Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-11-21

The subject Of the cultivation Of the
sugar beet and the manufacture Of beet
root sugar has long been discussed in
this country and especially at the West.
In Germany, Austria and France the
industry Ia in iiourishing condition, but
10 the United States 1t is yet in embryo.
The passage OF the sugar schedule Of
the Mckinley bill has had the effect of
thoroughly arousing the people Of
Nebraska to the consideration Of
thi. important subject. The soil and
climate OF that state are believed
to be admirably adapted for beet cui-
ture and the enthusiasm Of the peo-
pie IL almost unbounded. At Grand
Island, Neb., a large sugar beet factory
was started last year with most
encouraging results. Not long ago
II meeting was held at that
place, at which twenty. one cities and
towns were represented and all Of which
were striving to ont bid each other In
their eagerncss for the establishment OF
new plant. The largest bid was made
by South Sioux City, which offered cash
and land aggregating $4,000 and a
guarantee that 1000 acres Of beets would
be planted the first year. The bid Of
Norfolk of a sl0G,0 900 site. however, was
accepted, and here the new factory will
be built. The output Of the new factory
is to be 800 barrels of raw sugar daily
and It will give employment to $50 men.
People in this State will remember
the trial made OF the beet sugar expert
ment here In ls7s-s0, under a bounty
from the Legislature. A plant was
esta blished in Portland at large outlay,
contracts were made with farmers in all
sections OF the State for beets, and the
company made for one or two years quite
satisfactory runs. II might have been
In successful operation now had our
farmers grown the beets. We have
almost identical conditions here as to
soil and climate with northern Europe,
especially in France aud Germany,
where the beet sugar enterprise has
become firmly established, and there Is
no reason why Maine should not produce
It's own sugar. Following the failure of
the Maine Beet Sugar Company there
was a movement to make sugar from
sorghum throughout the Northern States
which can never become success
that served to divert attention from the
beet as sugar yielding plant, the only
plant which yields crystalizable sugar
that can be grown in north-temperate
ATTITUDES. The farmers in this State, as
well as throughout the West
should look upon this compare
lively new departure in agriculture
a. partial solution of a problem with
which they struggle. 1t Is not because
of the policy of the Republican party
nor yet because of the operation Of a
protective tariff, as the Democratic
orators assert, that the farmers Of
the great West have been not so entirely
successful as they might have hoped.
1t Is partly because they have planted
too much land in corn and wheat and
too little in other crops. The upspring-
ing of the beet sugar industry will open
new field for agricultural industry.
With the building of new sugar facto-
ries. market near at hand will be
open for their crops. st. Louis
offers to pay the freight. for
term of years, on all beets
raised in Nebraska and shipped there for
manufacture. The problem Of today is
not to the farmers how to dispose of
their beets, but to the sugar manufacture
ers how to obtain sufficient quantity
of the roots. A market is open for a
new product. Nebraska farmers will
see their opportunity, and the sgricult-
ural problem. in that state at least, will
be nearer solution. The same Is true of
other western, middle and northern
states.