Gilpin observer., 1917-01-04

AACtuEiuS ..... oV,VUU,VVV OS,oSo,oft
Denver Build
ing Permits. 4.os7.44o 2.e4s.575
Coal Produc-
tion. Tons. 49,. 1o.1s4,10s SITS. 1897
Denver.-Colorado opens its accounts
for 1917 with the largest volume of
business within the history Of the
state to the credit of 1916. More than
$400,000,000 worth Of transactions IL
the record Of the year, and as the
period ends the state stands upon the
highest peak Of its prosperity. will all
underlying financial conditions thor
oughly sound and a forecast of anoth-
er season of expansion and growth be-
fore it.
Colorado farmers made more money
from practically every crop in 1916
than ever before in the history Of tho
state, and this in spite of lower aver
age yields. The government figures
show a total value for the states ag-
ricultural output of Sill, ,484.170, an in
crease Of $33,292.2S0 over 1915. High
prices for practically every commodity
produced by the farmers and orchard
lists Of the state were the cause of
this enormous increase in cash reve-
Aues.
Colorado has just experienced its
greatest year in mineral production.
Reckoned in dollars and cents 1915
looms far ahead Of the boom days OF
Cripple Greek and the other great min
ing camps and this despite falling off
in gold production. The actual value
Of the years output is $53.580 900, or
$7,565,974 more than for 1915.
Thirty-one per cent. Of all the beet
sugar produced in the United States
was made in Colorado" A gross re-
turn Of $36.739,d30 is the record for
the year and the farmers were paid
nearly SIS, ,0O0, 900 for their efforts. The
German monopoly Of sugar beet seed
production was broken and Colorado
has shown that she can be entirely in
dependent Of Europe so far as this
great yearly harvest is concerned.
Colorado factories increased their
payrolls last year by $4,000. 900, giving
5000 more persons employment than
in 1915. The total value of Denver's
manufacturing output is estimated at
$80,00O.00O.
Tungsten came into unexpected glo-
ry during the year. The war sent the
price Of this metal to unheard-oi
heights and increased the value of the
total Of production from 81 ,687, 1929 to
$5,000.00O.
The Denver Union Stock Yards ex-
perienced year that proved record
breaker. An increase Of $12 2,000, 900 in
the value Of all domestic animals in
come one of the nations most import.
ant packing centers and the total
value of the business has increased
from $15,Oo0.000 in 1915 to $25, 900, 900
in 1916.
Silver. zinc. copper and lead showed
extraordinary gains, while the increase
in the production of tungsten is really
staggering.
II 1t is true that the automobile and
prosperity go hand in hand, then Colo
RADIO must be well up in the vanguard
Of the procession OF prosperous states,
for there are $4,000 within her do
main.
With 100000 acres OF Colorado
land already being cultivated under ir-
rigation, the state has sufficient wa
ter to irrigate at least 100000 more.
acres. The minimum waterpower avail
able the year around is 100000
horsepower and the maximum during
SIX months of the year is more than
100000. Less than 100000 horse
power has been developed at the pres
ent time.
Weld county ranks first among the
counties of Colorado in agricultural
products. estimated for 1916 at s14,,
100000. It stands next in line to Den
yer in assessed valuation and in the
number OF automobiles owned there.
With a population Of $4,000 It reports
$500 machine, or one machine to ev-
cry three families.
Never in the history Of good roads
or since the advent Of the automobile
as a commercial and social necessity
In Colorado has so much Improvement
Of highways been accomplished in
twelve months as during the year just