Rocky Ford enterprise., 1911-04-28
Showing of the
Effect the Industry Has
Had Upon the Develop
ment of the Arkansas
Valley

According to information given In
Sugar Bssts and Beet Sugar by DR..
Jodidi. 1852 years ago there was nothing
known Of the sugar contained in the beet,
and that in the intervening time there
has been erected and operated 400
beet sugar factories in the world, less
than seventy Of which are located In the
United States. and the greatest portion
Of this wonderful growth has taken
place during the last half Of the period
from l749 to the present time. that being
the date In which . German :ehsmist.
made the discovery Of sugar In the beet.
Two decades ago there was nothing
Of . beet sugar industry
in the United States. Now bssts are
grown on $4,000 acres. with . total
output Of approximately 42l.o 900 tons Of
sugar annually in this country. The
beet sugar factories Of the world extract
about z.oOo tons Of sugar annually.
When the term EXTRACT" 10 used. Il 10
used in theoretical sense. as the sugar
is really manufactured in the field by the
farmer. and extracted and prepared for
domestic use by the manufacturer.
In the Arkansas Valley Of Colorado the
sxtsnt and worth Of the best sugar In
dustry has bssn decidedly felt. Eleven
years ago there was not . BEST sugar
factory here. now there are six. All
portions Of the Unitsd States cannot
point to such = development, ~ the six
represent about on tsnth Of the factories
Of the country. Colorado has nine in sd-
dition to the valley factories, making
about rs per cent Of the bsst sugar FAC
tories Of the country.
The agricultural advances Of Colorado
and Of the Arkansas Valley has had .
backing. There has bssn some reason
for the advance, and il 10 significant that
with the erecting and operating Of bsst
sugar factories in sections Of the stats
and = general advance has
been felt. Such 10 decidedly tue Of the
Valley and the Development Of
the valley can b traced to the develop
msnt Of the sugar industry here.
Taking the value Of the states asrieul-
tural products for the year. It will Be
found that the sugar output represents =
very good per cent Of the total. and has
placed the total In the same class with
older agricultural states. The reason
for It is in the large amounts Of money
brought for the crop. This money Is
paid for bests. labor and hundred and
one things connected with the industry.
and coming in larger amounts than for
any other crop known to agriculture to
the extent Of Of the beet crop its effect
d one Of upbuilding and furthsring . sec
tons prosperity.
In the Arkansas Valley last year. one
The American Beet Sugar Co.,
at Rocky Ford. Las Animss
and Lamar. distributed hundreds Of
Of dollars for sugar bssts, and
\ like amount for labor and factory sup
plies. This money came from ssis Of .
Food supply for which there is = national
demand. The product was not grown
10 bs redistributsd in the immediate vi
sinity. but a. Colorado manufactured
enough sugar for sig states Of equal size;
thus does the Arkansas Valley derive .
steady revenue from six times its popu-
lation.
Beet sugar historians often refer TO
The connection Of Napoleon lst with the
beet sugar industry in France. and TO
him 10 great credit due for the develop
msnt Of the industry in the early part Of
he century. BY . royal decree he sp-
propriatsd thousands Of acres Of land
and much money to experiment with
beets and the results Of his efforts have
placed France among the sugar produce
ng esntsrs Of the country. and in 1912
'orty factories were operating. From
hat day to this France. with other
countries have been large pro-
iuesrs Of sugar for export trade.
That tabled bird. the stork. brought