Gordon Beet Dump on the Sugar Beet RR
In 1916 a branch of the LA&SL Union Pacific railroad way built west and
north of Delta so sugar beets could be loaded in rail cars and hauled into the
Sugar Factory in Delta. The Sugar beet Railroad was removed in 1932 from this
area, but you can still see many of the concrete posts used to fence the railroad
right of way.
The Gordon Beet Dump was at mile marker 9.3 on the railroad. It provided access
to the railroad for farmers in the Woodrow area. The beet dump is located about
an 1/8 of mile north of here. There are a several blocks of concrete used for
footings for the beet dump left over in the brush north of here.
In a 1923 booklet which was used to promoted the area the follow was said about
the Woodrow area.
Leaving Sutherland, you travel over a hard graveled surface highway, pass
many fine farms to Woodrow, which is five miles from Sutherland. A well equiped
school house is located in this town it being the educational center for the
farmers who live in that vicinity. Mr. Lafayette Morrison, conducts a general
merchandise business in a fine store building, supplying the needs of the
community.
The railroad spur starts from Delta and runs north through these three towns
to Sugarville. This affords the farmers three shipping points from which they
can send their crops to the mail line on the Union Pacific Railroad. At each
town there are constructed loading platforms and beet dumps.
A small metal plaque has been placed near the cache to mark the beet dump.
The is a clue here that can be used to find the Sugar Beet Railroad cache.