Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1894-01-04
SUGAR BEET PROFITS
NEDHASKAN9 WHO HAVE MADE
GOOD MONEY.

N2M4pGN |EYEN fEMGNa @s &7GN&EA EGYSN8hF-
lassrssting Figures from Fsfmers They
show C~onelsslvsly that u Pays = Raise
Bssts-Advantass "a b Derived fro.a the
Opsration Of . Bset sugar Plant.
PROFITS In sugar Beets.
THE beet sugar campaign Of Ne
braska for the season OF 1893 has just
closed. Tho factory at Grand Island
has producod 1855, 800 pounds, and
that at Norfolk will produce 4,OOO,OOJ
pounds or more. The close OF each
successive campaign recalls the exper-
fences OF the founders and promoters
Of the industry, and in this connection
the time-worn, yet still highly illus
trative sdage, .'Rome was not built in
q day. becomes applicable with special
force. In the year 1862 there came to
this country Henry A. kcenig. To
him. Fred A. Wiebe, and a DR.. Thor
specher, is credited the original idea
Of raising beets in Nebraska and man
lfacturing sugar from the roots. All
three we're natives Of Germany, where
The sugar industry has existed fof over
half . century, and they had some &C
luaintance with the same. The first
step to be taken was to ascertain ii
sugar beets wolld grow In Nebraska
and yield q sufficient percentage OF
saccharine matter to make their man
ufacture into sugar possible and profit
able. DR.. Thorspecher procured a
small quantity OF seed from Washing
ton and Germany, in letters, in 1868,
and it was In that year asceftained
that they grew we'll. DIR. Thorspecher
was q practical chemist, and IN analy-
is proved that from 8 to 10 per cent.
Of sugar ext ted In the beets raised on
Wood River, a precinct on higher
lands, and that the beets raised on the
islands in the bottom lands along the
Platte River v elded q percentage OF
from II to 10. J. d. Moore, 10Y SUPER
iivision of the Union Pacific, became
Interested and found an opportunity
Or the purchase of some beet sugar
machinery. A committee of leading
citizens was appointed to act in the
matter and II possible to complete the
purchase of the machinery and have
the same moved to Hall County. y
severely unsuccessful attempt hau
been made to establish a factocy in
Canada, and after the wreck was over
the outfit. which had cost $4,000 0 was
offered for $4,000. Land had been
secured for the rails ing of the beets
md 5000 had been paid down when it
wa discovered that $73, 800 woull be
required to pay the import duty on the
machinery from Canada. and the claim
On the $1,000 was relinquished rather
than make an investment OF $73,50O in
duty.
Farmers Lacked Confidence.
The first attempt, therefore, was a
lat failure and the only lesson that
had been learned tended rather toward
confusion and disbursement than
toward d definite plan and knowledge
Of the distinct requirements necessary
ter the establis hment of the industry
n Nebraska. That lesson was this,
that there was a lack Of confidence
among the farmers who were to raise
)eets and fear that such occupation
sould be anything but profitable, and
when DIR. Thorspecher had ground up
. small quantity Of beets, boil I'd the
uice and secured a certain quantity of
yrup he was often jested as to supply
ng the country with molasses.
But these gentlemen we're not dis
concerted, and Immediately after this
allure concluded to make further and
more thorough experiments in raising
eets. One hundred pounds Of seed
! we're procured from the Agricultural
department. at Washington-this was
in the spring OF lSSS-and other seed
vas obtained from Germany. The seed
Il unc 0rntp vN1onto1 h., Vynfn,,p utry.tas,1
surists on various soils and the results
hat Of the German seed. A German
Expert had been secured and had as
listed in the cultivation, and upon an
lysis it was found that the beets cen
aimed from II to Is per cent. Of sac
.hariEe matter. These analyses were
made at the State University at Lin
DIN, in Germany AMI in the Govern
nent Office at Washington.
The same experiments were con-
tinued in 1889 and it was ascertained
hat q light, loamy soil was best adapt
| ed to beet culture.
The money question was the only one
that had now to be met. In Janua y,
1889, negotiations had been commenced
| with Mr.. Oxnard. The latter had
made many visits to this and othc
states and finally after months OF diplo
uatic effort on both sides, ard after Il
tate bounty of l cent per pound had
cen secured for all sugar to be manu-
featured, ar improvement company was
rsanized and u contract between the
| company and Mr.. Oxnar1 was entered
nto December 5, 1889. The obliya.
ions of the contract comp ised tle
rec gift of forty acres of land as q site
Or the factory, situated nee Grand
Island, the payment Of all taxes for
two years, 1880 and 1891, the furnish.
ing Of 5000 acres Of land for the cult
walton Ct beets, Mt a price OF not over
Sl5 for unimprOved and not over S25
for improved land and the growing OF
1000 acres OF beets for three years, the
Oxnard Company promising to pay s;
per ton for beets containing Upper cent.
OF saccharine matter and Is cents Ia
edition per ton for each additional
per cent. Of increase, besides a few
minor privileges. On the second day
after the signing OF the contract the
ground VS. broken, the machinery or
! dered, and in the fall of 1890 the Grand
Island factory was ready to work ul
that seasons crop OF beets.
How the Farmers Came out,
No figures are obtainable as to the
results Of the first years work as far al
the farmers are concerned. Certain il
il, however, that the farmers were, in
the main, unsatisfied, for in the mex,
year less and not more bects were
raised, but there were some who were
ute successful, and these tried the
rork again in 1891, and the following
re the best ten results:
fPGf