The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1890-10-31
PERHAPS AT MANKATO.
Henry L. Oxnard May Locate a
Beet Sugar Factory at
This City.
We Are Situated i'm a Splendid
Beet Raising Country.
Mankato's Opportunity.

There ia good reason to believe that
in very short time at least one beet
supar manufacturing plant will be locat-
ed in Minnesota.
IF information which comes TO PI0-
ylfer Press correspondents correct. Hen
rvT. Oxnard, proprietor of the plant at
Grand Island. Neb., is contemplating the
establishment of factory in Minnesota.
His representative is said to be on his
way there now TO examine for the most
advantageous location Mankato Is the
first place to be inspected. Mr.. Oxnard
was here last week, and TO the Of
fcials of the agricultural department he
said that he intended TO establish sever
al branches in the beet sugar belt. he
asked for the results of the analysis OF
sugar beets from Minnesota, and stud
led the beet sugar raising of the west
ern part of that state. He left samples
of the sugar he had just begun to make
in Nebraska. His factory there can
turn out thirty tons a day. He had a
long interview with Prof. Wiley, the
government chemist, who has recently
been examining Minnesota sugar Deets.
A Pioneer Pres man was told tnat MT;
ONWARD had gone to Minnesota and
would look for a site himself, among
other places investigating the advanta-
ges at South st. Paul. This statement
cannot be verified here.
Prof. Wiley said TO correspondent
of the Pioneer Press to-day that, while he
did not know Just what Mr.. Oxnard pro-
posed. he would not be surprised TO
learn that he was to build a factory In
Minnesota Mr.. Oxnard had told MIN
that he proposed TO begin the manu-
facture of beet sugar IN several localtles
III beet producing countries. rom
some recent tests / have made" Prof.
Wiley said. Minnesota takes good rank
in the production of sugar beets, espe-
ciallv the southern half Of the state.
He then gave the Pioneer Press the re-
suits of twelve analyses of beets grown
this wear in Southern Minnesota towns
He chose the twelve at random. Ihey
showed Is e per cent, 1913 per cent, 1l.3
per cent. Is per cent, So per cent, IO
per cent, 9 per cent, per cent, 10 .
per cent, 1871 per cent, l2.9 per cent,
and per cent of sugar.
Four of these are exceptionally good,
four are a trifle above the average and
four are not more than average. he
said: 'I have many more samples yet
to examine from Minnesota.
Our business men cannot be too active
or too earnest in their endeavors to Sc
cure this factory, if there is any truth IN
the report.
The citizens of Mankato as a whole
have long been resting IN the false secu-
rity of the belief, that by reason OF lis
many natural advantage Mankato was
destined to become leading CONNER
cial and manufacturing center without
effort on their part The few, who have
never been deceived by this fallacy,
have occasionally tired to arouse the
people to sense of what was demand
ed of them, in order to give our CITY the
measure of growth and prosperity lts
natural advantages would entltie II 10,
INT their efforts have been met with
such sickly response as to discourage
the most sanguine.
The day has gone by when cities
sprins into existence and MAINTAIN
their prosperity, simply because OF the
natural advantages of the location, be
thew ever so great. 1t is being demon
strated within the knowledge of the most
of ms. that prosperous cities are nova
DAYS being built up under the most
adverse natural circumstances, simply
by organization, pluck and money,
while towns which have been more ia
vored bv nature, languish and retro
grade because of indifference and lack
of organization.
1t is hopeful sign that majority OF
our citizens are beginning to fully real
ize this, and 1t seems, therefore, as
though the time has come, when Coop
Grafton may be expected from every
citizen when the opportunity offers.
Here is the opportunity! Let our CIT
liens take hold and secure large sugar
refinery at once, and it will be grand
thing for Mankato. There will, without
doubt, be one or more sugar refinerles
started in Minnesota within the next
few months. By proper organization
and concentration of effort. we can have
one of them here.
We have gone farther already than
anv other point in the state, perhaps,
as we have ascertained by analysis that
beets raised here are rich in sugar, the
percentage ruling above the average,
and we have therefore demonstrated
that the industry is suited to our soil.
This is a matter that Is of great 1mpor-
lance to the farmers of our county, and
in getting this industry started here,
their cooperation and assistance will
be expected.
Let us take hold of it at once, and by
being the first city in the Northwest to
start sugar refinery, we will get, In
addition to the other advantages, large
amount of free advertising all over the
United States.
If we can induce Mr.. Oxnard to locate
here, let us do it by all means, but Il
not, why not GO to work and start SUI
gar refinery ourselves? We have the
soil for the beets; we have the money
four banks show $4O0, 900 lying ldle)i
and under the Mckinley Bill we have
protection.
Let's have the sugar refinery