Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-12-11
To Use the Beets.

Interview with W. w. Cook in the Wichita
Beacon.]
II positively believe that the greatest
achievement in the agricultural history
of Kansas is that of the feasibility of
making splendid sugar from beets,"
said w. w. Cook, of Medicine Lodge.
Mr.. Cook is well known in Kansas
as an old resident and keen, courteous
gentleman, alive to the best interests of
the state. He has been identified with
the cattle trade, and since the sugar in
dustry became prominent, materially
assisted in the work. Mr.. Cook is the
dlSbursing agent OF the government iE
connection with the agricultural depart
ment and is preparing, also in his line
OF duty, to report the results of beet ex-
pertinent to the agricultural depart
ment. Mr.. Cook was in the city yester-
day, and made the News-Beacon a call.
Mr.. Cook is highly elated over the re-
suits of the beet experiments, which the
News Beacon has noted in its Medicine
Lodge dispatches. The wide circula-
ton of this paper in the state and terri
tory has assisted in creating so much
interest that inquiries of farmers and
others are being constantly received at
! Medicine Lodge for information. The
News Beacon will always have all this
that IS of interest.
The growth of the Medicine Lodge
sugar plant,' said Mr.. Cook, ''has been
most ausploious for further Investments
and interest. The new stock company
has increased the Investment to about
quarter of a million, and most sue
cessful season is looked for. Complete
machinery tor reducing the beets and
refinery are among the prospective i'm
provements.
1T is probable that the Medicine
Lodge plant has made comfortable div.
idend this year. The buildings were
not commenced until April, and the
mill was in operation about sixty-two
days following August s. A part of
this time was consumed IN adjusting
the new works to successful operation.
The experiment with sugar beets ended
the seasons work. The mill is now
running over the seconds which are
producing much more than was antici-
pated.
1.-The experiment of sugar beets was
made upon "A acres, planted and raised |
by Eldred s. Human, to whom the
eren.+ is due for the successes of the |
plant. The produc-tt ran about thirteen |
tons to the acre, which they estimate Is !
worth So per ton. Sorghum cane aver
ages about fifteen tons to the acre, and |
is worth 81 per ton. Ii the standard |
of product can be maintained in beets |
$40 per acre would make good return |
for agriculturalistE.
THE beetS, it is claimed have about |
twice the saccharine matter to the ton,
that cane possesses. 1t Is not known
yet how sure the beet crop will be. ] |
have my doubts of its being as certain |
as sorghum, of which we have positive
knowledge. Some do not think that |
beets will flourish as well upon uplands
or stand drouth as well as cane. But
this must all be tried
~ "AJ t0tD tAOaC CAPClluCuko duu
Investigations ought to FevolutiOniZe
agriculture in Kansas and cannot help
but make it profitable. The farmers
about Medicine Lodge are delighted
with the plant and its prospects They
appreciate the fact that such an inn
mense enterprise takes business sagaci-
ty to manage it successfully and SEE
that so many failures as have been re-
ported have often resulted from laos
of what is necessary to insure the sue I
cess of business. All the work has
been paid for at Medicine Lodge and
the farmers have been paid promptly
for their cane.
Next year their mill ought to be
very profitable concern. Sugar mills
can generally run but 80 to 100 days in
The year while cane is coming in. But
with beets available it can be operated
practically the entire year. Nearly the
whole product this year has been sold
to a Louisiana refinery. The company
will feed lot Of cattle in addition to
the sugar business. In this is Yalua-