The Ordway new era., 1912-05-03

For the first three or four years ",
labor into this territory from neigh
boring states, but for the last si>
years this has been unnecessary. Mucl
of this labor has remained with Us
many are now citizens of the United
States. their children go to our schools
the parents have purchased, and som,
have completely paid for their lands
and hold deeds for them.
To the establishment OF this com.
pany' S factory at Sugar City is due
practically all Of the progress which
has been made in this locality in the
last ten years. The taxable basis OF
this part of Otero county increased st
rapidly that the people OF the county
on the north side of the Arkansas
river 'seceded," by permission OF the
Colorado legislature, forming a new
county Crowley county,
As previously stated. we are now
paying the farmer 81. 80 for beet con
tanning from ~ to l6 per cent OF sugar,
and II we receive an average beet of
Is per cent sugar cuntent, we are not
clated. but we are satisfied. When
we add to this freight, unloading.
taring, sampling, the cost
Of supervision OF the farmers acre
age, this Is per cent average beet
-. f,,n .f nnn RI
10 the beet sheds, then II we get 2lO
pounds OF finished sugar from this
average Is per cent sugar beet, you
will see that we pay to the farmer for
the sugar in this beet available for us.
before the factory handles this beet
at all, nearly - cents per pound.
Please consider this item carefully. 1t
Is known and has frequently been in
evidence before congress, only lately
30 before the special house committee.
inquiring into the American Sugar
Refining company affairs. that sugar
16 per cent pure can be manufactured.
and is being manufactured In tropical
Cuba, Philippines,
etc.-at from 1t cents to II cents per
pound in the bag ready for shipment
TO our competitors, the rcfners on
the sea coasts; and that a ton Of cane.
which produces 22O pounds OF this 96
per cent pure sugar In the bag costs
these tropical factories not more than
81. 80 Il ton against our $500 ton for
sugar beets. How can the beet sugar
business exist with such competition
without adequate protection?
With the growth OF Sugar City. the
progress Of adjacent territory and the
coming OF much needed human beings
with their horses, stock, etc, other
products OF the farm enhanced In
value. The farmer felt he should also
have a better price for his sugar bects,
and as far as we were able to meet his
views, we did so. This higher price
represents an increase OF about thirty
five per cent in the price OF our raw
material. There has been no such
increase In the price OF our finished
product. excepting during the fall
and winter just passed when sugar
was unusually high. owing to an un.
precedented shortage In the European
crop. This abnormal condition Is
righting itself. and is not
expected to occur again.
This company has already contract
ed at the higher prices above named
with farmers for the year 1912, to the
extent OF about 1000 acres. We are,
planting about 100 acres
additional giving us as large an acre
age as we care to handle. Spring be.
ing very late and no farming opera
tions having been possible during the
long severe winter. Many of the
farmers contracting this year have
contracted regularly each year since
the factory started operations.
The opportunity to engage in the
raising OF new crop. in addition to
the other farming staples, at u fixed
contract-price. not subject to iluctua.
tions due to speculation, supply and
demand, intermediary commission
men and risk OF transportation, was
the incentive that induced farmers to
take to raising sugar beets, and was
also the incentive that drew new
settlers and farm purchasers toward
Sugar City from the middle West
principally.
land sales were infrequent in this ter
ritory. To the west OF us there was
some land in cultivation, mostly to al.
falfa hay, to the east of us there was
then, and is now. unbrokcn prairie for
touched agriculturally since creation.
Prices per acre for land, with water.