The Raymer enterprise., 1917-04-19
COLORADO FOOD SUPPLY
RAISE CROP ON EVERY POSSIBLE
ACRE THIS YEAR.
Proclamation From the Committee on
Ways and Means Appointed BY
Governor Gunter.
Western Newspaper Union New. Service.

IL, l911.-To The People OF the State OF
Colorado: Hon. julius c. Gunter. Gov
ernor of the State of Colorado. has ap-
pointed the undersigned as a commit
tee on ways and means to devise plans
to meet the conditions regarding our
food supply. That q serious food situ-
| alton exists no one can question. The
situation, which would have been se-
rlous in any event. has been greatly
aggravated by reason of the war. and
IS IT exists today threatens a national
calamity unless every effort is made
by all of the people to avert 1t.
In many parts Of the great wheat
producing states of Kansas, Oklahoma
and Nebraska the winter wheat crop
Is almost total failure According
to present indications Kansas. which
produced l60.000.000 bushels In 1916.
Will not produce above 30.000,0 900 BUSH
els from the coming harvest. The con-
dition of other staple food products
throughout the country is hardly less
alarming. For instance. the potato
600 bushels short Of normal. The av-
erage for the past five years Is 344,-
600, 900 bushels and the indications are
that owing to the high cost OF seed and
iertiliaer the potato crop this year will
be short from twenty to forty per cent.
Of normal. Reserve stocks have been
almost depleted. Seed OF all kinds 10
scarce and high In price and unless
vigorous steps are taken the United
states Will, In the course Of year,
find itself unable to supply our SOL
diery and sailors with food products
aside from the normal requirements Of
our population We will be unable to
assist those in the factories and on
the battlefields of Europe who are
looking to us for large part Of their
necessary food supply. Let our people
also heed the fact that many will be
Uy drat oil .f
ducing activities through the recruit-
Ing Of our army and navy.
The greatest contribution which
Colorado can make to the country at
1t this time Is to put forth every ef-
fort to the end that the last acre cap
able of cultivation may be made to
Produss some 9n KIND q a crop Thf time
This committee has been appointed
BY the Governor OF Colorado and his
Advisory War Council and asked to as
lQme the duty Of securing a complete
organization In the state to bring
about the cultivation Of every available
acre. We earnestly urge that the peo-
pie Of every community and county in
the state be Immediately organized for
the purpose of assisting In this crisis.
We ask the banks In every locality
to Immediately call q mass meeting of
the people OF their communities and at
suSh hcctiuB " uppotHt COHInittco
on ways and means. that committee to
open headquarters, secure clerical as
distance and appoint subcommittee
tor the following purposes:
First-A committee to investigate
the condition as regards the seed sup
ply In that locality: whether or not
there u sufficient seed to plant full
acreage and whether there Ia a surplus
that can be spared for use in other
parts of the state.
Second--A committee to investigate
the financial condition OF the farmers
In that locality and discover II finan-
sial assistance is needed by any
seed.
Third-A committee to organize the
women Of the locality for the purpose
Of devising plans for conserving the
present food supply in every possible
way; and putting ,n1 an abs, absolute end It., to
In increasing the food production.
We ask that as soon as organized.
the chairman Of the local committee
report Immediately to the Ways and
Means Committee. Room 20. State Capt.
!ol Building. Denver.
We urge upon the banks to extend
financial assistance to worthy farmers
who from a lack OF funds are unable
10 plant lands which they would other
wise cultivate. This committee will
undertake to assist In this matter when
| salled upon.
the planting season will be over. What
10 done must be done now. The i'm
oerative need Of the moment Is local
srga anixatton, and we urge that the
banks. merchants. business men, COM
nercial bodies. agricultural organiza-
ions and bureaus, county commission
irs and all patriotic citizens unite in
perfecting local organisations at the
Tery earliest possible moment.
Conditions are such that high prices
ire certain to prevail for some years
| 20 come, and the pecuniary reward to
Be derived from an increased acreage
viii undoubtedly be great; bat this Is
hat In this crisis Colorado owes the
country the patriotic duty of straining
| ier every effort and utilizing her ev-
,ry resource for the purpose Of con-
:ributing her last possible bushel to
:he nations food supply.
Other mmendations are under
consideration and will be submitted
ater.. Our food supply Is the supreme
| question of the hour. and we desire to
impress upon our people the idea that
,are and the elimination of waste in
consumption is equivalent to an In
:rease In production.
This committee has opened headquar-
:ers In the Capitol Building at Denver
md will undertake to assist in every
possible way. Every resource of the
ttate will be utilized to assist the To-
al committees In their work.
The State Agricultural College, the
Experimental Station. the State Agri-
cultural Extension Service and ali Of
he local bureaus Of the Department Of
Agriculture have rendered their serv-
ces to assist and may be called upon
oy every local committee.
In counties where agricultural agents
ire maintained the county agents are
instructed to assist In every possible
way the work OF the local organiza-
ions.
To sum up, we. citizens of Colorado,
whose chief concern Is to bring home
10 our people the imperative necessity
n this grave hour OF increasing all
'ood products Of our state and thereby
iverting what In the course OF months
will be dire calamity to our people.
most earnestly call upon our citizen
Ihfp throughout the state to bring TO
The attention OF all Of our citizens the
condition of our state; address our
| ,elves to relieving this condition, and
N every public-spirited way assist our
farmers In Increasing their agricultu-
'al areas and the production therefrom.
We ask OF the press and clergy OF
his state. aid In carrying this message
10 our people.
By order OF the Governor:
J. X. MULLEN. Chairman.
G. A. KENDRIcK.
cHAS A, LORY. Fl
J. c. MITCHELL,
G. c. HAMT.JN