The Colorado statesman., 1919-07-05
CENTENNIAL STATE ITEMS.

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Increased to $150,000 in the Senate
The request for an appropriation for
an Investigation of the state oil shale
fields with a view OF developing the
shale for commercial use, was made
by the federal bureau of mines after
representatives of the bureau had
been here to confer with the govern
or and members of the State Bureau
of Mines.
The correct assessed valuation of all
property in the state for purposes of
taxation in 1918 was $1,424, 81 ,2SS,
according to data compiled by the state
immigration Department from the rec
ords of the State Tax Commission for
use in the Colorado Year Book. Den
yer county ranks first, with S34S, 1S7,-
545; Weld county second, with $780,
AS, ,230; and Pueblo county third, with
SIC, ,463,3 1888. The smallest valuation
reported is S1,O21 ,236, in Hinsdale
county. Mineral county ranks next
above Hinsdale, with 1881 1856, and
Dolores county next, with $1,774,125.
But six counties in the state report
valuations below $5,000,000.
Congress probably will be asked to
appropriate S1,250,000 for the reclaim
alton of 10000 acres on Orchard mesa,
lying Immediately across the Grand
river from Grand Junction. Frank w.
Howbert, former United States deputy
Internal revenue collector and a resi-
dent of Denver, is a special represent
ative of Senator Lawrence Phipps, to
investigate the Orchard mesa project.
UNLESS the federal government lends
financial assistance" said Mr.. How
bert, "scores of homes will be literally
destroyed. The project, too, is unlike
going into an uninhabited area. This
tract is entirely surrounded by civili-
zation.'"
Word that Colorado probably will
receive a portion OF the 219 army au-
tomobile trucks recently allotted to it
by the War Department within the
next few weeks was received by the
State Highway Commission from e. E.
Sommers, chairman of the commits
sion, who is in Washington. Colorado
is also to receive seventeen Ford cars
and nine pleasure cars of other makes.
The trucks and cars make up Colo
radios portion of the S2O,OO0,0O0 worth
of automobiles the War Department
had on hand at the close of the war
and decided to allot to the various
states.
The City Council, by a vote of Z
to 2, has authorized the restoration of
the scent fare on the Denver Tram
way Company's city lines, when the
Horan bill, calling for the repeal of
the 6-cent fare was considered on fl
nal reading. The 6-cent fare was
granted last September as war
emergency. The ordinance must be
signed by the mayor and published in
newspaper before 1t becomes effec-
tive.
crops in the Arkansas valley are max
ing wonderful strides. Corn in par
ticular is the best ever, and according
to the farmers In that section many
records will be broken in harvesting.
P. X. Blinn of the State Experimental
Station, and County Agent Droge are
having much success in experimental
plants, and expect to have some start
ling demonstrations.
Altitudinous temperatures and the
daylight saving law combined forces
at Grand Junction and put the First
Congregational Church movie out of
commission. 1t was announced by the
Rev. Henry NJ. Mcdowell, pastor, that
entertainments be discontinued until
early September.
Eric Berton, % years old, the man
who accidentally shot himself May
18th while cleaning a revolver, died to-
day at st. Mary's hospital in Pueblo,
where he had been since the accident.
Two miles of the Santa Fe trail,
leading south from Pueblo, will be
paved, work to start as soon as the
United States Bureau OF Public Roads
has approved the action of the State
Highway Commission, which has rec
commended that the contract be award
ed to A. Hewitt, the lowest bidder.
The contract price is $4S,0O0. This
will be the first section OF the Santa
Fe trail to be paved.
The dairy business is rapidly in
creasing in the Uncompaghre valley,
according to the reports of the cream
cries, who state that during the last
year they have handled 100000 pounds
of butter as compared with 10000 dur
ing the year before. In the upper val
ley the cheese factory at Delta has
handled an enormous business during
the last year.
Taxpayers voted to bond the district
for SIS, 500 for the erection of a mod
ern school building at Agate, Colo.
Work will begin at once, so it will be
ready for next fall. Five new build
ings were erected this spring, among
them the new Peterson hotel, which