Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-11-15
The Sugar Beet.

Senrtor w. ID. Washburn, who has
given much attention to the study ofthe
beet sugar industry aud who is prob
ably as well informed upon this subject
as any one in the country, says
Less than eight weeks ago the extern
sive manufacture of beet sugar in
America practically began. The work
already done shows most conclusiyely
that this manufacture is not only wholly
feasible, but that il is to become an in
dustry whose possibilities are yet un-
dreamed. The senator, AS everyone is
aware, has been a most earnest and per-
sistent advocate of the beet sugar indus
try, and he had great interest in seeing
just how beet sugar refineIy was built,
managed and. in short, Just how it work
ed in all its details.
81 am more than convinced" said the
senator after an examination Of the
Grand Island, Neb plant, that the sue
cess of this industry is established be-
yond any possible question. The pros
poets are remarkably bright. There is
no question In the world but that the
manufacture Of sugar from beets in this
country has been established for all
time. In my recent visit to Grand Is
land made thorough examination Of
the plant which has been put in there.
1t is a large plant, about half million
capital being invested. Mr.. Oxnard,
who is one Of the largest ref1ners in the
country told me that he had no doubt
whatever but that plenty of capital
would be forthcoming to introduce the
manufacture into the northwest. The
beet sugar belt, as it is called, takes in
the greater part of Minnesota, the two
Dakotas and portions Of Iowa and Ne
braska. In this belt beets suitable for
sugar manufacture can be grown success
fully, and the analysis shows that there
is a greater proportion of sacharine
matter in the American grown beets
than in those grown in Austria or Ger
many. There the amount is from IL to
while here it is from 5to 10 per ct. The
climate and soil, Of course. have much
to do with it, while the care of the beets
is an important factor. They are using
at present $50 tons Of beets per day at
the Grand Island plant. and turn out
sixty thousand pounds Of the finest kind
of sugar per day. This is all the very
best grade, the fine refined white sugar.
The machinery i found quite expensive,
as it is very heavy and has to be import
ed AS to this affecting the manufacture
of sugar / will say you can get the best
results in manufacturing -four from the
most complete and most modern ma
chinery. You can manufacture -four In
small mill with inadequate machinery,
but you cannot get the results you do
from the great mill. The same will
hold true Of the beet sugar manufacture.
1t costs a good deal to put in q plant
with this Improved machinery, but the
results attained warrant it.
'As to the farmers side of the case !:
The time has come when there must be
change. We cannot depend upon
wheat alone. The farmers find this en-
terprise very profitable. At Grand
Island for instance, they pay the farm
ers IS per ton for beets that contain IL
per cent Of sacharine matter. Then
they pay 25 cents for each additional per
cent, 1926 for beets with l3 per cent,
$3.50 for 10, 81 for 10. AS the per cent
of sacharine matter depends a great
deal upon the care taken in raising the
beets, 1t will be been seen that there is q
marked incentive to the farmer to pay
much attention to the matter of cultiva-
ton. A low average for beets Is l2} tons
per acre. The place of manufacture
should be near to the place OF production
You will see by these figures give you
what profit there is In the raising OF
beets to the farmer. As / have said,
the soil and climate of the greater part
of the country indicated are adapted TO
the production Of fine beet with o
high percentage OF sacharine matter.