The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-27
KANSAS News.
Beet Culture a Paying Invest
ment in the State.
Some Figures ON the Profits For
the Farmer.
HOW TO CULTIVATE.
Must Plow Deep, Plant Deep
and Plant Early.
Soil Of the Arkansas Valley
Highly Suitable.
Garden City, Dec. 81.
No the Editor Of the state journal.

To the Editor of the State Journal.
Many people are making in
quiry in regard to the grow
ing of sugar beets in this state.
The people of the upper Arkansas val
ley about one year g made contracts
with the American Beet Sugar COM
pan of Rocky Ford, Col, to grow beets
for their factory in the counties of
Finney. Kearney. and Hamilton. There
were contracts made to grow o 800
acres of beets. But owing to the late
start the growers got in the spring thu
full acreage was not planted or grown,
but about 450 acres were grown in tie
state along this valley-but less than
400 acres were harvested. 1t was a new
thing to the people and they therefore
had everything to learn in beginning to
grow this crop. While the or
this year, with possibly some excep-
tions) yet they are satisfied with tn9
experiment made, and many will double
the acreage for another year. In grow
ing the crop in the past year many
obstacles came up to contend with that
the grower in another season will be
able to overcome more readily TO
start withmany are their
start with many are their
ground now, i~rrigating and blowing,
narrowing, and leyeling their platS Tor
next spring planting. Two very essen
tial things in growing beets SUCCESSFUL
~ 14ClC Z At GlSL ~ ~
plant deep, also plant early. In f1nney
county there was harvested 24f acres
The lowest tonnage per acre was one
and a half tons, the h1gheSt was 10
tons and 500 pounds per acre, Xxi
the gross proceeds for the lowest $6 per
acre, while that Of the highest brougns
$75.17. The lowest per cent OF sugar
shown in this county as given by the
factory was 1903 per cent, the h
being 21.o7 per cent. h we need In
the Arkansas valley in western Kansas
is more people who wish to make
homes for themselves. Good beet land
can be bought for $40, SIS and up to Szo
in the valley that we think has better
sugar producing properties tnan tne
land has in the sugar districts in Col
orado. Our land is easier worked, IS
more level and better adapted to irr1-
cation and can be bought for one-Sixtn
the price at present Land in the 9
belt of Colorado that is anything Ike
equal to ours for cultivation of beets is
today selling at 500 per acre and up
wards. This at once shows to any
inkin man that western Kansas IS
the place to make home.
Kansas by nature is supplied as no
other state is with the undertook OF
water in depth from 6 to 10 feet from
the surface. Example: Take 10 acres
of land, $40 per acre. $500; put a pump
ing plant in at a cost of $500, $500; total
$500, making it cost $50 per acre; TINS
makes him a home and he absolutely
controls his own water right. This is
the kind OF farms and homes we want
To obtain a sugar factory within tbs
state it is only necessary for the peo-
pie in western Kansas to supply the
amount of acreage that is needed to
run a plant. I am informed at this
writing by a Chicago capitalist, that
capital and plenty of it is ready for
this investment if the people will con-
tract enough acreage to support a plant
in the valley in kansas.
We extend a welcome to all who wish
to come and make homes for them
selves and help build up an industry
that every man, woman and child VIII
be proud of that lives in kansas.
I. L.