New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-20
MAKING BEET SUGAR.
BUT THE AMERICAN FARMERS HAVE MUCH
To LEARN

SECRETARY RUsK's WESTERN TR1P-vIsIT TO
A PROSPEROUS SUGAR FACTORY IN Me-
BRAsKA-MoRE CAREFUL METHODS
OF CULTIVATION REQUIRED.
washington, Oct 10 (speciaD.-In the course Of his
recent trip through Of the Western States, Sec
rotary Rusk visited the Corn Palace at Sioux CITY, and
made a special visit to Grand Island. Ncb accom-
panied by Dr. Wiley, chief OF the chemical division OF
his Department TO inspect the large and WeeHupped
beet sugar factory there estall he'd The sccrt1rys
interest in the development OF domestic sugar IN
dustry is undated and as lat year he made per-
sonal inspection OF the sorghum sugar feds In Kansas
go this year he was anxious to visit the newly esab
lsned sugar beet field In Nebraska. The factory at
Grand Island Is the only beet sugar factory TINS sido
OF the Rocky Mountains, there being two In California
one OF which has been in successful operation for sew
eral years At Grand Island the Secretary FOUND one
OF the essentials TO anything like success In the I'M
portant Industry Of sugar manufactures factory
backed by ample capital equipped with all the facilities
adaptcd to beet sugar manufacture developed during
the successful prosecution OF this industry In those
countries in Europe in which It has become leading
industry, and furthermore provided with thoroughly
competent experienced and capable technical workers.
Tho supply OF sugar beets at that place is obtained by
contracts made with 600 farmers, extending
throughout an ar OF 100 miles in all directions from
the factory The railroads have made such rates of
freight on sugar beets will, 1t is believed enablo
tho farmers at the distance 200 miles, 10 &c
liver their beets the factory at good profit 70 thcm
selves. This season, owing to unfavorable weather.
tho yield Of bcets far quantity concerned has
been somewhat disappointing; nevertheless the supply
will be ample 70 make thorough test OF the posi-
biities Of successful beet sugar production In Ne
braska.
Every load Of bects delivered at the factory is sam
pied and tho sample scientifically tested to ascertain
tho sugar content; and certain standard having Dcch
adopted as a minimum, with fixed price per ton the
price to the grower varies from the minimum standard
inward. Tho amount OF beets already delivered AZ
the factory at the time OF Secretary Rusks visit vas
nearly 700 tons, and the managers were awaiting only
the receipt OF full weeks supply OF beets aoout
o 100 tons, before putting the factory In operation
Tile ANALYSIS Of the becs already received lndca'ed
high standard OF sugar content. Moreover, the high
per cent securing corrcspondrgly high prices, WILL III
large measure at least, compensate the growers or
This seasons comparatively small yield Correspond
ence with the United States Signal Service. moreover
has resulted in the encouraging assurance 70 tho
growers that in year since properly authenticated
weather records arc accessible has the season IN that
part of Nebraska been so dry during lhe GROWING
ncrod OF tho beets. reasonably SUCCESSFUL result
tbic therefore il IS believed be regarded as
Attending encouraging assurance to the general aver
age crop in the future.
Apprecating the vast Importance OF this Irand Is
land enterprise only TO the farmers OF NebrssRa
hut to the farmers OF all parts Of the United states IN
which sugar beets may be grown tho secretary de'acd
one Of the assistants in the Chemical Division OF the De-
psrmcnt to remain at Grand Island during the season
~ sppar manufacture and prepare carefully for the
nse OF the Department all the data available In relation
IN the work. from the growing OF the beet to the hhaI
marketing OF the sugar. To this oInciai mas Oeeh W.
signed the interesting and responsible duty OF testing
the beets delivered at the factory test which, as al
ready explained the basis OF the prices paid farm
ers for their beets.
A large number of beet samples, coming from many
satss have been anayzed in the Chemical Division OF
the Department here, and q large proportion OF tho
hecs received coming from Nebraska was found 10 DO
exceedingly rich. Some OF the samples however, IN
dcae that the directions Of the Department In regard
IN cultivation wore not followed and the result In thcse
cases Is less satisfactory.
The general outlook the possibilities OF success
fnl sugar beet culture in this country Secretary RusK
Regards as encouraging. The chief dangers 10 be ap
nrehended on the one hand are tho too venturesomc
OF beet sugar manufacture by persons lack
ing ADEQUATE capital trained managers. and complete
plant and on the other hand the neglect or ndheence
NJ some of the farmers themselves to the sclenuho
methods and to that close observation OF detail which
in other countries have been found essential to the sue
ccss growing Of this crop. 1t cannot be too urgently
take TO grow sugar bees that the crop requires degree
of care beginning with the preparation OF the SOIL ana
tho growing OF tho seed which the staple crops OF this
country have never received
In general way, for several years ID come every sep
Of the work even on the farm must be performed under
trained supervision provided BY the facry Al prices
which II Is probable the factories will be able to afford
h nav thu growers there to be reason why the
crop should not yield ordinarily good seasons hand
some troft to the grower Notwithstanding the large
expensc Of raising the crop as 1t should be raseo mo
cupidty which In some cases Will induce growers 10
undertake tho handling Of larger area In sugar becs
than they have the facilities to care for III proper
manner will Inevitably result In failure and will any
attcmpt from like motive the part OF the grower TO
oco,omze in the expense OF raising the crop by tho
neglect OF any Of the precautions which the experience
Of those who have grown this crop In Europe during
The last generation has found TO be absolutely necessary
to success.
At the BEGINNING OF the season the outlook for
SORGHUM In Kansas not bright, owing to
shortage I'm the CROP reports indicate that the field
| prospects have improved In some localities In many
pIaccs .he average yield Will not exceed four or nve
tons OF per Nearly all OF the faee9ries nave
experienced the usual vexatos delays In beginning op-
cAtons At last scoDunt the works at Fort Scott were
running with comparatively few Interruptions At
the date Of thu a1t report September o. the cane was
Of nodcrate rchns averaging per cent sucro'e and
3e per cent glucose In the normal Juice The factory
at Topeka which wns damaged by fire last year. has
been rebuilt and Is In operation. and the Conway
Springs factory s used for the manufacture OF syrup
ony-at Attca, Kan, down TO October 7, twelve days
ad lecn lost out OF twenty the factory be-
gan work. The delays have been largely due. rs was
the case often In former years to Shortage In the
water supply. From this the same factory lost
great deal OF time last year. Under the circumstances
the prospects encouraging for successful work al
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"Y e. ~" stick Licoricc,