The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1891-11-16
SUGAR BEET CULTURE.
HOW THEY PROPOSE TO AID THE
FARMERS And MANUFACTURERS
IN VIRGINIA.


ton, Va, on Saturday, in the interest of
the sugar beet industry, and there were
a large number of farmers present from
various sections of the county. Inmany
localities the Staunton Daily Mems SAYS
there is general intention among the
farmers to engage largely in beet
growing. At the meeting the progress
was made toward securing the sugar
industry through Mr.. Lapham's plan.
General interest in the production
Of beet sugar is increasing daily in
America. A telegram in the papers
this week announced that New York
capitalists had just taken steps to in
vest a million dollars in beet sugar
works in Nebraska.
In order that sugar may be produced
in Virginia with advantages equal to
those possessed in other States, the
petition printed below has been pre-
pared for presentation to the Virginia
Legislature at its approaching session.
It is intended to circulate the petition
for signatures at the meeting to-mor-
row and at convenient times afterward.
The following is the petition in full:
A petition to the General Assembly
of the State of Virginia:
WHEREAS, the amount of sugar con-
sumed in this country exceeds one
hundred and fifty million dollars year.
ly-and is rapidly increasing
of which over ninety-three millions
value is paid to foreign countries
yearly where it is produced at high
er cost than it here can be produced,
and whereas Virginia has special add
vantages in climate and soil to grow
beet sugar, with an acreage suitable
for double the amount that is used in
the United States.
WHEREAS, other States are making
special inducements for the growth of
beets and the manufacture of sugar
within their borders, where the condi-
tons are more favorable than ours,
for illustration the State of Nebraska
pays one cent per pound on all the
sugar made, which amounts to from.
fifteen to thirty dollars per acre. while
other States remit all duty for con-
siderable time on the lands, appliances,
machinery, etc., used either in grow
ing beets or making sugar. And where
as our general government has deemed
the industry Of such general import
ance, as to remit all duty on the inn
plements or machinery used in making
sugar, till next July, and pays boun-,
ty of from one and three-fourth cents
to two cents per pound, on all sugar
made in this country up to July LIST,
1895. And whereas our constitution
will not make remission of taxation on
any property, which precludes us from
competing with other States in secur
ing sugar plants, and yet it is very de-
sirable that plants for making sugar
should be located at once within our
borders, and whereas prompt action is
imperative, if we are to- have such
plants and SO allow some portion Of
the bounty paid by US, through the
general government to revert to us by
developing the industry within our
midst. Whereas, capitalists are now
seeking places to put plants where the
natural advantages and special induce
ments are the greatest, and it is not
probable that many plants will be built
after the bounty ceases for some length
of time.
Now THEREFORE, wethe undersigned
petition your honorable body to take
such action as will induce capitalists
to locate plants within our borders.
We petition for law which will per-
init bounty to the grower OF beets,
who conforming to certain conditions,
shall grow and harvest the first fifty
thousand acres Of beets which are
made into beet sugar, no bounty to be
paid where there is less than one acre
grown, nor where the yield is less than
twenty tons per acre, nor where the
Weld Of sucrose in the beets is less
than II per cent. with a cceficient Of
purity less than SO per cent. FIVE