GROWING SUGAR BEETS IN THE BILLINGS REGION. 29 
In other words, the additional cost is about $1 per acre for each 
mile of distance from the dump. In the case of hired hauling this 
additional difference is more nearly $2 per acre for each mile from 
the dump. . 
| 
TABLE VITl. Gee of hauling sugar beets in the Billings region of Montana 
m 1915. 
praES cost ot 
auling. 
: , Number | Beets 
Classification. of farms. | hauled. 
Per ton. | Per acre. 
See ee ee eee 
Hauled by grower: . Tons. 
Less than 14 miles (average 0.76 mile)... .....-.-- -------:- 112 39, 220 $0. 37 $3. 98 
tos mmilesiCaveracenleGsamiles) ae sacsas--n 52 = csc reece 100 29, 544 . 463 4.98 
oi LO semi esK(averacer2.Oill miles) Seecn ee ems one eee 65 18, 337 2544 5. 8d 
31 miles and farther (average 3.96 miles)..........-.-------- 12 3, 788 . 659 7.09 
AU farms, \ (average: SG.milles) seen s ee eee ene eee ae 289 90, 899 447 4,81 
According to the size of the crew: 
RTM AN ero MONSCSE aw neetsian erie eiae cones ioe Gein eine ele einen es 120 34, 897 402) ete 
Rrra TRS MA OTSES* cee, ays een is SS RUNDE ey bu ele co cle 30 8, 521 AOS ea ics oun 
PIT AMA ORSC SECU iia: ACU NON puma etn MMLC tw ls te ek bere 118 37, 859 VAG feet hehe 
GEITCT SHMONS Clerc rn ee ho oatas ee ee pee ane Meh 1 be Site 11 5, 021 ss eal EE a gy ul 
VIO Bere ey Re Pe preety phate ee. NL Vea ee ey ast call ain 10 4,591 My wall eas Seni 
NOH VEL Ae Sons CAC OR AL SAR SAL Me A ae oe 289 | 90,889 rt (al ae Sy eh 
Hired hauling: F 
Less ae igh miles (averace OFS8imile) sae su pase ee eee 4 847 61 6.56 
Is 102575 miles (av eragesle4G;milles) sere aeeer eae ee eee eee eee 12 3, 888 a. 8.07 
at to 33, miles (average DES SvTINI OS) eeacte as Sete ea Ny ee ee 3 137 1.00 10. 76 
ANT hinedk(averageul;b5amiles)heewe ss sees ake se see 19 4,872 Hd 7.85 
1 Excluding 19 farms from which the hauling was done under contract, as shown in the last part of the 
table under “ Hired TNT Y2 
HAND OR CONTRACT LABOR. 
The labor on the sugar-beet crop that is done by hand without the 
use of machinery consists of blocking, thinning, two hoeings, and 
pulling, piling, and topping the beets. About three-fourths of this 
labor in the Billings region is done by contract. The labor con- 
tractors make an agreement with the farmer to do all the handwork 
on the crops, receiving therefor a definite sum under a system which 
makes it to the interest of the contractor to cover as large an acreage 
as possible per day. Some growers try to counteract the tendency 
toward careless work by paying a bonus to the workers if the beets 
yield more than a certain tonnage per acre. This bonus system is not 
in general use, not having reached any definite or satisfactory basis, 
but it has features which recommend it. The basis now varies accord- 
ing to the different ideas as to what it should be. 
In cases where there is any disagreement, the factory: agricultural 
force supervises and looks after the fulfillment of the contracts be- 
tween the farmers and the laborers. Most of the contract laborers 
in this region are Russians or Belgians. 
A great deal of this work is done by the children of the families 
of the men doing the hand labor. Women also are employed in the 
4 
