The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1890-10-31
Making Beet Sugar I'm Nebraska.

Making Beet Sugar I'm Nebraska.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.-In the course
of his recent Western trip Secretary
Rusk visited Grand Island, Neb., ac-
companied by DR.. Wiley, chief of the
chemical division of his department,
to inspect the large and well equipped
sugar factory there established. The
factory is the only n this side of the
Rocky Mountains, there being two in
California, one of which has been in
successful operation for several years
At Grand Island the secretary found
one of the essentials to anything like
success in the important industry of
sugar manufactory-a factory backed
by ample capital, equipped with all
the facilities adapted to beet sugar
manufacture as developed during the
successful prosecution of this industry
in those countries in Europe in which
it has become a leading industry, and
furthermore provided with thoroughly
competent, experienced, and capable
technical workers. The supply of SUI
gar beets at that place is obtained by
contracts made with over 600 farmers,
extending throughout an area of 100
miles in all directions from the facto-
ry. The railroads have made such
rates of freight or sugar beets as will,
it is believed. enable the farmers ever
at the distance 600 miles) to deliver
their beets at the factory at a good
profit to themselves. This season, ow-
ing to ~unfavorable weather, the yield
of beets, so far as quantity is con-
cerned, has been somewhat disap-
pointing; nevertheless the supply will
be ample to make a thorough test of
the possibilities of successful beet SUI
gar production in Nebraska.
Every load of beets delivered at the
factory is sampled, and the sample
scientifically tested to ascertain the
sugar content; and a certain standard
having been adopted as a minimum,
with a fixed price per ton, the price to
the grower varies from the minimum
standard upward. The amount of
beets already delivered at the factory
at the time of Secretary Rusk's visit
was nearly 700 tons, and the managers
were awaiting only the receipt of a
full weeks supply of beets, about 2. 100
tons, before putting the factory in
operation. The analysis of the beets
already received indicated a high
standard of sugar contents. Moreover,
the high per cent, securing CORES
p%ondingly high prices, will, in a large
measure at least, compensate the grow
ers for this seasons comparatively
small Weld. Correspondence with the
United States signal service, moreover,
has resulted in the encouraging assur-
ance to the growers that in nc year
since properly authenticated weather
records are accessible has the season
in that part of Nebraska been so dry
during the growing period of the beets.
A reasonably successful result this sea-
son, therefore, it is believed, can be
regarded as affording encouraging as
uranc as to the general average crop
IN the future.
The secretary detailed one of the as
sistants in the chemical division of the
department to remain at Grand Island
during the season of sugar manufac-
ture, and to prepare carefully for the
use of the department all the data
available in relation to the work, from
the growing of the beet to the final
marketing of the sugar.
The general outlook as to the posi-
bilities of successful sugar-beet culture
in this country Secretary Rusk regards
as encouraging. The chief dangers to
be apprehended, on the one hand, are
the too venturesome undertaking of
b%eet-sugar manufacture by persons
lacking adequate capital, trained man
ayers, and complete plant, and on the
other hand the neglect or Indifference
of some of the farmers themselves to
the scientific methods and to that close
observation of detail which in other
countries have been found essential to
the successful growing of the crop.