Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 September 1901 — RAILROAD NEWS. [ARTICLE]

RAILROAD NEWS.

MR. SEAGRAVES LOCATES 200 FAMI LIES IN COLORADO. Coma from Northern Europe to Bnloo Sugar Boot*. Mr. C. Jj. Seagraves, passenger agent of the Santa Fe, has returned from the sugar beet district of Colorado, and completed arrangements to locate two hundred families from northern Europe, the first fifty families to locate near Holly, about October 20. Mr. Seagraves said: “The leader of the colony is an expert agriculturist, and has visited and carefully investigated all sections of the United States, and pronounced the Arkansas valley the most promising of any section visited, on account of the superb climate, rich soil and the most perfect irrigation system in the world, backed by a reservoir supply with sufficient water to irrigate all the lands for two years without a drop of rain, thus insuring the farmers against failure of crops. After the first movement the balance will follow as fast as homes can be provided for them." Mr. Seagraves advises that the farmers in the valley are very prosperous, and as that section will be densely populated and brought up to a high standard of cultivation, it will In five or six years become the richest and most prosperous community in the country. He says: “Sugar beets are a very profitable crop for the farmer and the only drawback is the laborious work in the thinning season which lasts about two weeks. This feature, however, is being overcome by labor brought Into the valley from New Mexico, who contract to thin beets at so much per acre. “In the vicinity of Rocky Ford, where the land has been cultivated extensively, it is possible under only fair conditions to raise twenty tonß of beets to the acre, while thrifty and industrious farmers grow from twentyfive to thirty tons to the acre, and in some instances as high as thirty-five tons. “The price of beets is determined according to their sugar content, the average being about $5 per ton. The cost of growing beets, including all labor, seed, as well as harvesting the crop in the fall Is about $25 per acre, leaving the farmer $75 or more profit an acre for his beet crop. "The Arkansas valley of Colorado is considered the ideal sugar beet country, as they grow more tons to the acre and contain a larger percentage of sugar than beets grown anywhere in the world. The Rocky Ford factory is now rearranging some of its machinery, the beets being so rich they will not submit to the usual methods employed at the other factories. “Cantaloupes are also a very profitable crop, and many growers estimate they will pay SIOO an acre net. I saw two and one-half acres near Rocky Ford that yielded, the grower one thousand dollars. This wan on rented land of which the jDwner received onethird of the crop. This may be rather an exceptional case, but it proves what intensive farming will do. “Alfalfa, as well as small grains, do well and are profitable crops to grow. Vegetables of all kinds, poultry and dairy products command good prices, and a ready market in Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo and the mining camps. “Lands in the vicinity of Rocky Ford, hefore the erection o t the sugar factory, that sold for thirty-five, forty and fifty dollars an acre, are worth today from one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty dollars an acre. The question is what is land worth that will net over and above all expenses from seventy-five to one hundred and twenty-five dollars an acre? “Lands in the Holly district and the very choicest In the valley and under a most perfect system of irrigation, with a never failing supply of water, a perpetual water right going with the land is selling at thirty-five dollars per acre, with ten per cent down and the balance In seven years at six per cent The company will also build houses, barns, etc., on which they require fifty per cent down and the balance in seven years at six per cent. “The Dunkards and Mennonites are now colonizing large tracts of lands, while other settlers Eire pouring into the valley from all over the country, the valley from all over the country.— Topeka State Journal, Sept. 2, 1901.