Arizona republican., 1906-07-21
SUGAR BEET SECTION
 SOUTH OF TEMPE
An Enjoyable Drive to the Hansen
 and Rumney Ranches.

Through the courtesy or w. l. Rumney, a representative of The Re publican yesterday visited what is known as the Hansen ranch, ten miles due south of Tempe, where the largest sugar beet field in the valley can be seen. The ranch comprises two sec tions of land, though only about half of il has yet been brought under cultiva- ton.
 The drive south from Tempe was a delightful one. It was through one vast stretch of alfalfa and grain fields, with here and there a line of trees to mark the field divisions. There could be no more prosperous appearing country in the world. Hay stacks and grain stacks were seen in countless number. Four or five miles from Tempe the beet patches begin to appear. alternating with the grain fields. Some are small and some are of considerable acreage, but all are looking well
 Arriving at the Hansen ranch, the road runs through it about half mile from the west line On the west of the road the beet fields extend to the line. on the east side the beets are in evil dence as far as the eye can reach. Some 500 or 600 acres were planted to beets last winter, and they are now practically matured. There is bat tery of wells on the ranch that MT. Hansen formerly used in the irrigation Of his cantaloupe crops, but the wells have not been used this season, as they were not needed, except for twenty four hour run a few days ago. That was discontinued, for it was believed the beets were so nearly matured that no more water would be needed. The beets have had three irrigations from the Tempe canal but it is believed that hereafter only two will be necessary, one to start the beets after planting and one to mature them. This year, however, the seed was planted late. and 1t was forced as fast as possible to the maturing of the crop. There be- ing ample water available in the canal. and so small an amount required. it was cheaper to irrigate that way than by pumped water though the water is close to the surface in that section. On the Rumney ranch adjoining, the water Is now within nine feet of the surface, and during the wet season of the year 1t has come as near as five feet to the surface.
 The facilities for handling ,the beet crop are complete. The Hansen spur from the NJ. & P. railroad runs through the ranch as far as the house and little to one side of it. and fifty or sixty laborers are now engaged in extending 1t through the tract to the east, so the beets may be loaded on railroad cars in the field where they are grown. Harvesting Will begin next Monday and last until the season ends. matter of a month or six weeks. Many Mex jeans and Yaquis are gathering in that vicinity in the hope of getting employ ment during the harvesting season.
 The Hansen ranch was bought after the beet crop was planted. some two months ago. ostensibly by a MT. Lyman of Wisconsin, for an average of s5n per acre, without water rights. The latter were rented for the making Of this years crop. There is evidently some close relationship between MT. Lyman and the sugar company, for tho latter is in charge of the ranch, ma turing the crop and preparing for its harvesting. It should be mentioned. in- cidentally. that the same price will be paid for beets by the sugar company at this ranch and all over the soutb side as at Glendale.
 Immediately across the road from the Hansen ranch is the 16O-acre farm Of w Y. Rumney. This is equally as good land, is all in cultivation, is we'll equipped with good farm buildings. farms tools and machinery, stock, etc. MT. Rumney bought the farm so late in the season that he only had time to get in about ten acres of beets this year but they are looking fine, and in another year he expects to plant sixty or eighty acres to this crop. Yesterday he pulled a half dozen fine big beets. taken at random from his ten-acre patch, to be tested at the laboratory of the Sugar factory. which will begin fnda aigF of his farm is in alfalfa and the rest in pasture His alfalfa land has proved very satisfactory. Until a short time ago he devoted that part of the ranch to the pasturing of cattle at a dollar a head per month. A few weeks ago he took the cattle off, and has since raised a crop which he is now cutting to thresh for the seed, and later he will have another good crop of hay.
 MT. Rumney is located only a mile from the Hansen spur. Asked what