Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-08-16
CENTRAL SUGAR FACTORIES.

umnS some months ago. showed from rell-
able authorities that 4 very large proportion
of Texas was eminently suited to success
full culture of tropical sugar cane (''rbbon
cane, as it is sometimes called), and that
the day would probably arrive that would
find Texas producing by far the largest
quantity of cane sugar grown within the
United States. The article seems to have
attracted general attention, and as a result
we have numerous letters asking for in
formation with reference to cane culture in
general, and the manufacture of syrup and
sugar in particular. One of these letters
asking for information concerning the man.
ufacture CT syrup and sugar was published
in our correspondents department OF last
week, as referred to in another article. In
our reply it was given as our opinion that it
would not pay to undertake the manufac-
ture of sugar on a small scale, but that,
where considerable communities would go
into the business of cane growing, small
central factories might be established to
work up the product of the planters, and
that the factories might be made paying
success. We now have before US copy of
the New Orleans Sugar Bowl in which is
an article treating on these central sugar
factories. 1t states, in substance, that every
where throughout the United States, where
tropical sugar cane and sugar beets are be-
ing grown the people are talking up an
erection of small central sugar factories to
purchase the raw material and work it into
sugar. Tropical cane and sugar beets pay
the grower better than almost any other
crop, provided he can get a ready market
for his product These small central facto-
ries, located in communities, would give
him that market, while, at the same time,
they would do profitable business for
their owners. The same factory could be
made to work both cane and beets. The
people are resolved on having them, hence
it is highly probable that within the next
few years very large sums of money will be
invested in their erection
The central sugar factory. says the Sugar
Bowl, is comparatively Il new idea in the
United States Even in Louisiana. the
greatest sugar producing region of North
America. as vet. the matter has not been
taken hold OF in earnest until this year
Now the cry goes up everywhere for central
sugar factories. Scarcely a locality can be
found which lin the opinion of those di-
rectly concerned) is not the best place in
the state for such an establishment. This
only serves to show that there are many
places where they are needed and, in ac-
cordance with a law of nature, no great
want can long remain unsatistied.
The extent to which these central sugar
factories are in demand is amazing 1t
would probably take u hundred million dol
lars to establish all asked for and 50 great
an interest is bound to bring them, and
when they do come there will be complete
revolution in the sugar industry. 1t will
be the small planter who produces our sugar
instead of the large, as in the past for the
small planter can raise cane with more
profit to himself than can the large planter
acting as both producer and manufacturer
The present outlook would seem to indicate
that even i'll Louisiana the great sugar
plantations must speedily go. They will
be divided up into small plantations. the
products of which will be sold to central
factories. So great is the demand for cen
trai factories in Louisiana alone that, ac-
cording to the Sugar Bowl. $50, 000. 600 could
to-day be profitably invested in them. Al
ready several are in successful operation.
the largest, perhaps, being at Franklin, st.
Mary parish. 1t turned out about 6.00O 600
pounds of sugar last year, but even this
great capacity is found to be entirely below
the requirement. So great is the rush upon
it. and so rapid the increase of small plant
atoms in the neighborhood. that the propri-
etors are seriously considering arrange
ments for doubling its capacity. This
statement from the Sugar Bowl is of spe-
cial interest as showing how the sugar in
dustry of this country is undoubtedly tend
ing, and what shape we may safely count
upon for its general establishment in the
near future
Central sugar factories will let Texas N
as by far the greatest sugar producing state
in the Union. Her sugar cane belt, or re-
gions in which sugar cane does as well as
40 SOoiu possibly w Ia NorlN AHieIlCd' Is
larger than five such sugar belts as the one
appearing in Louisiana. The only thing
holding Texas back in the cane sugar indus
try, up TO this time, has been the large
plantation system. The spirit of our peo-
pie seems to tend towards small planta-
lions as rule. These central factories
will be in strict harmony with that prevail
ing spirit. The man seeing fit TO devote
only half an acre to sugar cane will be able
TO haul it to the factory and realize just as
much for it, pound for pound. as he would
realize were he cultivating 10000 acres to
the crop.
Then. in addition to this, we have an i'm
mense area entirely suited to culture of
the sugar beet. The sugar beet does its
best on lands inclined to sandy-we have
lands of this character in very large repre-
sentation throughout what we term our
sugar belt. Under these circumstances the
planter will be able to take his choice as to
his sugar crops. If ne prefers to raise su-
gar cane for the central factory he will set
tie on lands best adopted to the production
OF cane: if beet culture suits him best he
will locate on the sandy lands. So strangely
has nature thrown together our lands of
different character that the cane growers
and the beet growers may make up the same
community almost anywhere, hauling their
different products to the same central fac