Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-10-08
WILL R. MONKMAN. Publisher.
FRIDAY, OCTOREB 8, 1909
STILL TALKING
About That Barbecue Given by the
Factory Bows.

he barbecue given idst WEN ~
the factory employees of the Ameri-
can Beet Sugar Co. is still being talk
ed about as the most stupendous and
successful event of the kind that has
ever celebrated the opening OF a su-
gar campaign in this state or in fact
in this country. For several weeks
the factory boys had been preparing
for the celebration, which they were
determined should be the biggest
thing of the kind ever given in the
Arkansas Valley, and they have ev-
cess that crowned their efforts, for
not only was the affair the most gi-
gantic ever given but the entire plans
for the big entertainment were car
ried through without a hitch and
showed them past masters in the art
OF entertaining.
In only one particular was the pro-
gram altered, when it was found nee
essary to cut out the addresses by
prominent speakers, after Senator
Swink had Intellectually tried to
make himself heard. In the vast am
pitheatre even the big bass drum of
the Rocky Ford Concert Band could
be heard but short distance, and
so Senator Crowley, Hon. w. H. Nc
Caskill, Ex-Mayor Pollock, Mayor
VanBuskirk and others who had ex-
pected to address the big gathering
were glad to be excused from any at
tempt to talk to the vast throng.
The amusement program was SO we'll
filed that even the speechmaking was
not missed.
As the Enterprise promised last
week, we will attempt a more detail
ed account of the barbecue than we
had time to give in the last issue: At
were stationed to receive the guests
and direct them through the beauti-
full and brilliantly lighted grounds to
the south sugar warehouse, where
they were met and welcomed by the
factory boys in their natty suits OF
white. Courteous attendants of a
spacious check room near the door
took charge of all wraps and other
impediments of the visitors and they
aftcrward set out on tour of in
spcction of huge buildings compris-
ing the factory proper. In each de-
partmcnt-which were all gayly dec
Grated with flags and bunting and
kept illuminated with electric lights
all evenng-some of the white uni
formed factory boys were stationed
and they .obligingly explained the use
of the intricate machinery under
their charge.
Returning to the reception hall
the guests, who numbered close to
1000. were shortly seated at the long
tables that lined one end and were
soon in full enjoyment of the barbc-
cue, consisting of the choicest steaks
done to turn over the huge wood
lent coffee that had been prepared in
an immense 2oo-gallon coffee pot
Everyone was hungry and the way
the food disappeared was moving
sight. but there was great plenty
for all and then some.
At the conclusion of the barbecue
a grand march was formed and the
crowd gradually wound its devious
way to the opposite end of the vast
75x37s foot building. where a portion
had been screened off. and there those
that wished enjoyed a pleasant hour
at splendid moving picture show
with illustrated songs agrccably in
tersperscd Others throngcd about the
palmists tents and had their fortunes
told by genuine palmists brought
from Denver for this occasion and
they didn't require the usual piece
of silver" to unfold their gypsy lore,
for everything was free to the guests
of the factory boys. Yet other
throngs surrounded a platform on
which the A. B. S. banjo club were
picking out rag-time music for the
h,,rt l. Il Al. L..
tions of party of clowns, or they
wandered on to listen to the selec-
tions from a quartet composed of
Messrs. Brown. Elscr. Hart and Par
ris. to the music by the band, a else
they "tripped the light fantastic" to
the stirring strains of Bottoms or
chestra. In other parts of the build
ing crowds surrounded w. w. La
mons display of grains and grasses
grown on the Experimental Farm and
Superintendent Mobiles fine display
OF fruits and grain from his Monte
yuma Valley farm. or they were
quenching their thirst at the lemon
adc and orangeade booths, and
watching the antics of the clowns
and their retinue of happy and ex-
cited children. Many. like the Enter
prise man, just wandered about "tak-
ing it all in and it was indeed a
most novel and enjoyable sight and
more amusing and entertaining than
any street carnival we have ever
seen.
As evidence that the factory boys
overlooked nothing that would add
to the comfort and entertainment of
their guests we will mention one fea-
ture that was especially attractive to
the matrons. This was a spacious
nursery. fitted up with beds and cots.
where the infants and drowsy little
ones were taken in charge by a corps
of attendants. leaving the mothers to