The Delta independent., 1920-12-24
STABILITY OF THE SUGAR BEET


safe and profitable farm product is
emphasized by the present unfortun-
ate condition of American agriculture
While other products of the soil have
shrunken in value, the Colorado beet
growers, under their contracts with
the sugar companies and factories,
have continued to receive the war
price for their beets. although they
will most probably lose the bonus that
would have been realized with higher
rates for sugar.
The war price paid the sugar beet
growers this year, amid the shrinkage
in corn, wheat, cotton, barley. oats,
potatoes and other products, stands
out as a prominent feature, the beet
growers making good money while
farmers raising other crops have suf-
fered heavy losses. The sugar beet
industry has proven benefactor to
the Colorado farmer, adding many mill
lions of dollars in return for cultiva-
ton Nothing in the history of Ameri-
can agriculture better shows per-
manence of value and stability for the
sugar beet than in the events of the
year. 1t is one of the best, if not the
very best, to which the farmer may
put a wise use of his lands. when
available for that industry, as good
part of Colorado is SO considered.
Herein comes another fortunate fea-
ture for the beet grower-there is no
middleman to absorb profits before
the beets reach the factories. Wheat,
~ ha zhinna6
to the uttermost parts of the earth,
or from other countries to our own,
as shown by the flooding of our ma
ton with Canadian wheat. But the su-
gar beet reaches the factory by short
hauls, even on the railroads. AS the
United States produces less than
third of the sugar-either from beets
or cane-used in this country, there
is no danger of over-production II we
enact a tariff that will prevent heavy
and cheap shipments from Cuba and
other outside regions. We have stifled
our sugar beet industry through free
trade or low tariffs, by increasing the
Cuban crops many fold, and thus en-
riched the Cuban planters to the loss
of the Colorado and Western beet
grower.
But the world war saved the sugar
situation in Colorado and the West,
both for the beet farmer and the fac
tory. A tariff will continue this con-
dition and stimulate enterprise in our
sugar beet industry.
In the winter and spring comes the
usual agitation as to acreage and con-
tract prices for sugar beets. 1t Is
matter for the grower and the factory,
without the middleman.
AS the consumer and the general
public well know, neither the sugar
beet raisers nor the sugar factories
are engaged in this business for their
health or for special charitable pur-
poses The farmers and the sugar
companies are interested in this in
dustry to make money, and the animal
tilt Is now on. Both the beet growers
and the factories lay their plans to
make money. But whatever the result
or the terms of the contract, the his
tory of the industry shows that there
is no safer, surer or more remunera-
tive farm product than the sugar beet.
It is the only one that amid the pre-
sent agricultural depression has been
held and maintained at war prices.
Owing to the unsatisfactory out
look as to sugar prices, the Great
Western Sugar Company has discon-
tinued improvements and construc'
tion Of new plants in the sum OF $4'-
600, 900. The sugar industry must be
stabilized by tariff sufficient to pro-
tect this western industry against the
importations of cheap sugar Then the
sugar companies and the beet far-
mers will be afforded a more substan-
tial basis upon which to make con-
tracts Rocky Mountain Herald.