The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-07-26
Big Chance for Our Farmers.

LAURENs, July 20.-A matter is now
under consideration here and in New
York which will be Of special interest to
the farmers of the Piedmont. It is per-
haps not generally known that great
efforts have been made and much money
spent on the cultivation of the sugar beet
in the United Suites. In California and
Nebraska the experiments have been
successful that is, that factories in those
two States are now in operation, beet
sugar being produced there at paying
prices. Efforts were also made some
years ago in various parts Of Canada with
the same object in view but the result
was failure.
The people of the Piedmont know that
an impulse was given to the cultivation
of the wine grape in this section by the
discovery that the climate, conditions and
grape producing regions Of France.
Most people who read geography also
know that the beet industry is one of the
largest and most profitable in France.
1t was perhaps the putting of these facts
together that induced an investigation
now in progress into the merits of the
Piedmont as beet producer.
Some days ago the accredited agent Of 8
New York syndicate paid visit to Sena-
tor Irby. The people In this syndicate
have undertaken to establish five beel
factories in various parts of the South.
The agent Of the capitalists who has q
practical knowledge of the subject in all
its bearings, has already made sufficient
examinations in Florida. Reports, analy-
ses of soil, a.. we're made from this Sec
ton some time ago. Future examina-
tions are to be made in Tennessee and
Mississippi ard Que other State.
The agent of the capitalists was directed
by them to come here and endeavor to
interest Senator Irby, in general way,
in the undertaking. He called on Sena-
tor Irby last night and sketohed to him
the intention, capabilities and earnestness
of his moneyed principals. In brief, the
object of the company is to make success
full in South Carolina an industry which
has proved eminently 80 in sections
which are not as naturally adapted to
beet culture as our semi-tropical land.
The establishment of the factory is OF
course dependent upon the success of q
beet crop or the success of sufficient
number of experiments to show that
beets can be grown here in the way
desired. In South Carolina the natural
conditions are granted to be what they
should be. In Nebraska they raise ten
tons to tho acre, in California sixteen tons
to the acre. South Carolina can at least
do as we'll as California. It has been
determined by experience that it will
pay to raise beets for sugar if the produc-
ton per acre is as much as eight tons.
In Nebraska the producers of the raw
material and the factory people make
money Notwithstanding that labor is
scarce and dear.
The agent after explaining the matter
thoroughly said that he was authorized to
make Senator Irby proposition. The
capitalists desire his cooperation but
that be shall make no promises or give
no advice to the farmers of this section or
State until after he shall have seen the
beet plantations of the West, investigated
the cost OF production, net result to the
farmer, etc. They desire that he shall
report the result of his observations, If
desired, through the newspapers of the
State.
The company has rendered him for this
purpose trip to California and n Nebraska,
and also to Canada if he wishes to be
informed on the ground of the causes of
failure there. They wished him to set
out at once, but 1t being out of the ques-
ton now Senator Irby accepted the ten
der for September, and he will In all
probability leave Washington for the
West about the first of that month. He
said to-day that he would make thorough
examination into all that had been stated
by the agent with reference to the indus
try and would offer his suggestions and
advice only after he had been thoroughly
informed on the subject. Something
more on this interesting subject will be
given in few days.-GreenviLke NeUs.