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quantities lying on or near the surface. It is used in the reduction of silver ores, and its abundance causes the deposits of that metal to be mined with great profit.

NEBRASKA.

This State is bounded north by Dakota, east by Iowa and Missouri, south by Kansas, and west by Colorado and Wyoming Territory. It contains 76,000 square miles, or 48,640,000 acres.

It is a part of the Louisiana purchase, and was organized as a territory in 1854, and in 1867 was admitted as a State. This act of admission contained a condition that there should never be a denial of the elective franchise, or any other rights, to any person by reason of race or color, except Indians not taxed. It was vetoed by President Lincoln, but passed by both Houses of Congress over the veto.

The governor (there is no lieutenant-governor), secretary of state, and treasurer are chosen by the people for two years, and the auditor for four years. The senators are thirteen, and the representatives thirty-nine in number. There shall never be more than twenty-five in the senate, and seventy-five in the house of representatives. They are chosen at the same time, for two years. The judges are elected by the people, for a period of six years.

Immigration into this State has been rapid and constant. It is a prairie State, and the soil, especially of the eastern portion, is very fertile. The heavy and closely matted sward requires much force to break it, but subsequent culture is easy. Coal-beds are found in many places, and worked with some profit. But the deposits of this mineral are not so great as in many of the States. Some part of the territory contains valuable timber; and foresttrecs have been largely planted: and thus far experiments have shown that the soil and climate are very favorable for the cultivation of fruit.

We next give the territories of the United States, in the order in which they were organized, closing with the District of Columbia.

NEW MEXICO.

This territory is bounded north by Colorado, east by the Indian Territory, south by Texas and Mexico, and west by Arizona. It contains 121,000 square miles, or 77,444,000 acres.

Its executive and judicial officers are appointed by the President. The judges hold office for a period of four years. The council consists of thirteen members, chosen by the people for two years;

and the house of representatives of twenty-six members, elected annually.

This territory was settled a long time ago by the Spaniards, and continued to be a part of Mexico until it was ceded to the United States by the treaty of 1848. The white population, which is quite large, is mainly Spanish and Catholic; the Spanish language being used by the people, and also in the proceedings of the legislature. Much of the soil is suited to agriculture or grazing, although irrigation is necessary for a large part of it. The mineral deposits are large and various, and it is believed they are not yet fully discovered. Gold, silver, and copper mines are already worked with much profit, and present indications lead to the conclusion that the production of silver will be the most profitable of the mining industries of the State. Lead, iron, and coal are also found in considerable abundance, and a large amount of salt is procured from the salt lakes.

UTAH.

This territory is bounded north by Wyoming and Idaho, east by Wyoming and Colorado, south by Arizona, and west by Nevada. It contains 88,000 square miles, or 56,320,000 acres.

Its executive and judicial officers are appointed by the President. The council consists of thirteen members, who are elected for two years; and the house of representatives of twenty-six members, elected annually.

This is the great Mormon territory. This people was first established in Ohio, then in Missouri, and afterwards at Nauvoo, in Illinois. When driven from that place in 1845, after some wandering they settled at the Great Salt Lake in Utah in the autumn of 1848. They were not very numerous; but a most energetic and effectual system of conversion and immigration brought to them great numbers from Great Britain, Norway, and Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, and France. In 1849 they organized a State, under the name of Deseret, and framed a constitution, which they sent to Washington; but Congress would not recognize the new State, but organized the Territory of Utah under the common territorial laws, and President Fillmore appointed Brigham Young governor. His violence in the following year, and his defiance of the laws of the United States, caused the removal of Young as governor, and the appointment of Colonel Steptoe of the army. This gentleman arrived in Utah in 1854, but concluded that it would not be well to assume the office of governor; and after a short time he resigned the office, and removed to California, with the soldiers he had brought with him. The outrages and usurpations of the Mormons continued, and

in 1857 President Buchanan appointed Alfred Cumming Governor of Utah, and Judge Eckels chief justice, and sent them with a force of 2,500 men, who were to sustain them in the discharge of their duties. Difficulties still continued; but a kind of peace was patched up in 1858, the President offering pardon to Mormons who would submit to the federal authority, and the heads of the church accepting the offer. Since that time there has been no open and violent rebellion, but constant difficulties have been recurring, sometimes of a threatening character. Brigham Young is no longer governor, but, as president of the Mormon church, holds, in fact, the supreme authority. As is well known, polygamy is practised here, not merely as a permitted thing, but as in itself good and desirable.

The industry and skilful cultivation of the Mormons are quite remarkable; and the soil and climate are upon the whole favorable to agriculture, although artificial irrigation is very generally necessary. This territory does not invite a large accession of people, except of those who become Mormons; but they have a very large number of converts in Europe, who come over to Utah as means are provided for them.

WASHINGTON.

This territory is bounded north by the British Possessions, east by Idaho, south by Oregon, and west by the Pacific. It contains 70,000 square miles, or 44,800,000 acres. Formerly the northern part of Oregon, it was organized as a territory in 1853.

The executive and judicial officers are appointed by the President. The council consists of nine members, elected for three years; and the house of representatives of thirty members, elected for one year. The territory is divided into three districts for judicial purposes, and in each of them a prosecuting attorney is chosen by the people for two years.

Although so far north, the climate is very mild; and it is not uncommon for the grass to be growing through the winter. It is said to resemble England in point of climate; and, like that, while well adapted to wheat and fruits of many kinds, does not permit the profitable culture of Indian corn. Its forests abound in lumber of great variety and of the greatest excellence. The manufacturing of this is now very large and rapidly increasing, and great quantities are already exported to various countries in the world. Gold has been found and worked, but not as yet to great profit. Coal is supposed to be abundant. Probably the fishing interests are likely to be, in coming ages, the principal industry of the country. Salmon, halibut, and cod are taken in the greatest abundance. Hereafter, when the country fills up with people, its commercial facilities will doubtless

be taken advantage of. The coast has many excellent harbors, and the Columbia River is navigable through a great part of its course. Public lands open to immigrants are still abundant.

COLORADO.

This territory is bounded north by Nebraska and Idaho, east by Nebraska and Kansas, south by the Indian Territory and Mexico, and west by Utah. It contains 104,000 square miles, or 66,560,000

acres.

The executive and judicial officers are appointed by the President. The legislature is composed of a council of thirteen members, and the house of representatives of twenty-six members, who are elected annually.

It was formed from parts of the surrounding territories, and organized as a territory by itself in 1861. In 1865 a constitution was formed, and adopted by the people. A bill to admit Colorado as a State passed Congress in the next year, but was vetoed by the President. In the following year, 1867, another bill of admission passed through Congress, and this also was vetoed by the President, and Colorado remains a territory.

Much of this territory is well adapted to agriculture and stockraising, both of which pursuits are now carried on extensively and profitably; but mining will probably continue to be the principal industry of the territory. The deposits of gold and silver appear to have no limit in their supply, excepting the cost of working them; and the progress of science and mechanical invention are every year making this work easier and less costly.

DAKOTA.

This territory is bounded north by the British Possessions, east by Minnesota and Iowa, south by Iowa and Nebraska, west by Montana and Wyoming. It contains 152,000 square miles, or 97,280,000

acres.

The executive and judicial officers are appointed by the President. A very large proportion of the territory is still unoccupied, except by Indians. While sufficiently well adapted to agriculture, and with valuable and various mineral deposits, discovered or indicated, it does not invite immigration by that abundance of the precious metals which characterizes some of the western and southwestern States; and the numbers and hostility of the Indian tribes living within the territory constitute a hinderance to immigration. But this hinderance will before long pass away; and it is believed

that the climate, soil, abundance of public land, and the promise of rich mineral deposits, will before long cause a rapid increase of population.

ARIZONA.

This territory is bounded north by Utah, east by New Mexico, south by Mexico, and west by Nevada and California. It contains 114,000 square miles, or 72,960,000 acres.

This territory was contained in the region obtained from Mexico in 1854. It was organized as a territory in 1863. Its executive and judicial officers are appointed by the President.

It contains a large extent of the Colorado River and valley; and early in the last century many flourishing settlements were made within it. The ruins of their buildings, some of which, the cathedrals especially, were large and costly, and the remains of an excellent system of irrigating canals, all show the numbers, skill, and industry of the population then existing in that region. Since it has been in our possession, the depredations of the savages have prevented settlements, except in the southern part, and along the Colorado or near to it, upon its principal tributaries. Its northern part is still unexplored by the whites, and remains in the almost undisturbed possession of the Indians. There are extensive valleys of remarkable fertility, and adapted to various kinds of agriculture; and in the southern part of the territory it is believed that the climate permits the profitable cultivation of sugar and cotton. The Colorado River is navigable for over six hundred miles from the ocean, this navigable portion reaching into and beyond Arizona. There are strong indications of extensive and various mineral deposits of the greatest value, and in some places these are ascertained and are now worked.

IDAHO.

This territory is triangular in shape, bounded on the north-east by Montana, east by Wyoming, south by Utah and Nevada, and west by Oregon and Washington. It contains 91,000 square miles, or 58,240,000 acres.

This territory was organized in 1863, and its executive and judicial officers are appointed by the President. It consists in large part of table-lands and mountainous country, which cause the winters to be cold; they are, however, dry and healthy. In the valleys much soil is found suited to tillage, and large crops of cereals are raised with great profit; and, upon the whole, the agricultural population of the country is now well established and increasing. Mineral deposits of great variety and high promise are found exten

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