The Ordway new era., 1917-04-20
COLORADO FOOD SUPPLY
RAISE CROP ON EVERY POSSIBLE
ACRE THIS YEAR.
Proclamation From the Committee or
Ways and Means Appointed by
Governor Gunter.


Il, 19l7.-To The People of the state OF
Colorado: Hon. Julius c. Gunter. Gov
ernor of the State Of Colorado, has ap-
pointed the undersigned commit
tee on ways and means to devise plans
to meet the conditions regarding our
food supply. That serious food situ-
alton exists no one can question. The
situation, which would have been Sc
rious in any event, has been greatly
aggravated by reason of the war, ana
as 1t exists today threatens national
calamity unless every effort is made
by all OF the people to avert It.
In many parts Of the great wheat
and Nebraska the winter wheat crop
Is almost a total failure. According
to present indications Kansas, which
produced l60.0OO,OOO bushels in 1915.
will not produce above 3O,OOO,OOO 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
crop of last year was close to 100000
600 bushels short of normal. The av-
erage for the past five years is 34f,-
100000 bushels and the indications are
that owing to the high cost of seed and
fertilizer 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 is
scarce and high In price and unless unless
States Will, in the course of year
find itself unable to supply our SOL
diery and sailors with food products
our population. We viii be unable to
assist those in the factories and on
looking to US for a large part of their
necessary food supply. Let our people
also heed the fact that many Will be
ducing activities through the recruit
Ing of our army and navy.
The greatest contribution which
Colorado can make to the country at
at this time is to put forth every ef-
fort to the end that the last acre cap
able of cultivation may be made to
produce some kind of crop. The time
Is short; the situation is critical
This committee has been appointed
by the Governor of Colorado and his
sumo the duty of securing 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 mass meeting of
the people Of their communities and at
such meeting to appoint a committee
on ways and means; that committee to
open headquarters, secure clerical as
sistance and appoint subcommittee
for the following purposes:
First-A committee to investigate
the condition as regards the seed sup
ply In that locality; whether or not
sses Is and seed ,hes In surns 5p
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 If finan-
cial assistance is needed by any
worthy individual in the purchase of
seed.
Third-A committee to organize the
women of the locality for the purpose
Of devisinE plans for conserving the
way. and putting an absolute end to
waste of all kinds, as well as to assist
in Increasing the food production,
We ask that as soon organized,
the chairman of the local committee
report Immediately to the Ways and
tol Building, Denver.
We urge upon the banks to extend
financial assistance to worthy farmers
to plant lands which they would other
wise cultivate. This committee will
undertake to assist in this matter when
called upon.
The time is short. In few weeks
the planting season will be over. What
Is done must be done now. The i'm
perative need of the moment is local
organization. and we Urge that the
banks, merchants. business men. COM
mercial bodies, agricultural orEani "a
lions and bureaus, county commission
ers and all patriotic citizens unite in
perfectinS local organizations at the
very earliest possible moment.
Conditions are such that high prices
are certain to prevail for some years
20 come, and the pocuniary reward to
De derived from an increased acreage
will undoubtedly be great: but this is
wholly secondary to the consideration
that in this crisis Colorado owes the
country the patriotic duty of straininE
cry resource for the purpose of con-
tributng her last possible bushel to
the nations food supply.
Other recommendations are under
consideration and will be submitted
later. Our food supply is the supreme
question of the hour. and we desire to
t,,,,1 n,,14
care and the elimination of waste in
consumption is equivalent to an in
crease in production.
ters in the Capitol Building at Denver
and will undertake to assist in every
possible l,e,,, way n Every resource Of the
cal committees in their work.
The State Agricultural College. the
Experimental station, the State Agri-
cultural Extension Service and all of
the local bureaus of the Depa rtment of
Agriculture have rendered their serv-
Ices to assist and may be called upon
by every local committee.
In counties where agricultural agents
are maintained the county agents are
way the work of the local organiza-
tions.
To sum up. we, citizens of Colorado,
whose chief concern is to bring home
to our people the imperative necessity
In this grave hour of increasing all
food products of our state and thereby
aNertlnC what In the course of months
will be dire calamity to our people,
most earnestly call upon our citizen
ship throughout the state to bring to
the attention of all OF our citizens the
condition of our state; address our
selves to relieving this condition. and
In every public-spirited way assist our
farmers in increasing their ngricultu-
raj areas and the production therefrom.
We ask Of the press and clergy of
this state. aid in carrying this message
to our people.
BY order of the Governor:
J. X. MULLEN, Chairman
c. A. KENDRICK.
CHAS A. LORY
C NJTrJJETT