The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-06-02
ABOUT BEET SUGAR.

The beet sugar industry has not
prOspered in the United States for
two reasons: Labor is teo dear to
admit of raising sugar beets at an
average Of profit over more certain
and less troublesome crops; and the
manufacturers could not always rely
upon a supply of beets containing
the requisite percentage of sacchar-
inc matter. There is a great deal of
science in the cultivation of sugar
beet, and American agriculturists
could not afford the time and money
necessary for successful experiments.
AS consequence, every beet sugar
refinery in the States was closed in
due process of time except the one
near San Francisco, in Alameda
county. 1t has been run at profit
indirect protective advantage of
the uniform price list adopted by the
San Francisco cane sugar refneries,
and because, also, the soil is specially
adapted to the growth of sugar beets.
But California farmers are dissatis-
fed with the price at the refinery,
and having only the one market, and
that of very limited extent, there is lit
tie probability that the same attention
will be given to this crop as formerly.
Fruit or alfalfa would pay five or six
times as well as sugar beets, except
for cattle feed, and that being the
case, we do not attach any great inn
portance to the AlvaradO beet sugar
refinery. Nevertheless it is well to
consider it as factor in the sugar
problem. II is there and in opera
ton, and its output comes into COM
petition with Hawaiian sugar. For
this reason the following extract
from the report OF that company
should be of interest to every one in
any way identified with the sugar in
dustry of these Islands. The docu-
ment from which we quote says:
Our sixth campaign ended March 2sth.
We worked up 1884 tons of beets, which
produced 2,167, 273 pounds of refined sugar,
being about per cent. We obtained over
10 per cent. of refined sugar during the first
four months of the campaign. In cOnse-
quence of our unusually warm winter the
sugar in the beets inverted very rapidly the
last part of the campaign, which reduced
the percentage. By new process discovered
by Us, we obtain over 10 per cent. first pro-
duct, during the time that the beets remain
fresh, which, in ordinary seasons, is about
120 days. A United States patent has just
been granted US to cover the process. This
large percentage is not attained in one
operation by any other manufacturer of beet
root sugar in the world. By this discovery
we were enabled to make and deliver in bar
rels in the San Francisco market pure,
white, dry, granulated sugar, during the
first of the campaign, at a cost of 51E cents
per pound. We have contracted for all the
beets we want this season for 81 ton. Paid
81 so last year. We can obtain sufficient
lots at 81 per ton to supply 200-ton fac
tory. Ours only has daily capacity Of 80
tons bets. Few people are aware that the
yield of sugar per acre is greater than wheat
or barley. Our best beet lands yield from
:, 900 to 5000 pounds refined sugar per acre,
being greater than the average yield from
cane lands. An acre Of beets can be culti-
waited at less cost than an acre of cane. It
natures in five months. 1t takes cane over
twelve months to mature. We have millions
of acres of land on this coast that will pro-
duce as much sugar per acre as the best |
sugar lands in the Hawaiian Islands, and at
less esst per pound.
California, Oregon and Washington |
have within their boundaries |
nearly 100, OOO, 900 acres more land than the |
whole PruSsian Empire, and q better soil |
and climate for the production of sugar
beets. That Empire produces annually |
nearly double the amount of sugar required |
to supply the United States on less than 49,
BOO, 900 acres of land. We have double that
quantity Of better land for the purpose of !