Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-01-02
BEET SUGAR.
An Interview With Mr.. J.
D. Spreckles.
SOME ADVICE FOR FARMERS
The Kind Of soil Needed for tn
Production of the Beet-Steam-
ship Matters.

ship Matters.
In the special car "Espira," attache
to the Atlantic overland train, Mr.. j.
Spreckels, President of the Inter- Ocean
Steamship Company, arrived in the Gil
at O'Clock Monday morning.
HERALD reporter was waiting at the Sa
Fernando street depo. to meet him an
ascertain if his visit was in any way col
nected with the sugar land schem
which has been mooted regarding Els
more. Many may not have heard of th
project, which is to drain Lake Elsinore
and this it is said, will give $4,000 acre
Of valuable land, admirably adapted t
the production of beet sugar. In con
nection with the plantation it was un
derstood that the Messrs. Spreckel
would put up sugar refinery, as the,
have done for the farmers at Watson
vile, in Santa Cruz county.
The special Car was switched to th,
front of the Depot Hotel, and few min
utes after it had stopped the tall figur,
OF Mr.. Spreckels was seen at the door
and group of faces at the Windows
showed that he had quite party with
him. They proved to be his wife and
children, Mr.. w. G. Irwin and wife, o.
Honolulu, and Miss Ilene Ivers, of San
Francisco. Residents on the coast will
recognize all the names. Mr.. Irwin is
the agent and manager of the Spreckels
sugar domain in the Hawaiian Islands,
and his wife is a sister of Miss Ivers.
both of whom will be rememb bered az
two of the leading ladies of San Fran.
cisco. 1t is Mrs. Irwin's second mar.
riage, her first husband being Ben Hol.
laday, Jr., who died some years ago.
Seizing an opportunity when Mr..
spreckels was disengaged, the reporter
proceeded to buttonhole him and then
explained his mission.
"Elsinore," said Mr.. Spreckels,
where is it? l can assure you that the
scheme you have just mentioned was
unknown to me before to-day. If, how
ever, as you say, the people down there
are going to put $1,000 acres into beet
sugar, we will certainly put up refinery
for them"
How has the plantation at Watson
vile answered." asked the scribe?
Every we'll indeed. Two thousand
acres in all were put in beets, but owing
to the late planting the crop will only be
about 800 tons this year. Next year
however, we will have a rich harvest,
and those who have undertaken the
business are perfectly satisfied with the
prospects. There is good money in it
for the farmer. His crop is ready for
market three or four months after it is
planted and will yield as high as thirty
tens of beets to the acre. We pay $3.50
q ton at the factory and make one ton of
sugar to every eight or nine tons of beets.
We were handicapped all around this
year, as could only be expected when
starting in. The machinery for our
works was delayed considerably in tran
sit from Europe and then there were
some slight bitches when we commenced
operations, but everything is running
smoothly now. Let me give little ad-
vice to your farmers who may think of
going into sugar raising. Beets do
best in loamy, loose soil, but
are almost nom productive in adobe
land. 1t is entir-ly owing to misman-
agement and lack of knowledge of such
things that has injured the operations of
the small factory at Ell Dorado, which is
certainly not a success
"How is the sugar market at the pres
ent timer" queried the scribe.
"Prices are low, owing to competition
l will explain to you how the situation is
for the producers. The big Sugar Trust
Of the East came to the Pacific Coast and
started in to- fight US by establishing the
the American Refinery. This gave
them very decided advantage,
because, owing to their Eastern business,
they could put down prices here and
maintain them on the Atlantic, and by
that means they hoped to crowd us very
considerably. We took up the gauntlet,
however. My father and brother went
East and decided to establish refinery
In Philadelphia, and as soon as the plans
were ready workmen were put on the
building, which will be in operation next
June. Then we will be fighting the trust
with their own weapons and think you
will find that we will make a good show
ing.u :.
this year?" queried the newsgatherer.
"a very fine one. We will have be-
tween 0,000 and 120. 900 tons when the
crop is all gathered, which work is going
on now, for this is the harvesting season
for the cane"
'I hear you are going to San Diego"
said the scribe, lis there any move on
regarding your Interoceanic steam
ships?"
"Nothing at ALL" was the response.
81 am simply going to the Coronado with
my wife and friends to pass the New
Years holidays. Our stay will be brief
one, as my time is limited, and expect
to start back ON our homeward journey
by Friday next. AS regards the steam
ers, there is no inducement at present to
run to any other port on the coast besides
San Francisco, and we do not foresee
any changes now. do not think that
there is anything new at all in marine
circles that would be of interest to you, !"
said Mr.. Spreckels, thoughtfully.
"How about that competing line
started at Del Campo which was going to
corral all the coast business ?" asked the
scribe.
Mr.. Spreckels smiled as he replied
1T went all to pieces some months ago.
Those interested in the line we're foolish
to imagine that they could success
fully compete on the Pacific with the old
tubs they brought out. One of their
boats is now running as collier between
San Francisco and Narrimo, and another
was sold some time ago to meet heavy
debt"
"All ready to 90, SIR" interpolated a
brakeman who suddenly appeared from
the other side of the car, and in response
to the summons Mr.. Spreckels boarded
his special and minute later was being