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tional Convention was practically unanimous for a continuation of woman suffrage.

The territory commenced with four counties, Laramie, Albany, Carbon and Carter, (afterwards Sweetwater) and all extended from the southern to the northern boundaries of the State. The seat of government of each of the four counties was along the line of the Union Pacific. They were created under the territorial jurisdiction of Dakota and were in existence when Wyoming Territory was organized. In 1867 there were only two counties, Laramie and Carter. Laramie embraced all of the eastern half of the state and Sweetwater, or Carter, extended west to the present eastern boundary of Uinta county and went from the northern to the southern boundaries of the state. Uinta county was not formed but was then a part of Idaho and Utah. There are now thirteen counties in the State organized as follows:

Counties. Original boundaries defined by Act
of Wyoming Legislature.*

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(Authorized as Pease county), 1879 (Or

ganized as Johnson.)

Laramie

1869

*Derivation of County names.

Albany named by a resident of Albany, N. Y., who served in the Dakota Legislature.

Big Horn, for the Big Horn or Rocky Mountain Sheep living in that locality.

Carbon, because of the coal found in the county.

Converse, for A. R. Converse a stockman of Cheyenne.

Crook, for General George Crook the Indian Scout.

Johnson, for E. P. Johnson an Attorney-at-Law of Cheyenne.

Fremont, for General C. Fremont the explorer.

Laramie, for Jacques La Ramie the French-Canadian trapper

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During the territorial days stock raising was the greatest industry of Wyoming. The years of 1880 to 1882 were years of wonderful prosperity for the stock interests. Many settlers came to our State during these years and took up government land making their homes along our streams, and fencing in their possessions. The large tracts of land formerly controlled but not owned by the "Cattle King" became greatly reduced and with this limited domain and the worthlessness of land without direct communication to water the stock interests declined, although to-day it is the leading industry of the State.

The population of Wyoming in 1870 was 9,118, in 1880 it was more than double reaching 20,798, in 1890 at the time of Statehood it had gained to 60,705 while in 1900 it had reached 92,531. Of this number 75,116 were native born and 17,415 were of foreign birth; 58,184 were males, 34,347 females, 89,051 were white, 940 negroes, 461 Chinese, 393 Japanese and 1,686 Indians.

*Natrona, from the deposits of Natron or Soda.

Sheridan, for General Phil Sheridan.

Sweetwater, for the taste of the water in the stream bearing this name.

Uinta, for the Uintah Indians.

Weston, for Dr. Weston who was instrumental in bringing a railroad into that

section.

CHAPTER VII.

FROM TERRITORY TO STATE.

The inhabitants of Wyoming were anxious to pass from a territorial form of government to that of self-government. While a territory we did not have a voice in the selection of our chief executive officers. The Governor, Secretary of State, Chief Justice and the two Associate Justices, Attorney and Marshal, were all appointed by the President of the United States and the appointments had to be confirmed by the Senate. These officers were not residents of the territory and came to us as strangers with little or no knowledge of the immediate needs of the people and when their term of office, four years, expired, generally returned to their native States. to have their place again taken by others who knew not the necessities and problems confronting our citizens. These officers, though worthy and able men, were not representatives of the interests of the territory. We wished a government "for the people, by the people, of the people." These same "people" felt that their highest interests would be best secured by "home rule," would be more speedily established, if men who had cast their fortunes with Wyoming and had faith in her future were at the helm.

These "people" were willing to assume this important responsibility and take the affairs of State into their own hands. Another reason for the desired change was that we had no voice in the making of the laws in Congress. We sent a Territorial Delegate to Congress who was granted a seat in the House of Representatives but was not permitted to vote on any measure. We were obliged to obey the laws made by the General Government and demanded a voice in the formulation of them. We had no voice in the election of our Chief Magistrate who sent officers to govern and rule over us. We were under the supervision of Congress, which at its will could annul any of our legislative acts and

there was no redress. Our alien Governors, if not in harmony with the people of the Territory, could veto any proposed legislative measure of vital interest to the progress of the State. We believed that laws should be enacted by those only over whom they were to be put in force. We had no United States Senator, no Representative in Congress, and the cry of Revolutionary day "Taxation without Representation" was raised. We desired equality with our adjoining States by admission into the Union, and above all, we sought local self-government. We had reached our majority after serving an apprenticeship of twenty-one years with territorial government and petitioned to be free citizens, members of a nation, where before they had only been in a nation.

The citizens believing development and growth synonymous with a change elected members to the Tenth Legislative Assembly, with the understanding that it would be expressing the voice of the people at the polls if at the next session the first active steps were taken toward Statehood. This legislature met in January, 1888, and in the form of a joint resolution from the Territorial Senate and the House of Representatives memorialized Congress on the "State of Wyoming." The resolution set forth the resources of the Territory, the valuation of our industries, the condition of our educational advantages, the population, and asked for legislation by Congress to enable the people of the Territory to form a Constitution and State government, and also for the admission of such State into the Union.

The Memorial was sent to Congress through our Delegate, who had a bill introduced in the Fiftieth Congress which provided for a Constitutional Convention. This is known as Senate Bill No. 2445, which was reported favorably to the Senate of the United States February 27, 1889. In accordance with the provision of this bill, a majority of the counties through their County Commissioners, petitioned

*Hon. Joseph M. Carey

our Governor to apportion the number of delegates to attend a Constitutional Convention and to execute all such other acts as were necessary for convening the Convention in accordance with the regulations contained in the Senate Bill. The Governor, Secretary of State and Chief Justice divided the Territory into delegate districts. They apportioned the number of delegates among several districts in proportion to the population in each said district upon a basis of the votes cast for Delegate to Congress on November 6, 1888. Each of the counties of the Territory was made a delegate district, and fifty-five delegates were apportioned. The Governor on June 3, 1889, issued a proclamation setting the second Monday in July, 1889, as a day for electing delegates to a Constitutional Convention, to be held in Cheyenne the first Monday in September, 1889. The proclamation commenced as follows:

"Whereas the Territory of Wyoming has the population, material resources, public intelligence, and morality necessary to insure a stable local government,”— Following this general statement the executive stated that he was convinced that a large majority of the citizens of Wyoming were desirous of forming for themselves a constitution and State government and of being admitted into the Union and of exercising the rights and privileges guaranteed to a free and loyal people under the Constitution of the United States. He asked further, that representative. men of character and ability be chosen as delegates to justly represent all of the classes and people in Wyoming, men who would frame a Constitution which could be submitted to the people for ratification or rejection.

Every county elected delegates and sent them to the convention, which met in the Capitol at Cheyenne on September 3d, and was in session until September 30, 1889. This Convention contained representative citizens, a careful, conscientious and conservative class of men, representing no one

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