The daily sentinel., 1904-12-14
BUSINESS MEMS BANQUET.
Chamber of Commerce Directors Do
Themselves Proud and Spread a
Feast Fit For King at the
New Grand Hotel.
(By H. E. Frost, editor Heraldl.

dream of the residents of this valley
ever since 1855, or when the reservation
was first opened to settlement. He said
he was happy to say that we were soon
TO see the fruition of this hope. He
stated that there were forty thousand
acres now under irrigation in the valley
and that the new canal would bring
eighty thousand more under cultivation
Mr. Wallace stated that he estimated
the additional acreage would double the
population not only OF the.valley but OF
the cityinbut few years. He believed
that this was the most feasible irrga-
ton project in the west, and that the
government officials were anxious to
take hold of the proposition for the rea-
son that they we're anxious for results
with the least possible outlay; and that
this valley was the most promising of
the many irrigation projects the govern
ment has yet taken hold of. Within the
next week the articles of the Water
Users Association would be passed upon
by the government. In conclusion he
predicted that the ditch would be com
pleted, and vast area of our land
would be occupied by progressive and
industrious people by the year 1907.
For one who understands the beet
sugar industry in every detail none in
the valley could handle the subject in a
better manner than r. p. Davie, mana
ger OF the Western Sugar and Land
Company, who had been assigned the
subject: Sugar Beets in the Grand
Valley" Mr.. Davie has made success
of the sugar industry in this valley
where it had been a disastrous failure.
This has been accomplished in the face
of what appeared year ago of almost
unsurmountable difficulties. Then it
was almost impossible to get the ranch
ers TO sign contract fer the cultivation
OF beets, but the past year in this branch
of industry has been so profitable to the
agricalturalists that more wish to en-
gage in the business than double the
capacity of the factory will warrant.
He stated that in the past year there
were POO acres in the valley in beets,
which produced 31,ooo tons of the raw
material. The production of beets, ac-
cording to acreage, would exceed that OF
any section of the United States. The
quality of the beets is better than other
sections, and furnish more saccharine
matter. He assured the gentlemen
present that the capacity of the factory
would be doubled next year and that an
expert was looking over the plant to as
certain what changes were necessary.
Mr.. Davie further said that we had the
ideal climate for beet culture sunshine
and cold nights to produce the sugar
qualities. What the Chamber of Com
merce has been doing in the past year
has benefited the sugar industry, and
in return the beet industry has been of
incalculable benefit to the valley.
At the last moment Business Condi-
tons in the Valley" was assigned to p.
A. Rice, of the Rice Lumber Company.
Mr.. Rice was among the first settlers and
could talk most intelligently on this sub
iect. In the entire history of the valley,
he declared that the past year had been
picious. In his observation there had
never been such spirit of helpfulness
as at the present time. The Grand Val
ley has great future before it, in his
opinion, and our city will keep pace with
the material growth of the valley. He
made the statement that five acres
would and does support family in the
comforts of life, and it was hard to com
pute what the future had in store for us
when the vacant land had been reclaim
ed Mr.. Rice seems to have brand of
optimism that is refreshing in the ex-
IRENE.
G. J. Carpenter responded in happy
vein to the toast, "Grand junction as a
Jobbing Center" Mr.. Carpenter is now
in the iobbing business and thinks this
point in time will be a railroad center,
and Il vast territory will be opened up
that will be tributary this city. A unit
ed effort on the part of the citizens and
business interests will secure better
freight rates. Much already has been
accomplished in this direction. The
railway companies have been induced to
give a reduction of fifty per cent to Tex
as points, and as a yesn.t four pr five
car loads of alfalfa seed will be shipped
from the Plateau country this winter.
He incidentally mentioned that the
Grand Junction Fruit Growers Associa-
ton was one of the largest iobbing insti-
tutions in the state. In his opinion
there are many opportunities right now
for wholesale business, the grocery bust
ness just at present the most promising
He has no fears but at the opportune
time the necessary concessions in freight
rates could be secured.
John f. Moore, manager of the Grand
Junction Fruit Growers Association
made splendid talk on the subject
Fruit In the Grand Valley" He pre-
faced his remarks by saying that eigh
years ago there was only $4,000 paid t,
the fruit raisers for their product. Thi