The Norfolk weekly news., 1900-07-26
SUPPORT 7 THE FACTORY
Norfolk Should Encourage
Sugar Beet Growing.
ADVANTAGES NOT APPRECIATED

The Factory Can Handle an Abundance of
| Raw Material ~ u IL Provided and ~
! should not he Permitted to CIose-It Ia
Important to All.
The crop Of sugar beets in this vicin.
ity is in very good condition, the recent
rains having given them n good start
that promises fine harvest this fall
In many Of the fields the work of cult
waiting has been completed and the
leaves so cover the ground that not u
weed can be seen, providing there are
any.
While there are many farmers who
devote a portion of their land to this
crop. there are not enough raised, and
if Nebraska desires to retain her prestige
as sugar beet growing state 1t is nee
essary tha, renewed interest be shown
by the farmers and that the industry be
given new impetus.
The factories have been improved far
in advance of the production. The Nor.
folk factory is now thoroughly equipped
with all the best and most modern ma.
chinery and its capacity has been con.
stantly increased so that it is now cap
able of handling large quantities of raw
material bus il is necessary that it he
given the material required, or not only
will the improvements cease and the
energies of the sugar men he directed to
other localities but it is within the range
of possibilities that the factory will he
closed down
1t Is now asserted and undoubtedly
| true that the factory Mt Grand Island
| will not be operated this year, owing
solely to the fact that not enough beets
have been raised to keep both plants
busy. If, under present conditions, the
company finds it convenient to close
down one of the sugar factories it will
be only question Of time, unless
greater production can be made, until
| they can afford to close both institutions.
Already, the fact is apparent that the
| company is not paying as serious atten.
tion to the Norfolk factory as formerly
and men are being withdrawn to work
in other territory.
Farmers have apparently hitherto
engaged in producing beets with a falls"
idea of earning capacity and ths ease
of the work. They have planted patch
one year and because it didn't prove as
entirely satisfactory as they had
expected they refused to 90 into it a
second time. This sort of production is
not profitable either to the farmer or
the factory people. 1t is the steady and
constant producer who wins. 1t takes
time to learn the best and surest
methods of planting, cultivating and
harvesting, and the man who gives the
time will be the one to win.
Diversified farming has ever been
recommended as of the greatest impor-
tance to agriculturalists and the beet
industry has opened new and profit
able field for diversifcatiou that should
not be ignored. The farmer who will
devote one to ten acres to the crop has
means of resource not to be despsed,
and in time he will come ont ahead of
the one who devotes his entire energie-
to raising corn, or cattle or small grain.
The manufacturers are showing their
ability to get along without the aid of
the farmer. They can direct their ener.
gies to other fields or other lines of work
with equal profit. But the question is
can the farmers and the community
afford to ignore the industry?
1t is none too early to begin thinking
of next years campaign. This years
work is practically settled and no
changes are likely, but with some effort
it may be possible to give the industry
next year the status it deserves.
There has been an opinion among the
farmers that they have not been fairly
treated by the factory people. Whether
they have good and sufficient grounds for
the complaint is not known. This much
is known That ordinarily farmer or
laborer is flways given the benefit of the
doubt when there arises any differences
between them and corporation and
they are accustomed to demanding
and expecting more from such a
company than they would from an
individual. Undoubtedly many farmers
have been Influenced not by per-
sonal i'll treatment but by the thought
that a neighbor or friend had not been
granted justice. 1t is well to analyze
these complaints and find out the truth,
If a producer has been robbed by a
company THE News would not urge
friendly relations, but il, on the other
hand, it should be disclosed that he has
been treated with fairness and consider
alton the truth should be made known.
The sugar industry in Norfolk should
not be allowed to 60 by default.
WANTED-Honest man or woman to
travel for large house; salary s65