The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-13

| article for the California one and make a
increased profit.
"Califo-nia's fruitage cannot be equale
and her vintage cannot be excelled. Ye
the State is condemned in the East be
cause OF this practice. 1t is to this evi
that your earnest attention should be d
rected. CALIFORNIA; resources cannot
equaled in the world and the most diver
sitied industries should be carried on ant
their development not INSTRUCTED by an.
influence moral suasion can remove"
Mr.. Mcguire turned his attention to tn
labor subject briefly, pointing out the wa.
he believed labor should be employed tina
it might be at profit, and then turning tt
the theme OF the evening said:
Il do not believe any Californian SHOULD
go abroad for anything he can purchase a
home that is just as good and just as cheag
as the foreign article. The failure of oul
people to patroniZe home industries as
they should is, | believe, due to the lacl
of knowledge of the quality and price
more than to any other reason. In com
par1son with Eastern-made goods | think
the average person has Il very poor idea Of
! what those of California really are. II
should be one of the duties of this associa-
ton to enlighten them on this point"
The speaker paid tribute to the achieve
ments of the Union Iron Works, and said
that the warships that institution has built
l
on the labor question and continuing with
/ his subject said:
1--WE have here, as elsewhere, contra
| dictory and illogical way of looking at
| home industries. With one hand we build
| them up and with the other we impede
their progress. l would patronize every
| industry'in California, but | would go fur
Their. | would set them free from taxa
tion." He referred to the case of Louis
lana, where fifteen years ago a constitu-
tlonal amendment was adopted exempting
all manufacturers from taxation for ten
years.
During that PERIOD" said the speaker
''the people of the world were called to
witness Louisana's progress. Taxes stif1e
industries, whereas they should be given
every encouragement, for in their develop
ment lies the prosperity of the whole
nation" Mr.. Maguire's peroration was an
eloquent appeal to all the people to build
up their Industries according to the plans
mapped out by the Manufacturers and
Producers Association by giving the home
article the preference when the quality
and price were equal.
Following Congressman Mcguire DR..
Julius koebig spoke as follows:
Among the industries for which California
is peculiarly adapted, the manufacture OF
sugar from beets occupies foremost place. l
here wish to contradict an opinion which is as
beet sugar is inferior in quality and sweetness
TO cane sugar.
The great sugar producers of the world to-day
are the sugar beet and the sugar cane. The
former is essentially product of the temper
ate zone, while the latter is the child of the
tropics. The beet has undergone long and
tedious process of development until its per-
centage OF sugar was raised from 49, per
cent in 1915 to 12-17 per cent and more to-day.
Can the beet-sugar industry be successfully
carried on in California on an extensive scale?
ZIG finV, l,arr
II sugar beets can be raised in our soils and
climate and then if we are in a position to sue
cessfully manufacture the sugar therefrom.
In reference to the growing OF the beets the
question has been most successfully answered
In the affirmative by the at present existing in
dustries in this State, and more especially by
the pioneer work done by the Agricultural
Experiment Station in Berkeley. The result is
that beyond doubt we can grow beets of a
higher percentage in sugar and of a higher
coefficient OF purity than is possible in the less
favored European countries. Also the tonnage
per acre is generally higher than in Europe.
Every careful experiment in this direction
shows the possibility of obtaining beets with
at least 16 per cent OF sugar and purity CO.
efficient of eighty-fve or more.
Unfortunately some of the published reports
have originated the idea in the public mind
that the sugar beet does not only thrive well
on the alkali lands of this State, but that these
alkali lands are precisely the location to be
chosen for the best culture. This is a very
grave mistake.
For the California farmer the beet-sugar in
dustry will be of equal benefit. The cultiva-
ton and delivery OF the beets cost not to ex-
coed go per acre. The yield is about fifteen
tons. He consequently receives, at "a per ton
$50 per acre for his crop, or $35 over and
above his expenses. At the present price for
wheat, grapes, fruit, etc, believe this is re-
turn upon the land which is most desirable,
especially since the crop is sold before 1t is
SoWn.
Upon this fact that the farmer as well as the
manufacturer is in position TO successfully
and protitably embark in this industry l base
my firm belief that in the near future the man
ufacture of beet sugar Will be one OF the lead
ing industries of the State.
1t is true that the present Government pro-
lection is very limited, but on the other hand,
we have the vast consumption OF two million
tons per year il the United States, OF which We
only produce about sixth. Furthermore, ex-
perience has proved repeatedly that protection
will be forthcoming if needed. Three States in
the Union, namely, Nebraska, Utah and Wash
ington, have already independently granted
sugar bounty for beet-sugar. Besides this, pub
lie sentimentseems to point TO restitution of
protection by the National Government.
The great importance of this beet-sugar in |
dustry for California can be best explained at |
the hand of some figures. A sugar factory of
$50 tons daily capacity will require capital |
of about 100000. The area to be planted in |
beets for its supply consists OF 5000 acres. The
annual payments for these peets al the rate of !
81 per ton amounts to $40, 600. The amount |
to be expended for salaries, wages and manu- |
featuring expenses is about 800, 900 per year. |
If ten such factories, for which there is ample |
room ana Spleuulu WOulQ be eS- |
tablished it would mean the distribution of |
the following vast amounts: In capital for in |
yeStment, So, 900 900; in annual expenditure |
to the farmers for their crop of 10000 acres |
81 ,400,000; for wages and running expenses
ST 100000.
These figures in themselves are important |
enough to prove the desirability of trying our |
utmost to secure the immediate promotion of |
this industry Tor our State with all means at |
our disposal.
This, however, is not by far the entire benefit |
which will be deprived therefrom. The large |
demand for machinery will stimulate our iron |
industry to period OF unprecedented activity. !
The demand for fuel will materially advance |
the DEVELOPMENT of our coal fields and oil beds |
Besides this, the beet-sugar industry where |
ever it has been introduced has never failed !
to create large and prosperous settlements |
around the center of its activity, thereby slim
ulating trade ana commerce in all its branches |
We are now annually importing LOO 900 |
tons of sugar into the United States, for which |
the vast amount of about 800, 600, 900. 1t is |
certainly worth while to try and keep this sum |
at home for the benefit of our own farmers and |
We started in, short time ago, to free |
ourselves from the grasp of the railroad monop- |
oily. Why should we not follow this up by |
further advancing our agricultural interests in |
erecting our own factories for the manufacture |
of sugar from beets? We will thereby give |
profitable occupation to thousands of orr |
farmers and wageworkers; we will offer large |
quantities OF freight to our transportation