Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-09-20
RAILROAD NEWS.
Mr.. SEAGRAvES LOCATES 200 FAM
lilies IN COLORADO.
Come from Northern Europe TO Raise
Sugar Beets.


sugar Beets.
Mr.. o. L. Seagraves, 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 first fifty families to To-
cate near Holly, about October 20. MI.
Seagraves 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 reservoir supply with SUI
ficient water to irrigate all the lands
for two years without drop OF rain,
thus insuring 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 high
standard of cultivation, it will In fvo
or six years become the richest and
most prosperous community in the
country
He says:
Sugar beets are very profitable
crop for the farmer and the only>draw
back is the laborious 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
dustrious farmers grow from twenty
| five to thirty tons to the acre, and In
some instances as high as thirty-fiye
tons.
"The price of beets is determined &C
cording to their sugar content, the av-
erage being about S. per ton. The cost
of growing beets, including all labor,
seed, as we'll as harvesting the crop
in the fall is about S25 per acre, leav-
ing the farmer SIS or more profit an
acre for his beet crop.
1.-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
10 the world The Rocky Ford fac
tory is now rearranging some of its
machinery, the beets being so rich
they will not submit to the usual
methods employed at the other fac
tories.
"Cantaloupes are also very profit
able crop, and many growers estimate
they will pay 500 an acre net. l 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 it proves what
intensive farming will do.
alfalfa, as we'll 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-five, forty
and fifty dollars an acre, are worth
| today from one hundred and fifty to
two hundred and fifty dollars an acre.
| The question is what Is land worth
that will net over and above all ex-
| penses from seventy-tive to one hun
bred 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 a never failing supply of water,
perpetual water right going with the
land is selling at thirty-fve 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 Mennonites 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. g. 1901.