The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-05-18
THE NEW FACTORIES.

THE NEW FACTORIES.
eve are going to put up ten fac
tories in California like that in Wat
sOnville, only double the capacity, as
soon as we can. We have formed a
company-the Occidental Beet-sugar
Company-with $5,000,000 capital
stock. Ny son John and l have
taken half the stock. Last season [
farmers sent me samples of their
beets. I had these all tested, and
the result is that [ have now map
which shows me exactly where the
beets that yield the most saccharine
matter grows the best. To pay, beets
should average about ii per cent.
saccharine matter. Some Of those
about jacksonville last year ran as
high as q per cent. We expect to
get offers OF land from different
points on which to build our factor
les. We have not yet decided on
any locations, but will take the mat
ter up when [ get back from the East.
We will try and have one more fac
tory equipped and ready for work
next year. These factories will cost
about 100000 each. 4 portion of
the machinery that cannot be had
here we will get from Germany, but
most of the machinery will be made
here. Each factory will be able to
turn out 500 Of raw sugar III
twenty-fOur hours, and in time will
make fully 10000 tons for the season.
We Will have to employ about $50
men at each factory. Large factories
are better than small ones for about
the same labor is required to turn
ont fifty tons as 800. The factories
will be kept running about five
months Of the year.
Last seasons experiments with
seed showed that much less seed is
required here than in Germany.
The rule there is eighteen pounds OF
seed to the acre. We find that three
and One-half pounds here is plenty.
The reason for this difference is that
in Germany much of the seed sOwn,
owing to cold or drought or other
causes, does not take root. Here 1t
all grows readily, and this makes
great saving in seed and labor"
An ingenious beet-seed sowing
machine has been cOntrived by &. A.
Spreckels, and will be nsed largely,
saving much labor and insuring a
proper depth for the seed.
Spreckels spoke Of his beet-sugar
enterprise on the Pacific Coast, and
said that the company had Just paid
a per cent. dividend.
The question, What is the future
Of the sugar beet in America?" elicit
ed the following response:
My own idea is that in a few
years we will import no sugar. Not
only does the beet grow to perfec
ton in California, but it can as east
ly be grown almost everywhere. On
Saturday last the few remaining
shares Of a $4,000, 900 stock company,
of which l own the majority, were
new company's facilities will be
amply able to supply all America
with beet sugar. After this first
years trial we shall go at the bust
ness on a larger scale. len new fac
tories. at a cost of 100000 each, on
the same general plan of the one
already in WatsOnville, viii De built
in different parts Of California
They will turn out only raw sugar.
The product Will be sold to retiners.
The Philadelphia refinery will not
handle this beet sugar. It Will be
wholly devoted to refining the raw
imported article With both Of
these companies in operation I think
l can work against any trust. San
Jose Mercury, April 26