Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-10-24
BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY.

I WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. 49,
Messrs. ]. W. Bishop and ]. T. jan
ney, of Martinsburg, were Ia the city
yesterday looking after the interests
of the proposed beet sugar industry
to be established somewhere in the
eastern Panhandle. These gentle
men represent Il committee of seven
appointed by the farmers of Berkeley
and Jefferson counties to investigate
thoroughly during the present fall
and winter the possibility of making
beet sugar one of the notable products
of West Virginia. To that end they
were at the Internal Revenue office
yesterday to acquaint themselves
with the bounty provisions of the
Mckinley law, as well as the govern
nent regulations under 1t.
After examining into this question,
Commissioner Mason accompanied
them over TO the Agricultural Depart
meBt, where they met Secretary Rusk
and had long and interesting CONVEX.
sation with him on the subject of beet
sugar raising. Messrs. Bishop and
Janney desired to know what aid the
government would give them in the
way of seed and also In instruction as
to the growing and care of the beets.
They found Secretary Rusk very
much interested in the question, and
ne readily agreed to give them all the
aid in his power. lie will furnish
them with seed for planting next
spring, aud will detail an assistant Ia
give full instructions at the time. OF
course the only other point in ques
ton is as to the adaptability of the
soil of the counties in the Eastern
Panhandle for raising beets contain
ing sufficient per cent. of saccharine
matter to make the industry profita
BILE. That can only be ascertained By
trial.
In the agitation of this new enter
prise in West Virginia is seen anoth
er evidence of the fostering effect of
the Mckinley law. Beet sugar rails
ing would probably never been seri-
ously considered in West Virginia
had 1t not been for the bounty pro-
vision OF the Mckinley law. AS il
Is, there Is no reason why the next
two or three years should not see il a
we'll established and profitable indus
try. And in this connection il can be
said that there is very little popular
knowledge as to the extent of the beet
sugar industry throughout the world.
1t is not generally known that there
Is nearly twice as much sugar prOduc-
ed from beets as from cane in the
world. That is the fact, the figures
heing about 5000, 900, 600 and 81, 500,.
100000 pounds, respectively. OF this
beet sugar the German States produce
about 1880, 100000 pounds France
about 1000, 100000 pounds, and Russia
about the same amount. In this
country beet sugar culture has increas.
I'd very rapidly of late years. In 1887
We produced only 100000 pounds. In
1888 the production jumped to $780,.
900 pounds, in 1889 to 5000, 600, and
in 1899 to S,000.0 n0. For this year,
under the effect of the sugar bounty
law, tho crop in the United States Il
estimated at 25,000,000 pounds. There
would seem to be no doubt that If the
bounty law continues in operation IL
will only be question of time, and a
short time al that, when this country
will be able to furnish the entire
amount needed for domestic consump-
tim, about 1000, ZOO, 900 pounds, from
home grown and home.manufactured
beet sugar.