INTRODUCTORY 
Colorado has not provided means of obtaining statistical informa¬ 
tion which enables the people and commercial interests of the State to 
take account of their progress and thus to determine the character of 
their growth or the conditions which may need improving. In the 
absence of authentic data of that kind Professor H. M. Cottrell was 
authorized to obtain information from all sources possible as to the 
amount of produce actually shipped into the State and especially of 
a character the state could produce. While the information thus ob¬ 
tained cannot be considered as exact, yet as the sources of informa¬ 
tion are in close touch with the products in question, the estimates 
are believed to be close to actual facts. In some cases they may be 
considered as exact. The railroads and commission men, and in fact 
all classes have been free to aid, in many cases have opened their 
books to inspection and have given the advantage of their expert 
knowledge. The statements therefore represent what is, no doubt, 
the best summary of such knowledge that is available or has ever been 
made. 
From the standpoint of the State it indicates the large demand 
for agricultural products that is not met by the growers of this State. 
This shows only the production shipped into the State, and does not 
show the amount shipped out of the State. In some cases this is con¬ 
siderable. Thus several times the value of flour is shipped out of the 
State that is shipped in. Our fruit growers ship out several million 
dollars worth of fruit annually. Several million dollars worth of po¬ 
tatoes are shipped out annually and shipments of hay and live stock 
amount to many million dollars each year. 
The facts, however, deserve careful consideration, and give a 
basis for lines of intelligent development- 
L. G. CARPENTER, Director. 
