Commerce Education-Aggregate Population in 1860 and 1865, and Total Vote for President in 1860 and 1864, and for Governor in 1866-Govern- ment Finances-The Counties, their Population and County Towns-Cities and Towns-Portland, Salem, Corvollis, Oregon City, Astoria, Dalles, etc.- History-Navigation of the Columbia River-Earthquake at Fort Klamath. 618 ANSAS.-Boundaries, Position, and Area-General View of the Face of the Country; the Climate, Soil, Productions, and Resources of Kansas-Zool- ogy-History-Counties, their Population and County Towns-Agricul- tural Statistics-Manufactures-Finances-Education-Population by Na- tional Census in 1860, and by State Census of 1865-Geology-Salt Region- Soil and Climate-Wool-growing—Railroads—Cities and Towns-Lawrence, Leavenworth, Lecompton, Atchison, Topeka, Fort Leavenworth, Fort Riley... 623 NEVADA. Boundaries and Position-History -State Government - Judicial Districts-Counties and County Towns-Great Seal of State-Geological Survey of State and Mining School-Total Vote of President in 1864, and at the State Elections in 1864 and 1866-Area of State, and State Lands- Public Instruction-Volunteers and Militia-Finances-County Statistics- The Silver Mines of Nevada-Discovery in Development of the Comstock Lode The Great Yield and Future Promise-The Companies Operating on the Comstock-Cost of Mining-Interior of the Mines-Visit to Gould and Curry Mine-Reese River Mines--Production of Different Mining Centers- Cities and Towns-Virginia City, Austin, Carson City, Aurora, etc.-Rivers. 636 NEBRASKA. Position and Boundaries-The Counties, and the Vote in each in 1866 for and against the State Constitution-Result of the State and Territorial Elections in 1866-Face of the Country-Objects of Interest- Climate, Soil, and Timber-Animals -History-Movements for making Nebraska a State-Vetoes of Bills-Final Passage of a Bill of Admission over the Veto-Cities and Towns-Omaha, Nebraska City, Fort Kearney, etc.-Minerals-Miscellaneous...... NEW MEXICO.-Position, Boundaries, and Area-Face of the Country-Min- erals-Rivers-Objects of Interest-Climate, Soil, and Productions-Val- ley of the Rio Grande-Irrigation-Stock-raising-Wine-making in New Mexico-Forest Trees-Cities and Towns-Santa Fe, etc.-Manufactures and Commerce-Population, and Total Vote in 1865 for Delegate to Con- gress-The Counties, with the Population of each in 1860, and the Total UTAH.-Position and Boundaries-General Description-The Wasatch Mount- ains-Minerals and Mining-Lakes and Rivers-The Great Salt Lake- Objects of Interest-Climate, Soil, and Productions-Results of Irrigation- Forest Trees-Manufactures-Commerce-Population in 1863 and 1865- Cities and Towns-Salt Lake City, Fillmore City, etc.-History, and Gov- ernment, Civil and Ecclesiastical-Troubles between the Federal Govern- ment and the Mormon Leaders-Three Governments in Utah-Territorial Government-Deseret State Government-The Mormon Church Organization. 669 WASHINGTON.-Position Boundaries, and Area-Face of the Country, and Mountains-Minerals-Rivers, Bays, Sounds, and Islands-Objects of In- terest-Climate, Soil, and Productions-The Region on Puget's Sound and its Lumber Trade-Forest Trees and Animals-Statistics of Agriculture- Manufactures-Population-Counties, their Population, and County Towns -Towns-Olympia, etc.-The Coast, and Coast Trade........ COLORADO.-Position, Area, and General Description-Mining, Agricultural, Valley of the Platte, High Pines, the Gold Mines and Mining, Mining Towns, Necessity of Irrigation, etc.-Counties and County Towns-Cities and Towns-Denver City, Golden City, Central City, Empire City, etc.- Military Posts-Rivers-Agriculture-Progress of the Mining Interest- Movement for the Admission of Colorado as a State: Vote on the Rejection of the First State Constitution, and on the Adoption of the Second; Pro- visions of the Latter; State Election; The President's Action; Passage of the Bill to Admit Colorado and the President's Veto; Passage of a Second DAKOTA.-Its Organization-Its two Sections and their Boundaries-General Description of its Position, Surface, Rivers, Climate, Resources and Pros- pects Counties and County Towns-Territorial Government-The Church Butte Remarkable Fossils-Towns and Settlements - Rivers-The Fort ARIZONA.-Position, Boundaries, and Area-General Description-Territoria' History-Organization of Territorial Government-Reception of the Gads- den Purchase-Condition at and since the Purchase-San Antonio and San Diego Stage Line-Difficult Transport of Machinery for the Mines-Char- acter of the Population-Neglect of the Government-Condition after the Breaking out of the Civil War-Thrilling Story of the Oatman Family- The Massacre and Captivity-King Woolsey's Exploit-Bill Rhodes and the Apaches-The Pimo Indians-The Casas Grandas-The Tumacucuri Mis- sion-The Rainy Season-Noted Mines-Rivers-The Lands, Capital, and IDAHO.-Its Position and Extent-General Description-Boundaries-Origin of its Name-Population-Climate-Borse City-The Borse River Valley and its Products-Idaho City-Sunday in the Mining Region-Procedure of Mining Claims-Destruction, and Quick Rebuilding of Idaho City- Borse Basin-The Placer Mines and Mining-Product of the Idaho Mines- Quartz Mining-The Owkyhee Mines-Who were met among the Miners- Journey from Borse City to Salt Lake-General Observation in Idaho Mines-Counties, and the Vote in each at an Election in 1866-Towns and Settlements-Borse City, Idaho City, Lewiston, Florence, Fort Hall, etc.- MONTANA.-Boundaries, Position, and General Description-Counties and County Towns-Territorial Government-Notes on Montana Laws-Mon- tana Mines and Mining-Alder Gulch-The "Last Chance"-General Ap- pearance of the Country-Numerous Gold Mines Discovered-Richness of the Mines-The Silver and Copper Ores-Advantage of Plenty of Water- Emigration to Montana-Navigation up the Missouri-Prices in Montana- Towns and Settlements-Virginia City, Galveston, Helena, Silver City, INTRODUCTORY. T HE publishers herewith present to the public a volume, historical and descriptive, of our Great Western Empire. Its plan and scope are such as must commend it to every patriotic and intelligent American-to every citizen who loves his country, and takes pride in contemplating its vast extent and illimitable resources. The work is divided into two nearly equal parts, the first containing historical sketches of the early explorations and settlements in the West, and the second developing the progress of particular States and Territories by combining historical with statistical and geographical facts. The first part gives, in a general view, the early explorations and pioneer settlements made; the courage, perseverance, and heroism displayed, the sufferings endured, and the dangers and perils encountered, in adding to our original American Republic, and bringing into our domain of civilization and progress the great Mississippi Valley, embracing the vast region lying between the Alleghanies and the Rocky Mountains, and extending from the Gulf of Mexico to our great Northwestern lakes and the British Possessions; and in annexing to all this the great stretch of territory lying west of these seeming barriers-the Rocky Mountains-and bordering on the Pacific Ocean. This is what we denominate in this work "Our Western Empire." But in fact it constitutes the great body of our nation's vast domain. Without it, how insignificant in territorial extent, and in natural resources, would seem the strip of country east of the Alleghany Mountains on the Atlantic coast, and South-east on the Gulf of Mexico. A history and description of the West, in this enlarged view, may almost be said to be a history and description of the American Union. The history of the Great West opens with the discovery of the Mississippi River, in 1541, by Ferdinand De Soto, and the first explorations by adventurous fur-traders, and the founding of missions by French Jesuits a century afterward, in the region around Lake Huron. A rapid and graphic delineation is then given of the explorations and first settlements in the Mississippi Valley by the French; their explorations of the Ohio river; the first English settlement in Ohio; the military exploits of the youthful George Washington; the French and Indian war; the relinquishment by France of her pretensions to dominion on this continent; the possession by the English of the country east of the Mississipp.; John Law's celebrated Mississippi scheme, its operations and results; Pontiac's bloody war; cession of lands by the Indians, and the peace that followed; the rapid settlement of the West and North-west; the adventures, perils, and heroic perseverance of Daniel Boone and other pioneers; the claims of Eastern States to Western lands, and their cession to the United States; the first settlements in Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee; the successive defeats of Generals Harmar and St. Clair by the Indians, and the retrieving of these disasters by General Wayne; the acquisition in 1803 of the extensive region then called Louisiana, and the formation of new Territories, and the admission of new States in the West, closing with the organization of the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska in 1854. Striking and startling incidents of personal adventure, toil, and suffering, and of savage captivities, cruelties, and massacres in the first settlement of Kentucky and Ohio, follow, with a full account of the early history of the latter State, including a sketch of the introduction of steamboats on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers; Samuel Brady and Adam Poe's famous adventures with the Indians; a graphic description of scenery on the Ohio from Audubon, the naturalist; incidents in the early history of Tennessee, and scientific and interesting explorations and descriptions of the mounds and other antiquities in the Mississippi Valley, especially of the mounds at Natchez, and in the American Bottom in Illinois. A separate section is devoted to the Mississippi River, opening with Schoolcraft's account of its extreme source, and a description of the beautiful lakes near its origin, followed by the famous Indian legend of the Maiden's Rock; a delineation of St. Anthony's and Brown's Falls, and of the Lower Mississippi, with Audubon's pleasant sketch of the Virginia squatter upon its banks; a glance at the keel-boatmen that navigated its waters in early times, with characteristic incidents; the earthquake in 1811, and destruction of New Madrid on the Mississippi. Missouri receives in this part of the work a large share of attention. Its first settlement by the French is described; its cession by France to Spain, with incidents in its early history; its retrocession by Spain to France, and its cession by the latter to the United States; its rapid increase in population and in the development of its great resources; its admission as a State in 1820; its mineral and other natural wealth, especially its mines of lead, iron, and copper; the mineral wonders of Iron Mountain and Pilot Knob; its fine farming lands, and mild and salubrious climate. The reader is next presented with sketches of the scenery in the Ohio and Mississippi valleys; the diversities of grand forests, hills, valleys, and plains, with glowing descriptions of the vast and magnificent prairies and their beautiful and varied scenery; an interesting account of the American bison, or buffalo, with Washington Irving's vivid description of a buffalo hunt; the burrowing owl graphically portrayed, and an entertaining sketch of a visit to an Indian village by Audubon in an adventure on a western prairie. We pass next to a glance at Oregon and the fur trade in the Northwest. Here we find detailed the first discovery of the mouth of the great Columbia River, the Mississippi of the Pacific region; the enterprise of John Jacob Astor, and the establishment, history, and progress of the Pacific Fur Company, and of the settlement at Astoria; the travels and researches of missionaries in the country around the moutk of the Columbia; the great natural curiosities along that river and its branches; a description of the Rocky Mountains and their wonders; the climate, the Indians, and the discovery of gold in Oregon, with travels, hunting, incidents, and adventures in that region in 1851. Liberal space is accorded to an abridgment of Lieutenant Brewerton's narrative of his trip in 1848 from California over the mountains and through the Great American Desert, or intra-mountain basin, accompanied by the celebrated Kit Carson as guide and leader. The narrative is full of interesting personal adventures and incidents, giving an account of the famous Jornada del Muerto, or Journey of Death; of Bill Williams, the noted adventurer in Lower California; of the Digger Indians, and the journeyings of the party among the Wasatch Mountains, in the country bordering on the Grand and Green Rivers, and in New Mexico. Lovers of wild sports and of the romantic in natural history, will be interested and gratified with the chapter on Prairie Hunting. It gives descriptions of some of the most noted wild animals of the Western forests and regions, including the bison, or buffalo, the elk, the deer, the panther, northern lynx, the black and grizzly bear, the wolf, etc. The whole is enlivened by entertaining stories, anecdotes, and romantic adventures in traveling and hunting. Under the caption of "Red River of the North," an interesting account is given of the rivalry between the famous Hudson Bay and North-west Companies; the Earl of Selkirk's attempt to establish a colony on the Red River; the breaking up of the settlement, at different times by the North-west Company; its re-establishment, and repeated disasters from famine, cold, high water, and bad government till its permanent establishment in 1826. This thrilling narrative is closed with an amusing sketch of abortive speculations in buffalo wool, sheep's wool and tallow; of buffalo hunting by the "plain hunters," as they are called, and a pleasant portraiture of a vagabond half-breed hunter in the person of Baptiste l'Esprit. Passing now to the Pacific coast, we look in upon "California and its Mines," and have a brief history of the country, beginning with the planting of Spanish colonies upon its shores, and closing with its acquisition by the United States, followed by the discovery of gold in 1848 at Sutter's Mill; the development of the mines and the opening up of inexhaustible sources of wealth; the rapid tide of emigration to the new mining centers, and the admission of the Golden State in 1850, with a general description of its rivers and streams of water, its varieties of climate, its mountain ranges and valleys, its forest trees, soil, and productions, its geological features and "gold diggings." Considerable space is allotted to a long and valuable extract from the |