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<br />CHAPTER I <br />A RICH HERITAGE <br /> <br />The southeastern corr-:er of the present boundaries <br />of the state of Colorado represents the cradle of civiii- <br />zaton for a land rich in geologica: contrasts. Known to <br />both the nomacic and the non-norr.adic Indian tr;bes <br />alike as a we!1 vegetated area. this fertile ;and served <br />its inhabitants well. Wildlife, such as buffalo, deer and <br />antelope, nourished by the aoundant grasses aeepiy <br />rooted and growing freely on the p'ains. \.Ne~e plemifuL <br /> <br />Entered by the Spaniards in the early 1600's. this <br />roll!ng prairie at the base of the Rocky Mountains VJas <br />seen as a potentially rich legacy for those willing to suf- <br />fer the consequences of an unsettled ;and far a\;vay from <br />not only the benefits of C!ty life but family and joved ones <br />as well. Granted, the "Seven Cities of Cibolau were never <br />found, but the treasure \.vas there Olonetheiess. In 1682 <br />LaSalle proclaimed the Mississippi River Valley to be <br />the property of France. Named Louisiana. this vast vil- <br />derness was "eiatively uninhabited by white settlers. The <br />Mallet Brothers (Peter and Pau~) had ea(:er enterec the <br />San Luis Valley from Santa Fe. In 1739. hmvever, they <br />reached the Arkansas River by way of the Platte River <br />farther north. <br /> <br />French traders and trappers would foHO\v, as they <br />sa\;v so many opportunities to make their "fortune" ~n <br />this vast land. Following the French and Indiaro \;Var, In <br />1763 France ceded all of its territory \Nest of the Missis- <br />