New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-01
TILE COMINN INDUSTRY.


The small beginnings OF revolution have
deeper interest than It's closing tr'umphs Long
before the end is reached II has been ant!c
mated and has become familiar TO the mind
The beet sugar experiment in New-York has nj
ready become the beetsugar industry. II was
not TO be expected that the earliest experiments
IN sugar beet production In this State would
Weld results altogethe' rs satisfactory as have
been realized after many years OF experience
and investigation by the producers in some
other countries Yet the results already at
tanned are enough to indicate what Ia TO come.
The new sugar factory at Rome hns closed It's
season after forty-two days Of work. in which
II has manufactured 10 tons Of sugar averag-
ing high grade in purity. II supplied with beets
enough TO run the whole year. this single FAC
tory could apparently turn out about eight
times as much which would be not more than
a thousand acres would produce. According TO
tho experiments conducted by the State Az
thortles. the bcets averaged per 100 pounds
about twelve pounds OF sugar. and are rs rich
In sugar rs the beets produced anywhere IN the
world As the SEQ farmers contributing thclr
products this year averaged from twelve to ff-
teen tons of beets to the acre, the industry has
Welded them from $50 TO S75 an acre.
IL lB not necessary " bhJ 'h"e ioimcAo ia
this and other States do not average anything
like such returns from other crops Out OF the
price obtained for the beets the farmer has to
pay for the labor Of cultivation and for tho
use OF the land, and It is believed that the cost
of raising can be greatly reduced by the use OF
implements especially adapted to this purpose
But again. It 10 not necessary to walt until nut
ure possibilities can bo reached, for the actual
profit this year is enough to induce mutitudes
Of farmers to prefer beet culture to other en-
ployment Of their land and labor. The sugar
imported into the country, even nj the rate
| realized this year by New-York farmers NJ tncir
first experiment. could be raised by little over
| q million acres Of land. and would return 10
| the farmers about S80OOO.000. besides profit
| to manufacturers. for. even at present low
prices, more thnn $50, 900 n year Is being
paid to other countries for the imported sugar
consumed in the United States.
| II this large sum were tnkcn from the amount
| annually due to other countries the balance
payable to the United States In gold would be
| so far increased that no fear would be enter
| taned Of n drain Of the precious metal. The
soundness Of the monetary system would then
| be beyond the reach Of possible changes In for
| eign commerce, and could be threatened only
by crazy incompetence OF WiiIul ulSnOneSty III
| government The value Of beet sugar alone,
II produced In sufficient quantity to supply the
needs Of the country, would turn the scale In
| thousand financial relations between this and
| other nations, and would 60 far to transfer to
the United States the command Of money mar
kets throughout the world. Yet the experience
| OF q single year In New-York sufiices to prove
| that the enormous production which was real
lied within few years in Germany is at least
equally possible in this State, as 1t has beer
proved possible In various Western States.
To encourage the starting Of this new indus
try the State pays bounty not exceeding one
cent per pound for sugar manufactured In this
State from beets grown In this State. There
will presently be found Jealous friends OF for
eign beet-producers who will passionately pro
test against this robbery Of the whole people
"for the benefit Of few farmers and manufact
"urers," exactly as they have been and are
| protesting against the encouragement Of tin
plate manufacture or the raising and manu-
facture of wool. But the people Of this State
are not likely to look with disfavor upon q
policy which will increase greatly the demand
for labor, the value Of farming land, the re
turns realized by farm labor and the employ
| mont If capital In manufacturing works. 4 Il