Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1906-05-11

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OF 50 feet. In addition, there will be
sheds 7O0xl20 feet The plant will have
a daily capacity Of 800 tons and the daily
product will be 80 tons of sugar. The
plant will operate about 100 DAYS, begin
ing in October, and at the close, if the
season be good, the total product of the
plant is expected to be 20 million pounds,
or 10000 bags. About $50 men will be
employed in the construction Of the
plant. During the operation Of the plant
200 men will be employed at an average
wage of 1925 day. During the grow
ing season these men will find employ
ment in the beet fields.
The company has contracted with the
farmers for 1000 acres of beets this sea-
son. If farmer knows his business and
has his irrigation we'll established, the
soil OF the Arkansas valley will produce
Is tons Of beets per acre. The expense
is sl.50 to 500 per acre for seed; 50
cents for planting; $3.50 for punching
and thinning; 800 for second hoeing;
800 for third hoeing; $50 for pulling
and topping. This added to the cost Of
blowing and cultivating, makes the total
cost OF producing an acre Of sugar beets
from $50 to s33. The company obtains
the seed Of the beet growers in Ger
many, and furnishes it to the farmers at
cost. From 10 to 20 pounds to the acre
is planted and the cost is 10 centsa pound,
which is paid out Of the crop. The com.
pany also does the drilling for the farm
ers, if desired, taking its pay out of the
crop. The company contracts to pay IS
a ton for the beets. The profit per acre
is, in fair season, about S42 to Si5.
The U. 5. Sugar and Land Company
owns 1900 acres Of land along both sides
OF the Arkansas river, east and west of
Garden City. This, of course, is more
than one factory can take care Of, but addi-
tonal plants will be established from time
to time as the growth Of the annual sup
ply OF beets may warrant Even now a
plant is contemplated at Deerfeld. IS
miles west of Garden City. The company
proposes to divide its lands into tracts Of
$50 acres and to improve each quarter
with house, barn, windmills and irriga-
ton laterals. These improvements will
cost 81 900 each. The tracts will be
leased to farmers upon liberal percent
age basis. Forty tracts are now being im-
proved and tenants will take possession
OF them this spring. A stipulation of the
lease is that the tenant shall diversity his
crops according to the judgment Of the
company, and the rent shall be one-eighth
OF the beet crop; one-third OF the grain;
one-eighth Of the melon and one-half of
the alfalfa. The company is advertising
in the newspapers Of the country for farm
ers to come to the Arkansas valley and
settle upon its lands. To instruct tenants
in the art Of beet culture, experts are en-
ployed at an expense Of slO,6OOa year.
The company furnishes irrigation water
to tenants without extra charc, Orhe
company, however, buys Of all producers
at contract price. To aid the under.
how In irngating its lands, the COMPANY
has bought the Lakin ditch, % miles; and
the Great Eastern ditch, 49 miles. Italso
owns large holdings in the 70 miles Of
other bitches round about. A belt line
OF % miles Of railroad will be built
through the company's land.
Altogether, the Garden City sugar plant
is one Of the biggest manufacturing enter.
prises Of Kansas. II has met with dis
couragements from the same politicians
and with obstruction from the Sugar Trust
but fortunately it has had the unfalter.
ing support and the fostering care Of a
big railway corporation, and now il is a
fixed institution in the State producer
OF wealth and taxpayer. And the end
is rot yet. II is a forerunner of other
sugar plants. But Of that, later.