liard hall was frustrated. On the other hand, the dramatic association prospered and dancing was not excluded from Greeley. It may be noted, however, that the dramatic association produced the edifying play, “Ten Nights in a Bar-room," as well as the farce, "Jumbo Jum." The pride of the colonists in their colony, their town, and, it must be acknowledged, in their superior virtues, was great, but to a large extent this pride was justifiable.

HISTORIES OF THE COLONY.

The first attempt to trace the history of the early days of the Union Colony is found in the pamphlet entitled, "First Annual Report of the Union Colony of Colorado, including a History of the Town of Greeley, It was published by the organization in New York in 1871, and was written by William E. Pabor. The account of the history of the colony and town, though brief, is valuable.

The book of David Boyd, "A History of Greeley and the Union Colony of Colorado," Greeley, 1890, is the repository of a large amount of very valuable information, much of which cannot be found elsewhere. Captain Boyd, an original colonist, was a student and a careful collector of facts, and has produced a work which is above the average pioneer history in value. Unfortunately it lacks an adequate index and is consequently difficult to use for reference purposes. As a natural result of having participated in many of the events described, the author has personal likes and dislikes that mar his treatment of individual colonists.

The small volume of reminiscences written by J. Max Clark, entitled, "Colonial Days," was published in Denver in 1902. In it Mr. Clark has told of his journey to Greeley, his impressions of the embryonic town, of the

whiskey riot and of the hardships of the first years. The section devoted to N. C. Meeker, the honored founder of the colony, is a fitting tribute to the blunt-spoken, coldmannered idealist who had so much to do with making Greeley what it was and is.

In the histories of Colorado the Union Colony has received only brief mention. H. H. Bancroft's "History of Nevada, Colorado and Wyoming," contains a meagre note on the foundation and early history of the colony. Jerome C. Smiley in his excellent "Semi-Centennial History of the State of Colorado," published in Chicago and New York in 1913, devotes a scant page and a third to the colony and to the town of Greeley. It is the same elsewhere. For adequate discussions it is necessary to turn to the works of David Boyd and J. Max Clark. The records now published will enable the student to supplement these books written by pioneers.

MINUTES

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE UNION COLONY ASSOCIATION1

NEW YORK CITY DECEMBER 24TH 1869

RALPH MEEKER Secy.

N. Y. CITY DEC 4TH 1869

The following card appeared in the Tribune (Dec 4th 1869) on Mr Meekers return from the west.

[Clipping, inserted, pp. 2-4.]

A WESTERN COLONY.

I propose to unite with te proper persons in the establishment of 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 is 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 $18 for 160 acres. In addition, the Rocky Mountain scenery is the grandest and the most enchanting in America. I have never seen a place which presents so many 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 $10,000 each, or twenty, $5,000 each, while others may have $200 to $1,000, and upward. For many to go so far 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 in a village, and to divide the land into lots of 10 acres,

1 In the colony safe at Greeley.

and to divide these into 8 lots for building purposes, and then to apportion to each family from 40 to 80, 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 public institutions should be a firstclass school, in which not only common but the higher branches should be taught, including music. The town of Lincoln, the capital of Nebraska, adopted this plan on a large scale, and several hundred thousand dollars have already been obtained.

Some of the advantages of settling in a village will be: easy access to schools and to public places, meetings, lectures, and the like, and society can be had at once. In planting, in fruit-growing, and in improving homes generally, 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 community; 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 cooperation, they could be secured by a colony. Cheap rates of passage and freight could be secured, while many things, which all will want in the commencement, can be bought at wholesale. There are some other advantages which I think such a town will possess, and they are important; but in this announcement I do not think proper to mention them, and, besides, there are of course disadvantages.

Farmers will be wanted, nurserymen, florists, and almost 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 the 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 with few privations, and as long as six months will be required.

Whatever professions and occupations enter into the formation of an intelligent, educated, and thrifty community should be embraced by this colony; and it should be the object to exhibit all that 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 liberality should also prevail. One thing more is equally important. Happiness, wealth, and the glory of a State, spring from the family, and it should be an aim and a high ambition to preserve the family pure in all its relations, and to labor with the best efforts life and strength can give to make the home comfortable, to beautify and to adorn it, and to supply it with whatever will make it attractive and loved.

This is in the vicinity of the mining region, which 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: perhaps better. It is a decidedly healthful region; the air is remarkably pure, Summer is pleasant, the Winter is mild, with little snow, and agues are unknown. Already, con