Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume V.djvu/108

The average temperature for 1871 was 54.1°; rainfall, 12.35 inches. For 1872 the average temperature was 49.8°; rainfall, 18.77 inches. The average temperature of the foot hills is from 45° to 50°, and of the mountains from 40° to 45°. On the summits of the mountain ranges and in the higher parks the cold is often extreme; but in the mountain valleys arid foot hills the thermometer seldom falls below zero, and in midwinter there is much delightful weather. The greatest extremes of cold and the most severe storms occur in November and December. In the mountains the greatest fall of snow occurs in September, October, and April; except on and near the summits, where the fall is considerable, it does not remain long on the ground. On the plains, in the latitude of Denver, the fall of snow never exceeds 10 or 12 inches, and seldom remains longer than 24 hours. In the S. portion of the plains there is little snow, and the winters are very mild. There is no rainy season in Colorado. On the plains the rains generally fall in the spring and early summer, scarcely any falling in autumn or winter. In the mountains, rains are frequent in the summer and autumn, but rain storms of long duration are unknown. Heavy wind storms are common in all parts of the territory. The extreme rarity of cloudy weather and of mists and fogs is remarkable. The atmosphere is wonderfully clear and invigorating, and remarkably free from humidity. These characteristics of climate, together with the great altitude, 4,000 to 10,000 ft., and the beautiful scenery, have made Colorado a resort for persons afflicted with throat and lung diseases, who derive much benefit from a residence here. In 1870 there were 375 deaths, of which 32 occurred from consumption.—About one third of Colorado is good agricultural land. In the plains and the parks the soil of the valleys is peculiarly fertile, and produces in abundance the hardier cereals and vegetables. The arid sands of the plains have been proved to be merely surface deposits, covering a soil of remarkable fertility when moistened. The necessary moisture is supplied by irrigating canals, which have already been constructed to a great extent. The chief crops are wheat, barley, oats, and rye. The average yield of wheat is 25 bushels per acre. Except in the S. districts, the nights are rather cold for corn; but in the valleys of the Arkansas and tributaries 30 bushels per acre may be raised. Large crops of buckwheat and hay are produced; 500 bushels of potatoes have been obtained from a single acre. Vegetables grow to an enormous size. Apples, pears, plums, cherries, and grapes have been cultivated with great success; while it is not doubted that peaches, apricots, quinces, nectarines, &c., may be successfully raised. The grapes are of exquisite flavor and superior size, and the small fruits grow with remarkable luxuriance. But Colorado excels as a grazing and dairy country, deriving great advantages from the peculiarity of its nutritious grasses, upon which cattle thrive the whole year, and of which there is a great variety in the valleys and on the mountain sides. The uplands and ridges between the watercourses are covered with a short, crisp, drab-colored grass. These grasses are not destroyed by frosts, but, becoming cured during the winter months, retain their nutritious qualities, and afford excellent pasturage at all seasons. Except the parks and valleys, the vast region W. of the central mountain range is not suitable for cultivation, but pine forests and excellent pasturage abound. The principal varieties of timber are pine, hemlock, spruce, cedar, fir, cottonwood, box elder, and quaking aspen. The sides of the mountains below the timber lines and the foot hills are covered with forests of pine, larch, and aspen, which afford valuable timber and fuel.—The wild animals are the bear, couguar, wolf, buffalo, elk, deer, antelope, lynx, wildcat, badger, hare, fox, mink, pine marten, beaver, and prairie dog, the last resembling the fox squirrel. Of game birds there are the wild turkey, mountain grouse, sage hen, prairie chicken, ducks, geese, swans, ptarmigan, &c.—According to the census of 1870, the number of acres of improved land was 95,594; cash value of farms, $3,385,748; of farming implements and machinery, $272,604; total amount of wages paid during the year, including value of board, $416,280. The productions were 255,932 bushels of spring and 2,535 of winter wheat, 5,235 of rye, 231,903 of Indian corn, 332,940 of oats, 35,141 of barley, 178 of buckwheat, 7,500 of peas and beans, 121,502 of potatoes, 19,787 tons of hay, 890 lbs. of tobacco, 204,925 of wool, 392,920 of butter, 33,626 of cheese, and 19,787 gallons of milk sold. There were 6,446 horses, 1,173 mules and asses, 25,017 milch cows (and 6,871 not on farms), 5,566 working oxen, 40,153 other cattle (and 88,720 not on farms), 120,928 sheep, and 5,509 swine. Value of live stock, $2,871,102; of home manufactures, $57,658; of animals slaughtered, or sold for slaughter, $252,394; of all farm productions, including betterments and additions to stock, $2,335,106. The value of the agricultural products for 1872 was estimated at $4,650,000. The returns of the assessors to the auditor of the territory for that year show the number of horses to be 23,000; asses, 10,000; cattle, 243,000; sheep, 270,000; goats, 10,000.—There is an abundance of water power in Colorado, which has as yet been little utilized. The total number of manufacturing establishments reported by the census of 1870 was 256, having 49 steam engines of 1,433 horse power, and 31 water wheels of 792 horse power, and employing 876 hands. The capital invested amounted to $2,835,605; the wages paid during the year were $528,221; value of materials used, $1,593,280; value of products, $2,852,820. Besides quartz mills, the only important establishments are a few for the manufacture of iron, wool, and flour, which have recently been established at Denver.—Within a few years