The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1909-11-06
Tourist Rate Convention.

world, but little is known about tho
great possibilities Of the state from the
standpoint Of agriculture. Therefore tho
aim Of the Tourist Rate convention that
will meet in the state capital November
Is will be in addition to the lower tourist.
and homeseekers' rates, to ask that the
railroads devote more space in their lit
erature to the agricultural possibilities
of Colorado.
The motto adopted at the meeting Of
the program committee Of the convention
last Saturday. at the Denver Chamber
of Commerce, was Talk Of agriculture
and the wonderful productive qualities
Of Colorado's SOIL" and this will be the
motto Of the convention.
Within the next three years 100000
acres Of land in Colorado will be under
way. and large percentage of this land
will be available next spring. This land
is all high class and far superior in pro-
ductive qualities to the best land in the
eastern and middle western states
Last year Colorado produced about
S105, 100000 in agricultural and horticul-
products. This year. according to esti-
mates now in hand, the figures will total
sl75.OOO,0OO. This is at least four times
the value Of the gold taken from Colora-
dos mountains last year. What. then,
will be the production OF the soil Of Col
orado ten years from now? No one dares
to venture guess. Irrigation projects
are increasing annually, and at a rate
that precludes any possibility of a rea-
sonable guess as to the developments in
agricultural pursuits of the future. All
that can be said at this time is that Col
orado is rapidly advancing as an agricul-
tural state, and that the yield per acre
here Of all kinds Of agricultural products
is SO marvellous that farmers in other
sections Of the United States believe
that the facts are exaggerated when the
tale is told in their hearing.
Colorado wants the facts made known
to the world, and in such a way that the
knowledge will bring new settlers into
the state to farm the land that is being
placed under irrigation. 1t is for this
reason that the rate convention has be-
come SO popular within the last few
weeks. The belief is expressed on all
sides that the railroads will grant S25
round trip tourist rate when they become
convinced that the people of Colorado
are in earnest, and that their only desire
for this rate and the one way home seek
ers' rate is that the state may become
settled more rapidly. At the meeting OF
the program committee tho statement
was made that the railroads are not fully
aware Of the wonderful possibilities Of
Colorado, and that when the facts are
placed before the Western Passenger
Association the new rates will be granted
without any serious opposition. 1t is
we'll known fact that the railroads have
been the main instruments in the settle
ment OF California and the northwest,
and that low rates we're made to induce
the farmers Of the east and south to set
tie in those states. Then why should
Colorado be neglected, is asked. And
the answer one hears is: "The railroads
do not know, except in a small way, Of
the vast agricultural resources Of Colo
RADIO"
All sections of Colorado we're repre-
sented at the meeting of the program
committee, and every one present realized
that the time for concerted action to
build up Colorado had arrived. Some
one said: Let US all pull together for
greater Colorado; let US send commit
tee down to Chicago to meet with the
members OF the Western Passenger AS
sociation and show them that Colorado is
worthy of their consideration, and Colo
RADIO will get what she wants in the way
Of tourist and home seekers rates" And
this same sentiment was voiced by every
one present.
Final details Of the program for the
convention were left to the general COM
nittee on arrangements. This commit
tee is composed Of Denver men, and they
have worked so faithfully and earnestly
for the success of the convention that
they won the respect of the members of
the program committee. The members
Of this committee are: j. A. Burnett,
J. o. A. Carper, Thomas E.
Williams, W. D. Hitchcock, L. G. Allen,
S. F. Dutton, P. L. Slayback and w. F.
r. Mills, secretary.
Speakers for the convention were Sc
lected by the program committee and
each was assigned his subject. The list
Of speakers follows:
Former Governor Alva Adams, "Colo-
rado in general; Senator Horace De
Long, "Fruit Industry; A. E. Bent. or
rigation"; c. E. Wantland, "Dry Farm
ing; Frank G. Goudy," ,"Irrigated Lands;
Murdo MacKenzia. "Stock Indnst.x"