The Delta independent., 1898-03-11
BEETS.


H. j. Holmes, of Glenwood Springs.
who has for several years been lsboring
to get farmers Of the Western Slope in
terested in the raising OF sugar beets,
came in from Grand Junction Tuesday
and after consulting with different busi-
ness men and others. decided to call a
meeting for the evening in the court
house. Through some misunderstand-
ing however it was found impossible to
use the court room and few Of those
interested gathered in George Stephan's
Office to hear what Mr.. Holmes had to
say.
In prefacing his remarks Mr.. Holmes
made the statement that to supply the
domestic consumers 700 large sugar beet
factories would be necessary. At present
there are in operation but 9 with 8 more
in construction this year. This leaves q
legitimate field for 6s2 factories in the
United States. Capitalists stand ready
to place . number Of factories in Colo
RADIO il it be found that our soil is suit
able for cultivation OF the beet. He
urges upon our farmers the benefits OF
diversified agriculture. As long as the
Colorado farmer depends entirely on his
fruit crop he is bound to fail at times.
Every farmer in Delta county can plant
from two to five acres TO sugar beets
without interfering at all with his fruit
acreage.
The average number Of tons OF beets
raised to the acre varies largely with the
locality running from u to % tons. In
Colorado It IL believed to be about 16 or
II. The price paid by the sugar factories
also varies being from $3.50 to $3.50 per
ton. The highest prices are paid in the
inland factories where the trsnsporta-
tion charges from the coast act -
tariff to the manufacturer.
Mr.. Holmes has in his charge d 900
raised by the Denver Chamber Of Com
merce for experimentation with the
sugar beet In Colorado soil. What he
proposes to do in Delta county is to
leave 800 with the county.commissioner
provided that the board will appropriate
like sum, the whole amount to be
used in prizes to be awarded to our local
farmers for excellence in beet raising.
The seed will be furnished free by the
government through the experiment
station at Fort Collins and each mans
beets will be analysed free and transpor.
tation furnished free on the samples for
analysis.
In the plan Mr.. Holmes suggests there
are several features which cannot but
commend themselves TO every snergetic,
progressive citizen.
The 800. IL appropriated. by the coun.
ty board, will remain in the county. the
500 given by the Denver chamber Of
commerce will be brought into the coun.
ty and the whole used in rewarding ex-
periments in which every resident Of the
county is deeply interested. Garfield,
Mesa and other Western Slope counties
are already at work. Who shall say
that Delta county is not 80 progressive
~ her neighbors?
At the meeting Tuesday evening il
was decided to call a general meeting
Tuesday. April 5. at the court house in
this city to which every resident in
terested in Delta county's welfare is in.
vited. Let each and every farmer and
business man make it point to be
present.
Mr.. Holmes has promised to be here
at that time and an attempt will be
made to have others here who are in q
position to speak Of the true importance
Of the sugar beet to the Western Slope.