Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-01-05
Interesting and Lively Meeting In hoi'
brook 10 Consider Beet Con-
tracts and r. r. Projects


tracts and r. r. Projsets-
A largely attended meeting OF farm
ers OF uolbrook was held at Center.
Jan. ]. The meeting was called IN the
interest of securing beet contracts for
the Ameriean Beet Sugar Co.'S Rocky
Ford factory. About 1000 acres OF
such contracts hav. been signed dur
Ing the past year with view OF nrcur-
In. n railroad from Rocky fo ,
Hon. ". y. Randall presided ana
Manager wIetxcr WAS called on TO pre-
sent the claims of the Rocky Ford me.
tory, The following is synopsis OF
Mr.. wi.tz.r's remarks:
Three months ago ! was asked by
our company to prepare n report. max
ing recommendations REGARDING tutuse
Developments In the valley to 1ur'iry
the building OF more factori-r- In or
der TO fully cover the ground and be
nbl. To net to the b~rt interests OF tho
valley, I consulted with Mersrr. Swink.
Beatty. Hall and Rnndei regarding tho
ndviEabIiity OF the Improvement OF
water supply by development OF rrsrr-
yoIrs All of the four parties Mt the
time assuring m. that such invest
mSnts upon practical sites selected.
would prove great benefit To the
farming community. and gradually
lnrEriy increase the beet acreage ana
cuimIns.c In tho building OF more fnc-
tricta could he opened up for beet cul-
turc by building OF spur railroads. no
10 reduce the hauling dir'nnc" and con-
scaucntiy incrcas. tho profits OF the
beet growers by reducing the cost OF
delivery.
Acting upon these suggestions and
expressions. I recommended In my re-
rort to build n railroad from Rocky
Ford through the Hoibrook district
md to assist In locating n reservoir
site. and finance the construction OF
same. for tho Hoihrook territory. TN
der similar conditions nE the purchase
OF th. Excelsior water was financed by
the American Eeet Sugar Company for
the HlshIIn" Ditch Company.
Upon considering this report tho di-
rrrtofa of the Company decided two
months ngo to build railroad from
Rocky Ford through ffolbrook district.
and mn order for 10 miles OF double
rails was placed mt once. IN order 70
finish the road by the fall OF 1906. y
portion OF the rails was intended 10 be
used for n spur to be constructed from
the Lamar factory north OF the ir-
knrFns River into the Big Ecnt Coun-
try. the plan being to fnally connect
the Hoihrook and I'll" Inmnr spurH.
You have probably read In the ncws-
papcrs that. representing the American
Rect Sugar Company. made n rropc-
sItinn to I.aa Nnimns December goth
that our company would build 900
ton factory Mt Las Anin'nE, To- he ready
to work the crop of 1907. and also to
build n rnilsond spur north OF the Ar
kansas river from Las inimns cnst
to Gngeby and west TO Horse creek.
ready to handle the beet crop of 1907.
provided that section would furnish US
bona flde contracts for $500 ncres of
bcets for season 1906. 5000 acres each
for 1907. 1905 and 1909. Under terms
as In existence in the contract for sea-
son 1905. and further provided tho
necessary railroad right or ways would
he furnished us free OF chnge.
Now I come to you to inform you
that the American Beet Sugar Com
pany stands ready TO build railroad
from Rocky Ford through your Hol-
brook section, work to commence Mt
the beet crop of 1906. Also TO Offer to
you. as stockholders OF the Holbrook
E)itch Company. the assistance of our
company in locating and constructing
n reservoir in order to improve the
water supply. assuring thereby good
crops so that beet culture cannot fur
ther be considered speculative on your
fertile lands, which at times are badly
in need of additional water.
!. All this will be promptly carried out.
provided you will give us. under the
present terms of the beet contract.
lgUU TO lbUU o1 nttlS LOT ltuo
and 25OO each for 1907. 1908 and 1909.
and that we will be furnished the nee
essary railroad right OF ways free of
charge.
Regarding deliveries I would make
this suggestion: That every grower
plant some beets early so that deliver
les can commence about Sept. 10 to Is.
Thereby 60 per cent OF the crop can
be delivered without siloing.
Mr.. wietzer was followed by W. NJ.
Wiley of Holly and Hon. Platt Rogers
OF Denver in the interest of the Swinls
factory proposition, which includes the
building of a railroad from Holly to
Swink through Holbrook. The farm
ers were asked to pledge $500 acres OF
beets with the guarantee that the rail-
road would be ready for operation next
fall.
The decision of the farmers was to
contract with the Swink factory, not
because of any more desirable contract
but for the reason that by so doing
another factory would be secured,
which competition would enable the
beet growers to deliver their crops
more promptly.