The Monte Vista journal., 1917-12-29
COLORADO MADE RECORDS IN YEAR 1917
Short-Handed by Ten Thousand Men, State Shows Big
Gain in All Directions

| point OF value, placing the bean crOn
almost unknown to the state two
or three years ago-in seventh place.
Five years ago the value of the bean
crop was less than $1OO,OOO; two
/ years ago the production was so
small that government crop experts
/ gave 1t no place in their figures. In
| 1916, however, the crop. reached a
] total value of 81 100000 and in 1917
the total value was no less than
| $6,5OO,OOO.
Fruit Crop Worth S6,OOO,0OO
The 1917 fruit crop, with total
value of well over $6,OOO,OOO, is a
record-break The nearest an
proach to this valuation for the crop
probably was in 1903, when the gov
ernment estimate for the state was
$4,6SO,O26.
Feed Cuts Livestock Profits
Excessive prices for all kinds of
stock feed tended to reduce the profit
from this branch of industry in 1917.
but despite that handicap the feed
ing industry continued to rank as one
OF the leaders in the state. with a
total output of approximately $50
oOO,OOO-by far the highest figure
ever received by the stockmen for
their livestock. OF that figure about
S65, 100000 was from the sale of
stock for butchering and about $15,-
100000 from the sale of feeder
stock. The severe winter of a year
ago, combined with the high prices
of all stock feed, probably will re
duce to some extent the total value
of stock on feed this winter and will
probably occasion a shortage of live
stock in the state next year. as many
stockmen, fearing a continuation of
high feed prices, have sold off their
brood stock
The same condition exists to some
extent in the dairy field, but is prob
ably not as general as in the other
departments of the livestock indus
try. High prices for all dairy pro
ducts resulted in a record-breaking
year in 1917, with total production
OF approximately 81 100000. New
creamerieS and condenseries are ad-
ding rapidly to the market for dairy
products and should maintain the
high level of that industry in the fu-
ture without serious diminution be-
cause of the high cost of feed.
highly favorable season for
poutrymen resulted in remarkable
increase in production, despite the
high cost of feed. Poultry and eggs
have commanded a good price thru
the entire year and the total produc-
ton unquestionably will reach the
high mark of S6,750. 900. passing all
former years easily. In spite of the
increased production, however. Colo
RADIO annually imports not less than
S3,OOO,OO0 in poultry and eggs, so
there is ample room for even greater
development in this field.
Metal Prices Encourage Mining
Despite a decrease in the value of
metals produced by the mines of Col
orado during the year, due to labor
shortage in some districts and to
mine reconstruction in others. the
total value of mine products for the
year, including coal, will pass the
SSO,OOO.OO0. The decrease in the
value of minerals produced was due
in part to the prevailing low price for
zinc, which is produced in large
quantities, but that loss was partly
offset by the higher price of silver.
which has brought about the re-op-
ening of many mines which have
been idle for years.
Report available early in Decem-
Der indicated that TIE total metal
production for the state in 1917 will
be slightly above $50,OOO,OOO, com
pared with total of about $1,000
600 for 1916. The Camp Bird mine
in the Ouray district, which is rated
as one of the big producers, has been
idle throughout the year. pending
the completion of improvements to
enable deeper working.
Coal Mining Breaks Records
The 1917 output of the coal mines