Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1891-10-04
LAUDABLE ENERGY.
The Fostering Of the Sugar
Beet Industry.
An Effort Being Made to Secure
New Factories.
The Plan Is to Interest the Small
Farmers in the Matter.
What the Committee Contemplate Doing.
Some Interesting Statements.
Donations to the
Exhibit.


directors of the chamber of commerce, a
committee was appointed for the pur-
pose of agitating the erection of further
sugar factories III Los Angeles county.
The members are Messrs. Freeman,
Lankershim, Denker and the secretary.
1t has been submitted to the chamber
that capital is ready for investment
whenever an acreage sufficient to sup
port such factory may be guaranteed.
1t requires 5000 acres planted to sugar
beets to make the establishment of o
sugar factory possible, and the chamber
of commerce, with laudable energy, has
undertaken to canvas the county wit h
a view OF encouraging this new and i'm
portant industry.
1t has been repeatedly charged that
the larger ranch owners of this county,
such as possess hundred s or perhaps
thousands OF acres, themselves ought to
give an example by planting their ex-
tensive farms to the sugar beet. There
is a reason why this has not been, and
cannot be, proftably done. On such
large GSLdDllSuIuellS bbSIO ID HSOSoost-
rily great need of labor, and as every
one has learned, it is difficult to receive
sufficient help. Besides, the culture of
the beet requires the most careful at
tention and noIone can be brought to give
his proper work to such purpose. Ac-
cordingly it has been decided by the
committee to try and reach the small
farmer, rather than the great ranch
man. A small farmer, must be inter-
ested in the product OF his own land, and
his every effort will pay grateful fruit.
When it is considered that the average
profit of from $50 to $50 per acre may by
care be increased to 500 or even $3.50, it
at once becomes apparent that the inter-
est of the cultiyator must be essential.
During the coming week the matter
will be placed before the public in sys-
tematic way. Secretary Willard will
prepare circular in which, primarily,
the advantages of beet-culture will be
promulgated. In detail the cost of cul
tivation will be stated and compared
with the resultant receipts. In addi-
ton, each circular will be accompanied
by blank, on which every farmer, over
his own signature, may agree to plant
whatever number of acres he may be
willing to devote to beet-culture. When
ever group of these agreements aggre-
gate 5000 acres, factory will be built by
those guarantors who have made the
proposition to the chamber.
The method to be employed in dis
tributing these circulars is both novel
and effective. 1t is proposed to seEd
lot of the circulars and blanks to every
public school in the county. There they
will be distributed among the children.
In this way it is expected that four-ffths
Of the small farmers will be reached
This may be an exaggerated estimate,
but yet the matter will thus gain an ex-
tensive circulation.
The committee, through the secre-
tary, expect in this manner to achieva
appreciable results within the next six
ty days. There is need OF hurry, be-
cause the bounty OF two cents per pound
of sugar now obtaining, offers exception
al advantages for this industry. Be
sides, it is essential that the matter be
organized before February or March, the
regular season for beet planting.
Superintendent Virgins has returned
from Santa Ana, where his time was de-
voted more to business connected with
the coming fair, than to pleasure.
The permanent exhibit received the
following additions yesterday: Wllllam
Clifford, Norwalk, samples OF egg plant;
l. Gibbs, Vernon, strawberry guavas;
L. 7. Graves, Los Angeles, 75-pound
watermelon; N. Cocherns, Antelope
valley, soft-shell almonds from 5year-
old tree; John Stuart, city, pampas
plumes; Mrs. w. H. Carter, Big Rock
creek, Antelope valley, canned nectar
ines; Carter's ranch, same place, APP
Il I ~
Banning, two cases Of grapes and
peaches; T. Heryford, Neenach, yellow
Danver and red Wakefield onions
John McNoah, Downey, orange quin-
ces; G. R. Short, Studebaker, bellhower
apples; Nathan Cole. Jr., city, samples
of wheat from Antelope valley.
The chamber forwarded to the Chi
cago exhibit, two cases of fruit and
printed matter.