The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-02-27
THE SUGAR BEET.
A Practical Discussion of an Inter
esting Subject.

Editor Free Press:
The sugar beet industry isl ques-
tion now more or less prominent in the
minds of the people of Minnesota, and
I have concluded to ask limited
space in your valuable paper to Express
my views. While am farme', I am
not looking for a great direct ,enefit
to farmers in raising sugar beet,
for when expenses are deduGed no
great profit is left. But Indirectly
the benefit will be considerable for it
will give employment to many )eople.
/ believe the salvation of the farmer
lies in the growth of our cites and
manufacturing establishments. and it
should be our aim as farmers % pro-
duce that which can and will sfford
home market. The climati, con-
ditions here for sugar beet are favor
able, and according to map issued
by the agricultural departmental belt
200 miles wide and stretching from
ocean to ocean il given where beets
may be grown successfully. M,nkato
is located about the center Of the
Minnesota belt, taking in a tart OF
Iowa. and it has excellent railroad ia
cilities reaching out in all directions.
| 1t has the best of lime and water in
inexhaustible quantities, ingredients
INDISPENSABLE in the manufacture Of
sugar, and the only question which re-
mains unsolved is, can we raise beets
which contain a per cent. OF sugar
great enough to make the raising OF
same profitable for the manufacturer?
We ought to try this to a certainty,
and in doing so take such steps as will
enlist the interest Of the farmers
throughout the State. My plan, which
7 have given considerable thought to
would be this:
The legislature should make an APP
preparation sufficiently large to pay
the freight on not less than Car load
of beets from each county in the estate
to the Nebraska factory, and keep a
competent man there during the time
required in the manufacture of the
Minnesota product, which would be
but few days at most. The farmers
should put their beets into the car free
of charge and receive in return the
sugar produced therefrom, after pay
ing the cost of manufacture, (which is
about four cents per pound.
Senator Lineau is laboring hard in
the interest of Minnesota sugar and
he ought to get full credit for the
pains he has been to in getting the
matter before the legislature, but If
his bill is enacted it will at best only
afford thorough trial at the expert
mental station and it's vicinity. For
the remainder of the State it will be
of little practical value, and nothing
much more satisfactory than has al
ready been gained will develop. There
will be nothing ready at the station
when the beets are marketed, and the
whole question will hang fire for years
to come. The farmers will be fed on
dry statistics instead Of sweet sugar
and have their patience worn out,
while the adoption of my plan, be-
lieve, will prove an inducement TO far
mers to make an effort to raise the
best beets they can, as only good
article ought to be sent, and home
test can be made in salt water. The
interest on $4,000 1.-THE sum asked in
Senator Leneau's bill for the expert
mental station) will pay for the send
ing of our beets to place where the
best of machinery is used by experts
and where the best possible results
can be secured. If it is found that
beets can be raised prof1tably in Min
nesota, and which section is best ad-
apted to their cultivation, it will then
be time to take further consideration
of the question.
I make these few suggestions, Mr..
Editor, in the hope that we may get
at this matter in the most desirable
form. | submit it to the consider
alton of those interested.
A FARMER.