The San Francisco call., 1896-11-16
EEET SUGAR INDUSTRY.
AMPLE Room FOR EXPANSION THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY.

AMPLE Room FOR EXPANSION THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY.
Washington Post
II the per capita consumption of sugar in
the United States at this time were equal to
that of 1892 the aggregate consumption would
be over 1927 ,OoO. 900 pounds, and would b.
worth, at average price of cents more
than $175,000,000. At the reduced rate of
consumption resulting from hard times the
total for this year will, 1t is estimated, be
about 4, 200, 900 900 pounds, worth $16S, 900,
OOO 1t is entirely practicable 10 produce in
this country all the sugar required for home
consumption, and by so doing keep at home
vast amount of money now annually sent
abroad, and 10 build up great branch OF the
farming ind ustry.
The American Agriculturist shows in notes
gathered from various sources that great
progress has already been made In the West in
the manufacture of beet sugar One of the
Spreckels factories ut Watsonville, Cal, will
pay out for beets and labor this year not less
than $15O,O During the past eight years it
has disbursed over So 000. 900 on the same ac-
count, or on an average OF $1,000 per day since
ii started work. land has protected that whole
section from distress during the nard times.'
1t is stated that this year the mill will handle
not less than 100, 900 tons Of beets and it will
be nearly Christmas before the crop is har-
vested. 1t is further noted that $l50, 900 ssh
was paid out in ohe day by the factory, $780,
600 of 1t being for beets aione. "Over 900 Cat
tie are being fed at the creamery, mostly with
out as the product of about four months work.
Coming away from the Pacific we find the
same busy industry in the little town of Lehi,
Utah, where the local factory peid out $37 900
for beets in single week last month. Up 10
October ID the factory had received Il. 600
tons of beets, had worked up IL, 600 tons, ''and
had made II, 600 sacks of refined sugar" The
local paper states .that 5000 acres nave been
planted III beets this year; that to raise, har-
vest and deliver them costs $50 acre; that
the average crop this season is fifteen tons per
acre, which at $4 ton brings $50 acre,
and therefore means $50 clear profit per acre
to the farmer" On the whole acreage plan ted
''this means that SOC. 900 clear prof in cash
will be distributed among the farmers this
year" There is no place in the world" this
same paper adds, where the farmers are do
ing better"
We further informed that the factories
at Grand Island and Norfolk, Nebr., "are ship
ping large quantities OF sugar and 1.-The
new factory In the Pecos Valley OF New Mexico
will probably begin making sugar this week"
This industry has been started in Wisconsin
and promises well. The Charleston News and
Courier learns that the company which has
property on the Savannah River contemplates
the Introduction OF the beet-sugar industry
among other important enterprises.
There need be no fear OF OVERRIDING the busi-
ness, and there are thousands of localities in
the south where it could be carried on with
profit under judicious management. We
know OF no branch of business in any line that
holds out better promise than this to the farm
ers, and the successful prosecution of which
Will contribute more directly and powerfully
TO National prosperity.