The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-02

from the receiving station. To the
farmers was given the right of select
ing the men who weigh and receive
, the beets, all the factory asking being
that trustworthy and reliable men be
named. All beets contracted for would
be received, even if no call for them
should be made. The last delivery
al any of the receiving stations was
November Is. If any remained on the
hands of the grower after that date,
all he had to do was to deliver them
at the factory and he would receive
his money, SIS a ton, as the factory
was compelled to accept them.
In replying to questions in which
manner production of beet sugar
would benefit the farmer aside from
the money he received for his beets,
Mr.. Shaw said that the pulp was con-
sioered one of the best of feeds for
fattening stock, particularly when
combined with alfalfa. At all of the
factories in Colorado large feeding es.
Establishments were maintained. "You
may not know it," he said, "but right
here from Billings no fewer than SO,
0OC sheep were shipped this fall to
the reeding pens at the Colorado beet
sugar factories. 1t takes lots of hay
to feed these animals and the many
others shipped there from elsewhere.
Before the sugar factories were in op-
Grafton you could buy alfalfa hay in
the stack down there for $3.50 or So a
ton. Now it is worth $5."
Getting back to the cost of produc-
ton, Mr.. Shaw said that it amounted
to S3S.75 an acre in Colorado. This in
cluded everything, labor, seed, irriga-
tion and delivery at the receiving sta
ton. The tops, which the Russians re-
moved when they pulled the beets, at
fcrded considerable source OF in.
clme to the grower, as they made ex-
cel.ent fed. In Colorado those VINO
did Ect feed them themselves we're
paid $3.50 an acre for the privilege OF
running stock on the land after the
beets had been hauled off.
Must Have Contracts.
Mr.. Shaw said there was one thing
he wanted to impress particularly on
the minds of the farmers. That was
the absolute necessity OF having con-
tracts with the factory. Not pound
OF beets would be received from any
one who had not contracted for them
in advance. 3 He made this statement,
he said, for the reason that he had
heard of several parties who had ex-
pressed their intention of not making
contracts at this time but would grow
beets all the same. 1T would be un-
fair to the men who have contracted
and obligated themselves to grow GER
tain amounts of beets if we were to
take those of men who are under no
such obligations" he added.
Mr.. Parker Gives His Observations.
w. o. Parker, who was one OF the
committee that went to Colorado to
look into the matter, made short
talk. He said he spoke as a farmer
and from farmers point of view. I'm
til he he had seen for himself he could
not have believed the real facts. The
farmer, said Mr.. Parker, would be
benefited primarily because of the
money he would realize from the sale
OF beets and the large profit to be
made from each acre of land. The
business man would be benefited be-
cause of the increased demand for his
wares, and the laborer would be bene-
fitted because of the greater demand
for his services. 1T means more for
all OF us" he said. We will need more
help on sthe farms, more horses to do
our hauling, cultivating and plowing.
This means that we will raise better
horses and therefore can sell them
for better prices than we are now get
ting. Some of the farmers hereabouts
are little slow in signing contracts
because they do not as yet under
stand the situation. Those of us who
have been down in Colorado are
little more familiar with it. We have
seen the great benefits the industry
brings to all in the community. We
visited many farmers and tried hard
to find one who was dissatisfied, but
were unable to find as much as a sin
gle one. All said the company treated
them fairly and honestly and did
everything it promised to do. In
some of the places we visited we were
told that now since they had learned
and understood they were willing to
Day a large hOnuS for tho establish