The broad ax., 1901-09-21
RAILROAD NEWS.
ar. sEAeRAVEs LOCATES 200 FAM.
ILlEs on COLORADO.
COns frOn Northern Europe to Ral,.
sugar Bsets.

Mr.. @. L SeagraVeA passenger agent
Of the Santa Fe, has returned from
the sugar beet district Of Colorado.
and completed arrangements to Iocats
two hundred families from northern
Europe, the first fifty families to To-
cate near Holly, about October 20. Mr..
SeagraVes said:
The leader Of the colony Is an eT.
pert agTieulturist, 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 q reservoir supply with SUI
hcient water to irrigate all the lands
for two years without a drop Of rain,
thus insuring the farmers against fall
ure Of crops. After the first movement
the balance viii 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 i've
or six years become the richest and
most prosperous community in the
country.
He says:
Sugar beets are a very prohtabIs
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 50 much per acre
"In the vicinity Of Rocky Ford,
where the land has been cultivated eK-
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
Eve 10 thirty tons to the acre, and in
some instances as high as thirty-hvS
tons.
eording to their sugar content, the av-
erage being about s. per ton. The cost
Of growing beets, including all labor,
seed, as well as harvesting the crop
in the fall Is about SIS per acre. leav-
ing the farmer SIS 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 rearTanging some Of its
machinery, the beets being so rich
they viii not submit to the usual
methods employed 1t the other fac
tories.
"Cantaloupes are also very profit
able crop, and many growers estimate
they viii pay 800 an acre net saw
two and one-half acres near Rocky
Ford that yielded the grower ons
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 1t 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
rado Springs, Pueblo and the mining
camps.
Lands in the vicinity Of Rocky
Ford. before the erection Of the sugar
factory, that sold for thirty-hVe. 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
hat viii net over and above all e1-
Denses from seVenty-fve TO one hun
ired and twenty-five dollars an acre?
Lands IN the Holly district and the
7ery choicest in the valley and under
!. most perfect system OF irrigation,
With never failing supply Of water.
perpetual water right going with the
and Is selling at thirty-hVe dollars per
ere, with ten per cent down and the
,alance In seven years at six per cent
The company win also build houses,
arms. etc, on which they require If
y per cent down and the balance IN
even years at six per cent.
The Dunkards and Mennonltes are
low cOlonizing large tracts Of lands,
Thile other settlers are pouring into
he valley from all over the country.
he valley from all over the country
topeka State Journal, Sept 2, 1901.