Hutchinson gazette., 1901-09-19
RAILROAD NEWS.
Mr.. sEAoRAvEs LOCATES 200 FAM
LILIES IN COLORADO.


Mr., G. l.. seagrayes, passenger agent
OF the Santa Fe, has returned from
the sugar beet district of Colorado,
and completed arrangements to locate
two hundred families from northern
Europe, the ilrst tifty families to To-
cate near Holly, about October 20, MI
Seagrayes said;
"The leader of the colony Is an eX-
pert agriculturist, and has visited and
carefully investigated all sections OF
the United States, and pronounced the
Arkansas valley the most promising OF
any section visited, on account OF the
superb climate, rich soil and the most
perfect irrigation system in the world,
backed by a reservoir supply with SUI
fcient water to irrlgate all the lands
for two years without drop of rain,
thus lnsurlng the farmers against fall
ure OF crops After the first movement
the balance will follow as fast as
homes can be provided for them"
Mr.. Seagraves advises that the farm
ers in the valley are very prosperous,
and as that section will be densely
populated and brought up to a high
standard of cultivation, 1t will in fivc
or six years become the richest and
most prosperous community In tina
country.
He says:
Sugar beets are very profitable
crop for the farmer and the only draw
back Is the laborlous work In the thin
ming season which lasts about two
weeks. This feature, however, Is be-
ing overcome by labor brought into
the valley from New Mexico, who con-
tract to thin beets at so much per acre
"In the vicinity Of Rocky Ford,
where the land has been cultivated ex-
tensively It Is possible under only fair
conditions to raise twenty tons OF
beets to the acre, while thrifty and In
dustrlous farmers grow from twenty
Ave to thirty tons to the acre, and In
some instances as high as tmrty-iive
tons.
"The price of beets is determined ac-
cording to their sugar content, the av-
erage being about So per ton. The cost
of growing beets, including all labor,
seed as well as harvesting the crop
In the fall is about $25 per acre, leav-
Ing the farmer S75 or more profit an
acre for his beet crop.
"The Arkansas valley OF Colorado is
considered the ideal sugar beet coun-
try, as they grow more tons to the
acre and contain a larger percentage
OF sugar than beets grown anywhere
in the world The Rocky Ford fac
tory is now rearranging some Of It's
machinery the beets being so rich
they will not submit to the usual
methods employed at the other fac
tories.
"Cantaloupes are also a very profit
able crop, and many growers estimate
they will pay 500 an acre net. | saw
two and one-half acres near Rocky
Ford that yielded the grower one
thousand dollars. This was on rented
land of which the owner received one
third of the crop. This may be rather
an exceptional case, but II proves what
intensive farming will do
alfalfa, as well as small grains, DO
well and are profitable crops to grow.
Vegetables of all kinds, poultry and
dairy products command good prices,
and a ready market in Denver, Colo
RADIO Springs, Pueblo and the mining
camps.
Lands in the vicinity Of Rocky
Ford, before the erection of the sugar
factory, that sold for thirty-lve forty
and fifty dollars an acre, are worth
today from one hundred and fifty to
two hundred and fifty dollars all acre.
'The question is what is land worth
that will net over and above all ex-
penses from seventy-five to one hun
dred and twenty-five dollars an acre?
Lands in the Holly district and the
very choicest in the valley and under
a most perfect system Of irrigation,
with never failing supply Of water,
perpetual water right going with the
land is selling at thirty-ave dollars per
acre, with ten per cent down and the
balance In seven years at six per cent.
The company will also build houses,
barns, ETC., on which they require fif-
ty per cent down and the balance In
seven years at six per cent.
"The Dunkards and Mennonjtes are
now colonizing large tracts OF lands,
while other settlers are pouring into
the valley from all over the country.
the valley from all over the country
Topeka State Journal, Sept. 2, 1901.
Gas as Motive Power.