The Ordway new era., 1906-10-19
COLORADO FACTS
pREseNrEp ~ UNITED srATEs
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
AFAvoREp COMMONWEALTH
Highest state In the Union-0reatest
Western Mining state-Oevelop-
nrsnt Of Agriculture, Manufactures
and Railroads.


and Railroads.
Colorado has the highest average
elevation of all the States-G,SoO feet,
says Mr.. Henry Gannett OF the United
States Geological Survey. in the
Gazetteer OF Colorado bulletin No.
291)) which he has just brought out.
Its height above sea level is perhaps
the most characteristic thing about
this favored commonwealth. for its
other peculiarities might be thought
by the fanciful to follow naturally
Its ore treasures. its life-giving atmos-
phere, Its enfranchised women. The
lowest point is over 5000 feet and the
highest 14.400 feet above sea level.
In general terms. the eastern third
OF Colorado is composed of high
plains. the middle third OF the Rocky
plateaus stepping down toward Colo
rado river. The plains rise from an
altitude Of 5000 to 1000 feet at the
east boundary of the state TO over 6.000
Their surface is rolling and in some
places broken. From the western.
most Of the mountain ranges the coun-
try descends in series OF plateaus.
some of which are horizontal and 9TH
ers inclined at different angles and in
various directions. Most OF the
streams. whether perennial or not, are
in canons cut to varying depths. This
plateau region is drained entirely by
tributaries OF Colorado river. The
higher Of these plateaus are well wa.
tered and covered with forests. but as
one descends the region becomes more
desert like. the lowest parts of the
plateau having all the aspects of a
desert.
The principal rivers are North
Platte. South Platte. Arkansas. Rio |
Grande, Yampa, White. Grand, Gun. |
nison. Dolores and San Juan. None |
OF these streams Is navigable. They |
head in the mountains. and with steep |
and rugged courses flow to the plains |
or plateaus. With their numerous |
branches in the mountain country OF |
Colorado. these rivers probably fur |
nish more abundant supply OF water |
for irrigation purposes than the |
streams Of any other state In the arid |
region.
In spite OF its great elevation. the |
temperature OF Colorado Is but slightly |
lower than in regions OF the same lat |
itude near sea level. because the iso- |
thermal lines are carried up by the |
srea: mass OF country. The range OF
temperature between day and night, |
between summer and winter, and be. |
tween the highest and lowest temper |
ature recorded. is very great. far |
greater than in the Mississippi valley |
or on the Atlantic coast The state !
lies within the arid region.
These facts and many others relat. |
ing to the history. agriculture. manu- |
factures. mining. and mapping OF Col |
orado are briefly set forth by Mr.. Gan |
nett In his Introductory chapter.
The population In 1905 was probably |
not far from 600 900, of which fifty-fve |
per cent were males and forty-five per |
cent. females. The number OF foreign |
born was seventeen per cent. to eighty |
three per cent. of native born. In liter. |
acy the people of Colorado are ex.
ceeded BY those OF only nine other |
states and territories.
Measured by the value Of its prod
uct. mining is the most important in
dustry of the state. In 1902 the output
Of Colorado mines had a value of $40.-
sylvania, Ohio, Michigan. and West
Virginia OF all the western states
and territories Colorado is easily first
in mineral production.
Owing to the location OF the state
within the arid region. agriculture Is
in large part limited by the supply of
water for irrigation. The total num-
Der Of farms in the state in 1900 was
24.700. and their total value was $751;
045,101. The average value per farm
was $500. The value OF all farm
products in 1900 was s33,04s.576, an
average per farm OF $1.33s. The aver
age number Of acres per farm was 3s4,
which Is more than twice the size OF
About seventy-seven per cent OF all
farms were owned by their occupants.
fourteen per cent. being rented on
shares. and nine per cent. rented for
cash. OF the cultivated land, 1,611, ,271
acres, or seventy-one per cent, were
under irrigation. The area irrigated
was "a per cent Of the total area OF
the state.
Manufacturers are assuming great
proportion in Colorado. In 1900 there
were $3.50 manufacturing establish
lishments Of all kinds. with a capital
of S62.s25,472. They employed 24.725
wage-earners and paid them s15.14G.
667. The cost of the materials used
was S66.ss6.016 and the value OF the
production 3102.s30.137. showing net
increase in value produced by manu-.
facture Of $35,944,121.
In 1904 Colorado contained 4,97G
miles of railway. which is 2.33 per
cent. Of the entire mileage Of the
United States.
\ There are fourteen forest reserves
In the state, comprising most Of the
mountain and plateau country. The
total area of land thus reserved is 49,.