The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-17
THE SUGAR BEET IN UTAH.

beet, SO Montana uouptlesS WIZ oe
moved by the success of the industry in
Utah where the conditions Of soil and
climate are similar to our own. The
Salt Lake Herald gives an interesting
resume of the progress of tho attempt at
sugar-maklng in that territory up to the
present time. There are now $500
acres planted with sugar beets in Utah
county, and the young crop. under the
abundant rains, is in fine condition. The
ompan which built the factory has
sixty hands engaged in the work of cul-
tivation and the farmers in the vicinity
nave their own workers, old and young,
thinning out the plants. Early and late
paintings have been tried and expert
ments made in various soils. The
workers in she fields have steady em-
ployment and good wages and all are
enthusiastic over the new enterprise.
There now seems to be no reason to
doubt the success of the industry in our
sister territory. Before erecting the
factory the gentlemen who invested
capital in the undertaking made a care
full investigation of the field. Seventeen
sample lots of Utah beets were taken to
California for a test of their sugar pro-
ducing quality. The percentage of sac
charine in the different lots was found
to be from 1904 per cent, the minimum,
to 1911, the maximum, the latter figure
exceeding that of any lot of California
beets tested.
The relative cost of raising beets in
California and Utah is thus stated by
the committee appointed to investigate
this item:
As to the cost of raising beets we find in
California the cost is as follows: Flowing
and sowing per acre, $3.50. (Ihis provides
q thorough pulverizatlon, blowing in the
fall and in the spring to @ depth OF ten or
twelve inches, and the sowing with drills
and cost of seed) for wedding, and thinning
and hoeine, digging, topping and loading,
provided the crop is fifteen tons per acre,
$50 and 25-10O, and the hauling $3.50 per
acre, making total cost of $685.. Tothis in
Utah add $4.25 for irrigation, cost would
be $40, or S2.66 per ton for a fifteen ton
crop, and $40 per ton for a ten ton crop, SO
tudb l. Dcobb / puiSh%oON CIV @ PhhSo -
proportion to their sweetness, q fifteen-ton
crop of IA per cent sweetness would bring
the farmer $50 or a twelve ton crop of l6
per sent. or a ten ton crop of IL per cent.
would also bring him $50.
In relation to the cost of manufacture we
found wages quite as high in California as
in Utah, being 81 for common labor, and $3
for foremen, while coal cost $3.50 in Alya-
RADIO and $3.50 in Watsonville and coke SIG
per ton. The same class of coal would cost
as not to exceed two-thirds as much anG coke
about the same. So that cost of manufac-
ture would not be greater here than there,
and wa have the advantage of one cent
per pound freight. Referring to our pre-
vious report it is shown that raw sugar OF
ninety-seven purity was being manufac-
tured for three and one-tenth cents at Al
varado and four and o~ne-eighth cents al
jacksonville. This price includes all items
of cost that can be legitimately charged
against any manufacturer, and includes the
actual bills for wages, full raw materials
incidentals and repairs fixed or annual sal,
aries for manager, SUPERINTENDENT, chem
list Or clerks, insurance, taxes and a six pc
cent. charge for wear and tear, which
amount held in reserve annually wlthcu
interest, would rebuild the factory anew il
seven years. While the factories in Cali
fornia as in Europe are looking only to tn,
manufacture of raw sugar, we, in our iso
lated condition, should look forward t.
some principle by which we can easily an
readily refine our sugar in course of manu-
facture We have no doubt that this ca
be satisfactorily accomplished, for the Al
varado factory has already had in opera
ton a process with which they refined sue
cessfully and perfectly all the sugar the
made last year, at the cost, they claim, c
one-half cent per pound.
Tho profits of the factory in Utah ar
thus estimated:
Cost Of building and machinery. $4,000
Working c~arital ....,........... $500
Cost of II per cent. beets, say So per tor
and working same as jacksonville. $3.50 pe
ton. We have:
$50 tons beets ST.
Working $50 tom at &3.89 ............ d
Refining, say / cent per pound....,. d
$1,Gs
Smallest returns, 200 to the ton.
10000 pounds refined sugar ut 7 cents S., II
Profit one day 81
Profit on ninety days run......... 42,G
III these returns are anywhere ne;
realized Montana men and money ghou
lose no time in taking hold of this ii
dustry here. What Utah is doing v
can do, and better.