Arizona republican., 1908-10-04
TIMELY TESTIMONY
 OF A MAN WHO KNOWS
J. c. Ambrose of Fort Morgan, Cole, Interviewed on the Subject of the Sugar Beet Industry.


 J. c. Ambrose of Fort Morgan. Colo. who has been touring California, has stopped over hese for a few days on his way home and will probably re- main here a week or two longer look ing the valley over He was seen by a Republican reporter yesterday and immediately brought up the sub ject of the sugar beet industry. which is a big thing in his section. He had heard that Messrs. Davie and McKinnie were about to take charge of the local enterprise here and know ing intimately of their operations in Colorado. he was more than pleased to submit to an interview concern ing them and their connection with the industry, for he had nothing de- rogatory to say and could only speak flatterngly.
 To more fully appreciate what Mir Ambrose said the reader should be 1 informed that he has no personal . interest in the sugar business any where, other than community inter est. for he is engaged strictly in com mercial lines. He is now, in the lum- Der business in Fort Morgan. Colo. with his brother, R. T. Ambrose. and both formerly owned and conducted a department store in Loveland. Colo.
 In speaking of the beet industry here MT. Ambrose said there is no question of its success with the right management of the beet sugar fac tory. He went to Loveand in 1901. just at the beginning of the beet in dustry of northern Colorado, and that year the factory was completed and put in operation by Messrs McKin- nie and Davie. It was a big success from the start and is today. By the way he said, "I am informed these same gentlemen are negotiating for the factory here. I want to say that the farmers and citizens of this com munity can congratulate themselves if these gentlemen are successful in their negotiations.
 My knowledge of their operations in the beet industry, extending over seven years, justifies me in saying you could not get better men to take charge of it. They are financially able to finance any proposition and carry to completion any project they might undertake. When the factory vas bulAA dl ATl anu JuuGLlOn. AOIO.. there was a worse muddle of affairs than here. These gentlemen took hold of it and from the start made it big success. No one unfamiliar with the beet industry can hardly realize its importance. The factory too is the thing that is building up towns. increasing city and farm values. doub- ling and trebling the population of towns, cutting up the large tracts into small farms, putting homes on forty and eighty acre tracts and materially increasing the farming population. This benefits the business man and in fact it helps everybody in the community. I am greatly impressed with Phoenix and the resources of this country. and the same energy and forces that made LOveland will make Phoenix.
 The Fort Morgan factory was put in operation about three years ago and since then I think I am safe in saying that the population has almost doubled. Land values were from S3O to $50 per acre and jumped to from $1eO to S150 per acre. When Me Kinnie and Davie built the factory at Loveland in 1901, land values were. as I remember S30 to $50 per acre and today they run from $l50 to $500 per acre, according to location and improvements. The population of Loveland at that time, I don't think exceeded 1000 and today it claims 1000.
 T have seen in seven years resi- dence in Colorado and Kansas. thir- teen beet sugar factories put into operation. namely at Fort Collins. Windsor, Eaton. LOngmont, LOveland, Fort Morgan. Brush, Sterling. Grand Junction. Olive. Sugar City and Swink, and in Garden City, Kansas. The factory at Rocky Ford, I think was built in 1900. What is true of land values and increase of popula- ton at Fort Morgan and Loveland will apply to nearly all the towns mentioned. I don't know any greater factor that will put new life into a community and build up a town than the beet industry. Then there is an other factor to be considered. The beet pulp is in great demand in many towns where factories are located, for use in fattening cattle and sheep and' it is said to be excellent for dairy cows This has been the means of reviving the feeding industry in many places.
 The factories employ big forces of men. pay them good wages, and this alone is a big thing for a town. I want to repeat that if Messrs. Me Kinnie and Davie take charge of your factory here the farmers need have no apprehension about getting paid for their beets. as they built and now have in operation the factories at Garden City. Kansas. Grand Junction, and Everglade and Miami. Florida.
 ''I have not seen in my travels any town of 4.000 population that is go- ing forward like Fort Morgan. We have a $47,0OO sewer system and S55,- GOO in extensions and improvements to the water plant are under way by the municipality and many new resi- dences and churches are being built We have a nice, clean town no sa- looms, and the people rae intelligent and of a high class"
 Mir. Morgan at this point said he could speak authoritatively, for he is a member of the town council and familiar with all these conditions. Fort Morgan" he continued. "is To- cated seventy eight miles northeast