The morning call., 1892-10-10
SUGAR FROM BRBTS.
Successful Operation Of the
Factory at AlVarado.
A Profitable Enterprise, Which Is Of Much
Benefit TO & Fertile Section Of
Alameda County.
Correspondence Of The MORNING CALI.

It's extremely interesting to note the his
tory of beet sugar. In 1747 Andreas Sigis-
mund Marggraf. director of the physical
classes in the Academy of Sciences, Berlin,
discovered that true sugar existed in large
quantities in beet roots and also in several
similar roots, but not 10 large enough guam
titles to warrant any attempt to extract it.
1t was not until 1901 that Marggrafs pupil
and successor, Carl Achard, established a
factory in Cunern, Silesia. Within twenty
five years from that date factories were
erected throughout Germany and France.
Then, owing to the political conditions in
Europe, the prices of sugar advanced rap
idly and the industry prospered surpris-
ingly, until in 1910 the beet sugar output of
Germany and France was nearly as great as
the cane sugar output Of India aud the
United States.
The quality OF the beets and sugar pro-
duced In France was much better than in
Germany, because the French proved to be
more economic and scientific workers. The
Governments Of both countries offered q
premium to growers Of beets, which as
sisted In fostering the industry; and this
fact Is the origin Of the bill granting the
two-cent bounty in the United States.
The season has much to do with the guam
tity of sugar contained In tie roots, the
amount varying from 10 to 70 per cent.
The largest amount Of sugar obtained
from beets is one pound from nine and a
ouarter pounds Of beets; the smallest
smonnt. one pound from eighteen pounds of
bests. The quality Of the beat has every
thing to GO with the quantity Of sugar.
The process Of manufacturing beet sugar
has been jealously guarded. At the factory
oil AlYaTad0, the oldest in the United
States. no one besides the president Of the
company. Isaac Heeht, and Superintendent
j. w. Atkinson understands the process :;
and but two or three skilled workmen are
employed among the large number re-
CURED.
The quality of the beets grown here is
not of a high grade, there being but one
pound of sugar to every fifteen pounds or
thereabouts Of beets this season. In other
words. the output just now Is, daily, four
teen tons OF refined sugar from BIC tons Of
beets. Nearly 2400 acres of land in and
about AlVarado are set to beets; few hun
bred near PleasaDton are also in beets,
which are bought by the AlVarado factory.
The amount raised per acre varies greatly,
from ten to twenty-five tons, according TO
the land and the season.
The only foreign ingredients used TO make
sugar from the beets are lime. to precipitate
the impurities, and sulphur fumes to
bleach il.
The beet seed, for which the farmer pays
IS cents a pound, Is planted about twenty
pounds to the acre the last Of April, as a
rule. aud the crop is harvested not before
September
The refuse of the beet is carried off into a
dump and is sold to dairymen and farmers.
Packed In a silo with plenty of salt it Is a
most excellent feed for cattle.
The sugaT-beet cooked is fair rival to
the red beets used upon our tables, being
nd no of In Ia u
white.
There are numbers Of artesian wells about
the old town OF AlvaTado, and from these
the sugar mill obtains the quantities OF
water which it uses. The narrow gauge
train runs through the grounds. The black
smoke from the factory floats over section
OF the valley particularly adapted to the
growth OF the sugar. beet Lovely homes
are made more lovely, because plenty OF
water keeps the gardens bright and the
lawns green and cool.
The best valley potatoes grown In this
part OF the State are grown just here, and
thousands of tons Of hay are marketed
from here every season.
The Alameda Greek winds lazily ia and
cut between beautiful tree lined banks, and
close down to the bay, on Its banks, lies
Union City, quite shipping point in early
days. DOW failing 10 decay. Here many of
our sturdy pioneers landed, trudged over
the tree-gIown valley to the mountains, and
beyond them for gold, while others cleared
the valley Of mustard and now ride 10 and
ont from one town to another, over smooth
roadways, bordered by willows. spreading
walnut, the graceful poplar, the elm, or
blue gum. These broad, cool avenues
stretch away into cool vistas over the acres
ofgraIn and vegetable land to the acres
upon acres Of orchards nestled all about
Centeryille, Niles aud Irvingt0n and even
asainst the hills beyond them.
The industries OF Washington township
are remarkably varied and valuable. II is
Indeed the garden spot OF the country.
MRS l.. L. THANE.
Alyarado, October g.
Wal s,omscb strengthened by Beecham's Pills.