Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-09
SUGAR BETS ARE A GOOD CROP
Farmers Along the CuIbertson Ditch
Are Making Good
Money.

CULBERTsON, Neb.. Jan. s.-(special)-
The wonderful development Of the beet
sugar industry in Colorado within the last
fcw years has stimulated the farmers Of
southwestern Nebraska in growing the
sugar beet and this fall more than 500 car
loads were shipped from Culbertson and
neighboring towns TO the Grand Island
beet sugar factory. These beets represent
a money value OF 5 $1,000.
Adjacent to the village Of Culbertson
there are 10000 acres of sugar beet lands
equal to any IN the state Of Colorado, all Of
which are under the big Culbertson ditch,
which has the priority to the water Of the
Frenchman river, one Of the finest rivers
in the west. These lands have produced as
high as twenty-five tons of beets to the
acre, testing very high in sugar contents.
Such lands in the sugar districts Of Colo
RADIO, Michigan and Utah are valued at
from 500 to 5000 per acre, while around
Culbertson they wer2 not considered worth
over $40 per acre until sthe surprising re-
suits realized by the beet growers the past
season became known. Farmers now con-
tend that their lands made them 10 per cent
clear on 5000 per acre valuation. The aver
age yield has been fife en- tons per acre and
the average price received $4.2b per ton, or
about S65 per acre. Tho cost Of raising and
marketing an acre of beets has averaged
less than $35, leaving a net profit Of $50 per
acre. A number of the farmers averaged
twenty tons to the acre, which netted them
q profit of $50 per acre.
These arc the people who would not be-
come excited at an offer of 800 or even
more per acre for their lands, which a few
years ago. before the advent Of the sugar
beet, could have been bought for $40 or
less. Thirty bushels of wheat per acre was
considered a big crop, which would net the
farmer a profit OF SO or 81 per acre, after
paying all expenses, including water for
irrigation. With the sugar beet, however,
1t is different. After two years trial these
farmers declare that the sugar beet Is the
surest crop that can be grown on these
lands. The hail, the grasshoppers. the hot
winds and the flood will not destroy the
crop and at the same time return a larger
profit than any other crop that can be
grown.
The people OF Culbertson and vicinity
have organized a beet growers association
for the purpose OF stimulating the growing
of sugar beets in the immediate vicinity OF
the town and to secure the location of a
sugar factory OF at least 1000 tors daily
capacity at this place.
Every man, woman and child you meet
here talks sugar beets and a stranger drop
ping into the town is soon impressed with
the fact that It is only a question Of a short
time until Culbertson will rival the mos
prosperous sugar factory towns of Colorado
The committee appointed by the associa.
ton has every assurance that a factory
will be built here in time for the crop o
1904.
The advantage that Culbertson has ovel
other towns in this section Of the state II
that 1t has appropriated the waters OF thu
Frenchman river, the only stream in thu
upper Republican watershed that flows
good volume Of water during the dry season
OF the year. The Republican river usugll
goes dry from two to four months Of eacl
year, while the Frenchman very seldom
lows less than 100 cubic feet per second IL
the dryest season. There are some excellent
reservoir sites along the line of the Cul
bertson ditch, and it is estimated that 80,
900 acres can be irrigated from the ditcf
and the reservoirs that can be built alont
the line Of the ditch at q comparativell
small outlay. The ditch is owned by ex'
Governor Buckley Of Connecticut.