The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1918-01-02
CROPS, sl4O,OOO,O0O
Altogether S45O,OOO,OOO Added to Ma
tion's Wealth During the Year


Colorado is doing her full part by
the nation in the hour of need. From
her men and money she has contrib
uted literally to the fighting strength
of the country, supplying more than
10000 men for active service in the
various branches of the military and
naval forces, subscribing to 100000
900 of Liberty Loan bonds, contribut-
ing 81 100000 to the great Red Cross
fund and ver-subscribing her allot-
ment in the Y. NJ. c. A. campaign.
There is no particular in which any
citizen of the Centennial state need
feel that Colorado has failed to stand
nobly by the government.
But it is not only with men and
money that the people of Colorado
. have contributed to the success of
American arms on foreign battle
fields. At a moment when the cry of
the entire nation has been for in
creased production in every line of in
dustry; when~e every farmer, every
miner and every manufacturer has
been urged to increase his output and
extend his operations to the limit OF
his ability, Colorado has added to the
wealth of the nation no less than
$3.50 900, ,OOO-an increase over prev
ious records which far exceeds the
average increase of production for the
United States as a whole. In this re-
spect Colorado has done more than her
part.
Farm Crops Worth Sii0.000.00O
In no department of industry has
the increase been greater or more
marked than in the field of agricul-
tural development. The crop produc-
tion of 1916 was considered a record
breaker in point of total value, but II
amounted to less than 65 per cent OF
the toal for 1917, which, including
farm and orchard products, will be no
less than s14O,00O,000. With the ex-
ception of a very few states in the
heart of the corn belt in the Missis-
sippi valley, no state in the Union has
shown such a marked increase over
1916, and even the corn states would
have been left far behind had it not
been for the increase of almost 100
per cent in the price paid for that
product. Increase in production IN
those localities was substantial, but
the price advance was enormous. The
average increase of crop values
throughout the United States was 30
per cent, but Colorado increased her
1916 total by more than 90 per cent
Hay Proves Largest Crop
Hay easily ranks first among the
crops of Colorado, both from the
standpoint of value and of acreage.
More than one-fourth of the cultivated
area of the state is devoted to tins
crop. the acreage for 1917 being 97O,-
900, including cultivated hay crops
onlv-such as alfalfa, timothy, alsike,
sweet clover and few other varieties.
In addition to the 100000 acres de
voted to cultivated hay, fully 100000
acres produced what is known as wild
hay. including salt or prairie grass
bluestem and wide range Of native
grasses. Park. Grand, Jackson, Gun
nison and Routt counties are among
the largest producers of this variety
of grass.
The total production of all kinds oil
hay in the state for 1917 is estimated
at 2,691 900 tons, by far the largest
bav crop in the states history and
worth at prevailing prices no less than
SAP 500. .OOO-more than the wheat and
beet crops combined and comprising
about 35 per cent of the agricultural
output of the state for the year.
Beets, corn, potatoes and BEANS IN
the order named, followed the hay
wheat and corn crops from the stand
point of value, placing the bean crop
almost unknown to the state two or
three years ago-in seventh place
i've years ago the value of the bean
ON was less than 100000; two years
ag' the production was so small that
r -nment crop experts gave 1t no
g5.. in their figures. In 1916, how
over. lie crop reached total value oil
sf -01u5o and in 1917 the total value
WAS no. IS than s6,50O,OOO
Fun Crop Worth s6,OoO.OOO