The Greeley tribune., 1906-11-29
HAD Big TALK
FARMERS AND SUGAR OFF,
GALS MET SATURDAY
Went Into Various Phases of
Present and Future Condi-
tions in Beet Sugar
Industry

A committee of farmers and beet
raisers went to Denver last Saturday
to talk over with the sugar company
officials the present situation in the
beet industry in this section, and |
see If some means of saving the re-
mainder Of the crop could not be de-
vised, The committee was composed
of II G. Watson, Stephen A. Brad
field, John Rankin, Sol. Hopkins, N.
d. Bartholomew and R. W. Devin-
ney. They met c. S. Morey, Charles
Boettcher, c. A. Granger and III.
Timothy.
The matter OF car shortage, frozen
beets and the silo question we're gone
into pretty thoroughly, but about
the only practical thing done was the
formulating of plan for bettering
| llie Cdl oelNlSc. 1His VIII oc polle
by massing the cars available at
certain beet dumps on certain days
of the week. so that the farmers in
each particular section will be able
to unload without long waits and
thus employ the time between the
DAYS that the cars will be there at
some other work.
The sugar company will not allow
the farmers to deliver the frozen
beets at the dumps and unload them
ON the ground, claiming that the
beets would absolutely spoil IL
z large neaps. They are, however, ac'
cepting the frozen beets in such
quantities as can be handled almost
Immediately at the factory.
The question of Il spring run by
the factories in case the beets now
in the ground could not be harvested
was also touched upon and the
answer given by Mr.. Moley to this
was that if sufficient amount of
beets in good condition could be Sc
cured in the spring short campaign
might be run. This leaves the Ques-
tion too open for much consideration.
While the silo question for an
other year was not exactly on the
program for that meeting it was
brought up and Mr.. Bradtield offered
the suggestion as solution of the
matter that the company allow the
farmers to bring the beets to the
dump and have them weighed in and
pajd for the same as though delivered
at the factory and then the farmers
silo the beets in the vicinity of the
dump. If the sugar company would
not or could not secure the land
needed for this purpose the farmers
would, either by leasing or buying
the land. lie also proposed that
the farmers would have an organiza-
ton at each dump that would guar
antee the good faith of renters. who
mipbt otherwise be inclined to leave
the country after being paid for
their beets ana before the terms OF
the contract was fulfilled. The
farmers would then later load the
bcets on the cars as wanted by the
company. For this siloing the sugar
company should pay fifty cents a ton,
the same as though The beets were
snoed in the fields.
The only point of difference be-
tween company and farmers in the
two STYLES of siloing seems to be In
the matter of shrinkage in weight.
If the beetS are sliced in the field
and there is any considerable shrink
age the farmers have to stand 1t,
and if the beets are delivered at the
dump. paid for and then sliced, the
company has to stand the shrinkage.
Ry the latter form of siloing the
farmers would be able to harvest the
crop and secure their money for 1t
Immediately, and there would be
absolutely no delay in delivery. of
tie crop. This, Mr.. Bradtield says,
he believes is the solution of the
trouble in the beet business in this
section, and speaking for himself and
no believes for most of the farmers
In Pleasant Valley, that is the only
condition under which they will
grow beetS another year.
Mr.. Bradtield also states that the
farmers want an absolutely specific
contract on the matter Of siloing.
time of delivery of beets and on the
point, of frozen beetS and that both