194 



COLORADO. 



made by ditch, irrigation, and other water companies, 

 for water, so that such charges shall not exceed a fair 

 percentum upon the amount of capital actually in- 

 vested in such enterprises. 



That we demand speedy measures to abolish, by fair 

 purchase, the Indian reservations remaining in Colo- 

 rado, especially the strip of land in La Plata County, 

 as useless to the Indian tribes and a constant threat 

 and menace to the peace and security of the southern 

 border. 



That the only practical solution of the convict-la- 

 bor question is to keep the convicts employed in some 

 labor not in competition with any recognized industry 

 of the people, and that this can be done by their or- 

 ganized, systematic, and permanent employment in 

 the construction and improvement of public roads. 



There was also a Prohibition ticket in the 

 field. The Democratic candidate for Governor 

 was elected by a small plurality, while the 

 Republican candidates for the other places 

 were successful. 



Wool-Growers. The third annual convention 

 of the Colorado State Wool-Growers' Associ- 

 ation was held at Greeley, on Oct. 5. It was 

 organized in Denver, on March 12, 1884. Its 

 sessions have not been very well attended. 

 The president gave the following account of 

 the business in the State : 



Looking back to the year 1875, the assessors re- 

 turned from the various counties of the State 424,977 

 sheep. The numbers increased rapidly in the follow- 

 ing years, the returns for 1879 being 779,935, and in 

 1880, 782,640. The severe drought of 1880 caused 

 losses and exportation, so that the returns for 1881 

 were reduced to 634,342, increasing to 706,048 in 1882 

 and 834,785 in 1883. The repeal of the ad valorem 

 duty on wool checked the increase, and in 1884 there 

 was a falling off in numbers to 822,273. The flock- 

 masters, notwithstanding the discouragements, re- 

 newed their grip, and returned, for 1885, 863,926 

 sheep. The returns for 1886 are not vet complete. 1 

 have been unable to secure accurate' information re- 

 garding _the wool-clip, but 7,000,000 pounds is doubt- 

 less a fair estimate tor this year's clip. It is imprac- 

 ticable to secure accurate figures regarding the number 

 of sheep sold as surplus from the flocks of the State. 

 'The data given show that the Colorado State Wool- 

 Growers' Association represents an invested capital 

 -of more than $5,000,000, and a yearly revenue of 

 more than $2,500,000. 



The following resolutions were adopted as 

 the sense of the meeting : 



Resolved, That the great interest of wool-growing 

 in the State, second only in capital invested and an- 

 nual revenue to mining and cattle-breeding, demands 

 the continuance of the Association to protect and pro- 

 mote our interests, and that every wool-grower in the 

 State ought to join the Association and contribute his 

 share to the common defense. 



That we reiterate our demand for the restoration of 

 the tariff of 1867 on wool and woolen goods, as beino- 

 the best possible adjustment of the interests of manu- 

 facturers and producers of wool, evidenced by the un- 

 paralleled growth and prosperity of both interests 

 from the date of the adoption of said tariff to the date 

 of its repeal in 1883, and the great disaster to both in- 

 terests following that repeal. 



That the repeal of the bounty on wolf-scalps has re- 

 sulted in a vast increase in numbers of these pests, 

 and great damage to our flocks ; that the rapid in- 

 crease of these animals not only menaces our sheep, 

 but calves and colts as well, and that the bounty here- 

 tofore paid by the State is insignificant compared with 

 the josses we now sustain ; we therefore, ask the 

 Legislature, at its next session, to enact a law author- 



izing the payment of $2.50 for each wolf or coyote 

 scalp. 



That we respectfully ask of the Legislature at its 

 next session a liberal appropriation for the expenses 

 of the State Veterinary Sanitary Board, to the end that 

 all domestic animals afflicted with contagious diseases 

 may be quarantined and such disease be effectually 

 stamped out. 



That in justice to the wool-growing interest, we re- 

 quest that a member of the State Wool-Growers' As- 

 sociation be appointed a member of the State Veteri- 

 nary Sanitary Board. 



That the State Veterinary Sanitary Board be and 

 is hereby requested to adopt a regulation requiring 

 all persons driving sheep into the State to secure 

 from the State Veterinary Surgeon, or a member of 

 the State Veterinary Sanitary Board, a certificate 

 that the flock is free from contagious disease before 

 they cross the boundary of the State. 



lhat it is gross injustice to be compelled to pay 

 $1.50 and $1.25 per hundred freight to the Missouri 

 river on our wool, since it is profitably transported 

 from the Missouri river to the seaboard, more than 

 twice the distance, for less than half the freight charge 

 to the river. 



The Legislature consists of 18 Republicans 

 and 8 Democrats in the Senate and 25 Repub- 

 licans and 24 Democrats in the House. 



The vote for Congressmen was as follows : 

 George G. Symes (Republican), 27,732; My- 

 ron W. Reed (Democrat), 26,929 ; Joseph Mur- 

 ray, 3,597. Amendments to sections 1, 3, 12, 

 and 14 of Article XI of the Constitution were 

 ratified, and those to sections 5, 24, and 26 re- 

 jected. The amendments relate to details of 

 the judicial system. The vote for Governor is 

 not officially canvassed until the meeting of the 

 Legislature. 



Cattle. The number of cattle shipped out of 

 the State in 1885 was 75,579. These required 

 to move them 3,358 cars, and were divided as 

 to class as follows: 



Steers .. 72,857 



Cows 21 



Bulls 261 



Mixed cattle 2,840 



Total 75,579 



The number of cattle shipped and driven 

 into Colorado during the same period was 

 132,614. This does not include any cattle 

 which may have passed through the State for 

 parts beyond. By these figures it will be seen 

 that there were brought into Colorado 57,035 

 more cattle than were sent out during the 

 year. The actual number of cattle slaughtered 

 for home consumption in the State can not be 

 ascertained, but can be closely estimated at 54,- 

 560. 



The shipments out of the State the previous 

 year did not exceed 60,000. 



Finances. Colorado has no bonded debt. 

 The assessed valuation for 1885 (Garfield Coun- 

 ty's returns being unofficial) is $115,415,929. _ 



The total amount of tax levied for 1886 is 

 $665,269.48, as against $640,874.72 for 1885. 



The balance in the treasury at the close of 

 the last fiscal term, Nov. 30, 1884, in cash and 

 securities, was $513,135.61; there was received 

 from all sources during the two years ending 

 Nov. 30, 1886, the sum of $1,837,395.24, mak- 



