Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-05

Within few years at most Southern
California will be known the world
over for its sugar factories as well as
its climate and oranges, lemons and
other fruits, and its wines and minerals.
There are capitalists with millions ol
dollars at their command who stand
ready to place their money in sugar
factories, provided they find the right
locality for the growth of the sugar
beet and at the same time locality
where fuel is reasonably cheap and good
transportation facilities afforded.
Men who have studied the question
thoroughly do not hesitate to say that
Southern California is the place to raise
sugar beets, and negotiations are now in
progress for the formation of a company
which proposes to put up factories and
60 into the business very extensively.
The meetings recently held in various
sections of this part of the state have
been given widespread publicity through
the medium of the newspapers, and
have attracted the attention of men who
are interested in the development OF the
beet sugar industry.
Mr.. f. F. Dyer, of the firm of E. F.
Dyer & Co., of Cleveland, O., arrived in
the city yesterday morning. and intends
to spend about week in visiting var
ious points adjacent to this city collect
ing data as to the nature of the soil and
its adaptation to sugar beet culture. 1t
is likely that this visit will result in the
establishing OF one factory at least.
The company which Mr.. Dyer repre-
sents, and in which he is one of the
principal owners, makes specially of
sugar beet machinery. and is the only
mandatory in America that turns out
that sort of machinery. Mr.. Dyer came
di,ect to this coast from Lehi, Utah,
where factory has just been finished
by his company, the first one equipped
with machinery made in this country.
He took trip through the Cahuenga
valley yesterday afternoon in company
with Mr.. A. H. Denker, and upon his
return to the Nadeau hotel last evening
consented to give his views of the coun-
try to HERALD reporter.
"There is no question" said Mr.. Dyer,
'about the value of the beet sugar in
dustry to any locality. The establish
ment of factory gives great impetus to
the country adjacent to it.
81 have been through the Cahuenga
valley today and took good look at the
land. The soil there is of light, loamy
nature; just what the beet requires.
The land is much better than that of
the majority of beet-growing districts,
for the reason that the loose soil is OF
greater depth.
"The sugar beet could be cultivated to
;nh oril
today, and the mildness of the climate
gives the advantage of long seasons.
II have been in France and Germany
and studied their methods thoroughly.
The industry sprang up in France, where
tended from there to Germany. The
more favorable to the industry, it grew
to greater proportions than in France.
In the countries I mentioned they have
six weeks, and have about the same
ty. At Lehi, which is near Salt Lake
City, where we have just completed a
factory, the planting must be done in
about Thirty days. In this country the
farmer can plant at any season of the
IT..
ing the crop out.
"The factory at Alverado, which was
built by us and in which we are large
stockholders, was the first one in this
country that operated in satisfactory
manner. Since it began running the
price OF land increased very materially,
acre. Land close to the factory cannot
l. lnI Co
There are now nearly 1000 acres under
cultivation, and many owners rent their
property at from $40 to $50 per acre.
The average production is about twenty
tons per acre. That means 1000 pounds
of sugar. In Germany they figure it at
twelve to fifteen tons per acre, but in this
state there is no reason why the average
should not be twenty tons and over.
"The sugar beet will grow with less
moisture than any other crop. The
plant has tap root that goes down
about six feet and finds moisture. The
loose soil is therefore advantageous, and
from what l have seen should
think with the proper amount OF
moisture, which everyone tells me
you have, big yields should be obtained
here. The land surrounding the Lehi
ldCIOIy ID ury duQ dIlu, anu every dCIo
must be irrigated. do not think irri-
cation would be necessary on the land l
saw today.
"There is an idea that the beet is ex-
haustive to the soil. II properly culti-
waited it is not so. Most of the mineral
constituents OF the soil taken up by the
beat are in the crown and the leaves.
When the crop is cut these are left on
the ground, and the mineral matter is
therefore returned.
THE saccharine matter in beet
varies from IL to 20 per cent. Beets Of
IA per cent sugar, native purity, will
give yield OF 10 per cent white sugar.
This can be produced where fuel can be
had at reasonable price at from 311a to
A cents per pound.
my visit is primarily for the purpose
OF starting factory. desire to see
just what the opportunity is. Our at
tention was called to this section prin-