The Ordway new era., 1912-10-11
Beet Crop Larger
Than Ever Before
Crop Becoming Important Fac
tor In this County---Acre-
age Steadily Growing

This year will be record-breaker
in the sugar manufacturing business
in Colorado, and the outlook for the
future is brighter than it has ever
been before. The sugar companies
are prosperous and are preparing to
expand their business.
With the price of sugar higher dur
ing the past year than it has ever
been before, and with prices paid to
the farmer for bects correspondingly
high. the. prospects are for greater
acreage of sugar bects in Colorado
next year than has ever been culti-
waited. Announcement was made re-
Gently that an independent factory is
to be constructed in northern Colora-
do, and it is possible that the Great
Western will erect another factory in
that section OF the state.
The big companies are preparing
to erect factory at Durango The
residents of this section of the state
have been working for some years
to interest capital in the building of
a factory there, and have obtained as
surance from the farmers that they
will cultivate the bects.
An independent factory erected at
Monte Vista, in the San Luis valley,
was operated for the first time last
year. Its output was not SO large as
was expected from the acreage, but
the growers went into the business
again this year, determined to correct
their mistakes Of last. The yield this
year is not thoroughly satisfactory,
but preparations are being made for
the cultivation of a large acreage next
year. Experiments covering several
years have shown that an excellent
yield of sugar bcets can be obtained
in the San Luis valley. and the farm
ers. are determined to make their
yields come up to these experiments.
Careful cultivation. close study of
methods followed in other beet grow
ing countries and faithful application
of such methods as havep roved sue
cessful have made it possible for the
yield of sugar bects in Colorado per
acre to be raised gradually each year.
until the average. yield in the state is
less than two tons below that of
France. the home OF sugar beet cul-
turc. The soil and climate here are
recognized as bcino as we'll adapted
for the culture Of sugar bcets as that
of any other country in the world,
and it is believed that within few
years the yield in Colorado will pass
that of any of the European coun-
tries.
The season in Crowley county has
been unusually good and the factory
at Sugar City has just entered upon
what promises to be the longest
campaign in its history.
The beet crop this yeaHis full of
promise for the growers as tests at
the factory prove that the sugar con-
tent is above the average and the
growers are receiving better prices
than they anticipated. The crop is
much heavier than expected and the
factory may have its hands full to
handle it. Many of the heavier grow
ers will have to silo large part of
the crop as it will be impossible for
them to haul it all in before snow and
freezing weather comes
The Missouri Pacific has crew
here from Pueblo handling all of the
beet cars from the beet dumps at
King Center, Numa and Ordway to
Sugar City. The number of cars vary
from day to day. but since the beet
{ 'ampaign has opened they have been
getting seven cars from King Center
and the same number at Ordway.
while the number at Numa has been
from three to five a day. These arc
hauled to the sugar factory at Sugar
City. The distance from King Cen
ter. the longest distance from Sugar
City, is fourteen miles. This the
train crew makes three times a day.
This with the "spotting" of travis in
tn" local yards keeps the crew busy.
II is great convenience to the ship
rcrs at O: dway, as they can get Their
ars "srctted" most any time now,
whereas in oldcn times they were
to wait until the "locaT
came along. This service is much
appreciated by the shippers of Ord
way and they are not slow in letting
the railroad company know it.