Page:Maury's New Elements of Geography, 1907.djvu/72

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1. West of the Central states are the Rocky Mountain and Pacific states. These are so called because the Rocky mountains cross them from north to south and the Pacific ocean borders them on the west.

They are Colorado (col-o-rah'-do), New Mexico, Wy-o'-ming, Monta'na (mon-tah'-nah), Arizo'na, Utah, Idaho, Nevada (ne-vah'-dah), California, Oregon, and Washington. The Territory of Alaska (see map of North America, p. 33) also is classed with this group.

2. Early History.— About eighty years ago Indians and Spaniards were almost the only inhabitants of this part of our country.

It is easy to tell where the Spaniards were. On the map we find the names San Francisco, Santa Fé (fay), and many others beginning with San or Santa, which is the Spanish for saint. Sierra Nevada, too, is a Spanish name. Nevada means snowy, Sierra means saw. Where these Spanish names are found, the settlers were Spaniards.

In California, the Spanish settlers were very prosperous. They were stock-raisers and fruit-growers. They had immense flocks of sheep, and the vineyards and orange groves planted by them are still productive.

In 1848 gold was discovered in California, and people flooked there from all parts of the United States. Some time after this, silver was found in Nevada, and since that time rich mines of gold, silver, copper, and lead have been discovered in various parts of the Rocky mountains.

Zuni Indian village, New Mexico. The houses are built of sun-dried brick or of stone. The entrance to the houses are reached by ladders.

In 1867 the United States bought Alaska from Russia. The only inhabitants were Indians, Eskimos, and a few traders. Since then gold has been found in that region and thousands of people have gone there.

Digging and washing gold in Alaska at Cape Nome.

3. Indians.—Many of the Indians still remaining in the United States are found in the Rocky mountain and Pacific regions. They are slowly learning to live like white men, and schools have been established for them. Lands called reservations are set apart for the tribes to live on.

4. Animals.—Many people from the Eastern states, and even from Europe, go every year to this part of our country to hunt. They kill grizzly and black bears, deer, wild goats, and other animals.

For Recitation.—Who were the first settlers in this section? What led to the rapid settlement of this part of the country? What population besides the white settlers has this section?

1. Surface.—In the Rocky mountain and Pacific states are to be found the highest and most mountainous parts of our country. Here are