Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-10-08
COLORADO LETTER.
A LITTLE TALK ABOUT PoTAToEs AHD
SUGAR BEETS.

L
still barbaric.
When our young lady friend observed
that the Pennsylvanians were greatly adj
dicted to the use of slang, she at once
resolved that in her own speech she
would refrain from any expression that
might be tortured Unto meaning some
thing uncomplimentary to the Centen.
NAL state. To the query ~ suppose
Colorado is greatly given to the use OF
slangr' she made reply: 30, l don't
know about that; people there talk
about as I am talking" Then the young
ladies chose to assume that C0lOradians
still live in primeval sod houses or log
cabins, and our young woman visitor to
"Penn's Wood sent home for pictures
of some of the fine buildings that may
be found in this state, but this proved
to be loves labor lost, for the people
utterly refused to believe that any such
buildings ever existed in our state. How
ever the supposition that our people
dress largely in cowboy hats and Indian
blankets received specific shock when
the visitor appeared upon suitable occa-
sions dressed in as dainty gowns and as
we'll up in the fashions as any that one
would be apt to see anywhere in jour-
ney across the continent.
1t is pretty safe conclusion that the
United States are forging ahead year by
year, and that new comforts and ele-
gancies find admittance to homes every
where. II 1t were possible to enter into
the busy brain of the average Denverite
it might be found that he not only con-
siders himself well up with the times,
but really leads the nation. Indeed there
are advantages in starting out fresh and
strong in a new country unhanIpered by
tradition and the century old imple'
ments of the older states. Leaving the
ancient harrow and revolving horse-rake
and the ordinary printing press behind,
and having to purchase all things new,
what better way than to look about, and
while securing new supply, to get the
most up-to-date machinery and appli
ances? Then again it would be unfair
to suppose that in moving into new
countries all the bright minds are
left behind. 1t may we'll be doubted
whether more intelligent farming class
can be found anywhere than we have IL
this region of northern Colorado that !.
given up to the raising of the Greeley
potato, so-called. The reputation of Oul
tubers has extended all over this coun
try, and has invaded Europe.
Just at this time the potato raiser II
having things largely his own way. If
were to tell some of the things that
might about the success of the potato
farmer might be accused of drawing
the long bow. This triangular strip O
country which produces something lik'
a million dollars worth of potatoes an
nually has instances of wonderful farm
ing success. A little over thirty-ont
wears ago men commenced building
great irrigating bitches destined tt
water many a square mile of what hat
once been considered part of the Grea
American Desert. Under the lamentet
Nathan c. Meeker cooperation was thu
watchword.
: Some Of the men who came here only
stayed one night and departed eastward
the next morning convinced by cursor!
inspection of the supposed WORTHLESS!
soil that there was nothing here wortl
having. But there were others who hat
seen many day of mining for precious
metals who declared that they believed
that the Colorado riches From thu
grass roots down. bore no comparison
in value to the riches to be found from
the grass roots up under an intelligen
farming system with irrigation.
There came dark days for the farme
when looking up against the SUMS dis
the hordes Of grasshopper invaders wer'
seen filling all the air mile above us
AS night approached, down. they cam
in countless numbers, spelling our wells
slicing down fruits and vegetables, ant
making of green wheat fields and corr
fields barren waste. Then the weak
kneed came to town and declared tina
everything was lost, and there was NJ
use trying to live any more. But tn
lighters invoked the aid of fire ant
water and men learned in time to get tn
better of the pests. In those dark day.
eighty acre tracts were sold for $40
that have since been sold at 800 per acre
So great boom has come to the potato
raising industry that what farms chang
hands bring 800 an acre as genera
thing. Drouth to the east of US ant
drouth to the west of us has resulted il
shortage of potatoes in those part
while here great output is expected
under our system of irrigation. In al
our thirty years experience in this stat'
we have never seen potatoes higher il
price than they are now. One of TIN
Denver papers issues cartoon repre-.
senting the Greeley potato farmer sell
J ing his product at fabulous prices
while the generally fortunate ice maj
looks on in envy. One of our dealer'
bought and shipped two carloads o
potatoes at 1920 100 pounds, while thu
best family flour was not worth to ex
coed $1.70 per cwt. The keeper of ;
certain railroad section house pait
nearly "a for sack of potatoes weigh
ing 1875 pounds. No wonder that tn,
keepers of Denver restaurants put NJ
notices in their places of business stat
ing that potatoes would not be supplied
at ordinary meals, and that If spudi
were wanted they would be served only
as side dish and at an extra expense
Meanwhile prices have not declined as
might have been expected, for there arr
not many early potatoes fit for market
| Undoubtedly the high price viii
greatly restrict the use of potatoes. W.
hear of a man who three years age
was working as farm hand, who two
years ago bargained for an 100 acre
farm and put the same into potatoes
planting, cultivating and digging, Of
course, with machinery. He mortgaged
the farm for most of the purchase price
but last year paid off $4,000. This yeal
| he has seemed to get excited, for he hal
rented another great farm, and those
that profess to know think this seasons
crop will pay off all expenses, and the
$4,000 still due on the farm. At this
writing the potato farms are fine tt
behold.
Last spring one of my neighbors given
to speculation, somewhat, bought farm
of 100 acres on which were brick house
a stable and running water for $500
He expects to harvest crops this year
mostly potatoes and alfalfa to the value
of $1,000. But there is darker side to
this alluring potato picture. There have
been seasons when our chief product
has sold as low as 25 cents per. cwt. and
5 cent sack thrown in. Those were days
that tried men severely.
The talk in this fertile region is not all
of potatoes. The beet sugar interest is
also having an unprecedented boom. 1t
Is said that under irrigation the very
highest percentages of sugar can be pro-
duced. The reason for this is the fact
that in an irrigating country the water
can be applied to the beet fields when it
is most needed, and this cannot be the