Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-01-24
Subecriptioa Ratos.

The pubic meetings heiu TOT ois'
cussion of such important questions
as that of the profit or loss IN the
growing of beets in this Valley ought
to be as much as possible in the na,
turc OF campaigns of education" and
as little as possible opportunities i9r
what is more forcibly than elegantly
termed "chawin' the rag" More es-
pcciall should they be made. as little
as need be the chance for feu and
ranting exhibitions of limited knowl-
edge on the subject discussed. Still
it is one of the virtues OF free
speech" that it saves some people
from bursting. So the chair should
not put the lid on too promptly next
Saturday.
With a view to contributing rs
much rs possible to the intelligent
discussion OF n problem tina; IS very
vital to the well-bcing OF the people
of this yicinity-thc problem OF eet
sugar making-,hc Enterprise has.
asked Manager WictZer Of the 4. 3.
5. Co 10 express through our coll
unns his views OF the present status
nf the beet sugar industry IN gcncr-
NJ and the matters in debate between
our farmers aud the factories OF the
valley in particular. Mr.. WietEeT re-
fcEs Us TO the circular lct,cE lie is now
sending out to farmers n his state
ment OF the latter phase OF the mat
ter: and we reproduce it elsewhere.
That the growers and the factory
people will get together on mutual
Is profitable basis for the coming
season is deyoutly TO be hoped; and
they surely will. As to who shall
make the larger share OF profits is
no; matter that any public meeting
can determine. but that IL may do
something toward making the re-
turns TO the grower somewhere COM
mensursic with his Investment of la
Dor and capital Is not expecting too
much.
During the fiscal yea. closing las,
June VIC used in this country the
enormous amount, OF 6.soo.ooo.ooo
pounds OF sugar. II each citizen got
his fair share during the twelve
month he consumed 20 pounds. Ow-
ing to the gfoeerS trust. and other
con .tions Of circumstances over
which tlic consumers had no control.
very lew OF them probably got al
they wanted. Bu, OF this total con-
sumption OF sugar only onc-iiih was
produced IN the United States; one.
fifth came from our island posses
sions and ;hrce.iii,hs came from for
cign countries. o; the home pro-
duced Sugar little over onehait was
made from bccts. And this va, the
arst year that our beei-kugsr exceed.
cd our cane product. Taking 4 per-
iod OF ten years las, past the in
crease IN the consumption OF sugar
has been three times as great as the
increased domestic production. Il,
would seem from this that there Is
no grca; and immediate danger OF
Cutting the market with sngai. The
rcadiucs, with which out legislators
have enacted sugar bounty lass and
kept up protective customs Tcsuls-
iions waGid Indicate ihis It Is ono OF
the infant industries We asr bound 10
encourage. Tho danger would rath.
CT seem TO be that IN the exceeding
" nuiTiiivc value o: sareharinc the
baby may die OF plethora.
What amy particular sugar factory
in any particular locality will do as
to pFohi OF loss Is doubtless largely
determined by the Cih.scney Cf ths
incP' mans cement. The general prof
its OF beet sugar maEsu,. have been
dcmonsirabiy large cisc capital
would not have been so freely drawn
capital was not always entrusted TO
capable OF experienced hands Is very
likely. and so some espi'al has been
wasted and lost. This is simply the
equivalent in the productive world OF
the inefficient farmer wh1 loses mon.
cy ON growing bccts. Il settles moth.
ing as to general profits OF the busi.
ness
But what the local beet grower has
in general to consider = that the
area oi beet growing land Is stili au
exp usiNc quantity iu -!'ss Arkansas
Valley. II beet land were fixed
and limited quantity the man who
owned i would have a ID sad cinch"
on the factory: for he would control
the raw material of beet sugar and
could FIX his own price. As tic sit.
nation stands at present. t!c factory,
with n large market and shc same
opportunity as ihc farmer to own or
rent land. has something of the ai.
vantage and will probably continue
to take more toll for the amouut oi
toll than the producer Of the crude
product This is about where tho
beet grower will fud himself when in
meeting assembled or At home.
he has thrsshcd the question ont ra.
tiuralIy With increasing population
in ihc valley he has more ard cheap
cr labor 10 compete with. ard as the
soil grows thinner he is ha-dls likely
70 grow thicker from best suitGrc
But the factory wheels will hardly
stHp. They will simply make the
best contract possible in the ceonum.
Is conditions under which both tho
factory and the farmer for the tine
exist.
u,,,t et,,.... IT.. a.,