The Delta independent., 1908-03-20
SUGAR BEET
MATTERS
Everything Progressing Hamoni.
DUSTY. Satisfactorily and
Successfully.

Successfully.
Possibly prompted by little regret
that Delta secured the location of a
sugar factory first, Montrose and Olathe
papers came out last week rather pro-
testing against the signing of Delta con-
tracts by growers in that county. A
delegation of Delta business men visited
those places Saturday and, we under
stand, placed the matter in so favor
able light as to overcome this opposi-
ton and win for the Delta factory.
Properly understood, the growers
around Olathe have the same interest
in factory at Delta that other nearby
points have, for it is at their very door,
Naturally every town would like to
have its beet sugar factory, but at
present that is hardly thing to be ac-
complished. and Delta is, by long odds,
the central lacation for such a plant.
Grand Junction should not complain,
for it is more than fifty miles away, in
the center of broad valley section
which ought. properly encouraged, to
grow ample beets for its own supply.
The time was ripe for the location of
a new factory, and Delta, in the middle
of the best beet growing section of the
world, was and is emphatically the
place for it.
expressed this view and in well written
articles have congratulated Delta and
themselves upon the prospective Sc
curing of the factory, emphasizing the
belief that it meant almost as much
for their sections as it did for Delta, I"
which is literally true. While it will
bring all of the beet sections of Delta
county under the advantages of home
factory. it will do exactly the same for
those of Montrose county.
In the matter of prices, the contracts
for the Delta factory offer a guarantee
against any attempt at reduction for
three years, and this is important in
view Of the fact that in other parts of
The state . reduction from the Aat rate
Of e5 per ton to -. 50. and in most cases
= clause compelling SLIDING, has already y
been made.
We cannot help but reason that the
securing of the factory for Delta, along
with the favorable terms and condi-
tons, is exceptionally fortunate; that
all the requirements should be met as
promptly as possible. and that no single
straw ought to be thrown in the way of
the progress Of the plans as long as
they appear rs at present represented.
Last Saturday train load Of Mont
rose people came to olathe to attend u
meeting there to protest against the
Delta beet sugar three-year's contracts,
believing. rs they expressed it, that
the signing Of such contracts by growers
would interfere with getting a factory
at Montrose. At the Olathe meeting
views were exchanged and the matter
fully discussed. After hearing Judge
Welch on the part Of Delta, a better
understanding of the matter was ad-
mitted and the meeting closed with
harmonious feeling. the Delta contracts
for Montrose county being amended to
release in case a factory be secured for
that county during their period of ex-
istence. 1t was explained by Judge
Welch that the establishment of a fact
ory at Delta and consequent encourage
ment Of the beet growing industry,
would do more than anything else to
cause q demand for other factories.
As matter Of fact, the interests of
growers ought not to be made subserv-
lent to the ambitions of towns. but
should be advanced as best they can by
locations. There are farms in Mont
rose county 10 miles closer to Delta
than Montrose, and their product would
probably come here IL there was fac.
tory at both places.
The contract price is advantageous,
judging from the experience of growers
in tine northern part of the state, who
have had constant warfare with the
American Beet Sugar company fol
years in an effort to keep up the con.
tract price Of IS per ton and who have
only part Of the time succeeded.
As for the argument advanced that
3.year contracts would hinder land sales
that is nonsense. Any money-making
proposition farmer can tie to his
property will help it to sell, IL he hap
pens TO want to sell.