The Delta independent., 1921-04-22

operated this year, and that one will
undoubtedly be at Grand Junction, for
the company would not haul beets
from the Grand valley up hill to Del
ta when it can haul all the beets
from this section down grade to
Grand Junction.
The announcement has already
been made that but one of these fac
tories will be operated this year Nn
less the men who grew beets last
year get busy right away and decide
to put in beets instead of something
else. And the time is SO short 1t is
not probable any considerable amount
of additional acreage that Is now be-
ing subscribed will be signed up.
Farmers say the contract offered
by the Holly company is not favor
able one, but it is doubtless just as
favorable as the contract offered by
any other sugar company, and for this
reason also they will not grow beets.
They might about as well say that
because they did not make money last
year on potatoes and wheat and
onions, they will not put in any crops
at all this year. Because they failed
to make money on a certain crop last
year is not a good sign they would
lose money again this year, but their
reasoning seems to be that way at
any rate.
And what has become of the bust
ness men Of the two towns, and far
mers, who worked their heads off
last year. to get factory estab-
lished some where in the valley?
Now that the factory was actually
constructed and Mr.. Carlton and his
associates forced to spend at least a
half million dollars more that the fac
tory would have cost during ordinary
times, we seem to have forgotten that
the factory must have beets to In
sure the prosperity of the industry,
and we have apparently gone to sleep
on the job. If the factory gets suffi-
cient acreage to run this year it is
all right-if it does not, it is all right
anyway, it is not anything for our
business men or farmers to worry
about. The fact that they forced Mr..
/ Carlton to erect the factory does not
seem to make any particular differ
ence to them-they are not worrying.
But, are we doing right? Have we
not gone to sleep on the job? Should
we not have gone out and assisted
the Holly company to secure greater
acreage? Should we not have urged
our farmers to grow beets?-should
We not have put on another drive for
beet contracts?
| What do you think about it? It
might not be too late yet, IL Montrose,
Olathe and Delta would get busy
RIGHT NOW. Seems to us it's worth
trial.
II we remember correctly the money
paid to the beet growers of the I'm,
compahgre and Gunnison valleys was
about the only ready, cash-in- -the-first
money they received last year. 1t was
the money that carried them thru
when they had no sale for any Other
crop. or had to wait long time fol
their money from the other crops.
If we remember correctly, the Hol
ly company. at its Delta and Crane
junction factories, paid out nearl,
nine hundred thousand dollars to the
growers of the western slope ant
about that much more for operation
and maintenance, besides furnishln,
employment to large number o
people. The absence OF this none,
during the present year. unless ther
is vast change from the present 81,
uation, will be taken from the leeit,
mate channels of business and Will
be seriously felt in farm as well n
business circles
Looking at the present situatio,
from the standpoint of justice. 1t doe
not appear right that We would prat
tfcally soerce the Holly Sugar col
poration into building such a larg
plant and spending such a vast sur
OF money. and the very first yea
thereafter lay down on the lob. lie
the machinery remain idle and tn
smokestacks unsmoked. There is
mighty small measure of Justice 4
such a proceeding.
We are anxious to get capital [,
Invest in our respective towns. bu
II we treat them all like the Holl
corporation is being treated. we ar
not likely to progress very far in tn,
direction of interesting capital in an,
venture that we offer 1t.
This is vital matter that we ough
to be thinking about right now-w
should have thought OF 1t before-an,
1t would be the wise thing to do I,
get the Montrose. Delta and Olath
commercial bodies together NOW an,
interest ourselves along lines of aid
Ing this institution which has put III