The morning call., 1891-07-22
GOSSIP FROM NILES.
The Sugar-Beet Industry-Pic.
nickers-Fruit Business, Etc.

Editor Morning Call: Perhaps your cor
respondent may be allowed few words
more upon the subject of the beet-sugar
bounty.
The 2-cent bounty was given to foster or
protect the beet-sugar industry, and the
growers wonder how the factories would get
along without them, and what one-sided
argument it is that proves the right of the
factories to absorb all of the bounty. to the
exclusion Of the grower, who feels that he is
an equal factor with the manufacturer in the
beet-sugar industry.
1t must be remembered that "twenty tons
to the acre is a large YIELD" the net returns
from such being $50 to 500 an acre; but the
average yield is twelve tons to the acre,
with proportionate profit and the yield
tails below twelve tons as many times as il
rises above.
Again, the amount of land that will
produce sugar beets is more limited than
good range land. and the value of such land
is accordingly III proportion, but land about
Alvarado is worth $3.50 an acre and rents
for $50 an acre year after year, so that the
amount invested in twenty or thirty acres OF
beet land represents quite snug capital,
from which the grower expects fair re-
turn; for to that capital must be added his
own labor. tools and teams, which have
certain value as capital also.
The Alvarado factory has always been
successful. which fact is due TO several
causes: The quality of beets possible TO
raise is exceptionally high, the managers
and owners-the Dyers-understood the
business thoroughly and were good business
men, and finally were the largest owners of
this same beet land, fact which cut no
small figure i'll the success of the factory.
The grower really feels that he needs as
much encouragement to grow beets as the
fact ry-owners to grind them into sugar,
and feels entitled to his fair share of the
profits. The beetgrower bears the same
relation to the consumer Of sugar as the
IrIit- grower does to the consumer of canned
or dried fruits. and why the middlemen
should pocket the greater part of the money,
which the consumer pays. it is impossible
for them to understand. Let the products
! OF the soil be raised and passed into the con-
snmers' hands as cneaply as possible, leay-
ing fair profit for the factories only; but
when to their high prices and demands
bounty is added, then the cry of the farmer is
come down with high prices and divide the
bounty with the cO-workers-the growers.
The writer can only speak from knowl-
edge Of the Alvarado factory, but as far as
reports have been studied, all factories
ever established in connection with good
beet land, and with competent pIOprietors,
have proved successful; fact that should
prove incentive enough from business
point of view to induce people of means to
&c,
without the bounty.
One hears occasionally of the Worlds
Fair Committee meetings, but no business
seems to be done. Ii the committees could
get down to work and formulate plans of
some kind then the people could follow
them out. As fruit section, this part of
Alameda County should be able to make
quite showing. Plans for fine State or
mental-ss0ne display are being talked of,
and Niles certainly will not be behind
far fba Ear
Quarry has become SO well known and is of
such good quality that the owner fully in
tends to assist. if possible, in any display Of
the kind that may be arranged.
More white labor Is employed in this
neIghb0rhood this season than ever before,
and tie Chinaman is quite 4 scarce and
high-priced article, demanding from 10 to %
cents more than previous years. Boys are
camping together in several orchards, and
find no trouble in getting work. In some
orchards the boys find it very hard work to
make a good days wages cutting fruit by
the box, because of the small siZe of the
fruit, which is far below the average of
other years. The only redress is to demand
little more per box.
Monday was another hot day, the Their
mometer standing in the nineties and re-
naming as high as 500 at 8 O'Clock at night,
although the nights are generally cool.
Frank Rose ST., an old gentleman living
Just out Of town. dropped dead last Saturday
in the valley, having owned and lived upon
the home place for more than thirty years.
Here nine sons and daughters were born,
who are all nearly grown and all Of whom
were present to comfort their mother in her
sad bereavement.
Every now and then the dog-poisoner is
about, and several fine dogs have been killed
within the past week or so.
The vineyards are looking finer than for
several years and an unusual yield is ex-
peeted. 1t is still early for prices, but offers
are out for $40 ton for Znfandels, buyers
to do the picking and handling. Many
vineyards Will average more than six tons
TO the acre-not bad outlook
Buyers are still cautiously looking about
and come from many quarters. Buyers
from Sacramento and HealdSburg are offer
ing as high as any, all free on board.
Several Chinese firms have gone into the
canning business and are paying good prices,
having bought several orchards outright
The Pacific Fruit Packing Company is a
Chinese firm which bought largely last
year and at good prices.
Miles, July H. 1891 MRS L. Z THASE