The record-union., 1896-08-24

ulation. The average crop is twelve
tons per acre at Watsonville, and the
company is paying 81 per ton. This
gave the farmers a clear profit of SO
per acre. Before the Mckinley tariff
bill was repealed the company paid the
producers So per ton for their beets,
making profit to them of $37 per acre.
The inquiry here took the form of
questions and answers.
DR.. Briggs desired to know If, as far
as Mr.. Morse was able to observe, Sac
ramento County was adapted to the in
dustry.
Mr.. Morse replied that he had found
fine beets growing In the vicinity Of
Sacramento, but he would be unable to
judge of their value until he made an
analysis of them.
Mr.. Weinstock-How many factories
are there in California?
Mr.. Morse-There are three, all un-
der different management. There is
one at Chino, one at Alvarado, and our
own at Watsonville.
Mr.. Weinstock-Do you pay the pro-
ducers by the ton, or otherwise?
Mr.. Morse-We pay by the ton. At
Chino they pay according to the per-
centage of sugar the beets yield.
Mr. Weinstock-Is not the farmer at
the mercy of the factory?
Mr.. Morse-No, sir, I should say not,
Secretary Coleman spoke Of his visit
to San Francisco and an interview with
Mr.. Spreckels. He was much impressed
with the man. He evidently had the
interest Of California at heart, and was
enthusiastic over the future of the
sugar industry. Mr.. Spreckels assured
him that there could not possibly be
any competition in the field for many
years, as the market and demand were
far beyond the supply. If Sacramento
could furnish beets in quantity and
quality which would justify the erec-
ton of a factory, he would build one,
or find capital that would
Mr. Weinstock-How was the indus
try started at Watsonville?
Mr. Morse-By the farmers, in 1877,
contracting with US to plant and culti-
vate 5000 acres of beets.
Mr. Weinstock-What steps would
you advise US to take?
Mr. Morse-Induce the farmers in at
least 100 or 100 different localities to
plant, say one-quarter of an acre of
beets
Mr.. Lewis-Is the soil easily impover-
ished by the culture of beets?
Mr. Morse-All crops impoverish land,
but beets are not so exhausting as DO
tatoes.
Mr.. Alsip-How are alkali lands
adapted to beets?
Mr.. Morse-A small percentage of al
kali is beneficial. Beets are greedy for
salts. and it is necessary to polarizing.
Mr.. Sims-Is the pulp or refuse of any
value?
Mr.. Morse-It is very fattening, and
is valuable for food to stock
Mr.. Alsip-How does land here COM
pare with that about Watsonville?
Mr.. Morse-That I cannot answer, as
no two localities have the same ele-
ments in the SOIL
DR.. Briggs-Is it necessary to irrigate
beets?
Mr.. Morse-No, sir; on the contrary.
they must not be irrigated
Mr.. Schaw-Would not hop lands
produce beets?
Mr.. Morse-I think so, but of what
value l cannot say.
Mr.. Lavenson-Would not our tule
land grow the beets too big?
Mr.. Mors@That could be regulated
by the thinning.
Mr. Weinstock-If the people should
pledge themselves here to plant say
1900 acres to beets, would that induce
Mr. Spreckels to erect a factory?
Mr.. Morse-That question you must
submit to Mr.. Spreckels.
Mr.. Weinstock-You think a test
should first be made?
Mr.. Morse-Yes, sir; and it would be
worthless unless the culture was made
under the direction of a farmer skilled
iii beet growing. The beets at Watson
vile average about 10 per cent. of
sugar.
Mr.. Coleman-How does the Sacra-
mento Valley impress you?
Mr.. Morse-Very favorably.
Mr. Steffens at this stage of the dia-
logue interjected an apology for calling
the meeting on Sunday evening Mr.
Morse was very much pressed for time
and this had induced them to avail
themselves of Sunday evening
The subject was then continued, and
two hours We're spent, much to the en-
lightenment of the Sacramentans on
the sugar beet industry.
Mr.. Steffens finally brought the dis
cussion to an end by rendering Mr.
Morse the heartfelt thanks of the mem
bers of the Chamber of Commerce and
other citizens present for the practical
and valuable information he had i'm
parted, and the assemblage dispersed.