The Holly chieftain., 1899-12-08
-, .~..vx, WOW ASSURED
ROCKY FORD. Colo, Dec. IL

dlate vicinity OF Rocy Ford. For two
months past President Henry T.
Oxnard and Vice President Hamilton
Of the American Beet Sugar company
OF New York. have been in the Arkan-
sas valley looking up the feasibility OF
such an institution, and few days
ago MI Hamilton made the statement
In public that the factory would be
built. AS there has been no bonus
asked, and no intention to plat town
site in connection with the factory, IT
looks very much like business, taking
into consideration the men and the
company back Of the enterprise
The American Beet Sugar company
has four factories in practical
operation at present: one at Norfork,
Neb.. one at Grand Island, Neb.,
another at Oxnard. Gala, near Los
Anglas, and a fourth at Chino, Gala.
The factory at Rocky Ford will cost
all Of 81, 900, 900 and require at least g.
COO acres Of beets to run 1t from Sep
tember to March. This makes the
commencement Of an era OF wonder
ful prosperity and growth of the Ar
kansas valley, from Pueblo to Holly,
aside from what 1t means for Rocky
Ford locally.
little more than 1900 acres OF
beetS have already been pledged.
among 4+0 growers, on fve-year con-
tract. They are divided along the
valley as follows: Pueblo, l,5O0 acres:
Fowler, 200 acres; Manzanola, $50
acres; Rocky Ford, 1000 acres; La
Junta, 800 acres; Las Animas, 200
Lamar, $50 acres: and Holly, 200 acres.
The company agrees TO pay 81 per ton
for beetS Of Is per cent sweetness, and
also pays transportation charges, thus
realize the same sum from his ton as
the growers at Rocky Ford.
Active work will be begun on the
factory in the next ninety days, as it
is big undertaking to get one OF
those giant plants ready for operation.
The Norfolk factory keeps over 1,2o0
mechanics and laborers busy in its
construction for upwards OF six
months and the capacity of the Rocky
Ford plant will be about the same as
that OF Norfolk factory, or 75O tons
per day. Some of the growers have
already commenced to break ground
in their beet fields. as it is the inten-
tion OF the company to have their fac
Hp ht-
Der l, 1900, or in time to handle next
years crop.
The Arkansas valley is nearer ready
TO successfully grow sugar bects than
probably any other part Of the state,
owing to the intensive truck farming
that has been carried on there for the
last ten years, Inasmuch as the sue
cess OF the factory largely depends up
on the success OF the growers. the
company will do all in its power TO as
sist growers to make beet raising
paving employment. a part of its
plan consists in importing expert agri-
culturiSt whose duty will be to assist
and advise growers how to prepar-
their ground, seed, cultivate. irriyate
and harvest the beetS. In their work
these experts will employ couple OF
the most practical local irrigationists
to be had in the valley
Hr. James A. Davis, industrial COM
missioner OF the Santa Fe railroad,
states that his people will spend $3.50
600 for special dump cars to run be-
tween the factory and valley points to
haul the beet crop.
AS there will be no provision at the
factory for storing more than five
days supply OF beets, the growers will
be expected to store their beets in pits
In the field, delivering them as needed
at the railroad station for shipment.
In reply to a direct question, Presi-
dent Oxnard states that his company
is not connected in any manner with
the sugar trust, They buy raw
material for five years in advance, and
II is claimed that their contracts are
very liberal as compared with that OF
other factories. They agree to return
to the growers 80 per cent of the
weight of their beets in pulp, which
is protitably used with bran to feed
horses, cattle and sheep.
The location Of this industry in the
Arkansas valley insures better roads,
better market, better farming, more
people, more money and consequent
Increase OF business in all lines. 1t is
not probable that the acreage Of can
taloupes will be cut down because Of
the new crop, but that rotation OF
crops, alfalfa, beets and cantaloupes