The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-25
TE:= SUGAR GROWERS.
Proceedings OF the Seventh Annual Con
veution OF the National Sugar Growers
Association.

Proceedings OF the Seventh Annual Con-
veution OF the National Sugar Growers
Association.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Decemb er Is.
The seventh annual meeting of the Ma
tional sugar Growers Convention was
opened yesterday morning in the board-room
;it the Polytechnic. Colonel y. j. Colman,
President of the Association, was in the
chair. Mr.. f. y. Gillespie, of Edwardsville,
acted as Recording Secretary.
The members present were: o. 6. Powell,
River Falls, Wis; ~ J. Decker, Fond dI Lac,
Wis; u. Day, Jr., Buffalo, y. Y; Z. W. DEM
ing, Lafayette, Ind; Is. Bonas, Coulterville,
Ill; VIM. Cobb, Whitehall, Ill; 5. q. Stur-
land Quarry, Ia; W. Z. McQuade, Swanwiek,
Ill; j. II. Wilde, Washington, Ia; Jas. Col
gate. Stendal, Ind; y. ). Folger, Washington
la: I. j. Cross, shiloh Hill, ILL.,; j. j. Bald
win, Neoga, ILL.,; John Lowe, Johnsonville,
ILL.,; Prof. NJ. \. Scovell, Champaign, ILL.,; j.
T. REMOVER, Bolivar, Mo-; John II. Longmar,
st. Louis; Chas. Rauch, Virden, H.; VIM. Z.
Schwarz, Edwardsville. H.; C. NJ. Schwarz,
EdwardsvilIe, ILL.,; H. L. Mallory, Abilene,
kans.. and c. ". Belcher, st. Louis.
THE OPENING ADDRESS.
In his opening address the President al
luded to the Importance of the sugar-grow
ing industry of America and the prospects
for the further development OF the sorghum
branch OF that industry. America, he said,
was able to produce its own sugar, perhaps
not Immediately. but in the near future. Su-
gar growing, like grain growing, fruit grow
ing and stock growing, was q branch OF agrl-
culture. The Southern cane f1ourished in the
Gulf States. Sorghum succeeded well all
over the country, but in some ATTITUDES bet
ter than others. 1t was but few years ago
that factories were established for the manu-
facture of sugar out of sorghum. 1t was
claimed that sugar could not successfully be
made from the plant. few enterprisinS
men embarked in the business, and sugar
had been made-and the best of sugar, too,
in every instance when it was the object
sought.
Early in their career they made sugar
proiitabIy. With increased experiences the
way would have opened to them to increased
profits and the Northern sugar industry
would nave soon been put on secure
foundation. AS though the recent great
fall in prices was not in itself SuIllcIeht
calamity to American sugar interests, IL was
now proposed to form a sort of RECIPROCITY
treaty with Spain, and TO open the poItS oi
Cuba and Porto Rico to America ana aulnlt
sn.r;,r grown on those islands free OF duty.
il that treaty were ratified the United states
Government would lose S00,OOO,OUO OF uuly
collected on sugar, and still the price OF
sugar would not be leSsened, as the spanish
planters would sell no lower tnan Just 10
shade the price OF sugar IN other markets.:
The $50, 600 900, too, would have TO be colIecteu
from duties imposed on other commodities.
The Spanish planters would therefore derive
all the benefit and the American consumers
would be no better of. The AMERICAN sugar
industry would be sacrificed to Dullu up the
interests of the Spanish planters.
What was now needed among sorghum
growers was greater economy in manage
ment until period OF better prices lor suSsiI
prevailed. Prices could not long remain as
low as they were at present. In conclusion
he assured the Convention that there was u
bright future for the sorghum industry, anu
urged the members to continue IT'S cuitt va;
ton rs before long they would receive d lalr
recompense for their outlay ana LABOR.
Among the correspondence was a letter
from Mr. II. w. Wiley, Chief Chemist OF the
United States Agricultural Department aV
Washington. 1t was dated from New Orleans,
December 18th, and was as follows; i SEM
You Yesterday Il box of candies mate from
sorghum. They are samples OF coIiG H;,;o1
which the Department has on exhibition III
the Worlds Fair here. desire you 10 pre-
sent these sweets to the Cane growers Con,
vention with my compliments anu nope
that all the members will eat ana De happy.
There was 2 discussion as 10 the auflS
biitv of publishing an official report OF tne
of the & invention. cltlm'ttely
the matter was referred TO a cOnlInlttce, "no
that an official report DC pup
lished. The Convention adopted the com
mittee's recommendation.
REPORTS FROM STATES.
Mr.. A. J. Decker, of Iowa, reported that
300 600 gallons of sirup had been raised i'll
that state during the season, and also gave
the Convention some interesting information
with regard to an improved process for deal
ing with the semi-syrup.
Mr.. Folger, of Iowa, exhibited working
model of the machinery used in the new
process, and gave further information with
regard to it.
Mr.. Powell, for Wisconsin and Minnesota,
enortpd that in his immediate neighbOrhOOd
The weld of syrup had been about $50 gallons
per acre Farmers who were raising cane had
recouped their losses in the previous dlsas-
truus season, and in the coming year intend
to largely extend the area on their farms de-
voted to cane growing.
Mr. F. W. Dee:ning, of Lafayette, Ind, re-
nOrted that cane growers in his neighbour
hood had averaged from nine 10 sixteen tons
per acre, yielding syrup to the amount OF
lI.S gallons per ton.
Mr. J. j. Baldwin, of Cumberland County,
Illinois said the Weld in his district had been
He had 4 home market for all
his produce Mt the rate of forty cents per gal |
lon He had made Il good return out OF his
cane crop.
MIR. Charles Rauch, of Yirdin, ILL.,, reported /
that fifty acres of cane on his farm had yield
ed Il 900 1allonS of syrup, which he had SOLD
at the rate of forty cents per gallon.
Prof Scovell reported that in kansas the
cane grown had not been as good as it was in
the previous year. The market had also been
Indifferent and prices very low. syrup had
sold rs low as fifteen cents per gallon, us /
with twenty five ana forty cents il
the prev Jus year.