Gilpin observer., 1903-01-01
FARMING MATTERS.
Colorado sugar Beet Crop.


year of any crop grown in this state.
The possibilities Of this industry are
illustrated in the prosperity found in
the districts where sugar factories are
located. The manufacture of beet
sugar in this wonderful climate mani
testify possesses a great many advant-
ages. The growing of beets Is con-
Quoted on entirely different lines from
those governing the growing Of cane
for sugar. With the latter the rule Is
to raise the cane on large plantations,
the laborers all being wage earners.
On the contrary. beet production is all
in the hands of independent farmers,
and many of them make large profits.
Moreover, the making of sugar Is not
the only profitable business depending
upon beet growing The pulp, from
which the juice is extracted, is a fine
food for cattle and sheep, and such
feeding is carried on to large extent
These allied industries are doing a
great deal to develop the resources of
some sections that before seemed hope
less of ever supporting any consider
able population.
Thorough community of interest ex-
lists between the farmers and the sugar
makers. The factory management must
see that the grower is satisfied or there
will be no beets grown to keep the
plant running and the beet grower is
stimulated to careful work by the
sliding scale paid for beets. Not only
the tonnage yield, but the sugar con-
tent depends largely upon agricultural
conditions. A land boom has occurred
frib ruf n tn nrio
and the end is not yet In operating a
big Colorado factory from 450 to 500
men are employed at wages ranging
from 81 to SO per day. A run of fifty
five days should average 800 tons daily.
turning out from 1900 to $500 bags
of granulated sugar. Running at its
full capacity such a factory consumes
in one day 1000 tons OF beets, the pro-
duct of sixty-five acres. With 500 op-
eratives, at an operating cost of $1,000,
from $4,000 worth of beets. factory
produces $4,000 worth of sugar. The
beets average SIT an acre gross and the
sugar made from an acre of beets sells
by the car at $3.50. After due allow
ance for inevitable shutdowns and ac-
cidents during the season, the net an
nual capacity of the factory is about
$1,000.0 900 worth of granulated sugar, in
making which it will disburse over
100000 for beets and S12OOO0 for op-
Grating expenses.
The first factory built in the state
was located at Grand Junction, but ex-
igencies arose and the plant shut down
after three years operation. The bond
holders have now taken it over and
the farmers have promised to plant
sufficient acreage to make good run
next season. 1t will be enlarged from
four hundred to eight hundred tons
capacity. The Rocky Ford plant. with
capacity of 1000 tons, and the one at
Sugar City with 500 tons, have made
three successful campaigns. The popu-
lation has trebled and land values have
greatly increased At Rocky Ford in
1900, 1000 acres were in beets; in 1901,
$500 acres were planted. and this year
the beet fields covered 15 900 acres. The
fourth factory was built in northern
Colorado at Loveland. Larimer county.
and is now making its second success
full campaign. 1t receives the beets of
wide adjacent area and will this year
slice more than 10000 tons of beets,
averaging sixteen per cent. in sugar
and eighty-four in purity. Two new
factories were put into operation this
year-Greeley on October 9th and Ea-
ton on October oath. Greeley will use
approximately $1,000 tons and Eaton
from 10000 to 10000.
The great success now known beyond
all peradventure has awakened capital
lists and farmers alike and nearly ev-
cry agricultural town in the state is de-
sirous of getting into the procession.
Several new contracts have been let
xrrIt taI, frv. nj or III MI ~,
the crop of 1903. A 60O-ton factory will
be located at Alamosa in the San Luis
valley, and all fall steam plows have
been putting the soil in readiness for
next spring. Contracts have also been
signed for 1.2OO-ton establishment at
Fort Morgan in Morgan county and the
necessary acreage has been secured.
The farmers at Lamar in Prowers
county are justified in their energies in
this direction. inasmuch as the finest
of beets have been grown for years and
commercially during the past three
seasons. the product going to the Rocky
Ford factory. Longmont and Wind
sor, Platteville, Brighton and Fort
Lupton near Denver. and Brush and
Sterling in the lower Platte valley.
have been holding mass meetings to
agitate the subject, and their desires
may in time be rewarded.
The question arises: IL factories go
on multiplying as they promise to do in
Colorado the coming year. is there not
danger of overproduction? We believe
there is none. The American people
use more sugar than any other nation
and to supply the United States with
sugar 1t would take 600 more factories
like the one at Rocky Ford; 1t would
take 50.0O0,000 more tons of beets and
at "a per ton. much less than the av-
erage price In Colorado, would mean
5000. .000. 900 to be paid out at home to
the farmers alone 1t would require an
expenditure of 100000. 900 to build the
factories; to be paid to steel furnaces
and foundries, brickyards and la
borers in general. Once these fac
tories were in operation Il would