The Delta independent., 1902-09-26
FARMING MATTERS.
Beet Sugar In Colorado.

has the following review of the beet
sugar situation in Colorado:
The beet sugar season is now open
ing. At four leading sugar growing re-
gions of Colorado active preparations
have been in progress for several
weeks and the beets are beginning 10
move. Railways have supplied several
hundred cars to move the crop, farm
ers have laid aside all other work for
the handling of the beets to the fac-
tory or to the nearest railroad ana e'-
erywhere in the beet fields scene or
unwonted activity Is presented. Flows
are brought out, are put into ofuer ior
operations in the fields and extra men
are employed in the harvest. Tens or
thousands of tons of sugar beets must
be moved and farmers are alive to the
Importance of landing their beets I'M
der the capacious sheds ut the factories
in the shortest time possible. \ sud
den drop in temperature may cause
large loss, as the sugar beet Is injured
as to its saccharinc capacity by freeL-
ing. Fortunately for growers in this
state, the climate Is generally faVor-
able to the gathering OF The beet crop
in the fall and troubles of farmers IN
less favorable parts of the country are
avoided The Colorado beet raiser
looks forward TO II good season, al
though the tonnage Will not De rs
large as WAS expected earlier
in the year. The loDg-continued
drsurn and the limited supply
OF water from the mountains
operated against the farmer, but IN
favor of increasinog the sugar calac-
ity OF the beet. Too much Irrigation Is
not good for the sugar beet and even
though the water supply is short IL
may not work wholly against the In
dustry on account of the Increased s.ic-
charine quality OF the product.
Five large plants are III operation IN
Colorado this fall. This Is n less num-
ber than was prophesied last winter,
but several impedlmcnts arose over
which the Colorado men had no con-
troll one of these imp-dlnents was the
threatened withdrawal OF the thriH On
Cuban sugar. This hung over the
heads OF intending investors until late
last spring and discouraged them from
building additional plants In coloraho,
The battle ended In victory for home
products and to-day III. beet sugar en-
tcrpriscs OF Colorado are on iirmcr
foundation than ever before.
The combined capacity OF the i've
large plants OF Colorado VIII exceed
1900 tons OF bects daily. The plant at
Ioyeland VIII handle 100 tons daily:
the Rocky Ford plant. 1900 tons: the
Sugar city plant is capable Of taking
care OF 600 tons daily. and the plant
at Grand junction Is good for 100 10
800 tons daily over 1900 acres OF
land was planted TO sugar bcets In Col
orndo last spring.
Fully 12.ocp acres OF this total was
planted in northern Colorado. The
Colorado a Southern and Union Pacific
roads have put 10 cars Into service to
convey the crop to Lovcland, and
trains are now moving daily on the
branch sugar beet line which extends
for twenty miles Into the country from
Loveland. The cars Were made spc-
cinlly for the service and are OF the
hopper style SO that they may be uU-
loaded almost Instantly 10y the move
mcnt OF crank. The loading stations
may be seen alongside IN" main tracks
OF the railroad. nt Intervals OF several
miles. Here the farmers drive their
loaded wagons up an incline beneath
which the freight cars stand. When u
train load is made mp the engine comes
along and quickly hauls the bcc,s to
the factory where capacity Is provided
on large scale for the reception and
storage of the bccts, From the time
the bects are deposited In the immense
bins. they are moved by gravity and
the flow, OF water TO the factory and
kept continuously in motion until the
entire sugar extraction operation IL
completed. A modern beet sugar fac
tory liz one OF the most Interesting
plants TO visit In the world and all its
operations are as perfect as though
governed by clock work. Colorado has
no second.class sugar factories and
the management In all cases has prov
on to be energetic and capable and re-
turns large interest on the Investment
The magnificent plant at Greeley
Will handle GO.oOO tons OF bccts during
the season and promises to bc one or
the substantial paying enterprises Of
northern Colorado. The mammoth
structure is built OF iirc-proof material
and is destined to stand FOR years ms a
testimonial TO the energy OF projectors
and the public.spirtcd people OF Gree.
ley and vicinity. C. $. Morcy. the well.
known merchant Of Denver. is prrsi-
dent OF the company, and {. A. Grang-
cr is the general manager
Competent authorities have tabulai-
ed the income 10 different classes Of in
dustry upon one ton OF granulntrd
sugar. ms turned out at n modern sugar
beet factory. The figures are as fol.
lows:
lne FARMER ,....,,.......... $1,000
The mechanic and lahorcr. ,.... 23.Tl
olncers salary, ,,,.........,... Lao
Clerks, statesmen, etc. ........ 3uJ
Conl miners. ................. a.T5
MN supply men ....,......... ~
COKE. .'',............... 40
Lame. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 100
Supply manufacturers. ........ 30
Ithilrohus. '..,.,............ i.oi
Coopers and bag manufacturers. 900
Total. ...............,, SSa 80