Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-12-25
Beet Sugar,

returned from a trip to Grand Island, Ne
braska, where he has been to Inspect the
large and well-equipped beet sugar factory
there established. This is the only beet
sugar factory this side of the Rocky noun
tains There are two others in California
that have been in successful operation for
q number of years.
The supply of beets for this factory is
obtained by contract with over 600 far
mers, covering an area of 100 miles in
every direction, and a stock of 1000 tons
of beets is deemed necessary before the
factory should start. The secretary con-
cludes that the outlook for successful beet
culture in this country is encouraging
The dangers are the venturesomeness of
manufacturers, lack Of sufficient capital,
and experience or complete plant, and,
with farmers, neglect OF scientific meth
DDS and paihstaking care beginning with
the seed which the sample crops of this
country have never received. It may be
interesting in this connection for our
readers to know that France produced
$50, 900 tons Of beet sugar last year; Ger
many. 100000 tons, Of which she export
ed 100000 tons. In 1884 the production
of cane and beet sugar we're nearly equal.
amounting to 100000 tons. In 1890
beet sugar shows gain in production
over cane sugar of nearly 1000, 900 tons
We imported of beet sugar from Germany
SIG. OBJ ,43l, and of cane sugar from Cuba,
S39, 100000 in value. We firmly believe
that with knowledge we can produce all
our own sugar at a profit. We raise
wheat, corn, cattle and hogs. pay inland
and ocean freights, and sell them in con-
petition with these very beet sugar far
mers of France and Germany, and then
buy their beet sugar and bring it
home. We have cheaper lands, ever va
riety of climate and soil and bounty of
two cents per pound, which is one cent
more than either the French or German
government pay Now why not study this
| subject, and get out of the old rut of rails
ing all corn and wheat. If wheat-grow-
ing countries like France find it profitable
to raise beets and buy wheat, why should
not we find it profitable to raise beets and
less wheat, with three to four thousand
miles of freight cost and one cent more
bounty in our favor? The wheat market
of the world is becoming more difficult
yearly. 1t is an old system, and the oldest
and only buyer of Importance finds num-
erous and urgent sellers and can wait.
| There is no hope In that direction, except
| what occasional crop failures NAV bring.
Take $4,000, 900 of acres of the $1,000, 900
now sown with wheat and put it into
! beets, and this country will have neither
sugar to buy nor wheetto sell. Now, far
mers, what DO you sayto this?
! The Unexpected Visitor.
| There are many respects In which the
| English woman sets her American sister a
good example. One is in the definite un-
Outstanding which she has ordained be-
| tween the guest and the hostess The
| guest expects, as a matter of course, that
her hour of departure shall be fixed with
as much precision as that of her arrival.
1t does not argue lack of hospitality. but
it is an agreement which economies time
and permits the systematizing of plans.
The nerves are spared a vast amount of
unnecessary friction. and both the enter
tainer and entained can settle themselves
comfortably to get the greatest possible
amount of enjoyment out of each other 8
society. This cannot be done, especially
in country where ''help" is chronicaly
uncertain, and uniformly unreliable, un-
less it is planned for beforehand Pro-
granmes for entertainment must be
thought out and arranged, and. if there is
entertaining in connection with the visit,
invitations must be issued and prepare.
tions made for substantial" part of the
dinner or luncheon.
This cannot be done where the hostess
is ''surp-i>ed." In military annals sur
prises are usually disasters and result in
rout and defeat. 1t seems to he charac
teristic of the surprise. in any form, anG
it Is neither welcome nor safe.
There is no housekeeper who does no
know what it is to hear, with sinking