The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-14

iooHed upon as an important state
! ment oil the sugar beet controversy,
wnich is now agitating the farmers of
lnis region. There are two sides TO
tne question. no doubt, and the farm
CTS are deserving OF all they can oo-
tAln In the way of reward for their
enorts In raising beets. but, on the
other hand. the sugar people are en-
utled to be heard before a final de-
cision Is made. This paper has pre-
sented the side OF the farmers, In an
open letter addressed TO David Ec-
oles, which appeared In these columns
ten days ago. The sugar company is
not disposed to go into print. but the
following facts have been gathered
from the books of the company and
from other sources. and are given in
the hope that SO important an indus
try as that OF beet raising and sugar
production will suffer no serious in
jury because OF the inability OF the
farmers and sugar people to come 10
an amicable understanding on their
points OF difference.
Twelve years ago the Ogden Sugar
Factory was built. At that time there
were about three canning facttrles.
AT this date there are in Weber
county. fourteen canning factories.
| These factories and the sugar factory
have good deal To do with making
| Weber county one OF the most flour
ishing counties of our state Before
| these factories were built many resi-.
dents Of Weber county were being
sold out for their taxes, making them
| pay cost of sale and interest.
At this date conditions have chang
cd for the better and the farmers ara
in much better circumstances. In
measure. what has done this? The
farmers raise tomatoes and fruit on
land suitable TO those crops and in
places where the frost does not strike
SO hard, and in heavier land and in
frosty places raise beets. tho beets
not being quite the risk In regard to
frost. The farmer Is In continual
fear of frost when raising a tender
crop, both In spring and fall, but not
so with beets.
At this date the farmers wish 10
have the price raised on sugar beets
by the Sugar company All wish tn
get a good price for what they have
to sell. The Sugar company. 1t is
stated, being compelled to send much
OF the sugar to the Missouri River
and farther, does not feel 1t can raise
the price, but the company offers the
farmers the privilege of either colt
tracing at n fiat rate or on n scale
In taking the beets on fiat contract
the company has accepted all beets
regardless OF size and some OF which
are low in sugar.
A committee of the farmers. six in
number. two from Hooper, two from
West Weber. one from Plain City.
and one from Riverdale met Mr.. Ec-
cles. They were by no means large
beet rnisers They had an acreage OF
ten acres each I'm 1909.
Others had 40 acres, one 35. one 30.
nine had % acres each and eleven
had 90 acres each One of these were
on this committee
Riverdale, the residence Of one com
mitteeman received 1909, S,104.
Plain City. the residence OF one
committeeman received 1909. s4S,75
West Weber, the residence OF two
committeeman received 1909, s60.SS0,
Hooper, the residence of two com.
mitteemen received 1909, SCI, ,S57
Wilson received from sugar beet5
in 1909, s2i 7O5
West Weber and Wilson supply the
greater number of men TO run the fac
tory. which costs the company about
$4,000 per month. This and the
beetS make 1t quite beneficial to tbaS
section
In talking with gentleman who
lives in one settlement, he stated that
since the farmers have raised boels
they have received their money In the
fall for their beets in time 10 pay
taxes and get IN their winter supplies.
and then are free TO keep their hay
and grain for better prices Years
ago this was different. The farmers
had to sell hay and grain for what
they could get. Some farmers NAV
get their minds turned so Shay Will
not raise beets this year. This will
not be anything new. Many fermers
have suffered frtm outside influence
and have prematurely agreed not 10
raise beets. II is said that the ag-
tator slips In and makes his contract,
or, he has done SO other years, and
has left those he has worked up not
to raise beets, TO hold the sack. so to
speak, for year OF two, Then they
start again.
Some farmers say they can make
moro raising potatoes. A farmer said
yesterday: II have found that poto,
toes are not the best crop 70 depend
on One year l may have a good
crop: then perhaps two or three years
there will be light crop Now. po.
tatoes are worth 80 cents per hun
dred II many raise them then the
price goes down Not so wi Ii 5eets. |
They are sold before they are
planted"
Some say they can make more RATS
Ing hay. Ii the farmers quit supply.
ing these factories. hay is liable 10
go down Hay Is not sold before 1t le |
raised, like sugar beets.
Some say they will plant Wheat. An
average crop of wheat is about 30 |
bushels per acre. 1t is worth in the |
fall about 90 cents per bushcl That |
would be $27 per acre 1t costs about |
S12 TO plow and harrow the land, |
seed it water II. harvest and thrash |
the wheat, leaving the farmec net |
about SIS per acre, Other croUs work |
out on similar basis.
Here are few statistics from the
books of the sugar COMPANY
The sugar beets raised for the Og- |