Colorable

Designed to cover or conceal; specious; plausible. "They have now a colourable pretence to withstand innovations."-Spenser. Colorable ne , n . Plausibility; speciousne . Col'orably, adv . Speciously; plausibly. Colorado, a W. central state of the U. States, bounded N. by Wyoming and by the State of Nebraska, E. by the latter and Kansas, S. by the territory of New Mexico, and on the W. by Utah. This territory lies between Lat. 37° and 41° N., and Lon. 1020 and 109° W., having a length, E. to W., of about 375 m., by a width of 275 N. to S. Area , 103,475 sq. m., or 67,723,250 acres. Gen. Desc. C. presents, for the most part, a mountainous Curface, being pierced through its centre by the Snowy Range of the Rocky Mountain chain. About 50 peaks are found in C. over 14,000 feet above sea level-Pike's Peak, for instance, having an altitude of 14,186 feet. Several of the higher summits wear a cap of eternal snow. Elevated plains, or plateaux, cover the E. and N.W. portions of this territory; while, between the ramifying antenne of the chief mountain system, large, and fertile valleys occur, which bear the local name of "Parks," and present the appearance of vast elliptical bowls of verdure. Of these parks, the most noticeabie are the "North," "South," and "Middle," named according to their geographical position, and San Louis Park, the finest of all. The South Park covers in length about 60 m. of good pasture land, although as yet largely uncultivated except where those fertile lands bordering on the river-banks have tempted a partial husbandry. Geologically speaking, the San Luis Park promises to far surpa its above-mentioned congeners in importance; this tract of country presents a concave area of 18,000 sq. m., with a perfectly flat bottom, honeycombed (so to speak) by not le than 35 mountain streams, and scarped in by an almost circular wall or " barranca ," culminating in high mountain-peaks. This natural amphitheatre is well timbered with pine, fir, spruce, hemlock, oak, cedar, and other forest-trees of enormous size, and broken up in numberle sections of rich meadow land, covered with heavy and nutritious gra es. The geological aspect of this "Park" is rich in the extreme; from the primary rocks to the sedimentary drift around San, Luis Lake, all the elements of the geologic series seem to be represented. The crevices of the secondary rocks on the mountain sides are charged with the richest ores; the source of the golden detritus found in the gulches below. These deposits become diluted and impoverished as the slope of the mountain descends. The downward terraces po e a fauna and flora increasing in richne and variety; cereals, flax, vegetables, and fruits flourish upon the bottom plain, and sheep and cattle attain a superior development upon the gra y acclivities. The products of the dairy, the orchard, and the garden give promise of future value to be realized by a systematic industry. Beneath the surface is a sub-soil of almost inexhaustible peat. This "Park" is irrigated principally by the rivers Rio del Norte, Culebra, and Cost ill a, and their affluents. The elements of C. as an agricultural country are as yet variously reported. Irrigation is the great need. Already, in 1887, she had 800 m. of first-cla irrigating canals, 3,500 m. of secondary and 40,000 m. of smaller ditches, which will irrigate 2,200,000 acres. Since then the length has much increased. The largest canal is taken from the Rio del Norte. It is 98 ft. wide at the top and 75 ft. on the bottom, with a carrying capacity of 207,000,000 cubic ft. daily. The main line is 20 m. long. Stock raising is carried on to a large extent. The mineral wealth of C. is extraordinary. Gold, silver, iron, zinc, copper, salt, gypsum and coal abound. Of the latter, veins have been found near Denver 16 feet thick, with a percentage of fixed carbon of 55.31. No accurate estimate can be made of the amount of gold obtained from C. during the earlier days; but probably not le than $30,000,000 between 1859-1868. From 1868 to 1897 the total yield is estimated at $40,000,000. Silver is also found a ociated with the gold-bearing strata. In 1866 immense veins were found separated from the gold, upon the W. of the Rocky Mountains. The total bullion yield to 1897 was over $95,000,000. At Denver are found some of the finest smelting works in the world. The State is drained by the Colorado, Arkansas, the Platte, Fig . 646.-GOLD DIGGINGS, BLACK-HAWK. Bear, Kansas and Grand Rivers. - Polit. Div. C. has 55 counties. Its arable lands comprise about 15,000 sq. m., and its grazing lands not le than 47,000. The mountain slopes are generally covered with forests of pine, spruce and other coniferous trees, but these are being rapidly reduced by the proce es of lumbering. The native gra es of C. are rich and nutritious, and render grazing a profitable industry. The climate of C. is reported beneficial for lung and throat troubles. The range of the thermometer at Denver is from 17° to 100° -average rainfall for 3 years, 14 inches. Bayard Tay3 lor says of the climate, "An air more delicious to breathe cannot anywhere be found." The Denver and Rio Grande R. R. cro es the Veta Pa at an elevation of 9,339 feet above tide water, said to be the highest point reached by any R.R. in North America. The maximum grade is 211 feet per mile.- Hist . Gold was discovered in C. in 1857. C. was organized into a territory in March, 1861, admitted into the Union Feb., 1875, and a Constitution was ratified July, 1876, hence called the Centennial State. The legislature meets biennially. The Judiciary is elective. C. abounds in Chalybeate, Soda, Sulphur and Thermal Springs, at some of which excellent hotel accommodations are found, and are frequented by visitors from all parts of the U. S., indeed, for salubrious air, excellent hotels, and beautiful scenery, these resorts are equal to the best in the country. Denver, the capital of C., is one of the most progre ive cities of this progre ive country. It was one of the first to introduce the electric light. Population (1880) 194,649; (1890) 412,198; (1897) 480,000. Colorado, in Tezas , a S.E. co.; area , abt. 1,020 sq. m. The Colorado River traverses it. The soil is in part a alluvial and very fertile. Cap . Columbus. Colorado Springs, in Colorado , cap. El Paso co., on the Denver and Rio Grande R.R., 75 m. S. of Denver. and 5,975 feet above tide. Much beautiful scenery and fine residences adorn the city, with Pike's Peak in close view. Pop . 1890, 11,140. Color a'do, or Rio Color a'do, (sometimes called, also, the COLORADO OF THE WEST, to distinguish it from the Texan Colorado,) a large river of the U. States, rising in the Rocky Mountains, and having its principal headwaters in Colorado, W. of that chain, forming two forks, the Green and Grand rivers, which meet together in about Lat. 35° 30 N., and Lon. 112° 55′ W. Thence, taking succe ively a S.W., W., and due S. course, this river emerges into the sea at the head of the Gulf of California, in about Lat. 32°10′ N., Lon. 114° 20 W. Its length, including its chief affluent, Green River, is estimated at about 1,200 m. The name of "Rio Colorado," by which it is not unfrequently known, is derived from the generally red color of its waters, the result of the disintegration of the reddish-clayey soil which they drain in their course. From its embouchure at Port Isabel, the C. runs through an open, and well timbered, and seemingly fertile country; which, as it approaches Fort Yuma, a umes a higher, but still cultivable, surface. The navigation of the stream hither has the advantage of flood-tides for the greater part of the distance, but is constantly liable to be impeded by shifting sand-bars. Ascending to La Paz, the C. presents a very crooked course, with a width of channel varying from th to Ad of a mile, and an average depth of from 42 to 8 feet. Fertile bottoms fringe its sides in this locality, until reaching the Barriers, the first rapids are met with, about half-way to La Paz. At the Barriers, navigation is practicable by two channels, one of which, usable at low water, is about 100 feet wide, and has considerable depth, with a rapid current. Past the rapids, the country on either side consists of an elevated, gravelly plateau, called the "Mesa," breaking off here and there into fertile gulches. Bottom-lands characterize the remainder of the way up to La Paz. After leaving this place, we find the stream acquiring a trifle greater width and le er curvature, but with an occasional series of sand-bars. This aspect continues without change as far as Mohave Cañon. Here, the river cuts its way through almost perpendicular cliffs for several miles, and then flows on between accumulated rocky débris, still, however, preserving a navigable channel, having deep water to the very feet of the rocks on either hand. Above the Cañon, and up to Fort Mohave, this state of things is not varied, but after leaving the fort behind, low mesas, sparely vegetated, skirt the banks in some places, while in others, fine, low, and wooded farm-lands come into appearance. The river continues pa able to Cottonwood Island, now flowing through a poor country, and taking a straight and easy position. About this island, a fertile, gra y, and well-wooded tract of land prevails. After pa ing El Dorado Cañon, we reach the famous Roaring Rapids, where the waters make a clean shoot through a narrow channel in their centre. Higher up are more rapids, but not of any consequence. The river now takes a smooth, slack current, through but an indifferently fertile territory, as far as Callville. Ata short distance from Gracton, higher up, the C. becomes lost in a sequence of cañons, or, more properly speaking, a single one in reality, viz., the Grand Cañon. An expedition under the command of Col. Powell left Chicago in the spring of 1868, to explore the upper waters of the C., and more particularly the great cañon system attaching to it. He reported that he descended the Great Cañon for a distance of 400 m., where the river flowed on either side through a vast gorge overhung by precipitous walls of rock from 2,500 to 4,000 feet above the bed of the stream; and further, that the territory in which the cañon is located presents an almost indescribable barren and worthle aspect, and is therefore quite impracticable for purposes of cultivation and settlement. Again, Col. P. further reported his inability to find any indications of mineral wealth, excepting an odd deposit of marble, and that inacce ible to working. Since Col. Powell's exploration, others have investigated the Grand Cañon region, which is now acknowledged to be the most extensive and marvellous example of river denudation upon the face of the earth. The cañon walls throughout their upper portion are from 4,000 to 7,000 feet in perpendicular height, at some points rising sheer from the water, at others with a talus of fallen rocks or a strip of fertile soil on one or both sides. The total area of the Colorado river basin is about 240,000 sq. miles. It was formerly mueh better adapted to human habitation than at present, as is proved by the presence of great numbers of prehistoric dwellings, perched on cliffs within a cañon, or on a high ridge or mesa, for protection from foes. This country now is mainly barren and desert, and incapable of supporting human life, brt it neverthele presents a prospect of endle en ment, to the scientific tourist especially, such as is not elsewhere to be found. Colorado River, in Texas , rises in the San Saba Mountains, Lat. 32° N., Lon. 109°30′ W.; flows for the first 200 m. in an E., then in a S.E. direction, until it empties into Matagorda Bay, and by a small branch directly into the Mexican Gulf, after a course of over 900 m., during which its average width is about 250 feet. It is a beautiful, clear stream, flowing through a highly fertile region. It may be navigated, during a portion of the year only, as far up as Austin by steamers of light draught.