Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-02-19
factured in this State so far as any
record has been kept is as follows:
Total. Observation-Disclosures 1s, ,31s,24

Total. al....................... IL, ,31S,Z4Z
The above figures represent about
one-twelfth of the annual consumption
OF sugar on the Pacific coast. But
when it is considered that the sugar
beet industry has been hitherto but
experimental, it will be notrd that as
such remarkable progress has been
made. After encountering all the
vicissitudes and drawbacks which
usually fall to the lot of nearly every
enterprise at its inception, the beet
sugar industry has now proved beyond
all doubt its profitableness.
About 1900, 900 tons OF raw sugar is
imported annually. To manufacture
this quantity in he United States an
nually it would require 400 factories,
of a capacity Of 20 tons day for a Pc
riod Of $50 days. These factories
would cost about 100000 each, or
$50. .OOO, 900 in all, which would be
paid to our own mechanics and labor
ing men. To run these factories it
would require about seventy men
each, or about $4,000 persons in all.
Six hundred thousand acres would be
needed, that would, on an average,
produce twenty tons of beets to the
acre, containing 10per cent in quality.
The duty derived from the imports of
sugar during the past year was over
$5S, ,OO0, 900.
AS further factor in favor of our
sugar industry it is claimed that beets
can be produced at less cost in this
State than in Europe, and that they
are richer in sacharine matter. No
fertilizer is needed and no wedding
after the cessation of rain, and the
general average production to the
acre is higher than else here in the
world Mr.. Spreckles, who has made
sugar production and sugar refining a
life study, has spent a sufficient time
in Germany to familiarize himself
with the methods in operation there,
and can even improve them. He
has ordered large quantity
of the best machinery, as
well as twenty-five tons of the
best seeds and offers large premiums
for beets ntaining the highest pro-
portion of saccharine matter. He
has lectured at various points in the
State and is ready to erect mills
where sufficient encouragement is
offered. He has alr- ady determined
on fac ory at Watsonville. 1t will
cost 100000. He has, we under.
stand, qua, antees tn at 2500 acres will
be planted in heets for a number oi
years. This factory will be in run
ming order by next September and
others probably soon after. It will
consume $50 tons of beets every
twenty four hours. 1t will, therefore
pe capable of making thi,ty-f 10 {
of sugar every day, or say 10000
tons in 200 days, if run to its full
capacity. The next year its capacity
will be doubled. OF course it will
not run all the year. The require.
ment is that $500 acres will be plant
ed every year. This would yield
about 80 900 tons Of beets or 5000 tons
of sugar. Of course, the expectation
is that much more will be planted.
Before erecting factories he has to be
guaranteed good supplies of lime,
wood and water, of which there is to
be found an abundance in this county.
| A site of thirty or forty acres for a
factory must also be supplied. The
cost Of beet seed will be about u
cents per pound, and it takes from
fifteen to twenty-five pounds to SOW
an acre. This makes the cost from
$1.80 to s. per acre for seed
There can be no doubt but
that the terms offered will be glad.
lily welcomed in Southern California.
Good California land will yield 25 tc
80 tons of sugar beets to the acre
yielding in sugar 10 per cent or the
reatest known yield in the world. Al
Is tons there will be p 6tons or 560(
lbs refined sugar to the acre. The low
est price at which beets will be paiG
for by the new company is "a per ton
From that, according to the percent
age of ssccharine matter, the price
will be advanced. This will give 500
to $120 per acre for the gross yield o1
land planted in beets.
With q very small farm man would
easily have q competency. Suppose
tie expenses to be equal to those oi
wheat, the result would be from 4C
acres s., 200 net profit, for 100 acres
So, 800, for 500 acres $27 800, at the
lowest average. The residum of the
beet nay be made merchantable in
many ways, and in France, out of $45, :
| goo 600 az total value Of the indu stry,
$l4, ,250, 900 were obtained from the
residum. Good beet land should,
therefore, be easily worth $500 to 5000
per acre.
Considering that we possees an
abundance Of lime water and fue.y
(potroleum) all Of which can be OBJ
tained here q lower coet than else-