The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-10
BEET SUGAR.
General Manager.
NORFOLK AND WESTERN RAILROAD Co.,

w
ROANOKE, VA, April 8, 1891.
To THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES: Enclosed I
hand you copy of pamphlets issued by this
company, in relation to sugar-beet culture,
which, we believe, can be made great industry
for Virginia, with the bounty now being paid
on sugar manufactured in the United States.
Would it not be to the interest OF our agri-
cultural population to call their attention to
the sugar beet culture, and also to the fact
that parties desiring sugar beet seed for expe-
riment can obtain the same by addressing the
United States Department OF Agriculture,
Washington.
We have limited number OF copies of this
pamphlet that we would be glad to distribute
amongst our Virginia farmers, If they desire to
make experiments on sugar beet culture.
I also enclose copy OF the american Con
tractor" with an article on the present beet
sugar outlook in the United States"
Yours truly, CnAs. G. EDDY,
iccPresidcnt.
The phamphlet referred to by Colonel
Eddy is the report of John Wilson,
United States CONSUL at Brussels. Bel
GUM, on sugar beet culture in France,
Germany, Austria Hungary, Belgium,
Holland, etc. In tho preface are sew
eral references toimportant publications
on the same topic.
According to this report there are
2,OOO,OOO acres devoted to beet root cul.
ture in Europe. Leaving out Russia and
Holland the product is 1,4S5, 900 tons of
sugar. SO thoroughly have several OF
these governments stimulated the cul-
hnf I.
exporters of sugar. Within two years
Germany will be producing 1000, 600
+ tons year. and of this amount Goo, 900
will be available for expectation. The
report indicates that the culture is far
more profitable than any of the grains
and ranks well up with the most highly
cultured and expensive crops.
According to the article in the Amer
lean Contractor there are three import
ant beet sugar plants in this country,
two in California and one in Nebraska.
Each has q capital of about half a
millions dollars and uses 10000 tons of
beets during the 100 days it runs. For
each plant 200 men and 5000 acres of
good land are required. To supply the
present American demand for sugar ZOO
such plants would be required.
To transfer to the United States the
vast industry of sugar-making for it's
own needs would mean an industrial
and commercial revolution which would
place American sugar on the plano of
such great staples as cotton, corn, wheat
and iron. Two million men would be
required to harvest the beet crop alone.
The capital invested in the factories
would be not less than $3.50, 900, OeO.
Farmers would be paid 500, 900, 900 an
nually for beets. Coal would be con-
sumed to the extent of 100000 tons.
The ramifications of such an industry
are incalculablc. They would pene.
trate every industrial and commercial
fibre of the country.
Sugar is the one great manufactured
product which still lies largely outside
of American control. Until it is trans
ferred to America our industries will
lack that grand symmetry which be-
longs to a nation self-contained, self.
supporting and agriculturally, indus.
1r!ally and commercially independent
W. nave had the pleasure Of several