Denver labor bulletin., 1917-08-04
81

TOLORADO is a young state. Its actual
~ settlement did not beg in until after the
discovery OF gold in the sands OF the
Platte river near the present site OF Denver, III
1883. In 1867, when it was organized as ter
ritory, there were comparatively few people
within its borders except in the scattered gold
camps. The growth was rapid in the mining
districts for the next ten years, but the re-
mainder OF the territory now included IN Colo
RADIO was almost wholly neglected. 1t was
admitted to the Union in 1876. and four years
later the United States census bureau found
its population to be Io4, 327. Most OF its peo-
pie were still miners. There was consider
able number OF stockmen, but very few farm
ers. 1t was not until the late Sos that the
stockmen began to give place on the free range
to farmers and the period OF actual agricultural
development began. Being a young state. its
development has only fairly begun. Its
sources have not been depleted its soil has
not been impoverished, its cities are not over
crowded, and in its agricultural and mining
territory there is room and modest wealth Tor
hundreds Of thousands OF new settlers. Though
its mines have produced in gold and silver
alone over SG,Ooo,ooO,ooo, rich discoveries are
still being made every month and almost every
week, and there is every indication that the
mineral wealth taken from the hills in the
next half century will be greater than that pro
duced in the half century just past. The out
put OF its farms in 1910. exclusive OF live stock
ana poultry products, was worth more tndn
SSb.ooo.ooo yet less than IS per cent OF its agri
cultural is developed. More than 10000
600 tons OF coal is being mined annually in the
state, but at the present time less than one
tenth OF one per cent OF its available coal sup
ply has been exhausted Colorado marble is
being used for the construction and interior
decoration of some of the handsomest public
buildings Office structures and hotels in the
country, and the state still has enough marble
to replace every marble structure on the con-
tincnt. Colorado granite is being used more
extensively every year for building and monu
mental purposes. and there is enough high
grade granite in the state to rebuild the city
OF New York. Its mountain streams are being
harnessed to light its cities, run its traction
lines, turn the wheels OF its factories. operate
its mines and furnish light and power Tor its
farmers, yet less than 10 per cent OF its avail
able water power is being utilized. The water
OF these same mountain streams is being used
for the irrigation OF more than 100000 acres
OF the richest agricultural land in the world,
yet there is still water available for the irri-
CATION OF 100000 acres more. Its population
in 1910 was 7oo,o24, or only II for each square
mile OF territory. For the same year the popu-
lation OF Iowa was 40 for each square mile OF
territory; Ohio, ny; Maryland, 1870; New
York, I52; Connecticut, 1888; Massachusetts,
$40; and Rhode Island, 4oI. The census bu-
reau estimated the population of Colorado on
January 1, 1917, at o75Ioo, or about o.4 Tor
each square mile OF territory.
Colorado is rich state. 1t ranks first
among the states in the combined production
OF gold and silver Its deposits OF rare metals
OF the radium group the richest known. 1t
has almost inexhaustible supplies OF zinc and
lead ores, and surpasses all other states in the
production OF tungsten. Its deposits OF tung-
stem and molybdenum are the richest and most
extensive yet discovered. Its production OF