horses and sheep which they keep in connection with the farm, and all 
 of which business they manage wisely and well. Mr. Plumb, who is 
 now 67 years old, hves in town with his amiable, well-read, discreet, 
 matronly mfe— his sons being engaged as alcove related and their only 
 d'aughter being married for some years to H. N. Haynes of whom our 
 readers have heard elsewhere in this narrative. She, however, lives on 
 the next block, so mother and daughter can easily step in and out, 
 daily. The daughter has the reading and domestic habits of father 
 aud^ mother and is tending carefully and tenderly their "olive, 
 branches." May it not be that if Mr. Haynes' domestic life were less 
 complete, his social hfe would be more extended, and society at large 
 be the gainer. Had the hearth of Socrates been more inviting, would 
 the market place of Athens have been so often entertained with his 
 dehghtful dialogues? Life has for all compensations, and all the 
 good or evil of it is rarely crowded into the existence of one couple. 
 
 Daniel Hawks and James Tuckerman have for a time been conduct- 
 ing a large farm in " Lone Tree " in connection with dairving, but 
 although Mr. Tuckerman, who is the manager of this concern is a 
 most active wide awake man the dairying is not found profitable, and 
 they are about going out of it. They had here machinery for sepa- 
 rating the cream while the milk was yet fresh and warm, and hence 
 was better for the calves. The diflBculty is, wages are too high for the 
 price of butter. The creamery butter of Iowa and Nebraska now 
 keeps the market supplied with a good article at a low figure. 
 
 Mr. August Boye is one of the most successful farmers in the colony. 
 In addition to cultivating a large body of land by irrigation he has 
 another extensive tract of seepage land which he has tile drained. He 
 married a young lady, the daughter of Doctor Carroll, from Georgia, 
 and this led him to buy some peach orchard lands in that state, which, 
 however, he does not find profitable. He likes to spend his winters 
 there but he finds farming in Colorado far more profitable. 
 
 Here we might as well speak of Dr. Camp, also from Georgia. He 
 came here soon after the colony was started and has bought and cul- 
 tivates extensive tracts of lands and also in company with, his sons 
 keeps an extensive herd of cattle. In all these things the Doctor 
 prospers. He has the art of making money, and also of saving it. 
 He made money in Georgia before coming here. He was -a Union man 
 at the time the war broke out but succeeded in escaping with his life 
 from there to the North and also in turning his property for the most 
 part into cash, and saving it. 
 
 Here also might be mentioned Joel E. Davis also from the South,
 
 414 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 but who was l)}^ no means a Union man. He brought much capital to 
 this place which he has gradually invested judiciously in lands near 
 Greeley. These lauds he for the most part rents, and finds the profits 
 equal to Colorado high interest. 
 
 There are many other worthy men in and around Greeley from 
 the South, as for instance W. H. Dell^ridge, long engaged in the 
 cattle business but now a merchant in town. Also the two families 
 of Hopkins, which came from East Tennessee with but little or no 
 capital and are now all well to do. Of those coming from East Ten- 
 iiessee, E. J. Price deserves special mention. He was in the Union 
 army during the war and after it married the then widow daughter 
 of Judge Clark. He and his wife followed the Clark family here, and 
 although on coming he was worth scarcely more than a team and 
 wagon, he soon made propertj^ at farming, and when he sold out two 
 years ago realized about $10,000. He then traveled over a large part 
 of the Union seeking for a more desirable locality but failed in the 
 quest. He now lives in town, is engaged in handling of farm pro- 
 duce, but also owns and has land farmed in the vicinity. 
 
 The late John C. Kendel was also from Tennessee, and during his 
 life was one of the most popular citizens of the county. Though he 
 belonged to the Democratic party, which is far in the minority in this 
 county, still he was always elected to every county office for which his 
 party put him up. His genial manners and benevolent disposition 
 made him a general favorite. His estimable wife lives in Greeley and 
 is rearing and educating their interesting children. 
 
 •The growing beauty of our town is yearly attracting more and more 
 people of wealth and refinement to settle here, even when their busi- 
 ness is somewhat remote. This may be said to be the case with C. W. 
 Wulf jen, whose principal headquarters for his large herd of cattle are 
 in Texas. His daughters, talented in both music and elocution, are 
 quite an accession to the cultivated society of the place. 
 
 During the years when fortunes were being rapidly made in the 
 Colorado stock business, many families of wealth and refinement 
 came to Greeley to live and engage in that business on the neighboring 
 plains. Prominent among these are the two families of Gales both 
 from Massachusetts, but not otherwise related. 
 
 O. P. Gale on coming here first engaged in the stock business, but 
 gradually withdrew from it and went into handling farm produce. 
 He organized the Greeley Mercantile Company of which mention has 
 been made, and was its able manager until his sudden death. Before 
 this he had built one of the finest residences in Greeley, and here his 
 fair young widow still lives with their two beautiful children.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 
 
 415 
 
 C. A. Gale is brother of the above, and has also siuce coming to 
 Greeley, mostly engaged in handling farm produce. His wife and 
 four accomplished capable daughters are not only a valuable acces- 
 sion to Greeley society but a fine example of how useful even hand- 
 some well-educated young ladies may be. One of them, for instance, 
 is bookkeeper in The Tribune office and passes the "copy" of this 
 manuscript throug-h her fair fingers, and is here accredited with 
 materially reducing the number of its errors. The eldest some years 
 ago became the wiie of George S. Adams, cashier of Union Bank, 
 before noted. 
 
 J. O. Gale, the first of the other family of that name to come to 
 Greeley, managed the cattle business of his brothers, who for a while 
 remained back in Massachusetts. But Jesse S. came here and also 
 built in town some six years ago, and since then has been the principal 
 manager of the business. David Gale, wife and daughter have been here 
 for some two years. About that date back they bought the Ogilvy 
 ranch of 640 acres, which they now keep as a headquarters at which 
 to winter the weaker ones of their herds. Somewhat more than a half 
 of the farm is seeded to alfalfa and supplies the needed hay, and 
 David Gale informs the writer that this winter feeding amply pays. 
 In this way a more humane practice of stock management is taking 
 the place of the old, cruel, reckless one. 
 
 The sad accident that befell the Gale family last September is still 
 fresh in the minds of every one, but on account of the deep impres- 
 sion it made on the whole people ought to be recorded here. 
 
 E. H. Gale and wife had not lived steadily in Greelev^ usually 
 spending the summer here and the winter in Massachusetts. They were 
 here, however, at the date mentioned, anfl E. H. Gale started early on 
 the morning of the 25th of September to drive over to the farm we have 
 spoken of, having in the rear seat of the carriage his sister-in-law, Mrs. 
 J. S. Gale, and Miss Gleason, the niece of his wife, and whom they 
 had recently adopted as a daughter. At the railroad crossing the rear 
 of the carriage was struck by a freight train, which was behind time 
 and running at over-speed, and was concealed in its approach by an- 
 other train standing on a side track. Miss Gleason was instantly 
 killed and Mrs. Gale died of the injuries eight hours afterwards. 
 Mr. E. H. Gale was thrown from the carriage but suffered 'no physical 
 injuries; such, however, was the shock to his feehngs that he never 
 recovered his spirits and died of an attack of influenza a few montlis 
 afterwards. Thus his wife is doubly bereaved in a few mouths, and 
 life has lost for her its fragrance and its bloom. Neither affluent cir- 
 cumstances nor a mind richly furnished with the treasures of liter-
 
 •116 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 ature, philosophy and religion can furnish any adequate consolation 
 for such a sorrow. Day after day the weary hours drag themselves 
 along, and no sufficing answer is returned from the sky which has 
 become " as of brass/' to the heart's question, " Why are we so cruelly 
 torn apart ? " 
 
 In this group of New England people who have come to live in 
 Greeley, while keeping stock on the range, belongs- A. T. Bacon, a son 
 of Dr. Laouard Bacon, of New Haven, Connecticut, and a graduate of 
 Yale College. He is manager of the New England Live Stock com- 
 pany, and has apparently made his permanent home here, having not 
 only built himself a spacious house, but several others in town. He 
 is just retiring as Mayor of the city for the past year. His modest 
 and unassuming wife is the daughter of Professor Woolsey, president 
 of Yale College from 1816 to 1871, and author of the standard Amer- 
 ican treatise on international law. In these two the people of Gree- 
 ley have a valuable addition to the thinking and refined class. 
 
 Other men of wealth besides those engaged in the cattle business 
 have made Greeley their home, and have made purchases of real 
 estate. Prominent among these may be mentioned Robert Hale, who 
 has built him a beautiful residence on Main street, and bought largely 
 of real estate in its vicinity. He is quite public-spirited and keei^s 
 things moving. 
 
 Here also belongs Judge Warren Currier who has made large in- 
 vestments in Greeley property. He cannot in strictness be said to 
 have made Greeley his home, as- he spends his time about equally 
 here and in Florida or Southern California, but his sons, Henry ar.d 
 George, have been settled here now a long time. They are both 
 worthy of note aside from the fact that they are sons of a wealthy 
 man. Henry has long been one of our most successful sheepmen. 
 He has a fine location on the Box Elder, "some twenty-five miles south- 
 east of Greeley for his flocks, while he makes his home in town. He 
 married a Greeley girl, a daughter of the Rev. A. K. Packard, who is 
 bringing up for him and herself a family of fair children. George 
 Currier is said to be the greatest expert in bookkeeping in our midst, 
 and he is now Treasurer both of Weld county and the Greeley School 
 Board. Though deeply tinged with the Greenback heresy and in- 
 clined to Nationalism, yet he is so popular tliat when he is put up for 
 an office it is common for all parties to put him on their tickets. He, 
 too, is fulfilling the divine injunction of doing his part in replenish- 
 ing the population. 
 
 Speaking of sheepmen we must not pass over Edward K. Packard, 
 brother-in-law of Henry F. Currier, with whom Mr. Packard learned
 
 THE I'NIOX COLONY OF COLORADO. 417 
 
 his business. There is no better kept, heavier shearing flock in the 
 county than the one Mr. Packard keeps at his ranch near Carr station 
 in the summer, and in the farming district near G-reeley during the 
 winter. He has also latel}- purchased a farm under the Larimer and 
 Weld canal, where he will raise alfalfa for winter forage, and will no 
 doubt find it profitalile to unite both kinds of business. He has been^ 
 living for the most part in town, but now that he has built a fine 
 brick house on the above designated farm, he will no doubt live for 
 the most part in the country. 
 
 Among the men who have made money in stock-raising in connec- 
 tion with farming, and made their home in Greeley, none better de- 
 serves mention than Asa Sterling. He has a large farm principally 
 devoted to producing alfalfa hay, some ten miles down the Platte. 
 He is chiefl}' engaged in raising horses, and has made money in the 
 business, and is also a heavj' stockholder in the First National bank. 
 For a man of close business habits he is liberal and public-spirited. 
 The same may be said of George K. Peasley, who also lives in Gree- 
 ley and is in the cattle business. Three of the Wyatt brothers, cattle- 
 men and farmers, make their home in Greeley and contribute their 
 full share to its prosjjerity. 
 
 There were but few Scotchmen among the earliest colonists and 
 now " the land of cakes " is better represented around Fort Collins 
 than Greele}'. A. Gilchrist was the only one of note that the writer 
 remembers. During the first summer he went into lumbering with 
 Henry Watson, as related. But he had a misunderstanding with the 
 colony officials and left Greeley in 1871, and went into the cattle bus- 
 iness with headquarters near Livermore. He made a large fortune 
 rapidly, and is now in Che3'enne doing a Imnking business. 
 
 Robert Kennison was also of Scotch birth, but came here from 
 Utah. He engaged in the cattle business, keeping a small herd near 
 town. Hls wife was quite a business woman and kept while here a 
 grocery store. He left after living soine six years in Greelej", return- 
 ing to Utah. If he was not a Mormon in faith and practice, he was 
 quite an admirer of that people, and defended them with zeal. 
 
 Peter Brown came in 1872. He was an excellent mechanic in the 
 line of house liuilding. As work was not plenty just at that time in 
 Groeley he went down to Green City, which was then having an illu- 
 sive " boom." For much of his w'ork done there he got no pay. Re- 
 turning to Greeley he remained here partly working at his trade and 
 partly farming until the spring of 1876, when he started for Southern 
 Kansas. He drove through Ijj wagon and returned in a year in the 
 same way, having used up all his savings. But he started in with 
 
 27
 
 418 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 oourag-e again and has gradually made him a fine farm in Lone Tree 
 valley. He is one of our best and most successful farmers. He has 
 his full share of Scotch shrewdness and perseverance. 
 
 Charles Wallace, who bought out S. Blodgett, in Pleasant valley, is 
 a Scotchman, as he ought to be from his name, and is also a successful 
 farmer and financier. 
 
 We have before spoken of John Templeton in connection with grass- 
 hopper capturing, and a word must be said of his associate in farming 
 in those days, Andrew Scott. He came here in 1872, He was a miller 
 by trade, but could not just then find employment, so he went into 
 farming with Templeton during the grasshopper years. But such 
 was their indomitable perseverance that if much could not be made 
 farming under such disadvantages, yet they did not fall behind. Mr. 
 Scott soon got a place in the Greeley flouring mills, where he re- 
 mained for some eight years. Since then he has been engaged in the 
 bakery business and makes a uniformly fine article of bread. 
 
 Few men coming here destitute of means have done better than 
 S. B. Wright. He says that when he came here he had to borrow 
 money of his father-in-law, T. E. Abbott, to buy a certificate. He 
 used to excavate cellars by the job, and throw out the earth with a 
 long-handled shovel. In fact he took hold of any hard job that paid 
 well, and soon got a good foothold. He was one of our laboring men 
 who had a good education and could talk well in meeting— not, how- 
 ever, of the religious kind. He never attended church save one year, 
 and that was just after the United Presbyterian church was occupied. 
 The story goes that the occasion was this : He wanted the Building 
 Committee to put in a front of pressed brick. They asked him w-hat 
 he would do to help them if they did. He said that he would 
 promise to attend their church every Sunday when he was in town for 
 a year. They took him up, and " Sam " faithfully fulfilled his agree- 
 ment, stopping off sharp when the year of his purgatory was out. 
 However, he says that he enjoyed singing with the congregation the 
 old Psalms of David. They then had no instrument and no trained 
 choir, and he said it was of no consequence whether he was in time 
 or at the proper pitch. 
 
 Mr. Wright is an out-and-out temperance man, is willing to 
 lend a hand to a fallen brother, and has long been in good cinnuii- 
 stances. He served his country three years during the war, of which 
 he can relate many reminiscences. Since coming here he has been 
 chiefly engaged in farming, horse-rearing and hvery stable business. 
 William Darling, resembled many other colonists who expected to 
 farming across the river their business, but built in town and left
 
 THE trXIOX COLONY OF COLORADO. 419 
 
 their wives and children there for the advantages to be reaped from 
 schools, churches and society, while they themselves went out to the 
 front and stayed there in tents or in dug-outs during the summer. 
 This Mr. Darling did and opened up a fine farm in Lone Tree, 
 w'hich his son Frank has been ably carrying on for some j^ears. The 
 father is now sj^ending the evening of his days beneath the shade 
 of the wide-spread branches of cottonwoods planted eighteen years 
 ago. Mrs. Darling had more than her share of the courage and pluck 
 of our pioneer women, and from the first had unbounded faith in the 
 futvire of Greeley. She is a leader in temperance reform and in mis- 
 sionary enterprises. 
 
 A number of men who from time to time have been elected to office 
 from different parts of the county and thus led to make a temporary 
 stay in Greeley have, after becoming better acquainted, resolved to 
 make their permanent residence here. Conspicuous among these is 
 B. D. Harper. During the contest between Greeley and Evans he 
 was an Evans man, lived there, had a residence there and had a heavy 
 interest in the so-called Evans courthouse that was blown down. But 
 he was elected county commissioner and then treasurer, came to live 
 temporarily in Greeley and finally built the second best residence in 
 town. He has for a long time been cashier of the First National bank, 
 was lately commander of the Grand Army post here, and his wife, 
 who is a woman of great executive ability, is now president of the 
 Woman's Relief corps. Mr. Harper was an officer during the war of 
 the rebellion, and he organized and drilled the Greeley military com- 
 , pany, whose term of service has just expired. These old feuds have 
 long ago died out, and Mr. Harper has gracefully accepted the defeat 
 of Evans b^^ which he w^as a great loser. 
 
 A further word ought here to be said about one of our best citizens, 
 Oliver Howard. He, too, is an old soldier, and was after the war con- 
 nected with the Freedman's Bureau. Since coming here in 1871 he 
 has been conspicuous in educational matters. He is a writer of some 
 ability and occasionally indulges in verse, though he takes to it rather 
 as a luxury. He has written much for tlie local papers, and also for 
 Eastern magazines, by which many of his articles are accepted. His 
 sister, the wife of Albert Howard, is also a writer in both prose and 
 verse for Eastern periodicals. Mr. Howard has of late turned his at- 
 tention to fiction, and he may yet turn off something in that line 
 equal to " Looking Backward " or " Robert Elsmere." But what is 
 particularly noteworthy is that Mr, Howard is a hard working man 
 supporting by truck raising and truck peddling a large family, which 
 he is educating as far as our schools afford opportunity, and in the
 
 420 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 intervals of this hard, and, if the reader pleases, dirty work, in the 
 material sense, he conquers time for study and writing. The sister is 
 also a hard worker, helping her husband manage a large dairy. 
 
 There is no pursuit so arduous, so exacting but the man or woman, 
 who has the taste and determination, can conquer in it leisure for in- 
 tellectual Avork and improvement. Only the intellectually indolent or 
 indifferent have no time for these things. The writer is acquainted 
 with a Greeley lady, the mother of eight children, the youngest a 
 babe, who finds time to read, and read understandingly and thoroughly 
 a number of works in history, science and philosophy every year, and 
 this lady is by no means of a rugged constitution, in fact of rather a 
 frail build, and her household affairs are not neglected, nor 
 has she unlimited wealth to pay for her work being done. 
 All this mental activity is due to the stimulating advice and 
 direction of a relative and friend who is himself a scholar. Our 
 readers may guess who is )ueaat and may have some difficulty in 
 determining, as this is true to some extent of more ladies than one in 
 Greeley. 
 
 It is farther to be said that Mrs. Oliver. Howard is a woman of liter- 
 ary and executive ability, of which she gave a proof when president 
 of the Womans' Rehef corps, at the late meeting of that l^ody and 
 the Grand Army in Greeley, when she made one of the best speeches 
 of the occasion. 
 
 A number of the citizens of Greeley served in the army during the 
 late war, as seen by our notice of the Grand Army post here. Some 
 of these we have mentioned in other connections, but two of our ■ 
 leading physicians who served there deserve more particular notice 
 here. But before naming them we will speak of Dr. J. B. Barclay, 
 who came here early in 1870 and took up his quarters in the Hotel do 
 Comfort, with the crowd, and did his full share of the grumbling. 
 He had served all through the war as an army surgeon. He never 
 became quite reconciled to the management here and joined the Long- 
 mont Colony the winter following. Here he still practices, though 
 now past the traditional human goal of life— three score and ten. 
 He is still straight as an arrow and likes to parade with the " old 
 boys " of the Grand Army, dressed in the full uniform of a United 
 States army surgeon. 
 
 But when the Doctor departed from here he left his daughter, Mrs. 
 W. R. Norcross, whose ability is well kuown, and whose bright, little 
 daughter, Katie, is the delight of the place— the sweet-throated 
 nightingale of Greeley. 
 
 Mr. Norcross saw much rough service in the army of Virginia, and
 
 THE UNIOX COLOXY OF COLORADO. 421 
 
 if any one wants to know how a pontoon bridge is built across a river 
 under the fire of the enemy, he had better consult him, since he vol- 
 unteered to lielp to construct one in front of the heights of Fred- 
 ericksburg. 
 
 Drs. G. Law and Jesse Hawes are the two above referred to and 
 are here united in a final sketch. 
 
 Dr. G. Law is a native of West Virginia and when the war broke 
 out he immediately left the medical college, where he was attending, 
 and enlisted in the ranks. He soon got the position of hospital stew- 
 ard, and then was commissioned as assistant surgeon. But prefeiTing 
 the more active duties of the battlefield he accepted a captaincy in 
 his company and with it was through many a hard fight and march 
 under General Averill. In '64 he was captured and was eight months 
 in different rel^el prisons, and suffered all the hardships incident to 
 those pens of filth and famine. During these months of imprison- 
 ment he broke prison three times and, once with a comrade was out 
 ten da3^s, in which the Federal lines were almost reached, and during 
 which the utmost coolness and audacity were demanded. 
 
 Soon after the war the Doctor mounted his sulky and headed his 
 horse for the West, seeking a better field for the practice of his pro- 
 fession than his native hills of W^est Virginia. He had fared as far as 
 Blissfield, near the southeast corner of Michigan, and there stoj^ped 
 to bait his horse and get a lunch for himself. The landlord informed 
 him that Doctor Newcomb, the principal physician of the place, was 
 getting too old to manage his large and growing practice. He sought 
 an interview with him and the result was a partnership and a most 
 cordial friendship. However, when the Union Colony was organized, 
 they took a joint membership, and Dr. Law came out here among the 
 first. About his early life let us hear the Doctor himself as he de- 
 scribed it in article written for The Greeley Tribune of the date of 
 July 26, 1876. By way of preface we may inform later comers to 
 Colorado that sun])urnt or adobe brick were nearly wholly used the 
 first summer in building houses not of wood. Mr. Meeker built the 
 front building of the residence of the Meeker family of this material, 
 and also The Tribune building. The latter has been fi'onted on two 
 of the outside walls with kiln-burned brick, and the former stuccoed 
 by means of driving nails into the brick, leaving out the heads to make 
 a better bond between the cement-mortar and the adobe. James 
 Henry was the inventor of this practice and the walls of his own 
 house on the farm are made in this way. 
 
 The only relic of this kind of building now left in its native hid- 
 eousness is one to the northeast of S. B. Wright's residence and was
 
 422 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 built by Daniel Kauney in 1871. Those who will take the pains to' 
 observe it will see that it is eaten under near the ground, and that 
 coarse gravel was mixed abundantly in the clay. This made it last 
 much longer than it otherwise would. It also was a low one-story 
 building, with projecting eaves, and has been painted several times. 
 "We will now hear the Doctor who, it will be seen, can drive a most 
 vigorous quill- upon proper provocation : 
 
 " I propose to talk about the adobe house I built during the summer 
 of 1870. The old colonists will remember the energy, labor, perseverance 
 and hard work I personally put into that mud pile in the face of the 
 Bcoifs and sneers of the incredulous. As I now recollect it, I should 
 think enough force, endurance and pluck was thus wasted to have, if 
 properly used, annihilated Sitting Bull, Standing Bull, Bull of the 
 Woods and Living Bull. I have left John Bull out of the list, be- 
 cause as we have him with us, he has been and is one of my valued 
 friends, and I would expend a large amount of energj^ to prevent 
 harm coming to him. 
 
 " Six inches of rainfall in one day and night, such as we had last 
 May, was too much for adobes, and the concrete wall under the adobe 
 fared no better. The water infiltered through it like a sieve, and left it 
 a crumbling mass of sand and gravel. So I found it j^esterday, when, 
 with the assistance of a competent bricklayer, I attempted to repair 
 the crumblmg foundation of the old adobe house on the corner of 
 Pine street and Adams avenue. The condition necessitated the re- 
 moval of my family and household goods to safer quarters. As a 
 builder of adobe houses I confess myself a failure. Indeed I have a 
 conception sufficiently vivid that adobe built by anybody, unless it be 
 by a Mexican, is a failure sooner or later. I have gone out of the 
 adobe business, and hereby notify my friends, and enemies, too, that 
 I am sensitive on this subject, and if too closelj^ pressed in that direc- 
 tion, I might manifest temporary insanity to the endangering of the 
 public peace. 
 
 "I pitched my tent on that Httle parallelogram-shaped piece of 
 ground early in Maj^ 1870, and said, ' Here I will make a home.' I 
 had only $350 in pocket, and how to get up a house with that siun was. 
 the question. I was asinine enough to believe what was told me by the 
 awful 59er and the still more awful 49er. Salt Lake City was said to 
 be happy in durable mud houses, and this country was represented as 
 being an exact counterpart of the great saline inland basin. So I said 
 I would build an adobe house, and took off my coat and went at it. 
 Oh, how hot the sun shone, and how sore my muscles were at even,, 
 w'hen the sun sank in the purple haze behind the mountains. How
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 423 
 
 the aristoeratie iDoarders at the Hotel de Comfort used to laugh at me 
 when they stopped on their daily tour of inspection. I was too tired 
 at night to attend their pow-wows, except occasionally, and thus was 
 cheated l^y my adobe out of much that was unique in human experi- 
 ence, the like of which will probably never be seen again. Sometimes 
 during that summer we had small showers of rain, that considerably 
 shook my confidence in adobe, and now I wish that we had had a good 
 square rain, hke the one last May. In September we did have a 
 shower, which would have done the business for my adobe, only the 
 carpenters had just got on the roof in time to save it ; and so it went 
 through, although the water soaked into the walls to the depth of two 
 inches. Two days of the sunshine that succeeded this mild equinoc- 
 tial dried it out again. And this led me to think of paint. I had 
 paid the carpenters and lumber dealers nearh' all tlie money I had 
 left. My wife was now doing washing by the dozen, and keeping day 
 boarders, in order to buy food while I worked at our adobe house. 
 With two dollars and fifty cents I bought ten pounds of iron brown, 
 ten gallons of raw linseed oil at two dollars a gallon and a cheap paint 
 brush, and I went to work; and for two years it stood as a landmark, 
 known as the black house, a scoff and a by- word to people who thought 
 themselves wiser. In my pride and self-will against my better judg- 
 ment, and partly l^ecause of my extreme poverty. I put two months 
 straight work on the worthless pile during the summer of 1872. Again 
 in the summer of 1873 I hired a painter and expended one hundred 
 and fifty dollars in paints and labor, and have lived in constant solici- 
 tude ever since, watching the cracks widen and the plaster fall from 
 the ceilings. I have struggled through too much folly and poverty to 
 quit now. My cottonwoods around that sacred little spot of ground 
 have grown thick, rank and shady, until I have to go outside their 
 line to see the purple and crimson sunset that I used to enjoy so much 
 sitting in a chair outside the diminutive shanty on the northwest cor- 
 ner of the lot, after my day's toil, smoking my pipe and dreaming my 
 dreams, which I have not yet relinquished— during the brief summer 
 evenings of that, to Greeley, memorable summer of 1870. That dear 
 wife, who though in frail health, toiled with me for bread, is now sleep- 
 ing in the cottonwood grove east of town, but ui^on this spot where 
 she and I toiled in our poverty and dissappointment, God willing. I 
 will rear her children, and hope to die where she died, and be buried 
 by our children by her side. The bricklayers will proceed at once to 
 duplicate that house in good burned brick. I shall sta}- in my office 
 and attend to the only thing I know how to do, since to it I have given 
 the best thought of my life — my profession."
 
 424 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 And well the Doctor has succeeded putting money in his purse; but 
 though he cannot be said to have neglected his profession in any of 
 its details, yet he has by no means confined his studies to it. We 
 have seen him as an inventor of an apparatus for measuring water, 
 we have also noted what he said about our artesian wells. He has 
 made a special study of the geology of this section, and has a general 
 knowledge of that science. He also^pent some time in assaying tel- 
 luride ores, and discovered a new process for their reduction. We 
 have also seen him as one of the principal movers in establishing the 
 Irrigation Pump Works in Greeley, and now his active and energetic 
 mind is occupied during the few leisure moments he can call his own 
 from a large practice, in inventing improvements in steam pumps. 
 He is one of our most public-spirited citizens and his purse is as open 
 as his heart towards all liberal and progressive movements. 
 
 His coming was the means of bringing here the rest of his father's 
 family. The latter soon after our settlement sold out his broad acres 
 among the hills of Virginia and l^ouglit a fine tract of land at the 
 head of Black Hollow under Canal Number Two. Here he farmed 
 successfully for a number of years, but has been for some time retired 
 to spend the evening of his day in Greeley. 
 
 His sons, " Dow " and John, are growing rich farming. Tlie latter 
 married the other " Lapham girl " — as the two plucky independent 
 " Puritan maidens " were called, who undertook horticulture on a five 
 acre lot svest of Greeley in those abominable grasshopper times. The 
 Doctor had married one and John seeing what an excellent wife she 
 made laid siege to the heart of the other— a fortress not supposed to 
 be easy of reduction— as Flora had the rei^utation of being a man 
 hater. 
 
 Besides James Beetham and W. H. Brockway already mentioned 
 there came from Blissfield along with Dr. Law, J. F. Fezer, now for 
 many 3'ears engaged m the drug business, in which he has succeeded 
 admirably, and has become one of our wealthy substantial men, though 
 he came here bare handed and shoveled dirt and dug ditches like any 
 Irish immigrant during the first summer. Opportunity is always 
 open to men who knock importunately at its gate. 
 
 Dr. Jesse Hawes is another man of true grit and determination, 
 which overcome all barriers. His career before coming here closely 
 resembles that of the physician we have been narrating. He left the 
 academy where he was attending school, and enlisted as a private in the 
 ranks of the Grand Army of the Republic. He too was taken pris- 
 oner and confined in a rebel prison pen known as "Castle Morgan" 
 near Cahaba, Alabama, where he suffered what has been graphically
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 425 
 
 told bj' him in a volume of intense interest latelj^ published. He also 
 broke prison and nearly effected his escape into the Union lines, with 
 two others. 
 
 On being mustered out of the ami}' at the close of the war, he took 
 a course in medicine at Ann Arbor, and upon graduating, made a trip 
 in Europe principally for the purpose of extending his studies in 
 medicine in the hospitals of London and Paris. On returning to 
 America he took another course in New York City, and came to Gree- 
 ley in 1872 to begin his medical career in our midst. He was no 
 doubt induced to come on information from his sister, Mrs. W. F. 
 Thompson who had been here from the first; and liked the place. 
 The writer became acquainted with him soon after coming, here 
 through their mutual friend, Professor H. S. Cheever of Michigan 
 University, and will always remember the positive wa^^ in which the 
 young Doctor expressed himself about his having deliberate!}' selected 
 this town for his residence, and his confidence in winning success; and 
 amplv he has vindicated his determination, and forecast of the future. 
 The writer knows no man more capaljle of following to a hair's l^readth 
 a line of work deliberately planned Ijeforehand. He is not a specialist 
 in his profession, but he makes the studies of his profession a specialty, 
 shut out quite closel}^ from other lines of thought. This does not 
 hinder him, however, from taking a liveh' interest in the welfare of 
 the town, and working for its best interests. In company with J. M. 
 Wallace he has been appointed a director of the State Normal School, 
 and during the first few years of its being, these two resident directors 
 will have their hands full of poorly reinunerated business. But what- 
 ever either undertakes to do, we know will be done thoroughlj', and it 
 is a line in which both have new spurs to win. 
 
 Except so far as publishing certain matters deemed worthy of 
 preservation for reference in appendices herewith following, our task 
 now is done. Events and movements which have appeared worth}' of 
 presentation in this collected form have engaged ova- attention, and to 
 these have been added some incidents more pureh' biographical. The 
 author has deemed these needful to make the outline of the picture more 
 complete. Perfectly complete it cannot be. The incidents and experi- 
 ences in the lives of each one of us who has come near the margin of 
 the stream that divides "the here and the there'' would fill a thicker 
 volume than this one, and if told with the power to thrill others as it 
 does us when recalled in hours of retrospection, would be well worth 
 the narrating. But we must all be satisfied with a much smaller hear- 
 ing Ihan this, and must largely be each his own auditor of the voices 
 that come to us from our past experiences. The names selected have
 
 426 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 been so far as possible, representative. Those who have signally 
 failed as well as those who have succeeded have been deemed neces- 
 sary to give the picture its shading. Persons of much eccentricity of 
 character abounded among the first settlers, and an omission of the 
 most prominent of these would have left our picture a too flattering 
 one. So there has been an endeavor to limn Greeley "warts and 
 all," as Oliver Cromwell ordered the painter to do in a picture for 
 which he was sitting.
 
 THE APPEXDICES. 
 
 APPENDIX A. 
 
 CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE UNION COLONY, ORGANIZED IN NEW YORK, 
 DECEMBER 23, 1869. 
 
 The object of the above named Colony shall be to settle on Govern- 
 ment or other cheap land in the West, to the end that men may en- 
 gage in various industries and pursuits, and that they may have homes 
 of their own, and that schools and churches may be convenient. 
 
 Article I. The officers shall be a President, Vice-President, Treas- 
 urer and Executive Committee, appointed by the Colony in session, 
 and a Committee of Location, an Auditing Committee and a Secretary 
 appointed by the Executive Committee. The duties of the various 
 officers shall be the same as belong to other organized bodies. 
 
 Art. II. The Secretary shall receive such compensation as the Ex- 
 ecutive Committee shall hereafter provide, and the Auditing Com- 
 mittee shall examine the accoimts and report monthly to the Colony. 
 
 Art. III. The Locating Committee shall select with their best 
 judgment a location suitable for the settlement of the Colony. 
 
 Art. IV. The President shall represent the Colony, and always act 
 under its direction when practicable, and shall report his actions at each 
 meeting of the Executive Committee. 
 
 Art. V. Terms of office are to continue until successors are ap- 
 pointed, unless removals are required on account of incompetence or 
 misconduct, and during the interim of Colony meetings, removals may 
 be made l^y the Executive Committee. 
 
 Art. VI. The Executive Committee shall make such rules and reg- 
 ulations and inaugurate such measures as shall result in attaining in 
 the best manner the object for which the Colony is organized. 
 
 Art. VII. Persons wishing to become members must be temper- 
 ance men, and of good moral character, and they must pay an initia- 
 tion fee of $5 to the Treasurer; also pay to the Treas'urer, Hon. 
 Horace Greeley, Tribune office, Ncav York, .$1.50 on or before the 15th 
 of February, 1870. 
 
 Art. VIII. When the Locating Committee shall have found a suit- 
 able locality for the Colony, tliey shall report the same to the Execu- 
 tive Committee, who shall order the Treasurer to purchase tlie same 
 with funds on hand belonging to the memliers, and take a deed for 
 the land in trust for the Colony. Afterward the Treasurer shall deed 
 designated parcels of laud to the several members as the Executive 
 Committee shall direct, and such deeds shall be executed whenever a
 
 J:28 A HISTORY OF GRKELET AND 
 
 member in good faith enters upon his land, particularly village property, 
 to make improvements agreeably to the object for which the Colony is 
 established. If members neglect to make such improvements within 
 one 3^ear, no deed shall he given, and the amount paid in shall be re- 
 funded with 7 per cent, interest, and the land shall be deeded to such 
 a one as shall make the improvements, with the approval of the Ex- 
 ecutive Committee. 
 
 Art. IX. After the land shall be vested with the Treasurer in trust, 
 the Executive Committee shall proceed to la}' out four quarter sec- 
 tions, or 640 acres, located centrall}', or most convenient, into blocks 
 of ten acres each, and these shall be divided into lots from half an 
 acre to one acre and a quarter each, for residences and to form a vil- 
 lage, but a portion of the lots may be from three to five acres each. 
 In the center, or conveniently, a plaza or square of ten acres shall be 
 laid out for the lousiness portion of the town, and grounds shall be re- 
 served for a park not exceeding fifty acres. 
 
 Art. X. The lots so laid out shall be sold to the various members, 
 ranging from .525 to $50 each, and the proceeds therefrom shall be de- 
 voted to the Ijuilding of a schoolhouse and a town hall, and to the 
 establishment of a reading room and lil^rary free to all members, and 
 to other necessarj^ improvements for the common welfare. Lots are 
 to be held in reserve for sale at advanced prices to such as may wish 
 to join after the Colony lauds are occupied. 
 
 Art. XI. The land adjoining the town plot may be divided into 
 lots of 5, 10, 40 or 80 acres, according to their distance from the town 
 center, and deeded to the members as they may choose, and additional 
 lots at greater distances ma}' also be selected by them, so that the ag- 
 gregate value may be equal to the value of a quarter section on the 
 outer line of the colonial property, of which members may have each 
 one undivided quarter section, but no more, with the exception of lots 
 in the village, of one acre and a quarter, one to each, and each mem- 
 ber may make his own selection. 
 
 Art. XII. Five half-acre lots in the village shall be reserved for 
 church purposes, which shall be free to such denominations of Chris- 
 tians as may choose to build thereon. 
 
 Art. XIII. The object of this Colony being as above stated, no 
 member can be permitted to disconnect himself from the village or 
 town organization, by erecting his dwelling on his outlying land, to be 
 relieved from his share of the expenses necessary for establishing 
 schools and general imiDrovements, nor can any member own a town 
 lot imless in good faith he build thereon. But nothing herein shall 
 prevent a member from residing on his farming land should he so 
 choose, nor shall religious tests of any kind be required as a condition 
 of membership.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 429 
 
 APPENDIX B. 
 
 CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO FILED 
 FOR RECORD AT 3 o'cLOCK P. 31., APRIL 15tH, A. D. 1870. FRANK E. 
 
 MOYER, RECORDER. 
 
 Whereas, We the undersigned Nathan C. Meeker, Robert A. Cam- 
 eron, Henry T. West, WiHiani N. Byers, and Daniel Witter desire to 
 iorm a company for the purpose of carrying on the business of nian- 
 utacturmg and mining, constructing wagon roads and bridges, dig- 
 ging and maintaining ditches, aiding, encouraging and iiiduciu<' 
 emigration to the Territory of Colorado, building churches, acade'- 
 mies and schoolhouses, and carrying on other branches of business 
 designed to aid in the industrial and productive interests of the coun- 
 try under tlie provisions of Chapter Eighteen of the Revised Stat- 
 utes ot Colorado, and the amendments thereto approved February 
 11th, 1870; therefore 
 We do hereby certify : 
 
 First That the corporate name of said company shall be The 
 Union Colony of Colorado. That said company is formed for the 
 Tollowing purposes, to- wit : 
 
 1st. For the purpose of manufacturing flour, lumljer, brick 
 turniture and all kinds of manufactured goods, wares and merchan- 
 dise. 
 
 2ud. For the purpose of mining for iron, coal and other min- 
 erals. 
 
 ?r?' 5^^ ^^^^ purpose of constructing wagon roads and bridges. 
 4th. For the purpose of constructing and maintaining ditches and 
 canals. 
 
 5th. For the purpose of erecting, maintaining, holding and keep- 
 ing in repair a house or houses of public worship. 
 
 6th. For the purpose of providing, holding, maintaining and keep- 
 ing in repair a place for the burial of the dead. 
 
 7th. For the purpose of establishing and maintaining academies 
 and schools for the education of youth. 
 
 8th. For the purpose of aiding, encouraging and inducing immi- 
 gration to the Territory of Colorado; and 
 
 9th. For the purpose of carrying on other branches of business 
 designed to aid the industrial and productive interests of the country 
 
 bEcoND. The amount of the capital stock of said company shall be 
 twenty-five thousand dollars [25,000] which shall be divided"' into five 
 thousand shares of five dollars each. 
 
 Third. The term of the existence of said company shall be for 
 twenty years. 
 
 Fourth. The affairs of said corporation shall be managed by five 
 trustees, and the following named persons shall be such trustees for 
 the first year and until their successors are elected, to-wit • 
 
 Nathan C. Meeker, Robert A. Cameron, Henry T. West,' William N 
 Byers and Daniel Witter.
 
 430 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 Fifth. The priucipal business of said company shall be carried 
 on in the town of Greele}', in the County of Weld and Territory of Col- 
 orado, with the right to carry on a part of its business at places out- 
 side of said Territory. 
 
 Sixth. The trustees of said company shall have power to make 
 such prudential bj^-laws as they may deem proper for the manage- 
 ment and disposition of the stock and business affairs of said com- 
 pany, for prescribing the duties of officers, agents, artificers and 
 servants that may be employed, and for the appointment of all offi- 
 cers and agents for carrying on all kinds of business within the ob- 
 jects and purposes of said compan}-. 
 
 Seventh. The wagon roads to be constructed by said company are 
 to be from the town of Greeley in the County of Weld aforesaid, in- 
 tersecting other roads, and the bridges to be built are to cross the 
 Platte river and the Cache la Poudre river in townships No. 5 and 6 
 north of range Xo. 65 west. 
 
 Eighth. The said compan}- propose to take the water for their said 
 ditches or canals from the Cache la Poudre river and from Big Thomp- 
 son river as follows, to-wit : First — On the north side of said Cache la 
 Poudre river, at or near the foot of the canon above the town of La 
 Porte in the County of Larimer, Territory of Colorado, to be carried 
 thence at a grade not to exceed five feet fall to the mile along- the 
 most convenient and practicable line easteiij- to Crow creek, in the 
 County of Weld aforesaid. Second — On the north side of said 
 Cache la Poudre river on or near section 11, in township No. 6 north 
 of range Xo. 68 west, to be carried thence at a grade not to exceed 
 five feet fall to the mile along the most convenient and practicable 
 line easterly to Crow creek in the County of Weld aforesaid. Third — 
 On the south side of said Cache la Poudre river, at or near a point 
 seven miles above where the Denver Pacific railway crosses said stream, 
 to he carried thence at a grade not to exceed five feet fall to the mile 
 along the most convenient and practicable line easterly and southerly 
 to the South Platte or Cache la Poudre river, either or both. Fourth — 
 From Big Thompson river at a point on or near section Xo. 1 in town- 
 ship X"o. 4 north of range Xo. 66 west, to be carried thence at a grade 
 not to exceed five feet fall to the mile northeasterly along the most 
 convenient and practicable line to the South Platte or Cache la Poudre 
 river, either or both, with such branches, races, aqueducts, flumes 
 and embankments as shall be necessaiy or convenient for the con- 
 struction^ maintenance and use of each of said ditches. 
 
 XiNTH. The water in said ditches is to be used and api)lied for the 
 irrigation of lands and town lots, for manufacturing mechanical 
 and culinary purposes, and for the conveyance through said ditches, 
 of logs, lumber, wood, boats, goods, wares and merchandise.
 
 THE UXIOX COLONY OF COLORADO. 431 
 
 APPENDIX C. 
 
 circular, 
 
 Greeley, Colorado, May 16, 1870. 
 The Executive committee of Uuiou Colony submit the following 
 statement for the benefit of its members, and those interested in the 
 Colony : 
 
 lamds purchased. 
 
 Who From. When. Acres. Cost Per Acre. Amount. 
 
 Denver Pacific Railway. .April 11, 1870. .6.397 66-inOths 25 descriptions §300 $19,192.9;^ 
 
 " " ..2,766 40-lOOths 12 " 4.00 11,06560 
 
 " " .. 160 2 " 5.00 800.00 
 
 John Gates " 7, " .. 326 70-lOOths about 10.00 3,200 00 
 
 A.J.Williams " 22, ".. 80 9.00 720.00 
 
 W.R.Williams " 20, " .. 160 2,000.00 
 
 David H. Williams " 20. " .. 160 2,000.00 
 
 For obtaining the last three descriptions we paid Dr. Tuttle for services 
 
 and traveling fees, as per bill 281. .50 
 
 M. L. Smith April (i, 1870 . . 160 2,000.09 
 
 David Barnes " 11. ".. 126 98-lOOths lu.OO 1,269.80 
 
 E. Williams ' " 7, ".. 1.59 18-lOOths 10.00 1,600.00 
 
 L. F. Bartels " 7, " .. 200 8.00 1,600.00 
 
 G.W.Phelps •• 9, ." .. 378 5-6ths 10.00 3.788.00 
 
 D. H. Moftat, Jr., " 9,' ■•.. 120 10 00 1,200 (lO 
 
 J. Quigley " 7, " .. 160 and his Hd., 80 acres, with house 2,800.00 
 
 " 7. " .. 160 2,000.00 
 
 Bartels & Remick " 7, ".. 320 8.00 2,560.00 
 
 Chas. B. Far well IMay 10, ".. 80 12.00 960.00 
 
 Total Number of acres 11,916 29-lOOths Amount paid, §59,010.88 
 
 Preliminary fees for occupancy of government lands. 930.00 
 
 $59,970.88 
 
 Recapitulation :— Purcbased from the railway company, 9,321 6-lOOths acres, costing 
 $31,0.58.58; purchased from individuals, 2,592 23-lOOths acres, costing §27,982.30; prelim- 
 inary fees for occupation of 60,000 acres, §930. 00— making a totiil of .359,970.88. 
 
 The money paid for the above lands was drawn b}^ drafts upon 
 Horace Greele}^ Treasurer of Union Colony, by N. C. Meeker, Presi- 
 dent, and R. A. Cameron, Vice President. 
 
 The Colony has a contract with the Denver Pacific Eailway Co., to 
 witttdraw from public entry and permit us to purchase at any time 
 within three years from May 1st, 1870, Fifty Thousand (50,000) acres 
 of laud, which are to be selected l)y the officers of the Colony as they 
 wish, within certain bounds. The prices to be paid for said lands are 
 as follows, viz: lands selected between the 1st of May, 1870, and the 
 1st of May, 1871, to be .|3.00 per acre, with interest at six per cent, 
 from May 1st. Those selected between the 1st of May, 1871, and the 
 1st of May, 1872, to be $3.50 per acre and interest at six per cent, 
 from Maj' 1, 1871. Those selected between the 1st of May 1872 and 
 the 1st of May, 1873, to be .$1.00 per acre, and interest at six per cent, 
 from the 1st day of May, 1872. 
 
 Members who are willing to take 80 acres of Government land, com- 
 mencing at a distance of about four (1) miles from the town site, for 
 their membership \vill be allowed to take an additional and adjoining 
 eighty acres of railroad land, by paying to the Colony the cost of the
 
 432 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 same at the time of the purchase, being $3 per acre, uutil May 1st, 
 1871. The water for irrigation to go with the land in all cases. 
 
 PROPOSED DIVISION OF LANDS. 
 
 130 5-atTe lots, 650 acres 80 40-acre lots, 3,200 acres 10 120-acre lots, 1,200 acres 
 
 120 lO-acre lots, 1,200 acres 70 60-acre lots, 4,203 acres 10 UO-acre lots, 1,400 acres 
 
 100 20-acre lots. 2.000^acres 70 80-acre lots. 5.600 acres 10 160-acre lots, 1,600 acres 
 
 80 30-acre lots, 2,400 acres 20 lOO-acre lots, 2,000 acres 
 
 Total, 700 members, 25,450 aei'es. 
 
 Included in this land is that purchased from the railroad company, 
 froni former occupants, and the government lands, upon which we 
 have a claim. A member is entitled to a lot of land, as he may select, 
 of five, ten, twenty, forty or more acres, up to the largest number of 
 acres the Colony can give anyone, for his One Hundred and Fifty Dol- 
 lars, (-1150.00) depending upon the distance from the town site. The 
 nearer the town the less land, the farther off, the more. The live 
 acre lots immediately adjoin the town. Improvements must be made 
 upon outlying lands" within one year from the date of the location of 
 the Colony lauds, viz: April 5th, 1870, to entitle a person to a deed, 
 unless the same person purchases a town lot and improves that to sat- 
 isfaction of the Executive Committee. This laud is to be furni.shed 
 with water for irrigation. The Colony digs the ditches, and each 
 member of the Colony is hable to assessment for cost of keeping the 
 same in repair. It is estimated that .the ditches for irrigating the 
 lands of the Colony, as stated, will cost about $20,000, for which there 
 
 is money in the Treasury. 
 
 A member is also entitled to purchase town lots for residence and 
 business purposes, either or l^oth, at the minimum price of Fifty Dol- 
 lars ($50.00) for corner, and Twenty-five Dollars (.f25.00) ior inside lots, 
 the deeds for which will be given when members enter upon them in 
 good faith, to the satisfaction of the Executive Committee. The money 
 paid for town lots is to he expended for general village improvements. 
 
 TOWN LOTS. 
 There are in all, 1,224 lots, which are dividert as follows: 
 Residence lots, 50x190 feet, 20 ft. alleys, 144 Business lots, 25xllo feet, 20 It. .alleys, 32g 
 Residence lots, 100x190 feet, 20 ft. alleys, 408 Business lots, 25x190 feet, 20 ft. alleys, 23b 
 Residence lots, 200x190 feet, 20 ft. alleys, 108 Reserved for schools, churches, town 
 hall, court house, seminary, and other public uses, 81 lots. 
 
 Recapitclatiox:- Residence lots, 660; business lots, 483; reserved, 81. 
 
 The organization of the •' Union Colony of Colorado " was a neces- 
 sity to enable us to make contracts, binding upon the Colony, without 
 which we coidd not have done anything in regard to irrigation, g,nd 
 many other things necessary to be done for the Colony. This organ- 
 ization is simply to do such things as could not otherwise be done, 
 but it is to be distinctly understood that the members of the Colony 
 are to control the municipal and all other matters relating to the Colony, 
 according to the terms of the original organization. 
 
 Regarding the salaries of officers, we would say that the Executive 
 Committee, in session in New York, determined that Mr. Meeker, 
 President, should received the sum of One Hundred and Sixty Dollars 
 (.$160.00) per month for his services while actively engaged for the 
 Colony; and that his son Ralph Meeker, as assistant secretary, should 
 receive Fifty Dollars ($50.00) per month, until the business was closed 
 in New York, which has already been ordered done. It was also agreed
 
 THE TJNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 433 
 
 that Mr. CHUieron, Vice-President, .should act as superintendent, and 
 after the location of the lands, should remain on the ground to receive 
 the people and attend to their wants, and that for such actual services 
 as superintendent, he should be paid the sum of Seven Dollars ($7.00) 
 per day, until relieved by the Executive Committee. Upon Mr. West 
 being appointed secretary, it was agreed that he should be paid Six 
 Dollars (16.00) per day for actual service, until relieved by the Execu- 
 tive Connnittee. 
 
 Lumber is still somewhat scarce, but a lumber vard has been estab- 
 lished, and it will be more plentiful soon. The Colony have two large 
 buildings and nine tents, and there will be no trouble about shelter, 
 but we advise all to luring a good supply of bed clothing and blankets 
 with them, as the nights are cool, and as some have come without any 
 extra clothing, we desire that all hereafter shall come prepared. 
 
 The auditing Committee of the Colony will soon make a full report 
 of the expenses attending the locating and purchase of the lands. 
 
 By order of the Executive Committee. 
 
 H. T. West, R. a. Cameron, 
 
 Secretary, Vice-President. 
 
 2»
 
 APPENDIX D. (a). 
 
 UNION COLONY, NO. 1 — LIST OF MEMBERS WHO HAVE PAID TO THE TREASURER 
 $155 — N. C. MEEKER, PRESIDENT; GEN. R. A. CAMERON, VICE-PftESIDENT; 
 HORACE GREELEY, TREASURER. 
 
 Alcoke, R. S, 
 ArnistroD!?, J. J. 
 Adams, George 
 Ambrose, E. F. 
 Anderson, J. C. 
 Adams. E. D. 
 Abbey, R. P. 
 Andrews, W. J. 
 Ayer. Willington 
 Abbott. E. H. 
 Avery. Egbert 
 Atkinson. James 
 Atkinson, Sharon 
 Annis, Emma 
 Alphonse, E. C. 
 Atkinson, Tlios. 
 Adams, R. 
 Avery, F. K. 
 Atkinson, E. 
 Alcoke, R. H. 
 Atwood, J. G. 
 Brandigee, Chas. 
 Barstow, Jr., H. 
 Billings, G, N. 
 BirdSMli, S, H. 
 Brown, T. 
 Bramer. IMrs. C. K. 
 Balcombe, R. 
 Briggs, E. B. 
 Bussett. Beach 
 Baraes, C. T. 
 Briggs, C. H. 
 Brakeman, Ed. 
 Briggs, A. R. 
 Brown. Rev. S. M. 
 Beckwith, Chas. E. 
 Bythway, Thos. 
 Bythway, M. 
 Barclay, J. B. 
 Bailie, Jno. 
 Baker, E. L. 
 Barker, J, K. 
 Barker, S. F. 
 Bnckingham, C 
 Bardill. C. 
 Burr, G. W. 
 Bingham, I). L. 
 Barter, A. 
 
 Brownell, Mrs. Dora A. 
 Baker, h. D. 
 Bovd. I). 
 Billings, J. E. 
 Brooks, Athmel 
 Baldwin B. F. 
 Bedell, L. 
 Benson, Thos. 
 
 Boyes. Wm. H. 
 Boyes, Aaron 
 Boyes, Wm. 
 Burchill, R. A. 
 Butfham. J. 
 Bill. E. L. 
 Baby, Wm. L. 
 Bennett. P. M. & Co. 
 Blodgett. S. 
 Bristol, L. 
 Banta, J. W. 
 Blodgett, . S. 
 Ronton, E. D. 
 Brock way, C. S. 
 Brownell, J. E. 
 Brooks, M. 
 Brown, A. 
 Barnum, P. T. 
 Connor, D. 
 Coon, M. 
 Cooper, J. G. 
 Cooley, N. C. 
 Clark, J. 
 Cameron. R. A. 
 Carey, J. R. 
 Childs, F. L. 
 Charter, H. 
 Cherry, S. A. Mrs. 
 Coursen, G. H. 
 Carlton, D. H. 
 Culver, P. A. 
 Cobb, J. 
 Coker, W. H. 
 Chase, M. H. 
 Colby, W. M. 
 Conant, L. 
 C-olburn. J. M. 
 Chapman, C. D. 
 Clark, T. J. 
 Dunham, J. L. 
 Dunham, E. L. 
 Denmeade, J. C. 
 Daiidson, J. 
 Draper, G. T. . 
 Dickinson, F. 
 Day, F. G. 
 Doudes, A. 
 Dundridge, Jas. 
 Dan, H. M. 
 Dane, VV. B. 
 Davis, Leroy 
 Day. S. A. 
 Driver, James A. 
 Driver, A. M. 
 Dunham, S. C. 
 Dreghorn, James 
 
 Darling, W. M. 
 
 Desmond, J. 
 
 De Vine, C. W. 
 
 B. L. Repeating Arms Co. 
 
 Emerson, C. 
 
 Eller, M. 
 
 Eaton, Daniel 
 
 Eaton, G. W. 
 
 Eaton, J. B. 
 
 Eaton, Almon 
 
 Engle, P. 
 
 Engle, A. 
 
 Eacker, Jnc. 
 
 Embick, D. 
 
 Eaton, O. 
 
 Ellis, Wm. 
 
 Fisk, Richmond 
 
 French. S. F. 
 
 Foote, Jr., vVm. 
 
 Foster, J. H. 
 
 Fisk, G. W. 
 
 Fisk, J. M. 
 
 Fielder, R. C. 
 
 Forward, Jos. 
 
 Fisher, H. J. 
 
 Fear, D. 
 
 ITrew, A. 
 
 Forsyth, J. W. 
 
 Fari, D. S. 
 
 Field, Amos 
 
 Flag^, C. R. 
 
 Fussell, L. 
 
 Fussell. E. 
 
 Frame, W. J. 
 
 Fritts, J. W. 
 
 Fr. nch M. D. 
 
 Fussell, C. L. 
 
 Galbreth, H. 
 
 Graham, S. 
 
 Glenny, A. 
 
 Green. J. B. 
 
 Gransbury, S. H. 
 
 Greenwood. A. H. 
 
 Gre«n, W. M. 
 
 Gates, J. 
 
 Guiney, Mrs. V. R. 
 
 Gillett, A. S. 
 
 Gilbert, A. J. 
 
 Giilett, I. P. 
 
 Gorton. Geo. 
 
 Gifford, M. V. B. 
 
 Grant, Jno. 
 
 Gushee, F. A. 
 
 Guilford, S. 
 
 Hotchkiss, A. 
 
 Hanby, C. F.
 
 THE riNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 
 
 485 
 
 Holt, A. D. 
 Hawk, W. W. 
 Harris, .J. F. 
 Hall, W. 
 Hertiff, J. S. 
 Howe, Va 
 Holiiu's, N. 
 Holmes, K. D. 
 Holmes, C. N. 
 Hull, N. \V. 
 Hastings. M. 
 Holtoii, W. 
 Hatfield, P. 
 Hatfield, G. E. 
 Hall, Kli 
 Hollister, E. 
 Haslam, J. 
 Hurlbut, J. B. 
 Hale, R. 
 Hopper, W. A. 
 Hilton, 1{. 
 Hotehkiss, R. 
 Hovey, O. D. 
 Haiiuii, L. 
 Hanna, Geo. 
 Hauna, C. fj. 
 Hanna, F. 
 Hanna, Amanda 
 Hogan, H. L. 
 Hoag, A. 
 Hover, VV. A. 
 • Howe, J. 
 Howe, Mrs. Matilda K. 
 Hoag, E. 
 Higgins, S. 
 Humphrey, Chas. 
 Henderson, M. P. 
 Hawkins, C. P. 
 Hollister, E. 
 Higenbotam, J. 
 Highland, J. 
 Harbisin, W. P. 
 Hartley, J. W. 
 Hiird, S. H. 
 Ingraham, G. W. 
 Johnson, J. H. 
 Jennings, E. P. 
 Jewell, Geo. A. 
 Jones, E. W. 
 Jordan, VV'm. 
 Justin, .J. G. 
 Jones, .1. H. 
 Jones, J. 
 Kent, Wm. J. 
 Koons. W. L. 
 Ivingsley, J. L. 
 Knight, Mrs. M. A. 
 Keith, Wm. H. 
 Kent, Jas, V. 
 Kent, Wm. M. 
 King, J. It. 
 Kitchen, Y. 
 Koons. W. L/. 
 Linn, .Samuel 
 Lawrence, Jas. 
 Lansing, M. W. 
 Lyman, A. W. 
 Lee, Mrs. Jas. L. 
 Lynn, R. 
 Lennen, K. M. 
 Langford, C. 
 Jjowd. J. 
 Lawson, Jan. 
 Longstatt", Thos. 
 
 Li Grange, B. S. 
 Liggett, A. K. 
 Law, H. M. 
 Lane, N. H. 
 Lee, H. 
 Logan, A. 
 Little, J no. 
 Little. W. E. 
 Lee, W. .\. 
 Lawton. Jr.. F. 
 Meeker, N. C". 
 Moss, J. 
 .Marsh, I. R. 
 .Mendel, H. D. 
 .Morrison. B. J. 
 .Mabbitt, J. S. 
 iMarland, A. 
 Monk, E. C. 
 Miller, W. W. 
 McWhorter, A. 
 McCarthy, G. VV. 
 .Mansfield, V. D. L. 
 Montgomery. M. 
 McKean, D. R. 
 .McDermid, S. M. 
 .Morris, H. 
 McKay, H. 
 Monk, G. E. 
 .Maxwell, R. M. 
 .Massenberg, W. 
 May. S. 
 
 Matteson, G. L. 
 .Mattison, ('. VV. 
 M«tteson, M. C. 
 Moore, A. 
 .Moore. B. 
 McGlain, O. N. 
 McAllister. Wm. 
 Nichols. Geo. X. 
 Newcomb, R. B. 
 Newman, VV. C. 
 Xettleton, C. L. 
 .Nickerson, D. 
 Vett; .S. P. 
 Norton, E. W. 
 N(n-thrup, C. L. 
 Orr, J. H. 
 Ostrander, C. S. 
 )dlin, VV'. 
 Plumb, O. 
 Paul. N. 
 Pabor, W. E. 
 Pratt, J. W. 
 I'rice, H. 
 Herson, G. S. 
 Page, A. W. 
 Piatt, E. E. 
 Plummer, Jr., N. Y. 
 Peebles, S. 
 Plummer, Harriet S. 
 Pettigrew, J. H. 
 Poor, V. H. 
 Plato, W. J5. 
 Paine, I. H. 
 Puckelt, T. C. 
 Post. W. H. 
 Pyburn, Geo. A. 
 Percival, F. J. 
 Prosser, Geo. 
 Patten, S. 
 Preston. A. D. 
 Pease, Geo. A. 
 Price, Miss M. 1^. 
 Palmer, G. VV. 
 
 Post, J. A. 
 
 Pool, C. O. 
 
 Quimby, :M. 
 
 Ranney, J. 
 
 Ranney, D. B. 
 
 Robinson, R. 
 
 Ring; Wm. 
 
 Rush, Thos. 
 
 Reed D. 
 
 Ryerson, H. P. 
 
 Roison, J. L. 
 
 Roberts, M. F, 
 
 Uandolph, ']'. C 
 
 !ie;>. E. 
 
 Robinson, L. E. 
 
 Hoot, II. G. 
 
 Roeder, F. 
 
 Ueeve. N. W. 
 
 Richardson, J. IL 
 
 Richardson, J. S. 
 
 Russell, C. M. 
 
 Kapp, J. 
 
 Reid, P. W. 
 
 Kussell, Hetty M. 
 Rogerson, R." 
 
 Hobinson, M. F. 
 
 Robinson, G. F. 
 
 Spencer. J. V. R, 
 Spencer, S. 
 
 Starkweather, IL L 
 Stone, S. 
 Shelton, Geo. P, 
 Shearer, J. 
 .Shearer, P. 
 Stoughton, H. 
 Spaulding. B. .VI. 
 SheMoa, H. 
 •Stone, O. 
 Scott. J. L. 
 .Stewart, A. 
 Shipman, H. M. 
 Sinclair, W. 
 Stfuncl:, VV. E. 
 Stansbury, D. 
 Silcott,H. E. 
 -Sayre, H. 
 Seely, N. 
 Simpson, J, T. 
 Satterlee, J. S. 
 Sanborn, J. F. 
 Stanley, J. H. 
 Sawyer, W. 
 Smalley, H. 
 Seely, J. S. 
 Smith, J. G. 
 Shepard, T. O. 
 Sheldon, L. 
 Suliot, T. E. 
 suliot, I. VV. 
 Suliot. E. T. 
 Stebbins, J. R. 
 
 chindler, J. H. 
 
 hattuck. J. C. 
 Smith, M. H. 
 Spencer, W. S. 
 Scott, John 
 Searles, A. E. 
 Smith, H. 
 Smith, Charles 
 Starr, W. F. 
 Shattuck' O. W. 
 Trufant. J. 
 Taylor, A. 
 Townseud, Geo, Jr.
 
 486 
 
 A HISTORY OF OREELEY ANP 
 
 Tucker. L. S. 
 Titcomb, J. 
 Taylor, Mrs. Jane 
 Thing, D. H. 
 Thomas. C. H. 
 Tyler, G. B. U. 
 Ticknor, A. 
 Townley, F. G. 
 Thompson, S. K. 
 Thompson. Chas. E. 
 Von Gohren, L. 
 Viile, I. 
 Williams, L. 
 Webster, K. 
 Witmer, H. C. 
 Wilber, A. .1. 
 \Vhite. M. R. 
 Welch. J. 
 
 Watrous, W. F. 
 Willoughby, B. F. 
 Walling, O. J. 
 Williams. .1. S. 
 West, Geo. H. 
 West, H. T. 
 Worth..!. D. 
 Webb, E. 
 Winship, Ghas. 
 Welch, C. R. 
 Washburne, S. 
 Williams. W. C. 
 Wherron, J. D. 
 Witham, 1>. P. 
 Watson, G. W. 
 Woodruff, W. B. 
 Waillin, J. M. G. 
 Wright, N. D. 
 
 Washbuvne, S. B. 
 Wiley, M. 
 Welch, D. S. 
 Watson, n. ('. 
 White, .J. L. 
 Wilson, J. ('. 
 Williams, S. P. 
 Waring, A. 
 A\'addington, D. 
 Woolston, W. H. 
 White, A. L. 
 Woodbury, J. A. 
 ^V'iddoss. J. 
 Ycung, D. C. 
 Zachario, S. S. 
 Zuckell, J. A. 
 
 APPENDIX D. (b). 
 
 LIST OF NAMES OF COLONISTS WHO JOINED DURING THE FIRST YEAR AT 
 GREELEY, AND NOT ON PRECEDING LIST, 
 
 Abbott, J. G. 
 
 Camp, August 
 
 Gregory, Noah 
 
 Abbott, T. H. 
 
 Craig, Alex 
 
 Gordon, John H. 
 
 Abbott, Lucy E. 
 
 Carpenter, Daniel 
 
 Greeley. Horace 
 
 Adams, Geo. H. 
 
 Carpenter, Le Roy 
 
 Gunsalus, Isaiah 
 
 Allen, X. R. 
 
 Gushing. R. J. 
 
 Garhmd, W. C. 
 
 Annis, E. B. 
 
 Canfleld, Ira 
 
 Hubb/ird, Wra. 
 
 Austin, Olin 
 
 Canfield, Isaac 
 
 Hale, B. C. 
 
 Boyd, Alex 
 
 Canfield, Elizabeth 
 
 Harrison, F. H. 
 
 Boyd, Robt 
 
 Dresser, Geo. T. 
 
 Hilton, S. W. 
 
 Boyd, John 
 
 De Votie, H. M. 
 
 Hilton. B. W. 
 
 Brush, J. L. 
 Baker. A. S. 
 
 Dunham, S. C. 
 
 Holmes. Mary 
 
 Dugger. J. W. 
 
 Hall, Ruth 
 
 Bond, H. G. 
 
 Dixon, Walter 
 
 Hogarty. M. J. 
 
 Babcock, F. M. 
 
 Dixon, Herbert 
 
 Hogarty, W. P. 
 
 Baxter, Alfred 
 
 Decker, Jannette 
 
 Helnie, Herriett 
 
 Barnes. C. P. 
 
 Dyson, Joe 
 
 Hollister, Charlotte J. 
 
 Birdsall. S. H. 
 
 Dyer& Hulet 
 
 Hoyt, Emma A. 
 
 Brock way, W. H. 
 
 De Lee, J. C. 
 
 Harris, Joseph 
 
 Bryant, Ira H. 
 
 Dickerson, Rebecca 
 
 Hine, C. W. 
 
 Bryant, Frank 
 
 Emerson, Sarah R. 
 
 Hanna, Kersey 
 
 Benson, John A. 
 
 Eaton, C. C. 
 
 Hill, G. S. 
 
 Buckley, Annie H. 
 
 Eaton, Q. A. 
 
 Hunter, S. D. 
 
 Burgess, John' 
 
 Eaton, Hannah 
 
 Hersey, D. S. 
 
 Beswick, Edwin 
 
 Eaton. B. H. 
 
 Higley, D. C. 
 
 Burk, Richard 
 
 Evans, Gov. John 
 
 Hancock, A. W. 
 
 Bishop, T. B. 
 
 Fisher, C. W. 
 
 Heaton, Eph. 
 
 Beagle, F. G. 
 
 Fisk. Russell 
 
 Heaton, Ellen 
 
 Bristow. Thos. 
 
 Frisbie, L. S. 
 
 Heaton, Charles 
 
 Beetham, J as. 
 
 Fuller, Geo. 
 
 Henry, Jas. 
 
 Bedford, Thos. 
 
 Fitulk, John 
 
 Higgins, A. 
 
 Buell, G. W. 
 
 Flower, J. B. 
 
 Holbrook, N. 
 
 Colburn, E. A. 
 
 Fletcher. Geo. 
 
 House, E. P. 
 
 Colburn, Jas. M. 
 
 Fairchild. Ezra 
 
 Hindale, Thos. 
 
 Clark, Jas. M. 
 
 Fancher, F'rank 
 
 Hiirdman, Ira 
 
 Clark, J. Max. 
 
 Fezer, J. F. 
 
 Howard, C. V. 
 
 Clark, A. B. 
 
 Farwell, J. H. 
 
 Howard. 0. 
 
 Carter, T. J. 
 
 Farwell, C. D. 
 
 Henicks, J. M. 
 
 Carver, E. J. 
 
 Faris, S. R. 
 
 Rowland, C. A. 
 
 CIou.l, R. W. 
 
 Ferdinand, H. 
 
 Hedges. Minor 
 
 Condit. John 
 
 Green. Thomas 
 
 Inderlied, Wm. 
 
 Colton. Uavid 
 
 Gilchrist. A. 
 
 Ingalj^be, Theo. 
 
 Camp, W, J. 
 
 Genimell Jennette 
 
 
 Clay, W. W. 
 
 Gipaon, Chas. B. 

 
 THE r^ION rOLONV OF COLORADO. 
 
 4B7 
 
 IniiiHn, Thomas 
 Inman, Joseph 
 [nniaii. Sarah M. 
 Ininan. Sophia K. 
 Igo, Albert and K. F. 
 Johnson, Geo. 
 Jones. Daniel 
 James, E. B. 
 Joyce, Joseph 
 Jucket, J. A. 
 Knowles, M. B. 
 Kendall, Alpheus 
 Kennedy, S. S. 
 Keeler, D. B. 
 Kinnison, I{. L. 
 Kaufman, D. J. 
 Kaufman. Rufus 
 K"ogle, A. C. 
 Kibler, James 
 Kram. W. J. 
 Lee, Waldo N. 
 Law. G. 
 Lownds, E. 
 Lacy, Peter 
 Le Bar, Jas. M. 
 Leavy; John 
 Lichty, H. H. 
 Like, A. 
 I>oomis, John S. 
 Long, John R. 
 Leonard, E. M. 
 Lockhart, M.J. 
 Marshall, Henry 
 Miller, I. D. 
 Meeker, Ralph 
 McCarty, Geo. W. 
 Melvin, Chas. 
 McDivitt, C. J. 
 McKilvey, C. M. 
 McKnight, M. A. 
 Marsh, B. F. 
 Marsh, A. C. 
 Moore, Joseph 
 Moore, Samuel 
 McKinney, W. P, 
 Martin, Henry V. 
 Martin, Solon D. 
 McElroy, W. S. 
 Murray. Joseph 
 Mav, J. H. 
 McKnight, H. 
 Martin. Helen E. 
 Main, L. B. 
 Mimmack, Thos. 
 Nettleton, E. S. 
 Xorcross, W. ('. 
 Nichols. !■;. '1". 
 Norris, P. ^l. 
 
 Nye, Elisha 
 Nye, A. F. 
 Owens, M. 
 Olds. A. M. 
 Oles, H'ram 
 IMatt, Harvey 
 Piatt, Charles 
 Plumb, Anna E. 
 Plumb, Augustus 
 Parker, J^ouisa M. 
 Parker, George E. 
 Parker, J. \V. 
 Pollock, H. J. 
 Pollock. J. ('. 
 Pratt, U. N. 
 Palmer, S. 
 Paine, I. H. 
 Perkins, (i. W. 
 Pickett. Edwin 
 Pearson, Henry 
 Pettingill, Julia B. 
 Putnam. 1^. W. 
 Putnam, Prucius 
 l^utnam, B. 
 Pearson, Sarah A. 
 Quigley, Jerry 
 Rogcrson, H, N. * 
 Root, A. H. 
 Root, I). \V. C. 
 Keed, Hanford 
 Reerl. P. \V. 
 lluthvan, E. R 
 liuthvan. Mis. A. 
 Roberts, Samuel 
 Ramsay, Allen 
 Ramsay, Walter J. 
 Riiift". J . 0. 
 Rogers, P. J. 
 Robertson, N. 
 Rous. F. H 
 Randolph, Calvin 
 Scott. Jas. S. 
 Scott. James O. 
 Scott, E. J. 
 Scott, Franklin M. 
 Shepard, B. F. 
 Shepard, Geo. L. 
 Shattuck, Hattie M. 
 Severance, A. X. 
 Sanborn, William 
 Sanborn. V. M. 
 Sanborn, B. D. 
 Shaw. D. B. 
 Smith. W. W. 
 Smith, M. H. 
 Smith, J. W. 
 Schell, W. H. 
 Spencer, Mrs. H. P. 
 
 Schenck, W. H. 
 Stiekney, Henry 
 Stanton, J). B. 
 ^pringer, L. &. 
 .Springer, Susan 
 Stevens, liobert 
 Stevens, (.;ha.a. A. 
 Stimson. Thomas 
 Swan, George 
 Stewart, .John 
 Smith. Charles 
 Shepard, '1". L. 
 Taylor, .John 
 Thomas. (Jeo. W. 
 Thomas, Mary E. 
 Tucker, Mary E. 
 Thompson, W. F. 
 Tliompsnn. Thomas F. 
 Thompson, John 
 Titcomb, J. \V. 
 Townsend, Mary E. 
 Teller, L. W. 
 Tuttle, H. B. 
 Thacker, J. R. 
 Taylor, Christina 
 West, Lin a A. 
 Wright, S. H. 
 Wright, R. B. 
 Wright, Wm. 
 Washburn, Alice C. 
 Washburn, .S. 
 Welch, Jacob 
 Welch. C. R. 
 Welch, Albert 
 Welch, Ann 
 Wad I in, J. A. 
 Weed, G. X. 
 WillianiH, Fred 
 Williams, Wm. 
 Wylie, J. C. 
 Wyman, H. L. 
 Wyman, G. B. 
 Wail. A. C. 
 White, C. A. 
 Wadlia, A. J. 
 Ward, H. W. 
 Ward, E. F. 
 Whipple, Irene S. 
 Whipple. L. 
 \Mlcouk. V. P. 
 Witter, Ella M. 
 Witter, Daniel 
 Wrattan, John 
 Walker, E. B. 
 Whitne.v, Q. W. 
 Yates, 'I'homas
 
 488 A HISTORY OF (IREELEt AND 
 
 APPENDIX E. 
 
 LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE TOWN OF GREELEY, WELD COUNTY. COLORADO, FROM 
 TIME OF INCORPORATION. 
 
 For the Year i 87 i . 
 
 Trustees-"R. A. Cameron, President to .Tune, 26, 1871; Henrv T. West, President to 
 April, 1872. X. D. Wright, tE. S. Xettleton. Levi Ilanna. 
 'Resigned. Jamea B. Flower appointed. tDixon .Stansbiiry appointed. 
 Clerk and Treasiire7- - W. E. Pabor. 
 Constable -Ha,mue\ B. Wriglit. 
 Street Supervisor— ^B. S. La Grange, 
 ♦[{esigned .June 2(5, 1871, and .1. G. Cooper elected. 
 
 Trustees for i'?;,' -Evan Rea, President ; *Henry T. West, Josepli .Moore, X. i\L 
 Boynton. .1. V. R. Spencer. 
 
 Resigned August 19, 1872, and G. l.,a\v elected to fill vacancy. 
 Clerk and Treasurei — James G. Cooper. 
 Co«s<obZe— Samuel B. Wright. 
 Street Suijern'sor-O. W. Shattuck. 
 ♦Resigned Seplember .i, 1872, and L. Von Gohren elected. • 
 
 Trustees for is;.i— p:van Rea, President: Ira Canfleld, Joseph A. Woodbnrv, Joseph 
 Moore, H. H. Bayley. 
 
 Clerk and Treasurer -L. Von Gohren, 
 
 Constable— H:im\ie\ B. Wright. 
 
 Street Supervisor— KU Hall. 
 
 •Died May. 1873, and Ira Canfleld elected President of Board, and Theodore In- 
 galsbe appointed Trustee. 
 
 Trustees for is:',— ]va. Ca,T\fielA, President; B.C. Adams, S. K. Thompson, Joseph 
 Moore, .lohn Leavy. 
 Clerk and Treasurer— L. Von Gohren. 
 Constable- J a.mes Kibler. 
 St7-eet Super visor - FAi Hall. 
 
 Trustees for /'^-''—Joseph Moore, President ; S. K. Thompson, John Leavy, A. E. 
 Gipson, Theodore Ingalsbe. 
 Clerk and Treasurer -L. Von Gohren. 
 Constable-B. F. Marsh. 
 Street SupervisorSumnel Graham 
 
 !rrM.9/e< s /or /«/■''— W. F. Thompson, President; K. J. Carver, Joseph :\loore: S. B. 
 Wright, John Leavy. 
 Clerk and Treasurer -L. Von Gohren. 
 Constable— B. F. Marsh. 
 Street Si<jperi;4sor— Samuel Graham.
 
 THE tJXiox COLONY OF COLORADO, 439 
 
 Trustees /or m?-J^mes C. Scott. President: \i. H. Abbott. George H. West \V F 
 Thompson. Daniel Hawks, L. Von Gohren. " ' " 
 
 Clerk and Treasurer— L. Von Gohien. 
 Constable— \i. B. Harrington. 
 Street Super visor- J aimes J. Armstrong. 
 
 Trustees for /^-^'.-Eli Annis, l^resident : L. B. Willard, .John Leavy. .L.seph .Moore. 
 I homas Munmack. I^. Von Gohren. 
 Clerk and Treasurer— Ij. Von Gohren. 
 Constable— U. F. Fmneo. 
 Street Supervisor— i&mes 3. Armstrong. 
 
 Mayor for l^ru—W. c. Sanders. 
 
 Tru8tees-i^me^ F. Benedict. L. B. Williard, \. Z. Salomon, H. B. .Jackson I. Von 
 Gohren. 
 Clerk and Treasurer— L. Von Gohren. 
 Marshal— CaXxin Randolph. 
 Street Supervisor— James J. Armstrong. 
 
 Mayor for /■%(/ -James M. Freeman. 
 
 Trustees-iieorge H. West. J. E. Billings, S. K. Thompson. L. B. Williard, B F 
 Marsh. 
 Clerk and Treasurer— B. F. Marsh. 
 Marshal— J. H. Senier. 
 Street Supervisor— James J. Armatroag. 
 
 Mayor for / v.s7— Jjimiel Hawks. 
 
 Trustees-J. K. Billings, B. F. Johnson, J. M. Wolaver. S. B. Wright, B F Mar«h 
 
 Clerk and Treasurer— B. F. Marsh. 
 
 Marshal— James J. Armstrong. 
 
 St7-eet Supervisor-James J. Armstrong. 
 
 Mayor for /«.'— Daniel Hawks. 
 
 rrws^ees -Joseph Moore, L. W. Kimball, \. \V. Hall, W. H. Nice, B. F Marsh 
 
 Clerk and 'JWasu7-er—B. F. Marsh. 
 
 Marshal— N orman Woodward. 
 
 St7'eet Suiiervisor-James J. Armstrong. 
 
 Mayor for imi-S. K. Thompson. 
 
 Trustees -Alex. Mead. J. L. Ewing. Albert Igo, W. H. Xice, B. F. Marsh 
 Clerk and Treasurer— B. F. Marsh. 
 Marshcd—houis Dupree. 
 Street Supervisor -James J. Armstrong. 
 •Resigned. E. J. Carver appointed. 
 Mavoi- for insu-iiamnel D. Hunter. 
 
 Trustee.H-^ieovse W. Fisk. Robert Steele, W. M. Boomer, James B. Flower, F H 
 McDonald. 
 Clerk and Treasurer— V. H. McDonald. 
 Marshal— B. F. Pinneo. 
 Street Supervisor— James J. Armstrong. 
 
 Mayor for /xsv; -George H. West. 
 
 Trustees Robert Str-ele. R. H. John.s, H. C. Watson. (J. P. Gale, F. H. McDonald 
 
 Uerkand /'reasuver—F. H. McDonald. 
 
 Marshal C. A. Myers. 
 
 Street Supervisor James K. Williams 
 2!»
 
 440 A HISTORY OF GREELEY AND 
 
 Mayor for ?.s\W-E. H. Abbott. 
 
 Aldermen— Virst Ward, F. L. Childs, Patrick Bready; Second Ward. Robert Steele, 
 Joseph A. Woodbury; Third Ward, B. \). Harper, N. V. Cheeseman. 
 City Clerk -F. H. McDonald. 
 City Treas^irer—Geovga W. Currier. 
 City Attorney~C. A. Bennett. 
 Police Magistrate— h. B. Willard. 
 City Marshals. G. J'uller. 
 Street tSu}}cr visor- -J ■Ames E. Williams. 
 Chief of Fire Department— K. M. Nusbaum. 
 City Engineer— i. D. Buckley. 
 
 Mayor for /SSr— George H. West. 
 
 Aldermen— Fiv&X Ward, James Beetham, Fred E. Smith ; Second Ward. Joseph A. 
 Woodbury, Horace G. Clark ; Third Ward, Calvin Randolph, B. D. Harper. 
 
 City Clerk-^H. B. Jackson. 
 
 Uiti/ Treasurer — George W. Currier. 
 
 City Marshal— iS. G. Fuller. 
 
 Police Magistrate — L. B. Willard. 
 
 Street Supei-visor — J. E. Williams. 
 
 Chief of Fire Department — J. A. Taylor. 
 
 ♦Resigned. H. A. French appointed Clerk November, 1887. F. P. Frost appointed Clerk 
 pro tern, February 7, 1888. 
 
 tResigneil. D. F. Camp appointed. 
 
 Mayo*- for ISSS—C. A. White. 
 
 Aldermen— First Ward, Peter Huffsmitb, James Beetham ; Second Ward, H. G. 
 Clark, J. A. Woodbury ; Third Ward, C. A. Bennett, C. Randolph. 
 City Clerk-B.. A. French. 
 City Treasu7-er—A. W. Davis. 
 Police Magistrate — L. B. Willara. 
 City Marshal— D. F. Camp. 
 Chief of Fire Department— H. F. Camp. 
 
 Mayor for lSS:i—\. T. Bacon. 
 
 Aldermen— First Ward, Peter Huffsmith, W. H. Daniels ; Second Ward, H. G. Clark, 
 *J. E. Williams ; Third Ward, C. A. Bennett, Calvin Randolph. 
 City Clerk— K. F. Dawley. 
 City Treasurer— A.. W. Davis. 
 Police Magistrate— L. B. Willard. 
 CUii Marshal— Fred Williams. 
 Superintendent Water T1'o7-A-a — E. F. Dawley. 
 Engineer Water Works— F. S. Dresser. 
 Chiff Fire Department— W . M. Boomer. 
 ♦Deceased. J. A. Woodbury appointed to till vacancy. 
 
 Mayor for lSiiO—3. A. Woodbury. 
 
 ^/dermen— First Ward, Peter Huffsmith, W. H. Daniels ; Second Ward, J. A. Taylor, 
 Richard Patterson ; Third Ward, Calvin Randolph. M. P. Henderson. 
 City Clerk-K. F. Dawley. 
 City Treasurer— A. W. Davis. 
 Police Magistrate— Ij. B. Willard. 
 07j/ Marshal— Y). F. Camp. 
 Superintendent ^uter Works— F.. F. Dawley. 
 Engineer Wider Works— ¥. S. Dresser. 
 Chief Fire Department— W . M. Boomer.
 
 THE ITNION rOLONY OK COLORADO. 441 
 
 APPENDIX F. 
 
 GRADLTATES OF THE HIGH SCHOOL. 
 
 1880— Will H. Patton, tJessie Dresser, Josie L. Person, Ida O. Kennedy, Fannie 
 Shattiiek. 
 
 1882— tMilton G. t'age, Mort W. Darling, Hubert L. Shattuck, Grace D. Aim- 
 strong, Mary Gallup, 'Theodora Law. 
 
 1884— tLouis L. Haynes, Fred M. Dille, George N. Law, Agnes S. Moodie, Lura 
 Gallup, *Fannie E. Billings, Nellie N. Davis. 
 
 188.5— *Everett F. Benedict, Manfred 8. Fraser, Robert M. Ferguson, tPsyche E 
 Boyd, Emily C. Xevvman, Winifred C. Xewman. Myra C. White, Gertrude L 
 Brewer. 
 
 1886— Claud H. t'lark, ' Abram L. Mumper. Emery H. Bayl.'y, D. Stockton Mona- 
 han, tJulia B. Durkee, Luella 0. Sanders, Grace D. Norcross, Hattie C. Hogarty, 
 Emma B. Eaton, Bessie D. Moodie. 
 
 1887-CUirence N. Wood. Kitty Armstrong, Evanthie C. Boyd, t Maude C. Clark, 
 Maud M. Curtis, Cora A. Darling, Liiverna 1. Goodwin, Marian How.ard, Bessie L. 
 Ross, May L. Smith, Ruby E. Shepard. 
 
 1888- Albert W. Durkee, John C. Nixon, Clara S. Bliss, Nettie E. Gale, Mary T. 
 Hogarty. Inda Ireland, tKittie I. Marsh, Lilly L. Plowhead. Anna E. Monahan. 
 
 1889— *Wesley W. Putnam, Charles A. Nixon, Angle E. Piper, tLena Boggess, 
 M. Rachel Davis, Edna M. Brush. Anna L. Mumper. 
 
 1890— Ned M. Gale, Charlie N. Jackson, Frank K. Packard, *Lizzie Struble, tNettie M. 
 Carey, Emily F. AV'hite. 
 
 NoTE-Those marked (*) had lirst honors, and those marked (t) second. 
 
 APPENDIX G. 
 
 NAMES OF THOSE SUBSCRIBING TO NORMAL SCHOOL DONATION. 
 
 Weld County, $1,000; P. W. Breene, $500; Union Bank, $500; First National Bank, 
 $nO0. 
 
 The following subscribed $200 each— George H. West, J. M. Freeman, J. C. Scott, 
 Currier Bros., B. F'. Johnson, H. J. Thompson, J. H. Young. David Boyd, 3. L. 
 Brush, Daniel Hawks, Helen Hapgood, J. L. Kwing, A. G. McLeod, John A. I^im- 
 kin, J. M. Wallace, J. W. McCreery, B. D. Harper, H. E. Churchill, Robert Hale, 
 Wm. Mayher, H. C. Watson. Sanborn & Phillips. 
 
 A. T. Bacon subscribed iiSloO, and the following, $100 each— O. Howard, W. G. 
 Sterling, Mitchell & Fatten Merchandise company, G. K. Peasley, H. N. Haynes, 
 Hutfsmith & Atkinson, Sharon Atkinson, Hall & Jastrowitz, E. R. Thayer. W. L. 
 Clayton, James Tuckcrman. J. K. Thompson, W. P. Welch, F. E. Smith, F. P. Frost, 
 R. H. Johns, Alex Mead, W. C. Thomas, Asa Sterling, Wyatt Bros., Thomas Had- 
 ley, Albert Igo, J. F. Fezer, C. W. Wulfjen, G. Law, S. D. Hunter, Jesse Hawes. 
 
 The following $5Q each— S. F. McCreery, H. M. Look, A. A. Howard, Henderson & 
 Kendel, A. B. Copeland, C. Randolph, Nixon & Gill, C. H. Mulford, E. A. Thompson, 
 R. F. Graham, R. Steele, R. Patterson, T. G. Macy, Von Gohren & Co.. Rothschild 
 & Co., P. W. Putnam. 
 
 The following $25 each— F. O. Patton, C. A. Bennett, W. M. Dflrling, T. F. 
 Thompson, Farr & Taylor, A. A. Woodbury, J. B. (^ooke, Albert Howard, Fred 
 Dille, Dennis Murray, B. W. Hilton, E. F. Dawley, H. P. Heath, A. C. Watson. 
 Ephraim Heaton, P. Putnam, E. M. Nusbaum, C. F. Mason, C. H. Wheeler. J. C. 
 Swan, James Walker, Levi Hanna, W. S. McElroy. 
 
 Andrew Scott subscribed $20, and the following $10 «uch— A. C. Patton, H. M. 
 Chamberlain and K. S. Parsons. 
 
 'J'he total is $11,175.
 
 442 A HISTORY OF OREELKY ANP 
 
 Arpp:NDix H. 
 
 The following extract is taken from the article b}' Professor L. G. 
 Carpenter, in the report of the State Agricultural College for 1889, 
 and should have been embodied in Chapter VIII of this work, but 
 that was through the press liefore the report reached the author. This 
 part of the report is written by L. (x. Carpenter, professor of meteor- 
 ology and irrigation engineering : 
 
 EXTENT OF THE IRRIGATED AREA IN COLORADO. 
 
 " So many questions are asked regarding the extent of the irrigated 
 I'egion of Colorado, that it is thought best to publish the following 
 preliminary estimate, which is probably the closest that can be made 
 at present. The area given is that of the land "under ditch." /. e. of 
 lands so situated that water can be olitained from some existing ditch. 
 Whether the ditches can carry the water needed or whether the 
 water supply in the streams is sufficient, are questions that have 
 not been considered. As a matter of fact, we know that neither 
 the water supply, as at present used, nor the capacity of the ditches, 
 is sufficient to water the lands lying beneath existing ditches. 
 
 The estimate is made from uni^ublished data, collected by myself 
 the past summer, from maps of ditches filed in the State Engineer's 
 office, and from the valuable map made for the Commissioner of im- 
 migration, b}' J. C. Ulrich, C. E., of Fort Collins. This map, which 
 is as yet unpublished, shows the line of eveiy existing ditch, as far as 
 data could be ol)tained. By the aid of a planimeter. many areas were 
 taken from this map. 
 
 For the purpose of water administration, the state is divided into 
 six water divisions ; these again into water districts, of which there 
 are sixty-seven. The areas are classed according to the divisions, but 
 no attempt has been made to assign areas to individual districts. 
 
 Each division includes the land watered from a river and its tribu- 
 taries. The divisions are as follows : No. 1, the Platte valley; No. 2, 
 the Arkansas; No. 8, the Rio Grande; No. 4, the San Juan; No. 5, the 
 Grand; No. 6, the White and the Bear river valle,ys. 
 
 APPUOXIMATE AREAS "TENDER DITCH" IX COLORADO. 
 
 Sq. Miles. Acres. 
 Division I.— (Platto Division): 
 
 Platte valley, below the Pond re 283.21 
 
 Platte valley, above the Poudre, including Bear and 
 
 Clear creeks 551.64 * 
 
 St. Vrain and Boulder creeks 294.59 
 
 Big and Little Thompson 134.22 
 
 Canhe la Poiuire 393..';4 
 
 Total Irom South Platte l,a07.2O 1,000,608 
 
 From Xorth I'latte in North Park 101.23 04,787 
 
 Division II.— (Arkansas Division) : 
 
 East of Huerfano river 489.08 
 
 Cucharas 94.40 
 
 La Veta and Apache 84.17 
 
 Upper Arkansas and Fontaine 106.91— 774.56 495.718
 
 TrtE ITNION fOLONt OF ROLORADO. 448 
 
 l)ivision HI.- (I!io (irando Division) 1 .-.(iLHO I .on(i,!it;o 
 
 Division I V.-(San Juan Division) : 
 
 Including Doloros, Miincos, I'ine, Kloiida, I.a Plata 
 
 "^''"'^ 1.V).00 8(i.400 
 
 Division V~(Grand Kiv'er Division) 210.00 134 400 
 
 Division Vf.-(Reai- and White Hiver Division) HO.OO 70,400 
 
 ''*^*^' 4..5ri2.00 2,913,27 3 
 
 The total Hinouiitof land under ditdi in Colorado, at present is 
 then not far from 4.500 siiuare miles, or 3,000,000 acres. The amount 
 ot land actually irrig-ated can not be so reliably estimated at present 
 It IS much less than the amount under ditch. From the sections of 
 the state, which I have visited, it woidd be safe to estimate that not 
 over one-third of this is under cultivation. 
 
 It is interesting to compare this with other countries that have 
 practiced the art oi irrigation much longer than we. In France 400 - 
 000 acres are under irrigation. In the valley of the Po, according to 
 Baird Smith, 1,600,000 acres were watered in , 1851, and, in 1882 ac- 
 cording to Deakm, (Fourth Progress Report, Koyal Commission on 
 U ater Supply, Victoria), the amount had doubled. In Egypt about 
 /,000 square miles are irrigated, and in India, according to data 
 g-iven by Marsh, in " Man and Nature," there seems to be about 18 - 
 000 square miles under canals." ' 
 
 TABLE OF ANNUAL RAINFALL 
 
 AT PIKES PEAK SIGNAL STATION,. TAKEN FROM THE SIGNAL SERVICE NOTES 
 NO. 7, RELATIVE TO VARIATION OF RAINFALL WEST OF THE MISSLSSIPPI 
 RIVER. 
 
 18 71 
 
 1872. 
 
 1873. 
 
 1874. 
 
 1875. 
 
 1876. 
 
 1877. 
 
 1878. 
 
 1879. 
 
 1880. 
 
 1-!81. 
 
 1882. 
 
 [35 0] 
 
 [48.0} 
 
 [22.0] 
 
 26.9 
 
 24.7 
 
 23.9 
 
 25.6 
 
 43.3 
 
 .39.8 
 
 40.6 
 
 44.6 
 
 28.8
 
 M4 
 
 A HISTORY OF GREELEY ANP 
 
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 THE rxiOX COLOXT OF COLORADO. 
 
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 INDEX. 
 
 Abbott, J. C. 122. 
 Abbott. Mrs., 25.5. 
 Alfalfa. 115. 
 Annis. I- li, 240. 
 Annia, F. J., 248. 
 Atkinson Family, 403. 
 Armstrong, J. J.. 40o. 
 Auditmg Com., 79. 
 
 Banks of Greeley, 225-230. 
 Bacon, A. T., 416. 
 Barclay, Dr. J. B., 420. 
 Baxter, Alfred, 275, 402. 
 Baker Faniilv, 194-5. 
 Bancroft's History, 188-204. 
 Barnes, David, 43, 121. 
 Banks, 22.5-6. 
 Barnum, P. T., 237-243. 
 Beethani, .lames, 403. 
 Benedict, Jame", 389. 
 Blodgett, Samuel, -258, 395. 
 Bray, Henry T., 291. 
 Bromwell, H. P. H., 123, 132, 134. 
 Brockway. W. H.. 2.56. 
 Brownell. J. E., 401. 
 Boye, August, 413. 
 Brown, Peter, 417. 
 Brush, J. L., 74, 123, 246. 
 Buell, G. \V., 402. 
 Buckingham, Charles G. 388. 
 
 Cage. Kev. G. A. W., 188. 
 
 Cage, Milton, 253. 
 
 Cameron, R. A., 7, 30, 46, 51, 5t>, 58, 77, 120, 
 186, 2.32, 276, 317, .381, 38.5. 
 
 Cameron, Mrs., 386. 
 
 Carpenter, Daniel, 410. 
 
 Camp, Dr. A. L., 413. 
 
 Canals of Union Colony; cost of con- 
 struction, .59-63; mill power, 65; as in- 
 vestments. 203. 
 
 Carver, E. J., 404. 
 
 Catholics in Greeley, 294. 
 
 Casey,. Robt, '.^48. 
 
 Celery a Colorado crop, 158. 
 
 Certificates, Colony, 75. 
 
 Chamberlin, H. B., 117. 
 
 Childs, F. L. .50, 86. 
 
 Churches of Greeley, 274. 
 
 Circular of Cameron and West, 434. 
 
 Clark, J. Mux., 89. 93. 99, 111. 
 
 Clark, Judge J. M., 409. 
 
 Clark, Mrs. A. K., 249. 
 
 Coates, Miss Ada B., 248. 
 
 Copeland, A. H., 218. 
 
 Colonies, imitations ol L'nion. 184 et seq. 
 
 Constitution L'liion Colony, 427. 
 
 Cooke, J. B., 252. 
 
 Cooper, J. G., 404. 
 
 Crops, averiig.^ yield of, 143, .393. 
 
 Currier Family, 416. 
 
 Currier. G. W.. 248. 
 
 Davis, J. E., 413. 
 
 Dairy and Stock Associations, 66. 
 Darling, William, 418. 
 Denver in 1869, 25. 
 De Votie, Henry, 400. 
 Divide, description of, bv N. C. M., 24. 
 Delbridge, W. H., 414. " 
 Dresser, Miss Jessie, 249. 
 Dresser, Frank and Harry, 351 et seq. 
 Diesser, Sarah E., article on massacre, 
 351. 
 
 Eaton, B. H., 40, 119, 135, 192, 196, 201. 
 
 Eaton, Geo. W.. 353. 
 
 Eaton, Oscar, 201. 
 
 Eaton, Town of, 204. 
 
 Electric lighting in Greeley. 222. 
 
 Uiott, D. W.. Business College, 251. 
 Elliott, Judge. 128, 133, 134. 
 Emerson, Dr. Charles. 388. 
 Evans, Town of, 174 et seq. 
 Evving. J. L., 225, 227. 
 Ewing. J. W., 229. 
 Executive Com., 38. 
 
 Farming, 170. 
 Farmers' Club. 266. 
 Flower, J. B., 233, 388. 
 Flower, H. F.. 222. 
 Fence, Colony, 69-73. 
 F>zer, J. F., 424. 
 Foote, Wm., .396. 
 Forbes, A. J., 401. 
 Fort Morgan, 194. 
 Fort Collins, 187. 
 Freeman, J. M., 135. 
 Foster, J. H., 1.58, 394. 
 Fourierism, 13. 
 Fruit growing in Colony, 80. 
 Fullerton, W. S., 322, 
 
 Gallup. Mary M., 248. 
 
 Gale Families, 414. 
 
 Germans, 17. 294. 
 
 Gilchrist, A., 417. 
 
 Gibbs, Joseph E., 279. 
 
 Gipson,. A. K.. 158. 
 
 Grasshoppers, 160. 
 
 (ireene, State Engineer, 112. 
 
 (ireen City, 188. 
 
 Grange in Greeley, 268. 
 
 Graham, Samuel, 406. 
 
 Greeley. Horace, 34, 35, 37, 69, 79. 82, 84 
 231, 232. 295, 309. .311, 376. 
 
 Greeley Tribune, first issue, 83. 
 
 Greeley, Town of— mentioned by Wm. 
 lilack, 6; why so named, II, 44: how 
 hiid out, 76; a city of homes, 84; rise 
 ill property, 1.59; growth, 173; Puritan- 
 ical, 182; then and now, 264. 
 
 Hanna, Levi. 51.
 
 THE UNION COLONY OF COLORADO. 
 
 447 
 
 Hale Robt, 416. 
 Harper, B. D.. 419. 
 Hall, Eli, 40S. 
 Hall, Niagara, 408. 
 Hall, Wni. Ham., 136. 
 Hawks, Daniel, 413. 
 Hancock, A. W., 409. 
 Haynes, S. B. A., 123, 257. 
 Haynes, H. N., 257, 413. 
 Haynes, liOuia, 227. 
 Havnes, Florence N., 259, 260. 
 Harvey, Julia B., 248. 
 Hawes, Dr. Jesse. 424. 
 Henry, James, 409. 
 Hobbs, G. A., 52. 
 Hollister. E., 197. 
 Hotchkiss, Arthur, 401. 
 Hogartv, M. J., .399. 
 Howard, O., 246, 248, 419. 
 House, Mrs. E. P., 249. 
 Hogeland, N. S., 279. 
 Horticulture, l.'>6. 
 Hughes, Bebi M., 132-134. 
 Huifsmith, Peter, 2i9. 
 Hunter, S. D., 226, 248, 291. 
 
 Inman Family, 403. 
 
 Indians, 26, 320 et seq. 
 
 Irish settlers, 18. 
 
 Irrigation Pump Factory, 224. 
 
 Irrigation— land under in Poudre valley 
 when Colony came, 88; how much 
 land can be irrigated in Colo., 89; in 
 Italy, 89-91; Convention in Denver, 92, 
 101; how much Platte water, 101; 
 Patrick O'Meara on, 104; devices for 
 measuring water 110; estimates of 
 lands irrigable in state, 112-117; water 
 appropriated by decrees of court, 125; 
 legislation on, 119, 141. 
 
 Johns, R. H., 230. 
 Johnson, B. F., 389, 
 Johnson, J. H., 79. 
 
 Kendel, J. C, 414. 
 Knowles, M. B., 50, 245. 
 Kinnison, Robert, 417. 
 
 Law, Dr. G.. 110, 210, 224, 421. 
 Law Family, 424 
 Larimer and Weld canal, 202. 
 La Grange, B. S., 9, 135, .398. 
 Leavy, John, 407. 
 Locating Com., 39, 41. 
 Library, Greeley, 254 et seq. 
 Lumber company, 64, 
 Lyman, J. B. and wife, 29. 
 
 Mason, Charles, 172. 
 Macy. T. G., 406. 
 Martin, Solon, 193. 
 Mercantile company, 225. 
 ftlead, Elwood, engineer, 126. 
 Mead, L. C, 121-123. 
 McCreery, J. W.. 113, 140. 
 Mimniack, Thomas, 403. 
 McClellan, Wm.. 410. 
 McClellan, W. R., 228. 
 Miner, W. A., 228. 
 Moodie, A. D., 397. 
 Monahan, D. Stockton, 252. 
 Moore, Joseph, 322,403. 
 Murray, Joseph, 406-407. 
 30 
 
 Meeker, N. C, 4, 7, 12, 16, 32, 36, 49. 77. 86, 
 165, 231, 243, 255, 275, 317, 319, 320, 351; 
 Monument to, 363; character of, 373; 
 Mrs. Arvilla D., 357, 360, 361; Ralph, 
 15, 31, 236, 371; George, 46; Josephine, 
 358; town of, 353. 
 
 Negroes in Greeley, 294; and Indians, 
 
 343 
 Xettleton, E. S., 51, 111, 136, 202. 
 North Platte canal settlement, 196. 
 Norcross. Grace D., 219. 
 Norcross Family, 420-421. 
 
 Oasis Hotel, 224. 
 Ogilvy. Hon. L., 195, 291. 
 Orchard and Weldon valley. 192. 
 Ouray, Ute chief. 360, .368, 371. 
 Orr, James, 406. 
 
 Pabor, W. E., 157. 390. 
 Packard, A. K., 202, 252, 287. 
 Pacl-ard, E. K., 416. 
 Patterson, R., 225. 
 Pinkerton, J. H., 174, 182. 
 Price, E. J., 414. 
 Price, Mrs., 356, 359. 
 Plato, W. B.. 235. 
 Platte Canon canal, 203. 
 Platte and Beaver, 193. 
 Plumb, Ovid, 411. 
 Potato crop in Greeley, 152, 155. 
 Postoffice in Greeley, 230. 
 Post, Wm. H., 354. 
 Pound, Greeley, 72. 
 Putnam, P. W., 193. 
 
 Ramsay, Allen, 403. 
 
 Real estate in Greeley, 159. 
 
 Resolutions of early mass meeting, 48. 
 
 Rhodes, L. R., 121, 135, 137. 
 
 Robinson, Solon, 268. 
 
 Robinson, Remus. '^48. 
 
 Rous, F. H., 397. 
 
 Salomon, A. Z., 85. 161, 225, 363. 
 
 Savage, R. W., 280. 
 
 Sawyer book store, 229. 
 
 Sanborn, C. W., 29C. 
 
 Sanborn & Phillips, 226. 
 
 Secret societies in G reeley. 270. 
 
 Seepage land, 152. 
 
 Soil, fertility of, 142; 155. 
 
 Shepard, G. L., 353. 
 
 Shepard, Fred, 354. 
 
 Shattuck, J. C, 67, 78, 251. 
 
 Shattuck. Mrs. J. C, 248. 
 
 Scott. Dr. J. S., 410. 
 
 Scott, Judge J. C, 410. 
 
 Scott, Andrew, 418. 
 
 Sterling, Asa, 417. 
 
 Sterling, town of, 191. 
 
 Smith. F. E., 227,260. 
 
 Stanton, Fred M., 92. 
 
 Storms, James, 401. 
 
 Stevens, J. J., 215. 
 
 Schools, Greeley, 245. 
 
 School, State Normal, 253; subscribers to 
 
 fund, Appendix G. 
 Taylor, John L., 252, 288. 
 Teller. L. W., 197. 
 Temperance in Greeley, i2,32, 240; Evans. 
 
 180; Longniont, 185; Fort Collins, 187; 
 
 Sterling, 191: Eaton, 205.
 
 448 
 
 A HISTOBY OF GREELEY AXD 
 
 Thomas, W. C, 248, 252. 
 Thompson, John, 401. 
 Thompson, Arthur, 354. 
 Trees, carload of, 80. 
 Townsend, Harvey, 111. 
 fousey, Sinclair, 312. 
 Tuckerraan, James, 413. 
 
 Wallace, J. M., 260, 293, 365. 
 
 Wallace. Charles, 418. 
 
 Watson, Henry C, 64, 225. 
 
 West. H. T., 5, 9. 39, 41, 46, 48, 51, 56, 77, 
 
 243, 318. 381, 387. 
 West, George H., 192, 196, 224. 
 Wadlin, J. M., 401. 
 
 Water for domestic use in Greeley, 207- of 
 artesian wells, 212; analyses of, 218 219- 
 does It fertilize.* 144; analyses of,' 147* 
 150. 
 
 Wheeler, Chas. H., 248. 
 
 Wheeler, Mrs. T. K., 248. 
 
 White, Chas. A., 215, 217. 257, 261, 360. 
 
 White River massacre, 348. 
 
 Welch, W. P., 407. 
 
 Wilber, A. J.. 89. 269. 
 
 Wilson, Dr. Henry, 281. 
 
 Wright, S. B., 257, 418. 
 
 Wulf jen, C. W.. 414. 
 
 Young, John Russell, 29, 31,
 
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