The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-14
BEET SUGARS FUTURE.
Interesting Article By EIwOOd
PETER, Senator PETERS Son,
On the Possibility of Sugar
Making In e. S.
Makes Public Facts in Connection
With Sugar Making Observed
in His California Experience.

Elwood S. PETER. son of Senator
PETER of this city and formerly re-
porter on the State Journal. but now
conoected with California sugar inter
ests contributes the following to the
Chicago Record.
The average American is unaware
mat so per cent of the sugar used in
the United States is imported, and
when he learns that such is the fact he
viii naturally wonder why it is true.
There is an immense amount of sugar
used in the United States. and the fact
that only 10 per cent of it is made at
home means that we pay to foreign
countries every year nearly S125, 600 900
that might just as well be kept at
home There is no reason connected
with either soil or climate why the
United States should not produce all
the sugar it consumes, or for that mat
ter, double or three times the amount
1t would have to be manufactured from
sugar beets and, as they are adapted
TO the soil in nearly all parts of the
country, the raw material could be Sc
cured easily.
Sugar cane can be raised successfully
only in Louisiana, and, perhaps. in
parts of Texas and Mississippi, but even
there it does not attain a full maturity.
An immense amount of money has
been spent by the government on eX-
periments with sorghum cane TheO-
Eetically. it is the best raw material
practically, it cannot be worked with
profit. Three idle sorghum sugar fac
tories in Kansas attest this fact The
use of beets in sugar making, on the
contrary has proved profitable in all
parts of the country Eleven factories
viii work up the crop of 1897 as against
one factory seven years ago.
The first successful beet sugar fac
tory was built at Alvarado, Cal, i'm
1876 lit has been enlarged several
times, and is still running. The next
one was built at jacksonville, Cal, by
Claus Spreckels, in 1889 lit has the
largest capacity of any beet sugar fac
tory in the country, but makes only
raw sugar, which is refined i'm San
Francisco In 1890 a company headed
by Henry TT. Oxnard erected a factory
I'm Grand Island. Neb-, and in 1891 the
same company built factories at Nor
folk. Neb-, and Chino, Cal A factory
was built in Lehi Utah, also, in 1891.
During the last year two new factories
may be recorded. one at Eddy, n. NJ,
built by the capital of Milwaukee brew
ers. and one at AIeuominee Falls, Wis,
built by Henry kCn. q German Fac
tories also are IN course of cOnStruc-
zion at Mount Nebo Cal. AlamitOs.
Cal, and Salinas Cal The latter is
owned by Claus Spreclzels and viii
have a capacity of 5000 tons Of beets a
day or twice the capacity of any other
beet sugar factory in the world A
small factory at Stanton, Y a.. was a
success but burned a couple of years
ago and has not yet been rebuilt
Several other factories are talked or
Among those which probably viii be
built are at Greeley. Col, Fort Scott,
Kan. and one in southern Ohio.
The location of these factories shows
the immense possibilities of the sugar
beet in this country From Wisconsin
in the north to Virginia in the south,
from Ohio in the east to California in
the west have the beets been grown
successfully
al beet sugar factory is an immense
concern. and when all dependent upon
it are considered. some estimate may
BE made of its value to q community
There is no better Illustration than the