Colton's map of the states and territories west of the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean : showing the overland routes, projected rail road lines, &c, (1864)

Colton's map of the states and territories west of the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean : showing the overland routes, projected rail road lines, &c, (1864)

West (U.S.) -- Maps.<br>Indians of North America -- Maps<br>Railroads -- West (U.S.) -- Maps.

1 map : hand col. ; 67 x 97 cm. <br>Relief shown by hachures and spot heights. Also shows locations of native tribes. <br>Cover title: Colton's map of the states & territories from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, &c. "Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1864 by J.H. Colton in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York." Prime meridians: Greenwich and Washington. <br>Originally folded, in cover 16 x 11 cm. <br>The approximate date of this map is easily distinguishable in a quick glance, as the Idaho Territory was formed out of the Washington Territory in 1863, and subsequently split into the Idaho and Montana Territories just one year later, in 1864.<br>Also of note on this map are the Nevada borders, which are at this time further west and north than they are in present day. The Nevada Territory was created in 1861, extended into Utah in 1862, statehood was granted in 1864, and then the State was extended further into both Utah and Arizona in 1866. Nevada's rush to Statehood came about mostly due to the Union's need of tax revenue from the extensive silver mines there to finance its actions in the Civil War. The expansion into the Arizona and Utah territories (moving the western Nevada border from 117 degrees west longitude to 114 degrees and south through Arizona along the Colorado) came about from the desire to place a strategically important pass, located just east of then sleepy Las Vegas on the Old Spanish Trail, inside incorporated United States territory, and outside of both Mormon and notoriously lawless Arizonan hands.

J.H. Colton & Co.

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, WSU Libraries

New York : The Company

1864

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections

Contact Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, for copyright information 509 335-6691

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English

Maps

WSU 319<br>G4050 1864 .J14x

United States