The early records of this city were the history of El Paso County, up to the founding of Colorado Springs in 1870. On the 27th of October, 187 1, when the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad was completed to Colorado Springs, the settlers of Colorado City feared that " old town " was doomed to experience a Rip Van Winkle like lethargy, from which it did not awaken until the Colorado Midland Railroad entered the sleepy hollow in 1886. One factor which paralyzed competition with Colorado Springs, was the difficulty of obtaining clear titles to land in Colorado City. Otherwise, it is not unlikely the towns would have grown side by side in common prosperity.

There was a slight stir and bustle felt when Leadville's mines were opened from 1877 to 18S0, for freighters en route through Ute Pass frequently purchased liquor and other supplies at Colorado City. But with the radiated depression of 1882, the old Territorial capital remained unmindful of the activity displayed by her younger and more fortunate neighbors, and was not thoroughly aroused until the iron horse brought in the new era of steam connection with civilization.

In 1872 the question of removal of the county seat to Colorado Springs agitated the community, and a remarkable address was circulated by Anthony Bott, C. J. Aerchinvole, postmaster, W. H. Robbins, W. H. Johnson, John Lauder, G. N. Barlow, C. W. Meyer, and some dozen other residents of Colorado City, calling upon the voters of El Paso to stand by the old town " which has struggled hard against Indians, grasshoppers, drought, hard times and adversities of all kinds for the last thirteen years," rather than to vote for Colorado Springs, " the recently started point of operation of a speculating railroad company, the lottery stake at which this company wants to enrich itself at the expense of poor humbugged emigrants." The circular goes on to advance Colorado City's claims, saying, " It is a place chosen by the pioneers of 1858, who, after prospecting both places, found the one an efficient spot to dwell in during life, and the other only fit to be buried in after this world's troubles are over," and again, "Colorado City is a free-lawed place, where one can engage in any business he chooses as long as it is an honorable one, even selling liquor," and "those who are of good temperate habits will have a better chance to prove their virtue by abstaining from drink, when it can be obtained openly, than by not taking any there, where it can only be obtained by telling a false hood to a druggist." Colorado Springs replied with figures and satire and promise to build a courthouse, gaining a victory in 1873, the second year of the county vote on this question.

The Denver & Rio Grande Railroad built a branch line from Colorado Springs to Colorado City and on to Manitou in 1880, giving the village all benefits of the through lines.

In 1886 the Colorado Midland ran its cars through here, on the way up Ute Pass to the mountain mines. Inducements were offered this railroad, in the way of special privileges and land, which brought about the location of the Midland shops at Colorado City, and from this time the town, which had within the foregoing ten years fallen away to a village of one hundred and fifty souls and two stores, has sprung with renewed life into a busy little city of about two thousand, five hundred people. It is now the first city in El Paso County in manufacturing importance, and second in population. There being no public debt of importance, taxation here is low. Besides two railroads, it has electric street car communication with Colorado Springs and Manitou. Telephone wires run from here to Denver, and an electric light plant has brought its lines from Colorado Springs. Its location is happily at the outlet of Ute Pass -- the highway to the mountains and their precious stores. In addition, Colorado City has abundant natural resources, -- rich deposits of material suitable for the manufacture of glass, of white gypsum, of marl, and splendid and inexhaustible building stone of red and gray sandstone.

The Fountain Creek flows through the city; and its water supply is obtained by the mere tapping of the mains which were built by Colorado Springs to fetch its hydrant supply from the pure mountain stream above. An addition to the city in 1877, induced Mr. Anthony Bott to add to this supply, and waterworks costing $30,000, bring through iron pipes the melted snows of Sutherland Creek.

For years school was held in the old courthouse building, but the sudden growth of 1886 naturally made these quarters too small, and in 1888, Colorado City erected, at a cost of $17,000, one of the best schoolhouses in the county. It is heated by steam, well lighted and ventilated, and it now has an attendance of some two hundred pupils.

During 1889 its number of churches was increased from the one Methodist edifice to four, so that now the Roman Catholic, Episcopalians and Baptists, have houses of prayer.

Early in 1886 business lots could be bought here for $50, and residence lots for $10, which properties, four years later, are worth from f 1,000 to $3,500. It is most fortunate for Colorado City that her sister cities, Colorado Springs and Manitou, feel no jealousy because of her rapid growth as a manufacturing center. These resorts realize that local establishment of large manufactories would harm their reputations as health homes, and therefore encourage such enterprises there.

The Midland Railroad shops, built here in 1877, at a cost of over one hundred thousand dollars, employ one hundred and eighty-five hands, and the pay rolls amount to more than ten thousand dollars pet month.

The quarrying of stone is the most important enterprise, perhaps, and is carried on near the city's limits. In Red Rock Canyon is a ledge of beautiful red sandstone which is popular not alone in Colorado, but as well East and South. The board of trade building of Fort Worth, Texas, and the Union depot at Des Moines, Iowa, are constructed of this material. Four firms are now engaged in taking out this stone and blocks have been quarried weighing twenty-five tons. The pay rolls at the quarries exceed $6,000 per month during a portion of the year.

Glass works put up at a cost of $40,000, began the manufacture of bottles in the spring of 1889. This establishment produces over a million gross of bottles per annum, employs one hundred hands, and its pay roll exceeds seven thousand dollars per month. Adolph Busch of St. Louis, is president of the company, and the other stockholders are men of local prominence -- Louis R. Ehrich and J. A. Hayes, Jr. of Colorado Springs, General Charles Adams of Colorado City, W. F. Modes and Jerome B. Wheeler of Manitou.

A company was recently established, using native products, and manufactures a superior cement; and a mineral paint plant has been erected at a cost of $20,000, grinding, and mixing mineral paint ores which the Midland Road brings down the pass.