Why West?

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Why West?. “A Trip to the Yo-Hamite Falls” 1855 Thomas Ayers. One man’s view…. William Gilpin, Governor of Colorado. Feed a population of 1 billion. Rains would turn it to a paradise (very low rainfall area) Become the backbone of the country. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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“A Trip to the Yo-Hamite Falls” 1855

Thomas Ayers

One man’s view… William Gilpin,

Governor of Colorado.

Feed a population of 1 billion.

Rains would turn it to a paradise (very low rainfall area)

Become the backbone of the country

John Wesley Powell: the head of the US Geologic survey viewed this as folly. The water out west is in such short supply that it would never support that.

Technology was needed to move water to the area.

Why West? Romantic image of

the “Frontier”. Rail Cattle Gold and mining Science Farming

(Homesteaders) Economic

Opportunity

Problems: Great Plains “Indian

Country” by the government in 1834…

Frontier life

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