The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1916-10-06
SUGAR BEETS
WILL BECOME
PAYING CROP
Recorder Reporter Gets a
Fund of Facts Relative to
Industry in Interview
With M. r. Rays.

Last Wednesday in an interview with
Manager NJ R. Kays of the Idaho Ir-
rigation company, a representative OF
The Recorder learned that the Com
pany have been quietly testing out the
possibilities of sugar beet growing in
this locality, with results that are en-
couraging.
On account of scarcity of beet seed
last year some difficulty was expert
enced in securing quantity necessary
for the initial experiment. This OBJ
stacls was finally overcome. however,
and four small plots of ground were
planted, one near Shoshone, one on the
Dietrich tract and two on the Richfield
tract. On account of the continuous
cool weather, it appears, the best re-
suits were obtained here and at Die
trich, which have made excellent show
ings
Last week Vice-President and Gen
eral Manager Eccles of the Sugar
Company was in Burley and he and w.
A. Bulge, manager of the Burley fac
tory, visited Richfield last Monday and
under the escort of Mr.. Kays, made an
examination of the company's beet
fields here. These gentlemen spoke in
optimistic terms of this locality as
future beet-producing community, ex-
pressed satisfaction with the yield. the
quality and the general favorable re-
suits of the Company's experimental
efforts and declared without reserva-
tion their absolute confidence il the
ability of this section to produce sugar
beets in commercial quantity and quail
ity. This verdict, coming from men
who are abundantly equipped with both
general and technical knowledge of the
sugar beet industry in all its phases,
can not fail toEnspire confidence in the
hearts of our farmers who, now that
the trail for this new industry has been
blazed, will sssdredly grasp the oppor-
tunity to add another important chan
mel to their income.
Since 1912, the Minidoka project fac
tory handled the beets for the Twin
Falls tract, but the constantly increas-
ing acreage of this money making crop
demanded greater facilities and this
year factory double the capacity of
the Minidoka factory has been built at
Twin Falls. 1t is planned to erect one
near Rupert to handle next years
crop and it is more than likely fac
tory will be erected at Jerome two
years hence. These facts are quoted
more particularly to show what sugar
beet propagation is doing for other
parts of the state and how it is con-
tributing to the wealth and general
prosperity of those communities a
condition that, happily, can be dupli-
Gated here by cooperation.
Before we can hope to secure a fac
tory here or the cooperation of the
sugar company, however, it is up to US
to demonstrate our good faith with
guaranteed acreage. This is requi-
site demand that is invariable made in
every community in the United States
where factories have been located and
is admittedly just one.
Messrs. Eccles and Bulge talked en-
thusiastically about the beet raising
proposition while here. They will re-
turn to Richfield from San Francisco
in few days when they will 60 over
the project, noting conditions and get
ting lineup on the number of acres
that can be pledged for next year and
undoubtedly it will be their desire and
purpose to meet every farmer possi-
BILE at that time. If sufficient num-
Der of acres say !, ,000-can be assured
for next years operations, these gen
tlemen state that they will make ar
rangements for concessions on freight
rates, will put an expert man in the
field and otherwise lend all the assist
ance possible to the grower.
This is only matter of what has
been done can be done, - and while the
writer does not believe in "bombastio,"
"furioso" and over-excitement along
any line, there is nothing unique, Wis
ionary or uncertain about beet raising. |
It is merely business proposition that
has countlessly proved itself as a po-
tent auxiliary in community building.
One mead only have tract of land
where alfalfa has been grown to make
the start, and with the advice and help |
of the company's expert there can be
no excuse for failure. Even the seed,
we ynperstand, will be furnished where
necessary.
Every man town and country