.C6 05 1917 Copy 1 STATE OF COLORADO War Council and Ways and Means Committee Food Supply REPORTS TO HON. JULIUS C. GUNTER GOVERNOR by H. W. CORNELL Director of Organization, Ways and Means Committee A. W. GRANT, Secretary of War Council GERALD HUGHES of the War Council W. H. KERR, Chairman Marketing Committee AS TRANSMITTED BY THE GOVERNOR TO THE TWENTY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY, EXTRAORDINARY SESSION, JULY 25th, 1917 REPORT OF H. W. CORNELL, DIRECTOR OF ORGANI- ZATION WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, STATE OF COLORADO. JULY 24. 1917. To His Excellency Julius C. Gunter, Governor. Sir: By direction of the executive committee of the Ways and Means Committee of the War Council of Colorado I here- with present to you a report of the work accomplished by said committee, the campaigns noAv in progress over the state and action contemplated in the future. pers6nnel of committee. The executive committee of the Ways and Means Committee of the War Council consists of the following named gentlemen : J. K. Mullen, Chairman; A. W. Grant, Secretary; George B. Berger, C. A. Kendrick. Lou D. Sweet. Fred P. Johnson, H. W. Cornell. It c.ame into being on the 23d of April, 1917, to meet the demands for a small body of men who could meet daily and grapple with the problems that arose from day to day. The committee since that time has met each business morning in the office of the War Council Ways and Means Committee in the State Capitol at 8 :45. In general its work has been that of a clearing house for all requests coming from the federal government and its various war agencies and in keeping of war activities in the state aside from military work co-ordinated, co-operating and moving along well- defined"^ lines as laid down by the War Council Ways and Means Committee and the executive officers of the state. FINANCES. The expenditures directed by the executive committee under the authority of the War Council and Ways and Means Com- ijiittee up to and including the 17th day of July, 1917, covering all costs of organization over the state, postage, salaries, station- ery and printing, amounted to $2,884.40. In addition to this an appropriation of $4,200 has been set aside for the activities of the Market Committee to be expended under the direction of W. H. Kerr, Chairman of the committee, during the harvesting and marketing of the crops this fall and in preparation therefor, [21 D. of Da AUG 20 1917 Y1^^-^ ITmioimt, at ! whicl^Srfnoimt, at 'a subsequent meeting, was increased to $8,200 to meet unexpected contingencies. The total amount subscribed by the patriotic citizens of Colorado for the use of the War Council and its various committees was $12,295. Of this sum $6,535 has been paid in and the remainder, $5,760, will be paid when a further call under the terms of the subscription is made. This has not yet been necessary. ACTIVITIES. The first great task that confronted the executive committee was extension of some form of organization over the state. It was decided to create in each connty a Ways and Means Com- mittee which should have general jurisdiction over war activities aside from military in each county. These committees have been "appointed in each of the counties of the state, the membership being recommended by the citizens of the respective counties in order that the largest possible element of home rule should be present in each organization. Without exception the recom- mendations of each county have been followed in the perfecting of this organization. The Ways and Means Committees of the several counties have been guided b}^ local necessities in the character of their organizations which, because of the varying character of the activities of the several counties, differ in makeup and in plan of operation. Generally speaking, all organization in the purelv agricultural counties are identical in general form with the State Ways and Means Committee, while in the non-agricultural coun- ties changes to meet conditions have been made with the consent of the executive committee. No funds have been received from the federal or state gov- ernments wherewith to aid any county. To meet this condition the committee early decided that each county organization should be urged to organize its county on a co-operative basis constitut- ing the unit of a self-supporting and co-operative community. This form of organization has resulted in the maximum of benefit. In some of the counties the local Ways and Means Com- mittees have raised by voluntary subscription, or have endorsed guarantee notes in lieu thereof, to the extent of $50,000 to aid worthy farmers and increase the production of the county to its greatest limits. The several subcommittees of the Ways and Means Com- mittee, acting heartily in accord with the suggestions of the executive committee, have rendered exceptional service to such counties as sought their aid and advice. The Finance Committee was responsible for active co-opera- tion between the banks of the large monev centers of the state and the smaller banks of the remote sections, arranging for liberal rediscount rates and the taking up by the banks of the larger centers of loans made by the smaller banks to farmers, thus keep- ing a steady flow of monej^ on the firing line for the benefit of those who needed to borrow of the local banks. The Seed Committee adopted drastic means to keep within the State of Colorado all available seed supply. It procured from the railroads a voluntary embargo on the exportation of seed and by stepping into the market itself and purchasing car- loads of seed to sell at cost to the farmers, it kept down the price of seed to residents of Colorado far below that of neighboring states. Furthermore, in the distribution particularly of the po- tato seed, its services were of exceptional value. Owing to the scarcity of this seed the committee took steps whereby the well known potato lands of the state Avere first seeded to capacity be- fore permitting any seed to go into the hands of those who de- sired to plant it in land not rated as potato land. The Committee on Tractors did yeoman service in locating each tractor of the state and seeing to it that all were employed to the maximum. Many of these tractors work twenty-four hours in the day, being lighted by gas headlights so they could work throughout the dark hours. The result is the largest acre- age of new land put under cultivation in the history of any state of the Union so far as our investigation goes. The Committee on Live Stock, of which Governor Ammons is Chairman, has made no report of its activities, so we cannot set forth herein what it has done. The Committee on Markets, unde;- the chairmanship of Mr. W. H. Kerr, has worked out a system of distribution that prom- ises stupendous results to the farmers of Colorado and to the con- sumers as well. This committee is now taking a survey of the state to determine, first, what each county in the state is going to produce in the way of foodstuffs, and, second, to determine what each county will consume until another harvest in each line of foodstuffs. The net balance will show how nearly each county will be self-supporting. The committee will then undertake to supply shortages by the shortest haul from the nearest counties having surpluses in the line desired and to move surpluses by the shortest haul to the nearest counties having shortages in those lines. By this method of distribution vast sums in transporta- tion can be saved and undue profits by middlemen and food pirates eliminated. The success of the plan, of course, depends upon the support and co-operation of the different counties which are of necessity required to furnish storage facilities to care for the supplies needed. After the wants of the various counties of the state are cared [4] for by this jolan the committee proposes to pool the surphis of the state and sell it direct in bulk to the federal government. " I am advised by Mr. Kerr that Clarence Owsley, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, has on behalf of the federal government accepted the offer of Colorado and agreed to take her surplus of staples in bulk at the market price for the army and navy. If this is carried out it will be the first time in the history of the United States that the farmers of any one state acting in co- oi^eration have been able to sell to the federal government its supplies without being subjected to the extortionate demands of rapacious middlemen-. The labor problems of the state are most perplexing in view of the high price of labor and the consequent absence of itinerant farm hands generally noticeable in the harvest period. Professor W. E. Foarcl, State Agricultural College, who is acting also as labor expert of the Department of Agriculture at Washington, has direct supervision of the labor problems of the state, while J. AV. Kelley of Denver, Chairman of the State Farm Labor Committee, and Joseph F. Jaffa of Denver, as head of the Boys' Working Eeserve of the state, are co-operating with Mr. Foard. The whole problem is one of mobilizing the entire labor power of the state. This being done by each county first taking a survey of its own possibilities and needs and determining when its short- age will be at its greatest. These shortages will be supplied so far as possible from counties having surplus, either experienced labor or of volunteers who are willing to serve the state by de- voting their vacation periods to this splendid work. Plans in this regard are nearing completion and it is hoped that the efforts of those responsible wnll result in the saving of the crop entire. The Publicity Committee has not been able to achieve the success which it "has desired in keeping the people of the state posted as to the activities of the War Council and Ways and Means Committee. The demands upon the papers because of the tremendous war news emanating from abroad and from our na- tional capital, together with the space devoted to the Liberty Bond, Red Cross and recruiting campaigns, have necessitated the omission of much of the news regarding farm activities. This is true of our papers in Denver and the weekly papers over the state. I have no criticism to offer of the editors of these papers and no charge to make of intended slighting of the news. I am convinced that it has been physically impossible to find space to devote to this most important subject. Aside from the tremendous work done in aiding the various counties in perfecting their organization and in the direction thereof, which included numberless trips by members of the com- mittee over the state, much has been done in aid of the general campaigns of the federal government. [5] Efficient service has been rendered by the Ways and Means Committees of the several counties of the state in aiding in the selective conscription registration, the Liberty Bond campaign, the raising of the Red Cross fund and in the registration of the women under the Hoover call. All of these things called for much sacrifice and unlimited service, all of which was rendered Avith magnificent loyalty and patriotism. CONCLUSION. In conclusion I desire to say that it is impossible within the reasonable limits of any report to do justice to the patriotism of the men who have devoted so much time to the work of the state without compensation other than the knowledge of a service ren- dered for the public good. The members of the executive com- mittee have given of their time and ability without stint and all upon whom they have called for service have unhesitatingly and without reserve responded to that call. There have been days of disappointment. There have been times when the committee felt overwhelmed by the almost endless burdens that were cast upon them. The paths the committee were asked to tread had never before been traversed by men. Their work has all been pioneer work. It may be full of errors as time will show, or it may be perfect. No one knows. They have done what in their judgment was best in the interests of the plain people and are willing to stand upon that platform. They feel that the spirit of universal brotherhood which has come as a result of the intense co-operation of Coloradoans in their efforts to rise to the demands of the President and of your- self, has done much to upbuild the state and to lay the foundation for still further greatness. The wonderful showing in the in- crease of crop acreage, as evidenced b}^ the planting this year of approximately 250,000 acres of beans as against 38,000 acres one year ago, is indicative of the effort that Colorado is making. With fair weather conditions this crop alone would support an army of a million men in the trenches for nearly a year. Respectfully submitted, H. W. CORNELL, Director of Organization. SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT. To His Excellency Julius C. Gunter, Governor. Sir: At a meeting of the executive committee of the Wnys and Means Committee of the War Council held at the office of Mr. George B. Berger July 2-i, at which were present Mr. Berger, Mr. C. A. Kendrick and Mr. H. W. Cornell, extended considera- tion was given to the question of what, if any, legislation would be of aid m the matter of food regulation in the State of Colorado. Mr. W. H. Kerr, federal field agent in marketing, who is also Chairman of the Subcommittee on Markets of the State Ways and Means Committee, was invited to the meeting and par- ticipated in the discussion. It Avas the consensus of opinion of the meeting that inasmuch as any federal statute regulating the price of foodstufl's, and the control thereof, would necessarily be limited to articles of inter- state commerce and so would not affect intrastate commerce, it was advisable that legislation be enacted to supply this deficiency. The committee therefore unanimously resolved that inasmuch as Congress has not as yet seen fit to finally pass a food control bill, and probably will not do so before the adjournment of the Legislature session in this state and, consequently, specific regu- lations cannot with safety be adopted lest they conflict with the final form of the food control bill, that the whole matter, so far as state regulation is concerned, should be entrusted to the Chief Executive of the state under a bill giving him specific authority to exercise within the state all police and regulatory powers re- garding foodstuffs, their distribution and regulation, which may hereafter be vested in the President of the United States, or any other officer thereof. The committee finds that to recommend any other course would be to invite not only a conflict of authority but a chaotic condition of affairs that might result disastrously to the people of the State of Colorado. The committee feels that only by vesting the widest authority and discretion in some one official can possible unforeseen exigen- cies be met, and they feel that under such circumstances it is eminently fitting that such authority be vested in the Chief Executive, to beby him delegated, if he sees fit, to such officials or commissions as in his judgment the critical situation of the hour may demand. Very respectfully yours, II. W. CORNELL, Director of Organization. [7 KEPORT OF A. W. GRANT, SECRETARY OF WAR COUNCIL, STATE OF COLORADO. JULY 24, 1917. To His Excellency Julius C. Gunter, Governor. Sir : As the report of H. W. Cornell, Director of Organiza- tion of the Ways and Means Committee, made you under date of July 24, deals more with the activities of the Ways and Means Committee and its subsidiary committees, I want to briefly in this communication speak of the War Council and" its work. The War Council of Colorado was created on March 29 with the following members : J. K. Mullen, Chairman; Cass Herrington, H. U. Mudge, John W. Morey, Horace N. Hawkins, L. G. Carpenter and Gen- eral Harry Gamble. Later Gerald Hughes and John Evans were added to it. April 9 the Ways and Means Committee of the War Council was appointed and consists of the following : J. K. Mullen, Chairman; Horace W. Bennett, Charles A. Lory, John C. Mitchell, C. C. Hamlin, C. A. Kendrick, H. J. Alexander, George B. Berger and W. C. Thornton. This committee appointed subcommittees, the Chairmen of which are as follows : Finance, Horace W. Bennett; Seed, Lou D. Sweet; Tractors, Prof. Alvin Kezer; Live Stock, E. M. Amnions; Marketing, W. H. Kerr; Organization, C. A. Kendrick; Publicity, Fred P. Johnson; Farm Labor, J. W. Kellev; Director of Organization, H.W.Cornell.' A. W. Grant and George B. Berger were respectively ap- pointed secretary and treasurer of both the War Council and Ways and Means Committee. As will be seen by the Cornell report, the Ways and Means Committee has had to do with the increase of food production, conservation and marketing, while the War Council dealt more with matters relating to military affairs and protection of prop- erty such as waterworks, reservoirs, railroads, power plants, mills, elevators, public buildings, etc. The work has been endless and exceedingly burdensome. [8] The council has been convened fit a moment's notice and has been in continuous session from two to seven hours at a sitting. Let me cite specific instances: At the house of Cass Herrington on April 23 the council met at 6:30 p.m. and adjourned at 1:30 the following fnorning: again at your home on May 2 it convened at 6 :30 p. m. and adjourned at i o'clock in the morning. As a rule sessions lasted four or five hours. Only last Friday th" council met in the executive chambers at 2:30 p. m. and remained in continuous session until 7 :30 p. m., trying to devise ways and means to settle the Leadville strike. It convened again the fol- lowing day on the same matter and was in session from 3 :30 to 7:30 p. m., and is to meet again on Wednesday, July 25, to fur- ther continue its efforts to bring about a settlement of the strike. Never did men respond to duty's call more unselfishly and earnestly than have the members of Colorado's War Council. Your Excellency and the writer can testify to that better than any others, for at all times we have had intimate connection with it. I want to dwell a moment on a case in point. The Sepretary of War called for the executive, or his personal representative, to come to Washington to represent Colorado at a meeting of the National Council of Defense held there on May 2 and 3. It Avas imperative that someone should go so that the state might be advised fully as to what was required of it in the preparation for war. The executive felt, and the War Council agreed with him, that the situation demanded his continued presence in the state. Thereupon he called upon Gerald Hughes to go, and Mr. Hughes responded and went, and would not even accept from the War Council the expense he incurred. A copy of the splendid and comprehensive report of Mr. Hughes I am attaching to this communication. I would like to dwell upon the work of each member of the council, but space forbids. I cannot, however, let the opportunity pass without adverting briefly to the work of John Evans as Provost Marshal. He^had charge of the registration under the selective conscriptic*i act and in the work had to blaze out patlis never before trodden by man. The volume of work and the difRcultiei? to be overcome can only be appreciated by those who had intimate knowledge of the work. Mr. Evans gave weeks of his time, both night and day, to the task and mastered the prob- lems without recompense of any kind save the feeling that must abide in every patriotic citizen's heart when he has contributed something worth while to his country's benefit in its hour of peril. Much of the work of the council of necessity had to be of a secret nature and the public at this time cannot be advised con- cerning it, but as time unfolds the record will disclose that never was a body of men of loftier purpose and more resolute devotion to dutv banded together. Thev serve without pay. They serve because the time has arrived in our history when every citizen, high or low, rich or poor, if impregnated with the proper kind of patriotism, must seek to serve his country in some capacity. In conclusion I want to point to the record of the work of the War Council accomplished through its various committees that is open to everybody. Colorado holds the record for being the first organized and the best organized state in the Union, along the lines laid down by the federal government for the in- crease of food production, harvesting, marketing and conserva- tion. This is admitted by the Department of Agriculture at Washington. Colorado also shows as great a percentage of in- crease in acreage planted as any other state. This has been accomplished at an expense to the state on August 1 next of $1,030.83, and Avith a total expenditure otherwise of $2,884.40 at close of business on July 17. I am attaching a copy of our finan- cial statement of said date. Respectfully submitted, A. W. GRANT, Secretary. STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE OF THE STATE OJ^^ COLORADO WAR COUNCIL. JULY 17, 1917. RECEIPTS. Subscriptions received $12,295.00 Less subscriptions unpaid 5,760.00 Balance, being cash reed, from subscriptions . . $6,535.00 Received from sale of seed beans 87.45 Received from sale of bronze badges 285.40 Received and due to Hoover badge account. . 78.80 Total receipts " ?^6.9S6.65 DISBURSEMENTS. Postage $ 175.00 Salaries 1.207.08 Expense 706.31 Stationery and printing 796.01 ■ $2,884.40 Bronze badges .purchased from Colorado Badge & Novelty Co 549.00 Total disbursements $3,433.40 Balance cash in bank 3,553.25 $6,986.65 BRONZE BADGES. 10,000 purchased at 9c each $900.00 Sold 285.40 Due from unsold badges ." -. . 614.60 H00\nER BADGES. Collected account Hoover badges, which is to be remitted to Herbert Hoover $78.80 11 WAYS AND MEAX8 COMMITTEE, STATE OF COLO- RADO WAR COUNCIL. TRIAL BALANCE CLOSE OF BUSINESS JULY 17, 1917. Cash in bank $3,553.25 Bronze badge account 614.60 Unpaid subscriptions: ^ J. K. Mullen .$500.00 Great Western Sugar Co 500.00 Cass Herrington 125.00 J. C. Gunter 100.00 H. U. Mudge 125.00 H.E.Johnson 50.00 Colorado National Bank 500.00 United States National Bank 250.00 H. M. Blackmer 250.00 Denver National Bank 500.00 Mountain States T. & T. Co 500.00 First National Bank 500.00 H. M. Porter 125.00 L. H. Guldman 50.00 Bennett & Myers 100.00 Denver Union AVater Co 250.00 John H. Porter 50.00 Frank L. Bishop 50.00 Hungarian Flour Mills 125.00 Excelsior Flour Mills 100.00 C. C. Hamlin 50.00 Crescent Flour Mill 100.00 Denver Elevator 100.00 Denver Gas & Electric Co 500.00 International Trust Co 250.00 O. H. Shoup 10.00 — $ 5,760.00 $ 9,927.85 Postage 175.00 Salaries 1,207.08 Expense 706.31 Stationery and printing 796.01 $12,812.25 Colorado Badge and Novelty Co $ 351.00 Subscriptions received - . 12.295.00 Profit on seed beans 87.45 Due to Hoover badge account 78.80 $12,812.25 GERALD HUGHES, International Trust Building. Denver, Colorado, May 10, 1917. Hon. Julius C. Gunter, Governor of the State of Colorado, Denver, Colorado. Sir: Pursuant to my appointment as vour representative, and that of your War Council, to attend the National Conference of Defense, to be held at Washington, D. C, May 2. 1917, and under your direction, I left Denv'er April 29, 1917, arriving in Washington Tuesday, May 1, 1917, and beg to submit this, my report of the proceedings and transactions of the National Con- ference of Defense. On Wednesday. May 2, 1917, at 9 :30 a. m., registration was had at the headquarters of the Section on Co-operation with State Organizations of the Council of National Defense and Advisorv Commission, located in the Munsey Building, and upon receiving our credentials, we repaired in a body to the office of the Secre- tary of War. Every state of the United States was represented, either by its Governor or by its representative duly designated and accredited. The first meeting was presided over by Secretary of War Mr. Baker, and there were also in attendance the following, who made addresses to our conference : Secretary of Navy Mr. Daniels. Secretary of Interior Mr. Lane. Secretary of Commerce Mr. Redfield. Chief of Staff General Scott. Adjutant General McCain. Judge Advocate General Crowder. Walter S. Gilford, Director of the Council and of the Ad- visorv Commission. H. E. Coffin, member of Advisory Commission. At this session the Secretary of War, as well as Generals McCain and Crowder.^ laid particular emphasis on the prepara- tion for and carrying out of the enrollment under the new selec- tive conscription act to be passed, explaining in detail the meth- ods which are to be transmitted in writing to yourself, and the plenary power to be vested in the Governors of the states and the civil autliorities to effect this enrollment, enlistment and exami- nation. The Secretary of the Navy announced that the naval comple- ment was complete and that every effort of the Department of [131 Navy was to be directed to the construction of ships and the pro- tection of commerce with the allies. Secretary of the Interior Lane called attention to domestic conditions, the necessity for co-ordination and the importance of the Patent Bureau, particularly in connection with new in- ventions and devices for meeting the submarine menace. Adjournment was taken at 12:30 p.m. with reconvention at 1 :50 p. m. At 2 p. m. the President afforded us a reception at the White House with personal introductions and a short and forceful ad- dress by the President, asking for the hearty co-operation of the several states in meeting the present crisis. At 3 :30 p. m. we reconvened in offices of the Council of Na- tional Defense, in the Munsey Building, and listened to an ad- dress by Mr. Gifford, explaining the organization itself; an a,ddress by the Secretary of Labor, Mr. Wilson, emphasizing the necessity of harmony between capital and labor, the maintenance of the present standard of living, the inadvisability of the con- scription of labor for private enterprise, the inadvisability of the use of convicts in connection with citizens, and the policy of the government and labor leaders to countenance and uphold no strike which shall be declared for the purpose of obtaining an advantage for labor which it had not obtained prior to the war. In the absence of the Secretary of Agriculture, Dr. Houston, his assistant. Dr. Peatson, spoke on the activities of the Depart- ment of Agriculture and particularly on the act which they were then seeking to have enacted to provide a fund of twenty-five million dollars with which to carry on the activities of this de- partment. This session adjourned at 6 p. m. At 7 :30 p. m. an informal dinner was held at the New Wil- lard Hotel to discuss matters of interest to the conferees. At this meeting there was some disposition shown to criticize the indefi- niteness of the program so far disclosed, and to urge a permanent organization on the part of the states, with a president and secre- tary, and headquarters in Washington, so that there might be a direct line of communication betAveen the executives of the several states and Washington. Better counsel prevailed and it was concluded that we were there as guests of the National Council of Defense, we should listen to their program through to com- jDletion and that no attempt should be made to effect further organizations which might be cumbersome and useless. The sessions in the Munsey Building were resumed Thursday, May 3, at 9 :30 a. m. and continued with one hour recess at noon until 5 p. m. of that same day, at which time we returned to tlie [14] office of the Secretary of War, and again met the cabinet mem- bers of the Council of National Defense, expressed in a formal resolution our appreciation of the efforts which had been made to explain to us the situation and the confidence in the manner in which preparations were being made, and the national officers Avere discharging their duties. Addresses on this day were made by Mr. Daniel Willard of the Advisory Commission; Dr. Martin, representing the Medical Section: Dr. Hall, representing the National Eesearch Council; Mr. Coffin, for the Subcommittee on jNIunitions Manufacturing, including Standardization and Industrial Rela- tions: Mr. Elliott Wadsworth, for the Red Cross; Dr. Anna H. Shaw, for Women's Defense work, and George Wharton Pepper, for the State of Pennsylvania, suggesting a formation of a Na- tional Service Reserve to include all men and women not subject to conscription to undertake any work to which they might be assigned. I returned to Denver Sunday, May 6, 1917. It is almost impossible to attempt to relate in detail the ad- dresses which were made and the suggestions which were given, but I understand that a summary of the most important points is being prepared by Mr. George F. Porter, in charge of the Section for Co-operation with State Organizations, and will be duly transmitted to yourself and your War Council for use. The most important suggestions, however, seem to me capable of summary as follows : 1. The federal government is looking to the several states for prompt, independent and sovereign action upon matters which are not exclusively in the control of the federal government. 2. Every aid should be immediately given to the new en- rollment and"^ subscription to the end that service may be con- sidered a privilege and that enrollment itself shall partake of a national holidayand the service in connection therewith shall be voluntary through the civil officers and at the local registration places. 3. Production of food should be increased in every possible way and waste and extravagance should be eliminated. 4. Mr. Porter, as the head of the Section for Co-operation Avith State Organizations, Avill maintain headquarters in the Munsey Building, Avith an ample corps of assistants, ])repared to answer promptly all questions wdiich may be submitted to him by the several states, and in this connection I gave him the name of Mr. H. W. Cornell, Director of Organization of your War Coun- cil, as the person Avith Avhom all correspondence should be held. 5. The duration of the Avar is uncertain and it is expected [15] that other and perhaps frequent conferences with executives of the several states will be called and held in Washington. My i^ersonal opinion is that from the President of the United States down to the lowest official, everybody has a true conception of the seriousness of the task in which -we are engaged, that the Council of National Defense, with its Advisory Committee, con- stitute the creation of a new branch of the executive, which will have growing power as the war goes on, which is organized on a thorough business basis and which will see that the business side of the preparation for this war is attended to even more efficiently than the private business of the nation has heretofore been at- tended to. The President and Secretary of War repeatedly emphasized the unreservedness with which the capital of the nation had ten- dered itself to the government for use and service, and that it was much to be desired that the ordinary normal, civil business and social life of the nation should be maintained and as little as j)ossible disturbed by the extraordinary war preparation and activity. Respectfully submitted, (Signed) GEEALD HUGHES. 16 REPORT OF THE MARKETING COMMITTEE OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE OF THE GOV- ERNOR'S WAR COUNCIL, STATE OF COLORADO. JULY 19, 1917. IN TROD U CTION . While the work of the Marketing Committee Avhich is work- ing in co-operation Avith the Colorado Office of Markets, an agency conducted by the Federal Bureau of Markets of the United States Department of Agriculture and the State Agricul- tural College, was well outlined soon after the creation of the committee, work was not under way to any great extent until the first of July, it being necessary to await the organization of the County Ways and Means Committees and pending the arrival of experts employed to conduct the field work for the committee. INVESTIGATIONS. The work of the committee has been carried out along the lines presented in the plans contained in the statement support- ing the budget which was allowed by the War Council to con- diict the work of the Marketing Committee. a. Survey. The information desired with reference to crop, marketing, storage, transportation and distribution facilities throughout the state is being rapidly secured in compliance with requests made of the County Ways and Means Committees. It is hoped to have all of this information from the principal producing sections of the state available for tabulation by the first of August. Such constructive work as is carried on will be based upon the informa- tion secured from the survey. b. Perishables. The first problem of any considerable size which will be con- fronted in Colorado in marketing will be the proper handling of the peach crop -on the AVestern Slope. Special attention has been given to this, representatives from the committee having visited all of the principal points on the Western Slope, giving assistance to the various local Marketing Committees concerning the proper packing, necessary containers and ascertaining the transjiorta'tion requirements for moving the crop. c. Common Storage. Personal assistance is being rendered prodncers in the matter of constructing pit and common storage facilities for apples, potatoes and root crops. Plans with the estimated cost of con- struction for various types of pit and common storages have been furnished the Marketing Committees and producers. A survey of the 2^resent facilities of the Western Slope was made by a rep- resentative of the central committee and he is now rendering assistance to such communities as are interested in the subject of storages. As a result of our educational work relating to storages, to our knowledge one 50,000-bushel grain elevator is being con- structed at Delta, a large common fruit storage is being construct- ed at the same place by one of the large fruit handlers, and several temporary or pit storages for apples or potatoes are being built. Iji Mesa and Montrose Counties several common storages for apples of the permanent type of construction are being built and numerous pit storages are being constructed. There is upon the press a pamphlet giving instructions with reference to the con- struction of pit storages for potatoes and apples. As a result of the educational work which is being done with reference to stor- ing, considerable interest is being taken and it is safe to say that the farm storage facilities wnll be considerably increased this year, d. Preservation of Fruit and Vegetable Products. Educational circulars have been issued giving' the methods of sun drying and instructions for communities on home canning and evaporating. A specialist employed by the committee is now giving personal assistance to the various fruit and vegetable sec- tions of the state with reference to canning and evaporating. It is too late in the season to construct commercial ]ilants to handle fruit and vegetable surpluses, but the educational work which is being done should result in the construction of several commercial plants for handling the 1918 crop. The best that can be hoped for in this work is to assist those who now have the facilities and bring to the realization of capital and the producers ^he necessity of constructing plants in various sections in Colorado to handle surplus products in future years. e. Transportation. An estimate has been secured from the various producing sections of the quantity of perishables which must be moved by railroads this coming harvest. A conference will be held this week between officials of the railroads and shipping associations and large producers in the hope that such action as necessary can be taken to insure a proper car supply. This means co-operation both on the part of the producers and the railroads. f. Miscellaneous. [18 1 A large amount of miscellaneous educational material is be- ing placed in the hands of the various marketing committees and personal assistance rendered when necessary in outlining the method of handling local marketing- problems. The Marketing Committee is in close touch with officials of the federal govern- ment and is doing all it can to see that such assistance as can be given by the government is secured. Arrangements have been made to place Granges, Farmers' Unions and other organizations in the dry land sections in touch with producers in fruit sections so that carload quantities of perishables can be shipped direct from producing to consuming sections. During the next few weeks a large Central Sales Agenc}" for the Honey Producers of the Intermountain and Pacific Northwest States will be formed in Denver with the assistance of the Bureau of Markets of the Department of Agriculture. A series of Harvest Week campaigns has been outlined, which will be carried on by the Denver Civic and Commercial Associa- tion, peach week, apple week and penr week being specially featured. The Colorado Bean Growers' Association has been organized and membership in this is increasing daily. Indications are that a big percentage of the bean growers of the state will become members. Through this organization it is hoped to assist ma- terially in a more effective distribution of Colorado's large bean crop. The possibility of the state being able to sell a large pool of beans and potatoes to the purchasing agent of the federal govern- ment or the allied governments has been taken up with the proper officials at Washington and it is believed that it will be possible to dispose of large quantities of these two products in pools in this manner. The Marketing Committee has acted in the capacity of an Information Bureau where producers, the trade and consumers can secure reliable data with reference to all phases of the food problem. We have accumulated information from federal gov- ernment, state agricultural departments and other agencies, plac- ing this information in suitable form for the use of the Market- ing Committees in each of the counties. CONCLUSION. While receiving hearty co-oj)eration from many of the prin- cipal agricultural counties, there are some counties which as yet have shown no willingness to co-operate. A representative of the committee is now visiting the various sections of Northern Colo- rado and it is hoped to line up delinquent counties so that the information requested from them will be furnished and the Mar- [19 1 020 933 534 7' ketino- Committee will be jDlaced in a position to help the pro- ducers. There is attache'd herewith a statement giving a list of the counties which so far have shown a willingness to co-operate. It is believed that many of the counties from which no replies have as yet been received are conducting preliminary surveys to secure the information which we have requested and as soon as the surveys are completed the information will be furnished. It is felt that practically all of the counties will co-operate to the fullest extent after we have had an oj:)portunity to explain in detail the work and method of operation of the Central Market- ing Committee. With a few exceptions most hearty support has been given by producers, the trade and consumers, and the com- mittee is satisfied that constructive results will be secured. In fact we are already beginning to see the results of our early work. Respectfully submitted, W. H. KEER (ByP. S.), Chairman. [20 .85 .C6 05 1917 Copy 1 020 9-^^