Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-06-03
vailed as an agency in the prepara-
ton and upbuilding of the soil. !.

vailed as an agency in the prepara-
ton and upbuilding of the soil.
Often the farmer has to look at
the value of crop in terms of cash,
and the beet when properly raised
viii! yield far greater returns than
any other agricultural product with
out even counting its valuable by
products and benefits to the soil.
With this crop there is "reat econ
why try to raise forty-fve or fifty
concentrate their energies upon ten
or fifteen acres, the results would be
much more satisfactory. This is
made clear by little reasoning which
will at the same time show how great
are the profits of the industry. We
will suppose that we have ten acre
tract. From interviews with pro-
ducers I gathered that twenty tons
to the acre may easily be raised and
that forty tons have been produced
at this place. These farmers thought
the cost of production of eight to
twelve tons would be $25; twelve to
fourteen, $28. and fourteen to twen-
ty. $50. Suppose that on ten acre
tract We were to raise an eight ton
crop. we would get a profit of $3.50:
but if on the same ground we grew
fourteen tons to the acre, we would
realize profit of $42o; # we raised
a twenty ton crop we would have 500
pure gain, and would make the same
profit as neighbor who planted
forty acre patch and got an eight ton
crop.
The effects of this great industry.
which is as yet only started, best
,peak for themselves. The result of
having million dollar factory
brought into the community. and of
having similar ones built all along the
valley may best be shown by point
ing out what has been done in spe-
.;fc instances. We will take Bent
county as an example. The factory
vas built in 1907. and Immediately Our
little town took on new life. Real
.statc values doubled and trebled;
he assessed value of property which
in 1905 was SI.+oI .673. rose to S2,4+o.-
sS6. and for 1910 it will be about S3.-
10000; modern business blocks
we're built. cement sidewalks were
laid. and a general awakening cnsued
gambling dcns were closed. the
schools were greatly improved. and
thoroughly clean town resulted.
You NAV be sure the farme1 got his
hare of the benefits. The value OF
lis farm doubled, he became inde-
pendent of the stockman as he could
.esort to raising bcets, which are
ash crop. and on which he could al
ways obtain advances: besides all
his. a railroad was built fon his ben
fit. along which were erected stock
ards and beet dumps. thus saving
i'm the trouble and expense Of hav-
ng to go to town. and today. cspe-
tally in the beet raising districts.
Bent county also has the best wagon
.oads in the state.
The beet industry requires the use
# hundreds of extra hands. who leave
l part of their earnings with the
merchants. thus helping to make them
he prosperous class that they are.
he factory itself while running uses
rom two to three hundred men, to
yhom are paid 500 in wages every
wcntv-four hours: it consumes Zoo
,ons Of bccts every twcnty-four hours.
or which the company pays to the
'armcrs direct $1,000. Besides this.
i consumes large quantities of coal.
'ime stone, chemicals and other mis-
'ellaneous supplies.
There is no comparison between
our commercial relations at the pres
mt time and those of the anti-bect
period. There will be still less COM
oarison between the Las Animas of
oday and of few years hence. The
'amc industry which coupled with ir-
-igation has transformed this once
;od-covcrcd wilderness into bloom
ng garden promises great things for
.hc future. and we can only surmisc
IS to the proportions which it will
assume