Florence High School - Husky La Bran Yearbook (Florence, CO)

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Colorado Travels Rocky Road to Historic 100 Denver, the Centennial state's capital, is the area of the first settlement in Colorado. 1:1

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Colorado — the state famous for mountains, snow, gold, railroad, minerals, natural color, tourism and more — celebrated its birthday with America. This year, 1976, the Centennial state will turn 100 years old. Looking back into history, it’s no wonder this state is so majestic and proud. The first settlers came in 1858 and referred to the area as Pike’s Peak Territory, however, the area was really part of the Kansas Territory. In November of ] the same year the long hard fight for recognition began. The first bill establishing the region as the Colona Territory was defeated in Washington dur- 1 ing January, 1859. When the gold rush began a new movement boomed; this time the people set up their own Territory, Jefferson, in October, 1859. Without congressional backing government power could not be enforced. Therefore, the fight continued until President James Buchanan signed the bill February 28, 1861. The statehood quest was even more difficult. In 1864, Republicans were in power in Washington, and Colorado, as a state, meant three more electoral votes. However, the leaders submitted a slate of candidates for offices with the state constitution, causing the people to outright reject the whole thing. The next try came in 1865, but President Andrew Jackson was against Radical Republicans. Again, in 1866 and 1868 statehood efforts were drowned. President Grant was ending his second term in 1875 before Colorado could try again. Republicans, as be- 1 fore, were looking for reinforcements. Congress and Colorado set legislation in motion towards statehood, and the committee I completed drafting the state constitution in March, 1876, after three months of work. July 1, it was voted on by the people. President Grant signed the bill accepting Colorado as a state, August 1, 1876. With the bad came the good and the accomplishment of hitting the 100 year t mark. 12

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Railroads, Gold Create Colorado Scars Railroads and trains are something every town and state, no matter how small or modern, have depended on at one time. Florence used the railroad for transporting oil while Colorado relied on the train to bring tourists to the Centennial State. To look at the rails today no one would guess that something now practically useless, once caused statewide trouble. Construction of Fremont County railroads began around 1874. Two companies, the Rio Grande Western and the Santa Fe, were both building. .However, when they reached the Royal Gorge there was room for only one narrow gauge railroad track. This began the dispute as to the right-of-way of the gorge. Although there was no bloodshed, no man worked in the area without a gun. The Santa Fe eventually laid tracks first. However, in the legal battle, which reached the Supreme Court, the Denver and Rio Grande won. They had to pay the Santa Fe $1,400,000 for the labor and material. Since then the tracks have traveled infinite miles to a standstill. The Royal Gorge narrow guage train track runs underneath the world's highest suspension bridge.