The Portland daily press., 1879-04-14
Beef-Su2ariu Maine.

The most novel and possibly the most impor
tant agricultural experiment ever tried in tn,
United States is the attempt now fairly com
menced in the State Of Maine to manufactur,
sugar from beets. A combination of Portland
and Boston capitalists, attracted by the bount,
/ offered by the Maine legislature of one cent pc
lb., invested $4,000 last year in special ma
chineIy, and leased the Forest City Sugar Re
finery to Portland for the conversion of I0O(
tons of beets into sugar. The result proving
satisfactory in quantity and quality, the CAPT
tai has been doubled, and an active canvass i!
now making among the farmers living within
five miles of railroad or water communications
The Maine Beet Sugar Co. proposes to CON
tract for 1000 acres of beets. With the expert
ence and results Of last year as guide, they
expect to work at least 100 tons of baets daily
for 120 days commencing next October.
i The great question to be solved is whether
American farmers are able or willing to raise
sugar beets when a cash market is provided
at price and in quantities sufficient to Justify
the large investment in machinery which is
needed to make sugar at profit. Hitherto no
such cash market has existed. Now, for the
England by the enterprise OF the Maine Beet
Sugar Company. Strange as It may seem, the
farmers of Maine will scarcely furnish the
whole amount required, although the price of.
fered is % per cent higher than was paid last
year. or is paid in Europe. Fortunately, how.
ever the interest is growing. Within flew
weeks Populations of turner's have visited Port.
land from New Hampshire ard Massachusetts,
proposing to unite 10 raising beets for the Com
pany. The liberality of the railroads, by making
special rates, has greatly extended the area of
available territory, and it is not impossible that
the valleys of the Conf ecticut and the Nashua
rivers may contribute their quota to the product
of 1879
The quantity Of sugar made by the Maine
Beet Sugar Co. last year was about $50, 900 lbs.
At the liberal prices paid fer beets and at the
recent low prices Of sugar it will be necessary
to do business of the amount indicated above
to affords satisfactory profit. But the officers
of the company hope and expect to be able to
do this.
Not the least among the advantages offered
to the farmers will be the return of the beet
pulp, after the water and sugar are extracted.
1t is estimated that one ton OF this pulp will
contain the solid portion of five tons of beets
In Europe this pulp is considered batter feed
than the beets, and is worth nearly one half its
weight in hay. The Maine Beet Sugar Co.
will return this pulp to the farmer for 81 per
ton at the factory, which will furnish the
means Of feeding thousands of cattle, sheep
and hogs throughout the winter months,
The railroads will carry back the pulp for 80
cents per ton.
The great want Of Eastern farmers is q
staple crop which will give them both cash and
cattle-feed, so that their soil will be improved
and not impoverished. This, the beet crop is "a
the farmers of Europe;-wby should it not be
so 10 New England?
The progress Of this new enterprise will be
watched with great interest not only here but
10 Europe. Seventy years ago beet sugar
was unknown 10 the markets of E1rope. Last
year the product of beet sugar was a million
and half of tons, worth at our present low
prices about two hundred million dollars. Ii
the United States can make its own sugar we
shall cease to be dependent on foreign nations
for one of the great necessaries of life, New
England farmers will cease to migrate West
ward, and agriculture will regain its pros
perity.
Ths works of the Maine Beet Sugar Co. are
admirably situated for the purpose. They
font both on railroad and on tide water
While vessels load and unload at their wharfs
the various lines of railroads run their cars
alongside the washing machineF, and des
charge the bets just where they are wanted
The saving Of handling thus effected is mat
ter of great i'm portancs where the weight and
bulk of the raw material are so great as in the
case Of sugar beet,. The Glass works have
been leased by the company 10 addition to ths
Refinery.
We are glad to learn that the leading agr
cultdrists of Maine ard of New England ar
heartily in sympathy with this movement ant
are giving it their practical support.