Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-11-20
Staunton vindicator.
FRIDAY MORNING. NOV. 20. 1891.
LOCAL.
TIE BEET SUGAR FACTORY
MOVEMENT.
A CONFERENCE OF FARMERS ON
THE NATTER,

THE NATTER.
An adjourned meeting of those interes-
ted in the contemplated starting of a beet
sugar factory here, was held at the court
house on Saturday, Judge Charles Grattan
presiding. The main purpose of the meet
ing was to hear from the Canvassing Com
mittee appointed two weeks ago to get a
list of those farmers who would pledge
themselves to plant beets in order to SUD-
ply such a factory.
Mr.. David w. Drake from that commit
tee, reported a list in which thirteen far
mers pledged themselves to plant an acreage
of beets amounting to thirty-six acres in
all. He said that the list covered a very
small portion, only, of Augusta county,
but a majority of all he had applied to had
agreed to try the experiment of putting in
beets.
Mr.. W. FL. Norman said as to the list
in Middle River, that while the farmers
wouldn put down their names they prom
ised that they would put in some beets and
use them for fattening stock if no factory
| g
was started.
WHAT THE RAILROADS WILL DO IN THE
MATTER OF FREIGHT.
Mr.. w. N. Wilson, chairman Of the com
mittee appointed to ascertain What freight
rates the B. & O.. and G. & O. Railroads
would give the farmers Oh their beets, made
a report He said the B. 4 o. had been
l rat oI witt, h1tI
indefinite to furnish any basis for report
The reply OF the Chesapeake s. Ohio was as
follows
RICHMOND, VA, Nov II, 1891.
| Mr.. W. ~. W5ls0n, St0@nt0n, Va.:
Dear Slr:-Further in reply to your letter
of October 18th, enclosing circular letter from
Farmers Committee Of Augusta county in re-
gard to the matter OF freight rates on sugar
beets to Staunton, Va, we have looked into
this matter carefully anG have conferred with
our people on the subject, and we find we can.
not see our way clear to quote you the rates
suggested in the circular letter OF the commit.
tee above referred to- However, we feel an
, interest in the proposed scheme for raising
sugar beets and are willing to transport them
over our lines at such figures as are but a
trifle over the cost of transportation We will
therefore quote you the following rates:
On sugar beetS in carloads of not less than
"a, 600 lbs per ton of 1900 lbs; for distances
% miles and under, 4Oc per ton; over 25 and
not exceeding 45 miles, Goo per ton; over Il
and not exceeding 100 miles, S1.OO per ton:
over 100 miles and not exceeding 200 miles,
S1.50 per ton. 1t being understood that no
single car for any distance is to pay less thar
S., 90; shipments to be at the risk of the owner
as to damage except where damage is the re-
suit OF negligence on the part of the carrier
The enterprise, it must be acknowledged is
to large extent experimental, and it is pos
sble that developments would necessitate 8
! rh1nOp Ia cd Oh ,;rrI1t
be found by actual experience after giving
the matter trial that the business would
stand a higher rate than those named; or il
might be possible that some slight modfica
ton could be made. On the whole, however
we think the rates we havesuggested are fair
and we hope they will be satisfactory to the
farmers.
In regard to the return of the spent beets
after sugar has been taken out, we Should say
that the freight ought to pay our fertilizer
rates, which are very low, and which can be
) gotten by application to our Staunton agent.
We make the carload rate on fertilizer apply
rates are low it would seem to us that they
might be applied on the spent beets.
OF course you understand the above rates
are subject to acceptance before being used
ours very truly,
| E. D. HoTsc'HK1ss, G. F.A.
In reference to this report of the Rail-
road Committee the meeting adopted the
| following resolution:
Resoloed, That the report of the Railroad
Committee be accepted so far as it shows an
efIort on their part to secure reasonable rates
and so far as showing disposition on the
part of the railroads to consiGer the matter:
but be it further resolved, that the committee
appointed should continue their work to Sc
cure as low Cor lower rates il possibe) as is
given by Western roads on sugar beets to beet
sugar factories, and to seek the cooperation of
the Chamber OF Commerce of the city of Staun-
ton, and other similar bodies elsewhere, as
we'll as the assistance of merchants manufac-
turerS and others who are interested in Secur
ing beet sugar factory in our county, and tt
persist in calling the attention of the leading
officers of railroads to the Importance to then
and the State of this new industry.
CANvAssING THE COUNTY.
MI. Drake suggested that it would pay
to hire some competent man to canvass tn,
county and ascertain what farmers would
plant beets and how many acres. He would
be willing to contribute to pay such can.
vasser.
MI. Norman said he did not think thai
plan would work we'll
A PETITION TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR a
BOUNTY TO BEET GROWERS.
Mr.. 0. K. Lampham, who offers to furn
1911 uuo lstCtOIy WltuOttt COS0 W duly Ollo Du
himself. if the farmers will furnish the
beets, said the following petition to the
legislature had been prepared in order to
stimulate the growth Of beets:
WHEREAS, The amount of sugar consumed
in this country exceeds one hundred and fifty
million dollars yearly. and is rapidly increas
ing, OF which over ninety-three millions value
is paid to foreign countries yearly, where it is
produced at higher cost than it can here b,
produced
And aohereas Virginia has special advanta-
ges in soil and climate to grow beet-sugar
amount that is used in the United States;
And aolteretts, Other States are making spec
ial inducements for the growth of beets and
the manufacture of sugar within their bOrd-
ers, where the conditions are no more favOra-
BILE than ours. (For illustration, the State of
sugar made, which amounts to from fifteen to
thirty dollars per acre, while other States re-
nit all taxes for considerable time on thu
lands, appliances, machinery, &C., used eth
: er in growing beets OF making sugar)
And aeheretJs. Our General Government ha
deemed the industry of such general import
ance, as to remit all duty on the implements
or machinery used in making sugar, till mex
July, and pays bounty of from one and three
fourth cents to Two cents per pound on al
sugar made in this country up to July 1st
1895;
and aolere7s,, Our Constitution will moi
permit remission of taxation on any proper
] ty, which precludeS us from competing with
other States in securing sugar plants, and yet
it is very desirable that plants for making
sugar should be located at once within ouI
borders;
And aotereas, Prompt action is imperative
if we are to have such plants and so allow
some portion OF the bounty paid by us through