power, and acquired in Africa the territories of Damaraland and Lüderitzland to the N. of Cape Colony, the Kamerun District, a considerable portion of territory formerly claimed by the Sultan of Zanzibar, the Kilima-Njaro, the greater part of Somaliland, etc.; also in the Pacific a portion of New Guinea, now called Kaiser Wilhelm's Land; the Bismarck Archipelago; and the Caroline, Pelew, and Ladrone (excepting Guam) Islands. These colonies were all lost by the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles. By the terms of the treaty Great Britain was given a mandate for the former German African colonies, Australia administers the Bismarck Archipelago and Kaiser Wilhelm's Land. Denmark's dependencies, Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands, though of considerable extent, are of small value.
The United States has acquired Porto Rico, the Philippine and Sulu Islands, the Ladrone Island of Guam; and the Virgin Islands (Danish West Indies) by treaty and purchase ($25,000,000) in 1916.
COLOPHONY, the dark resin obtained by distilling turpentine.
COLOR, the visual impression derived from the hue of any object. The color of any source of light, or of any object which we see, is solely dependent upon the wave-lengths of the vibrations of the light which come to our eyes from the object. In the case of self-luminous objects these wave-lengths are principally dependent on the temperature of the object and the character of the surrounding absorbing atmosphere, if it has any such; or, in the case of gaseous masses, likewise upon their electrical condition and the pressure to which the gas is subjected. In the case of the non-luminous bodies the wave-lengths are dependent upon the reflecting nature of their surfaces, and are also modified by surrounding atmospheres if they have such.
COLORADO, a State in the Western Division of the North American Union; bounded by Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Utah; gross area, 103,645 square miles; admitted to the Union, July 4, 1876; number of counties, sixty-three; population (1890) 412,198; (1900) 539,700; (1910) 799,024; (1920) 939,629: capital, Denver.
Topography.—Colorado is very mountainous, being traversed by the Rocky Mountains, which extend over nearly the entire W. part of the State. The average altitude of the State is 7,000 feet, the lowest portion being 3,000 feet above the sea, and there are over 100 mountain peaks more than 13,000 feet high. The Sawatch or Saguache range, or Great Divide, is a continuation of the Sierra Madre range of Mexico, and contains the peaks, Mt. Harvard, 14,375; Mt. Elbert, 14,351; and the Mountain of the Holy Cross, 14,175 feet. The Park Range joins this range in the N., highest points Torrey's Peak, 14,147 feet, and Gray's Peak, 14,341 feet. The Front Range contains Pike's Peak, 14,147 feet, and Evans, 14,330 feet, and is situated a little E. of the main ranges. In the S. is the Sangre de Cristo range, containing Blanca Peak, the highest in the State, 14,464 feet. In the W. part are several lower ranges, running in a general N. W. and S. E. direction. The valleys are a distinguishing feature of the scenery, and are known as parks. San Luis is the largest and has an area of 8,000 square miles, quite level, and at an elevation of 7,000 feet. The only lake of any size in Colorado is in this park, is about 6 miles in length, and is fed by nearly 20 streams. Colorado is the principal watershed in the Western States, many of the largest rivers having their origin here, among them the Platte, Colorado, San Miguel, Arkansas, and Rio Grande del Norte. Nearly all these rivers wind their way through rocky cañons, varying from one to 3,000 feet in depth. “Monument Park” and the “Garden of the Gods” have rock spires, rising above the meadow land, shaped like towers and pillars, caused by erosion.
Geology.—The mountains of Colorado are mostly of azoic and eozoic formation, while the E. and S. W. slopes are of palaeozoic, bordered by metalliferous, Jurassic, and triassic strata in the W. central parts. The extreme E, plain is largely tertiary, and the S. W. is chiefly cretaceous, the valleys of the South Platte and Arkansas rivers being of this formation.
Soil, Climate, etc.—Colorado has about 15,000 square miles of fertile arable land, and about 70,000 square miles of grazing land. Most of the land will produce abundant crops under irrigation, which is now being carried on extensively, one irrigating canal having a length of 54 miles. The mountains are well covered with pine, spruce, and fir forests. The climate is very healthful and mild, and people suffering from pulmonary and asthmatic troubles find much relief here. There are various mineral springs, which are valuable for medicinal purposes. The hot sulphur springs in Middle Park and Wagon Wheel gap, and the hot, iron, and soda springs in Manitou are popular resorts.
Mineral Production.—Colorado for many years was first among the States in the value of its mineral products. For
