1939: Colorado

Area and Population.

With an area of 66,526,729 acres (103,948 sq. mi.), Colorado ranks seventh among the states in size; and with an estimated population of 1,071,000, it ranks 33rd in that respect. It has the highest mean elevation above sea level (6,800 ft.) of all the states; its altitude ranging from 3,385 ft. in the bed of the Arkansas River on the eastern boundary, to 14,341 ft. (2.72 mi.) at the summit of Mount Elbert in the central part of the state. The Continental Divide runs in a north-south direction through the central part of the state, with waters flowing eastward from it into the Gulf of Mexico and westward into the Pacific.

Colorado's population is about equally divided between rural and urban. Only 9.6 per cent are foreign-born, while 92.8 per cent are white. Denver, the capital, with an estimated population of 315,000, is the largest city. It is also the seat of more Federal Government agencies than any city except Washington. Pueblo, with an estimated population of 55,000, is second in size. It is a large industrial center with iron and steel as the predominant industry. There are six cities with a population ranging from 10,000 to 50,000, of which Colorado Springs (33,237) is the largest.

Education.

The state is well provided with educational facilities. There are 16 colleges and universities for higher education in the state, of which nine are publicly controlled, and seven privately. The average enrollment in these is about 14,000 students during regular terms, and 10,000 in summer terms.

The public school system is extensive, with the state divided into 2,056 districts. Each district is under a county superintendent, and the county superintendents are under a superintendent of public instruction who is elected at biennial elections. The latest figures available show an annual expenditure of $21,500,000 for public schools, of which $10,200,000 is for current expenses and the remainder for capital outlays, debt service, etc. There are 3,072 schools, of which 435 are junior high and senior high schools, and 2,637 are elementary grade schools, including 94 kindergartens. Enrollment includes 171,921 in the grade schools, and 53,601 in the junior and senior high schools; this is exclusive of evening, opportunity, and kindergarten schools, all of which bring the total up to 245,731. The school population (ages 6 to 21) is 306,000.

Agriculture.

Agriculture in 1939 suffered from an unfavorable planting season in May, high winds during the year, and sub-normal rainfall with a general shortage of water for irrigation. As a result, one out of every four acres planted was a failure, and the acreage harvested was only 4,910,000, compared with 5,941,000 in 1938. Higher prices in 1939, however, put the total value of harvested crops at $68,868,000 as against $66,398,000 in 1938.

Mineral Products.

Mining operations as a whole showed a gain in 1939 over the preceding year. Coal production, which ranks first among the state's minerals, was 5,890,000 tons, a gain of 203,000 tons over 1938. The value of the five principal metals mined, gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc, was approximately $22,245,079 in 1939, which compared favorably with $22,073,663 in 1938. Gold, in which Colorado ranks third in the union, showed a slight decrease as did lead, copper and zinc. Silver, however, showed an increase. Molybdenum production was approximately 21,750,000 pounds, a decrease of 6,492,000 pounds, compared with 1938, when a record was established for output. Colorado ranks first in the production of this metal, and produces about 90 per cent of the world's supply. Tungsten concentrates amounted in 1938 to 360 tons.

Industrial Gains.

Manufacturing showed an upward swing in 1939, with estimates for the year being around $250,000,000 for the value of products. In 1937, the census showed a value of $237,838,000, which was an increase of 44.8 per cent over 1935. Colorado leads all states in the manufacture of beet sugar. The manufacture of mining machinery also ranks high, and shipments are made to almost all countries of the world engaged in that industry.

The wholesale and retail business continued also to forge ahead in 1939. The wholesale business had recovered rapidly from the depression, so that in 1937 there was a gain of 44.7 per cent over 1935, which indicated net sales in 1937 of $409,000,000. While the rate of increase subsequently slowed down, higher prices apparently sent the 1939 total to better than $480,000,000. Retail business recovered 26.3 per cent in sales between 1935 and 1937. The next year was less favorable, but in 1939 the volume showed a gain of about 12 per cent. A considerable part of the gain in both wholesale and retail business may be credited to better prices. Colorado's Fair Trade Practices Act is in full force and under its provisions the business is strictly policed by the organizations of the different types of business. These, in effect, set the prices by establishing minimums under which most commodities must not be sold. The Federal Department of Labor uses Denver prices as the basis of its indices for Colorado. Washington reports that Denver prices have increased more since the European war started than in any other representative city except Boston and Washington. Since August 15, 1939, eleven selected items showed a price increase of 14.7 per cent.

Gains in Other Fields.

Motor vehicle license collections established a new high in 1939, the first nine months yielding a revenue of $2,226,508 and exceeding the total for any previous year. Building permits in the first nine months gained nearly 100 per cent, the total being $11,463,118, against $5,662,000 in the same period in 1938. Title sales, for the same period, were 127,700 against 118,212. Resources of state banks for the fiscal year increased by $4,972,000.

Finance and Public Welfare.

The state's financial condition on the whole is satisfactory. Appropriations for the year ending June 30, 1940, are $11,432,866, and total estimated revenues are $11,391,100. Revenues may exceed estimates sufficiently to take care of the comparatively slight excess of appropriations. Difficulties are in the offing, however, on account of recent court decisions. The courts ruled during 1939 that 85 per cent of liquor licenses collected by cities and towns must go into the old-age pension fund of the state, the same as funds from state licenses, and this has embarrassed some of the municipalities, including Denver. Another court decision decreed that the Department of Public Welfare must certify the $45 per month minimum for old-age pensions to all qualified persons in accordance with the Constitutional provision, regardless of whether there is money available to pay them. The state has in the past portioned out payments according to funds available, but with one or two exceptions these have been from $10 to $12 below the $45. The same decision made probable a requirement that the state make up for past deficiencies in these payments. This would take close to $10,000,000. However, these decisions are to be appealed to the Supreme court for final determination. In 1939 pension payments aggregated $13,773,686. That amount included funds received from the Federal Government.

Other public welfare payments during 1939 included $103,317 for burials, $1,712,815 for aid to dependent children, $209,848 for aid to the blind, and $2,211,032 state funds for relief. These do not include county expenditures for these purposes, nor administrative expenses, but do include Federal aid. The old-age pension amendment provides that 85 per cent of all liquor licenses and fees; 85 per cent of retail sales taxes; 85 per cent of use taxes; 10 per cent of inheritance taxes, and 10 per cent of incorporation fees shall go into the old-age pension fund. These requirements in the Constitution intensify the problem for the state, counties and municipalities in raising funds by taxation for other purposes. Another move is therefore under way to remove this difficulty at the November election through a measure to be submitted to a vote taking the requirements out of the Constitution and delegating the authority to the Legislature.

Colorado's $25,000,000-road building campaign, inaugurated in 1936, was practically completed during the year. The required loan, to be repaid out of revenues, makes the question of funds for 1940 something of a problem. Federal building activity in Colorado will continue throughout 1940, this including the continued construction of the Army Air Corps technical school at Lowry Field, which ultimately is expected to cost $10,000,000; a $3,000,000 general hospital at the Fitzsimmons General Hospital; a $1,800,000 Federal prison; a $1,680,000 Federal housing project in Denver, and lesser undertakings in various directions. (See also RECLAMATION.)

State Officers.

The chief officers of the state are as follows: Governor, Ralph L. Carr; Lieut.-Governor, John Vivian; Secretary of State, George E. Saunders; Treasurer, Charles M. Armstrong; Auditor, Homer F. Bedford; Attorney General, Byron G. Rogers; Supt. of Public Instruction, Inez Johnson Lewis.

United States Senators.

Alva B. Adams, Edwin C. Johnson.