The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-11-06
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year there was a blight that reduced
the tonnage considerable. One speak
er suggested that many of the large
land owners in the vicinity of the
factory are not raising any beets,
there being about $500 acres within
two and half miles of the factory
on which no beets are raised.
xMr. s. c. Rich said that he felt the
need of the increased tonnage for the
best interests of the factory and the
community at large, and that he was
one of those who had good beet land
and was not raising beets., He said
that he had never been able to con-
vince himself that he was qualified
to raise beets, and he had mot been
able to find anyone who would raise
them for him on his land. He had a
tract that had been put in to beets a
couple of years and now 1t was in
such fine condition the grain he
grew on it, grew too rank and fell
down. He supposed thatswas a just
retribution for not putting it in to
beets instead of grain. He wished
that some organization might be eff
fected through which people could be
brought in to farm these large tracts
of land and raise beets. He wanted
an organization to act as CONNER
cial club or something of the kind to
handle such work, and asked that
they consider making such an organ
ization at once and getting to work.
Mr.. Biethan said he thought the
farmers should be consulted further,
so we might know their wishes in
such matters. He did not think the
business men could voice the wishes
of the farmers, and wanted to wait
until the afternoon meeting and find
out what the farmers wanted, what
they preferred to do and what lines
they wanted to work on.
Byrd Trego said he thought the
importation of more people familiar
with beet raising would be great
aid in the problem, but asked If
somebody could explain why so many
of those went back who came here in
1904 and 1905 to do this very thing.
Many of them returned to the places
they came from and some of them
went away without paying their bills
going, nobody knows where, and
perhaps the communities they came
from when they came here were as
anxious to get rid of them as We were
to get them, and as anxious as we
are to know where they are and tc
get even with them.
Mr.. c. E. Kinney said the most OF
those who came in 1905 did not dc
we'll on account of the blight, and
perhaps they would have paid up bet
ter if the crop had been good. He
said the business men of Blackfoot
put up 100000 in coin to get the
factory here, and If sugar beets are
good thing to raise, which be believed
they were, the people of Blackfoo
could not afford to let the factory &c
away.
Before adjournment COMMITTEES
was appointed, of which D. H. Bic
than was chairman, to consider Wha
kind of an organization it was bes
to effect to work in, and to report a
the afternoon meeting, when it wa
expected that many farmers woul(
be present to discuss the situation.
Afternoon Session.
James Duckworth presided ant
K P. Brown was elected secretary.
At this meeting Mr.. Cutler re
some of the matters that wer
gone over in the morning, and in
vited those present to discuss tn
subject freely. Mr.. Whitmill o
Firth was present, and was aske'
to tell something of his experience
raising beets. He stated that he be
gan in 1904, and had raised from ]
tolls tons per acre, and that he ha
raised the best crops where he ha
given the most care to the prepare
ton of the soil. He said he did NO
ton of the soil. He said he did not d
he would have missed good thin
for he makes more on his beet Ian
than he does on anything else. H
said that IL tons per acre Nigh
pay a small profit over expenses, Blu
that he has been able to raise it t
fifteen or eighteen tons.
Albert Anderson was asked
speak, and he said he found bee
raising profitable, but he has to hal
them four and five miles, and that
his worst trouble. He thought it COS
about S45 an acre to handle tn