Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-05
PROFIT In SUGAR BEETS
Cost of the Crop When it is Ready for
Shipping
NEBRASKA FARMER GETS THE BOUNTY
Comparison of Conditions In this
State with Those in other Sec
tions of the United states
and Conclusions.
:BRASKA FARMER GETS THE BOUNTY


The following is the full text OF paper
read by II. NJ Allen at the recent beet SUI
gar convention at Grand Island:
Gentlemen OF the Convention: Although
this meeting when projected last February
did not appear to have great significance
beyond securing interest in domestic sugar
production with the agriculturists of the
state by inspection OF factories actually at
work, for some very good reasons 1t now
appears that our discussion may be impor-
tant. First, let me present the position Of
our own state as compared with California
and Utah, and with the new district in
southeastern New Mexico, on the Pecos
river. Last February we were still lying
under the weight of the poor quality of the
beets In '95, and in consequence | did
not feel 1t truthful to claim equality with
California as to sugar content. After the
experience OF another season, and further
review OF the past, however, | judge that
we stand quite on a level with Watsonville,
In the latitude OF San Francisco, and not
far behind Chino, near Los Angeles, on this
point. ! believe we stand rather ahead of
Utah as to quality and yield of beets; and
] un lerstand their peculiar advantage to
lie in a sugar market almost exclusively
their own, due to their isolated position.
The population of Utah can consume more
sugar than her one factory can supply and
the freight on sugar into the state makes
a satisfactory price In the Utah market.
Tho Pecos river country now puts out the
claim Of producing the richest beets in this
country, or any other | think, II their
claims are supported They say their beets
will average IS per cent in sugar and their
contract price is 81 for beets having IA per
cent OF sugar, or better, and % cents less
for each point under IA. All the beets are
grown under irrigation, and the yield is
large. This Is the first season in the Pecos
country, and we must have their experience
for several years before we can get reliable
figures. Their factory is not yet ready Tor
work but will start up some time this
month, and no figures are valuable except
those of actual results after the campaign
is ended. The country Is a vast, treeless,
alkaline valey-so alkaline that in my visits
to the neighborhood | have heard much
doubt OF the success of the whole plan OF
irrigation and agriculture there. nave
always believed that the outcome would De
successful in the end, and ii Is fact that
their experiments have indicated extremely
rich beets The valley lies Immediately west
OF the Staked plains and has saluhrlous
climate. They expect to be able 10 eN'ehu
their harvesting season through the winter
believing that beets will not suffer greatly
by any cold snaps they are likely to have.
Their only rail connection is with the Texas
& Pacific to the south. but projected line
to the Fort Worth. Denver & Washburn, IN
the Panhandle will give them route to
Colorado and the northwest and to Kansas
City, and the northeast. They are nearer
competitors in distribution of sugar than
California.
FACTORIES OF THE UNITED STATES.
There are now, therefore, seven factories
In the United States-three in California,
one in Utah. one in New Mexico ana Two
4. ft ttfNfr
small factory in Virginia, and a new one
Just constructed or to be constructed in WIS
consin. The total product of beet sugar
IN the United States in 1895 was 10000 tons;
of cane sugar, 324 900 tons; total domestic
production in the United States, including
maple and sorghum sugar, 3TIOOO tons. and
total imports 450 600 tons, valued at SllO,-
900 600, and the consumption, 1,95O,OOO tons,
all these being long tons OF 2,24o pounds
We consume about 10000 600 tons ana
produce less than 100000, or less than 20
per cent.
In the United States we have been a long
time coming to the point where our beet
sugar industry seems likely to make rapid
progress for which there are many good
reasons that have frequently been reviewed
and which | will omit here. But the time is
now at hand when we may expect 1t to gain
ground and on every side there is seen an
active interest in it, Each locality claims
that 1t is peculiarly favored by nature and
can supply the entire United States unaided
and alone.
1t Is Doubtless true that we have enough
suitable territory in the United States to
grow all the sugar needed by the entire
world several times over, but believe that
the industry is likely to grow best in GER
tain localities and that a sort of rivalry
will develop between those points. The
superiority OF particular sections will be-
come evident and capital will naturally tend
10 drift to such places. Beet growing will
be better understood and be more readily
engaged in by farmers in such established
localities, and labor, skilled and unskilled
will flock there. Local banks understanding
the security OF beet culture will more freely
lend money to growers an(. at better rates
Such states or portions of states will be
widely known as beet countries" and will
be distinguished from other non-beet-g grow
ing sections by their evidently greater pros
perity.
We are interested in the success of our
own state, and II is the function and duty
OF our association to examine into the con-
dtions that are now present to how
well we are now doing, what circumstances
favor us and what obstacles may be cloggine
our steps. The price obtained by manufact-
urers for sugar Is arranged by the production
and consumption of the world except as
modified by law, OF which we will speak
later. and for the present we will assume
this price to be fixed quantity, beyond our
power to control. The cost OF manufacture
tends to the lowest possible figure, and
arranges or regulates itself. as only those
factories can survive that are able to work
beets at low cost per ton for labor. fuel, etc.
COST OF RAISING BEETS.
What / discuss first. therefore, is the
price to be paid to farmers by manufacturers
and the cost of beets to farmers, delivered
At factory or on board cars. The price
per ton in Nebraska, is S. for beets delivered
- ---------==