The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-08-26
A FARMERS REFERENDUM,


Chance for Them to show Whether
or not they take Wideawake In
terest In their own real Prosperity.
A question which means much for the
future of the agricultural interests Of
Shiawassee county will come before the
farmers of the county within few
days. 1t is a question about which
much has been heard for the last three
or four years but one which on account
of an unfavorable season last year was
not answered as THE TIMES believes it
should have been. 1t is the question of
what Shiawassee county is going to do
with sugar beets.
There is no use in wasting time dis
cussing at any length the poor results
of many crops of beets year ago. 1t
was simply most unfortunate that many
lost money on the crop which they put
in and that many more made but small
profits on the same. The season was
one of the worst for such crops that the
county ever endured. The labor con-
ditions were as bad as the weather. 1t
was not at all to be wondered at that
many who undertook to raise beets
year ago fought shy of the experience
this year. But there are good reasons
for taking hold of the matter for next
year with renewed spirit. The Sugar
Company is about to begin its canvass
for next years acreage, and it is well to
consider at least one or two reasons
why the farmers of the county should
give the company and the crop another
fair trial.
In the first place there is absolutely
no doubt that under conditions which
any other crop demands for a good profit
there is good profit in raising sugar
beets. The crop of this summer is GO
ing to carry convincing proof of this
statement as have crops in other coun-
ties in preceding years. 1t is profit
able one in other countries at much
lower price per ton than that paid here
and the American farmer, who is the
brainiest farmer on EARTH can, by using
his American thinker with his work,
raise beets at as small a cost and as big
profit as any farmer on earth. In
stances could be given almost without
number, where Michigan farmers with
land no better than Shiawassee county
farm land and brains no clearer than
Shiawassee county farmers brains, have
made big money with sugar beets.
What has been possible and profitable
for them is possible and can be made
highly profitable to Shiawassee farmers
if they will only show their customary
persistence and intelligence in giving
the crop a fair. trial. The first reason
then for asking the farmers Of the coun-
ty to be prompt in contracting for acre
age. when the company's representa-
tives come to them in the course of the
next few weeks is that it is bound to be
profitable for them to raise this crop
and the sooner they master the details
of the successful raising of the beets the
sooner they are going to get the benefit
of the industry which they should en-
Joy. So much faith has the company
itself in the proftableness of beet rails
ing for sugar that over $300,00 |
has already been invested by the
in purchasing and fitting its
Prairie Farm for the raising of the crop.
And there is another reason why the |
farmers should deal generously with the
next year. Even if they had
not the testimony of farmers in other |
parts of the state and in other states, to |
the profitableness of the crop under fav-
orable conditions, there would still be |
an obligation on their part to raise |
enough beets every year for several |
years to satisfy themselves from their |
own observations whether the crop
could be raised profitably by them or |
not. On the assurances of representa- |
tive farmers of the county the company
has invested three-quarters of million
Of dollars in the big factory in this city
with the expectation that the farmers
were enterprising, persistent and intel
ligent enough to realize the profits to |
them in the new industry to raise the
needed supply of beets for the factory. |
The factory is now erected and is a
model of completeness. 1t cannot be
however, unless it can be
with the beets. If Shiawassee
farmers continue to allow themselves to |
be the victims of their first years dis
and refuse to try again
and try with their very best determine
ton to make the crop success there is
no question of the eventual
tearing down of the big factory and it's
removal to another locality where more
is shown and more apprecia-
ton for opportunities offered.
Shiawassee county has smaller pop
ulation today as shown by the census
just completed, than she had five years
ago. If Shiawassee county farmers
Lo1ro - 90 fba ox~,o,t,..l.-I