The Delta independent., 1906-04-13
WINS $500 PRIZE
Harold Davis Wins First Prize on
Essay. Many Contestants for
the Money.

Boy" offered IS prize for the best es-
say on ''Why am Proud of Colorado"
From about 60 contestants, Harold T.
Davis, the 13-year old son Of Townsman
Davis, was give the choice. Lester
Brewer, also Delta boy, was given
honorable mention.
+ Among other remarks on the subject
and the effort of the youths who con-
tested. The American Boy says:
"It was quite difficult matter to
decide which among the mary good es-
says sent in from Colorado was really
the best, but the prize was finally
awarded to Harold T. Davis, of Delta,
for his practical and comprehensive
little essay"
We produce below the prize winning
essay:
ITO me, Colorado, the home of fresh
air and bright sunshine, is the finest,
and, if may us. the word, the most
glorious state in the Union
First. its history began in 1903. when
part Of it was acquired from France in
the Louisiana purchase. and the re-
mainder in the Mexican cession of 184S.
1t was explored by the daring adventur-
er, Coronado, in 1910 on his hunt for
the golden cities, of which De vaca had
brought glowing descriptions.
Mentioning the golden cities natural
ly leads one to think Of mining. GUAM
titles Of the yellow metal are found
yearly in rich Colorado. the tremendous
sum Of So. .534, 53l being realized from
it in 1898. In the same year. Colorado
ranked first in its output of the yellow
and the white metal, the latter being
valued at els, 600, 265. Lead and copper
also yield large annual incomes. while
coal is found in great quantities in the
valuable hills of this state.
Agriculture follows next with its
countless numbers Of irrigated acres.
5. 900. 900 in all. half of these already
under cultivation, wheat, oats, alfalfa,
potatoes and fruit being the leading
crops. and yielding large yearly in
come to the farmers.
Fruit is one Of the largest products.
In 1894. 100, 900 acres were under culti-
walton, yielding the sum Of 1000. 900
TO the planters.
Stock raising Is an important industry
on the western slope. 200. 900 acres be-
ing used for grazing purposes. and many
thousands 0f dollars In value Of the cat
tie and sheep raised. The number Of
sheep amounted in 1898 to over one mill
lion and half. making Colorado rank
among the great wool-produc,ng states
in the Union.
The forests Of this productive state
are very valuable, 10000 acres Of
land waiting to be cleared by the wood
mans axe, containing chiefly. yellow
and white pine. spruce, pinon, red oak
and black cherry.
In these large forests there lurk many
wild beasts to be exterminated by the
huntsman. the variety being mountain
lion, elk, deer, grizzly, brown and black
bear, antelope, etc., while in the tiny
brooks that twine among the forest
giants, and in the small. picturesque
lakes Of the mountain regions are sew
eral species Of trout.
The schools Of the state are excellent,
there being Al public high schools and
several important colleges and universi-
ties.
Colorado contains one Of the largest
cities in the western part Of the United
States, Denver, called and being, with
out doubt, the Queen City Of the Plains.
The climate is the best that can be
found, fresh, invigorating and health
full. and consequently many invalids arc
drawn to the bracing mountain air.
And last, but not least, there is tho
scenery. The most beautiful views
that can be found in all the world arc
in Colorado, the world-famed Pixies
Peak and the Mount Of the Holy Cross
being two Of the beautiful sights; and