The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-04-13
BEET SUGAR.
The Board of Trade Endorse the Pre-.
ject.


The committee appointed at recent meeting
OF citizens to confer with the committee on
manufactures of the Board of Trade, met that
committee yesterday afternoon, and long and
interesting session was held at the rooms of the
Board Of Trade. The committee of the Board
OF Trade organized by the choice Of W. s.
Dana, Esq, President, and Hon. W. W,
Thomas, Secretary. Mr. Dana presided at the
conference and first called upon Mr. Gennert
to explain his project to the gentlemen present.
He said the agricultural fact of the matter was
all right, and to show that the farmers were in
terested in the project he exhibited an enormous
pile OF letters he had received from all parts of
the state asking about the matter. He said
that farmers could raise beets for 81 ton and
haul them four or five miles to market. He
thought immediate action was necessary.
DR.. Henry B. Blackwell of Boston, said that
the cultivation of bsets in Massachusetts had
been very satisfactory. He thought that the
raising of beets for sugar in Maine was very
desirable thing to do, both for the farmer and
the capitalist. The farmers wanted newIcrop
which would pay them cash for their labor. 1t
would be of great advantage in this country if
we could raise the sugar which is annually i'm
ported from Europe. He said that he had Wis.,
tied Mr. Gennert when he was running beet
sugar factory in Illinois and he thought that it
was not at all strange that he failed 10 the en-
terprse as he conducted it. But as the new
enterprise was proposed he was willing to put
little of his money intoit He could not see
that there could be much risk, for no money
would bs paid until the beet would be deliver
ed. He would raise company and get $4,000
pledged conditionally, and then let Mr. Gen.
merit contract with the farmers for beets When
the beets are up commence to put up the fac
tory. and when they are delivered pay for them
and make the sugar, and Mr.. Hunt will be glad
to buy it at the market price to refine. Mr..
Gennert thinks this company will make $50
per cent. 1t may not do this, but it cannot fail
to pay. Think Mr. Gennert The best man in
America to run such factory.
DR.. Blackwell read q letter he had received
from Mr.. John Sparrow, President of the
Eagle Sugar Refinery. In 1868 this company
imported two barrels of sugar beet seed and
distributed 1t among farmers for planting.
Beets were received from all, and about twenty
samples selected for analysis. They gave from
O.oV w AZ w u CKySLailAdul0 SuS0Ls LILO aver
age of twenty tests was 1921. The calculations
of the farmers of weight of beets raiser per
acre vare1 from u to 36 tons, and the cost per
acre from 81 to So per ton.
The question of subscription of stock came
up and it was stated that the Messrs. Browns
had offered to lease their sugar house from May
LIST, 1873, to September LIST, 1879, for $4,000.
This includes the machinery, which is said to
be well adapted to the proposed use. The
owners will take $4,000 in stock if this offer is
accepted.
Messrs. Geo. s. Hunt, R. O. Conant and G.
P. Mattocks were appointed a committee to
select three gentlemen to canvass the city and
obtain subscription of stock in the proposed
company.
W. G. Davis was called upon for his opinion
of the matter and said that he thought the only
trouble would be to get the beets raised. He
knew the trouble he had experienced in getting
the farmers to raise sweet corn.
@. e. Jose spoke we'll Of the project, but
thought that it Should not be pushed too
hard.
Geo. E. B. Jackson said that if anything was
to be done it should be done at once. He be-
lieved it could be made success.
Geo. S. Hunt says the project will be a sue
cess if the beets can be raised. The Forest
City Refinery would be glad to buy all the raw
sugar made as it is the very best for refining.
No money is to be paid until the beets ara rails
ed and there need be no risk.
The committee to canvas for subscriptions
will commence their labors at once. and as &c.,
600 has already been raised. there is no reason
TO doubt but what the remaining $4,000 will
be speedily obtained.