Denver is the principal city and the capital of the state. Elections are bieunial: the legislature meets biennially;•senators are chosen for four years, and assemblymen for two, and both are paid $4 per day for sessions limited to 40 days. The first vote for president will be given id 1880. The young state has not much of a history. That por tion n. and e. of the Arkansas river and the Rocky mountains was a part of the Louisiana purchase; and the remainder came from Mexican territory ceded after our war with that country. Up to 1831, the territory was divided among the adjacent organized territories of Utah, New Mexico. Kansas,'and Nebraska. In 1861, C. was organized as a separate territory. The early Spanish gold-hunters doubtless visited C. in the 16th e., but no settlements were made until within the past quarter of a century. About 1806, maj. Pike led a government exploring expedition into the region. leaving his memory in the name Pike's Peak, a high mountain near the geographical center of the territory. Sub sequently, about 1820, another partytfunder col. Long, of the United States engineers, had some travel in C.; and in 1813, capt. John C. Fremont, " the path-finder," made full examination of the northern part. The discovery of gold in 1858, on the Platte, near the present city of Denver. started a flood of immigration, which was but little checked even during the rebellion. Towns sprang up as easily as in the Arabian stories. Denver, Golden City, Central City, Nevada, etc., started within a year, and the next year bore at large crop of these improvised "cities." The struggle with the rebellion and one severe Indian war had somewhat interfered with the growth of C., but, with all draw backs, its progress has been very rapid.
There were 7 daily, 1 send-weekly, 43 weekly newspapers, and 1 monthly magazine published in C. at the beginning of 1879. The latest statistics of education show 26,473 persons of school age (6 to 21); 16,641 pupils enrolled: 9,700 average attendance; 100 school-days in the year; 567 teachers; income, $281,674; expenses, $243,S50. There is aalormal department in the state university, at Boulder. There is a school of mines at Golden, a mining institute nt Colorado Springs, and there is soon to be an agricultural college. The state university in 1878 had 66 students; there is tin institution for deaf mutes at Colorado Springs, and at the same place Colorado college (Cong.). The school
lands amount to 3,740,000 acres.
The railroads in C., finished and in progress on the 1st of Jan., 1879, were: Denver and Rio Grande, from Denver to El Paso, Texas, 339}- rn. ; Pueblo and Arkansas Val ley, 230 in.; Colorado Central, from Golden to Cheyenne, Wyoming Ter.. with a branch to Denver. 1842 m.; Kansas Pacific, Pueblo to Kansas state line, 194 m.; Denver Pacific, from Denver to Cheyenne, 96 in. ' • Denver, South Park and Pacific, from Denver to Webster, 78} in.; and Denver and Boulder Valley, from Hughes to Boulder City, 27 miles.
The framers of the constitution of C. provided against the evils of special legisla tion very carefully. Sec. V. says: general assembly shall not pass local or special laws in any of the following cases: For granting divorces; laying out, opening, alter or working roads or highways; vacating roads, town plots, streets, alleys, and pub lie grounds; locating or changing county seats; regulating county or township affairs; regulating practice in courts of justice; regulating the jurisdiction and duties of justices of the peace, police magistrates, and constables; changing the rules of evidence in any trial or inquiry; providing for changes of venue in civil or criminal declaring any person of age; for limitations of civil actions or giving effect to informal or invalid deeds; summoning or impaneling grand or petit jurors; providing for the management of public schools; regulating the rate of interest on money; the opening or conducting of any election, or designating the place of voting; the sale or mortgage of reap estate belonging to minors or others under disability; the protection of game or fish; charter ing or licensing roads or toll-bridges; remitting fines, penalties, or forfeitures; creating, increasing, or decreasing fees, percentage, or allowance of public officers; changing the law of discount; granting to any corporation, association, or individual the right to lay down railroad tracks; granting to any corporation, association, or individual, any-ispecial or exclusive privilege, immunity, or franchise whatever. In all other eases where a general assembly law can be made applicable, no special law shall be enacted." Women are recognized in affairs of education, and can vote at school district elections, and hold. school offices. The legislature may make education compulsory. (For latest statistics, see Appendix.)