The morning call., 1893-08-27

Virginia Commencement. 400 700 900
The increase of California over 1891 was
greater than the increase of any other
State. aud the average yield an acre far
larger.
What are the prospects for the beet
sugar crop this year?" asked a CALL re-
porter Of J. ID. Spreckels Yesterday.
First rate. We will start up our
works the first week in September" said
Mr.. 81 reckels. land we are certain to
have enough beets to keep us going for
cur usual season of six months. The
crop, however. will be late this wear.
Planting was delayed because of wet
weather and many teids were washed ont
but there was ample time for replanting.
The crop Is now past all danger and the
farmers are waiting to allow the sunny
weather TO imp owe the quality of the
beets now in the ground. This sunny
weather. which has prevailed for the past
two months, increases the saccharne
substance OF the beet, which adds To its
value. / think the quality of this wears
crop Will DO very fine because the weather
ever since the late paintings has been all
that could be desired. Besides that, the
farmers have been very careful with the
culture of the beets."
What is the acreage this year compared
with ast?"
Much larger. We expect TO turn out
1000 tons OF sugar this year. as against
5695 tons last season, which meaps the
product OF 10000 tons of beets. | cannot
speak authOrtatively for the fields in San
BernardinO and Alameda counties, but [
am informed that the increase in acreage
tleIe VIII be about the same as in the fields
at jacksonville"
Asked to give forecast of the future of
ths sugar-beet industry in this State, Mr..
Spreckels said: ''All depends on the tariff
legislation in Congress. California pro-
duces more Deets tn the acre and of better
quality than any other State in the Uniun
or the most favored portions of Germany.
We could raise enough TO supply the
United States. and then bring into cultiva-
ton only a part of the soil adapted TO
beets. But you may safely set down that
no more factories will be erected in this
State until the policy of Congress is de-
termined.
There is a feeling among the leaders of
the party In power chat the bounty on
sugar ought to be removed. If this be
done without compensating legislation
there Will be an end to the sugar-beet in
dustry in California. 1t would have 10 be
conducted at loss But If the tariff
principle sat forth in the Chicago platform
snail be put into effect it is more than
likely that the duty on sugar will be re-
stored in order to get enough revenue TO
meet the expense of the Government. eco
nOmically administered In this case,
California sugar beets will have better
protection, or quite as good. as under the
bounty law.
80 we are all waiting TO see what Con-
gress will do. Our company has nearly
enough new machinery at the works 10 es-
tablish another refinery, which we could
put into operation at short notice. We
should have it running this season were
We assured that the present law would
stand. The factory at Chino is in the
same state of doubt. Its owners would
like to increase its capacity. which would
increase the acreage in like proportion. l
think you may safely set down that SO
soon as it is decided that there shall be no
adverse legislation by Congress the sugar
beet industry of this State will be
doubled"
Richard Grid of Chino. San Bernardino
county. who is accounted an authority
on the subject of beet culture. makes the
following statement as to the farmers
profits:
The average tonnage per acre last sea-
son was ID the average price that will
oe paid by the factory this year is S. a
ton; the average cost of production, $50
an acre; so that the average net profit will
has been very materially reduced in the
last year, and we hope this season, with
the help of labor-saving machinery, to re-
duce 1T TO at least $50 an acre. This may
seem low to beet-raisers in other parts of
the State. but there have been actual con-
tracts made this year by beet farmers
with others TO prepare the land, seed,
thin. weed and cultivate for SO 80 an
acre. This, with the cost Of harvesting,
S12 an acre, would bring the cost Of pro-
ductlon TO SD 80 an acre.