Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-11-18
SUGAR Beet CULTURE.
Reports OF Committees ON Rates of
Freight ON Beet-Sugar and the Amount
of Acreage Secured.

Ere1g mt ON Rcet-SuSar ana the AmOuh
of Acreage Secured.
At meeting of the farmers held in thu
Court House on October Goth, county cour
day, to consider the proposition of Mr.. Lap.
ham to establish sugar-beet factory at Staun
ton, If the farmers would sgree to plant and
cultivate beet sugar in as much as 1900 acres Of
| land committees were appointed to ascertain
! the rates of freight on beets and the number o.
acres the farmers would agree to put in beets,
and were Instructed to report to a meeting to
ba held on the 18th of November.
This meeting was held in the Court House
last Saturday, the IA, during the recess, for
dinner, of the Circuit Conrt then in session.
The meeting was small, AID but few OF the
members of the committees mentioned were
present. The chairman of the former meeting
being absent, on motion of Mr.. David Drake,
Judge Chas. Grattan was called to preside. and
the editors of the city papers wers requested to
act as secretaries.
MIR. Drake, one of the committee on acreage.
reported that be had on his list ID names of
persons who had agreed in the aggregate to
put SO acres In sugar-beets. His neighborhood
was not as favorable for beet-culture as many
others as the land was not SO fertile, but found
a majority to whom he applied willing to put
some land in sugar.beets
Mr.. VIM. Fl. MoorE1an said he was not pre-
pared to make definite report as the farmers
10 his neighhorhood we're unwilling to con-
tract TIL they could ascertain the rates of rail-
road freight on sugar -beets. He said he was
satisfied from the experiment that he had
made, that it would pay the farmers to raise
them even il no sugar-beet factory should be
established. 1t would pay to raise them for
food for cattle. He found that his cattle were
very fond of them, and ate them ravenously-
beets and tops. They furnished food patata-
BILE, wholesome, and nutritious. he did not
endeavor to ascertain what effect the eating of
them had On the quality or supply of milk.
mr. W. N. Wilson, chairman of the commit.
tee on freight rates, read the following COM
munication from the General Freight Agent
of the g. & o. Railway:
RICHMOND, VA, Nov. 18th. 1891.
Mr.. W. N. WILSON.
Dear Sir Further in reply to your letter of
October Goth enclosing circular letter from
Farmers Committee of Augusta county in re-
gard to the matter of freight rates on sugar
beets to Staunton, Va. we have looked into
this matter carefully and have conferred with
our people on the subject, and we find we can
not see our way clear to quote you the rates
suggested in the circular letter of the commit
tee above referred to. However, we feel an
interest in the proposed scheme for raising
sugar beets. and are willing to transport them
over our lines at such figures as are but a
trif1e over the cost of transportation. We Will
quote you the following rates:-
On sugar beets in carloads of not less than
q, 600 pounds per ton off 1900 pounds.
For distances % miles and under, 40 cents
per ton.
Over Is and not exceeding IS miles, 90 cents
per ton.
Over As and not exceeding LEO miles, 81 per
ton.
Over 100 miles and not exceeding 200 miles,
sl.50 per ton.
1t being understood that no single car for
any distance is TO pay less than S.; shipments
to be at the risk of the owner as to damage
except when damage is the result Of negligence
on the part of the carrier. The enterprise 1t
must be acknowledged, is to large extentex-
perimental, and it is possible that develop
ments would necessitate change in the rates
named above. 1t might be found by actual
experience after giving the matter trial that
the business would stand higher rates than
those named; or 1t might be possible that some
whole, however. We think the rates we have
are fair. and we hope they will be
to the farmers.
In regard to the return OF the spent beets
after sugar has been taken out, we should say
that the freight ought to pay our fertilizer
rates. which are very low, and which can be
gotten by application to our Staunton Agent
We make the carload rate on fertilizer apply
on shipments of tons and over, and as the
rates are low it would seem to us that they
might be applied on the spent bests. OF course
you understand the sbove rates are subject to
before being used.
Yours very truly,
E. D. HoTCHKIss,