CHAP. XI.] RESOURCES OF THE NEW WEST.

417

irrigation, and, when the wants of the inhabitants will justify it, irrigation will be extensively and systematically introduced, turning barrenness into fruitful land; but at present grazing and mining are the great industries of the New West generally.

From Montana alone, the most northern of these Territories, more than one hundred and fifty millions of gold and silver have already been gathered, and nearly seven millions was the yield in 1878. The annual yield of gold from Colorado is not far from eight millions.* In Idaho there are gold and silver mines at the sources of all the rivers, and in every county in the Territory. Utah, besides having the richest iron ore of all qualities in the United States, together with copper, zinc and coal, has gold and silver in great abundance; and though the policy of the Mormons has been adverse to opening mines of the precious metals, yet in 1874 the amount of bullion produced was worth about five million dollars. New Mexico is also very rich in the precious metals. But Arizona, in the southwestern corner of the New West, probably surpasses every other portion of the Union in the variety and abundance of mineral treasures: gold, silver and precious stones, quicksilver, tin, nickel and cinnabar, copper, lead, platinum, and the finest of iron ores and bituminous coal. Nevada

VOL. V.

The New West, p. 9.

27

has gold, silver, copper, iron, antimony, arsenic, plumbago, borax, kaolin, magnesia and various precious stones. Wyoming, as projected on a good map, seems well-nigh covered with mountains. Here we find the famous Black Hills, which spread over the entire eastern quarter of the Territory, and into southwestern Dakota, with peaks as high as eight thousand feet above the level of the sea; and here are the Big Horn Mountains and the Snow Mountains, which embrace within their limits the "northern wonderland" of the world. It is here that Congress has set apart for health and pleasure a grand National Park, containing between three and four thou sand square miles.* But when it is noticed how these mountains are cut through in every direction by rivers which open valleys and cañons wherever they go, and when the wonderful parks among the mountains are noticed, it is seen at once that there must be in Wyoming large

*This park has a general average elevation of about six thousand feet, or nearly the height of Mount Washington, in New Hampshire; while the mountain ranges around it rise to nine and ten thousand feet, and many single peaks much higher. In this park are found the head-waters of two of the largest rivers on this continent-the Yellowstone and the Missouri, flowing in opposite directions; and also branches of the Columbia river. Here, too, are lakes and hot springs and geysers in rich abundance. Here the heats of summer are unknown, even in July and August the thermometer seldom rising above 70°, with a sweet, dry atmosphere truly refreshing.— See a description of this park in Johnson's Encyclopædia, art. Yellowstone National Park.

CHAP. XI.] SETTLERS FROM NEW ENGLAND.

419

reaches of arable and grazing lands. It is estimated that Arizona has five million acres of arable and thirty-five million acres of good grazing land, and it is found that irrigation makes even these desert alkaline plains abundantly productive.

What has now been said will prepare the reader to believe that a large population must ultimately, and at no distant day, fill these Rocky Mountain Territories; and also to credit the statement that "the population of the New West is probably at this time not far from seven hundred thousand."*

Among these hundreds of thousands, it would be strange indeed if men of New England origin and Congregational proclivities were not already to be found in considerable numbers. And by the census returns of 1870 it appears that the native White population of Arizona, Colorado, Dakota, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming was, in round numbers, two hundred and twenty-two thousand, and that, of these, no less than six thousand seven hundred were born in New England; while more than twice that number were born in Western States which were originally settled largely by Eastern men. Of the New England-born settlers, Colorado claimed the largest number, nearly eighteen hundred1783; Utah, strange as it may seem, stood next,

*The New West, p. 15.

having nearly fifteen hundred New England men; and Montana next, with ten hundred and seventyfive. Dakota, Idaho and Wyoming had each from five hundred to six hundred and seventyfive New Englanders. Arizona stood lowest, having less than three hundred Yankees within her boundaries. Now, it is to these men of New England birth or origin that we are to look for all the Congregational history to be found in the New West.

COLORADO.

But to enter somewhat more into particulars. The first notice of any religious movement of Congregationalists towards these new Territories is found in the Report of the American Home Missionary Society for 1863. There we read that the attention of the executive committee of the society had been directed, during the previous year, to the condition and claims of Colorado, which was territorially organized in 1861, and was supposed to have, in 1863, more than thirty thousand inhabitants; and the committee felt that its religious culture ought not to be overlooked or postponed. Appeals having been made in behalf of several important towns, containing each from one to four thousand souls, where even then were materials for Congregational churches, which with proper nurture would in a year or two support the ordinances of religion without missionary aid, the committee were disposed to respond promptly,

CHAP. XI.]

MISSIONS COMMENCED.

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and sent directly two or three missionaries to Colorado. The first of these was the Rev. William Crawford, who was appointed missionary to Central City, Colorado Territory, in April, 1863. Early in the summer he reached his field of labor, where he was heartily welcomed, and where he was able to begin at once an encouraging work; a Congregational church of twenty-one members being organized on the 23d of August, 1863, and three persons subsequently joining it by profession of their faith. Missionary work was also begun, with encouraging prospects, at several other points in the neighborhood of Central City. This city is among the gold mountains, some forty miles northwest of Denver, and in population is the third city in the State; Denver having fifteen thousand inhabitants, Pueblo six thousand, and Central City twenty-three hundred.

In 1870 a Congregational church of twentynine members was organized at the famous temperance village of Greeley, about fifty miles north of Denver, near the junction of Cache la Poudre Creek with the Platte river, and in the very centre of trade in northern Colorado. In all deeds of land in Greeley, there was a forfeiture clause in case liquor was sold or given away upon the premises. One fence, fifty miles long, enclosed the town, with fifty thousand acres of farming land. The town was founded in 1870, and in 1878 had four churches, two banks, three hotels, two newspapers, twenty stores, a school building