The town's name
was changed to Delta at the behest of the new company in 1911, and the
extended land sales boom directly stimulated its growth as well. By
1912 boxcars loaded with farm equipment, furniture, and sometimes even
livestock were unloading in great numbers. While most intended to locate
on their new farms, the local newspaper noted that the area around the
depot looked like a camping ground because of the large number of settlers'
tents. Before the boom ended there were seven hotels along with several
restaurants and livery stable operations established mainly to serve
the potential land buyers who continued to flock to the area throughout
the decade.
Delta area soils
were of the proper composition for good sugar beet production. After
several years of experimentation, area farmers agreed to plan sufficient
beet acreage to induce the southern Utah Sugar Company to construct
a large sugar factory at Delta. It went into operation in 1917 and enjoyed
good output for several years. But partly because of drought, waterlogging
of frequently irrigated land, and the decline of beet prices, and particularly
the fantastic profits being earned from alfalfa seed crops at the time,
the plant closed and was eventually dismantled and moved away.