The record-union., 1897-10-26
FIVE HUNDRED SUBSCRIBED.
YoLO PROMISES UPWARD OF
1000 ACRES.
Results of Sugar Beet Canvasses az
Gait and Over in
YoIo County.

H. Weinstock and C. H. Bentley, rep
resenting the Chamber of Commerce,
and assisting the local committee at
Gait, addressed a meeting at that place
on Monday afternoon. The purpose of
the meeting was explained by Mr..
Bentley, and f. H. Harvey was elected
Chairman. Mr.. McLenahan was chosen
Secretary.
Colonel Weinstock was introduced
and gave full and detailed information
regarding the method of beet culture
and the merits Of the proposition,
quoting William r. Gird. Claus Spreck-
els, Professor Hilgard and other COM
petent authorities, who declare that
Sacramento has peculiar and superior
advantages for growing sugar beets.
The speaker urged prompt action on
the part of the farmers, as am answer
must be made this week. He explained
that beets promise a much greater
profit than wheat, even with the price
of the latter at the present figures,
which can hardly be maintained when
Argentine, Australia and Russia have
their normal crops, and particularly
when Siberia, with its vast expanse of
tillable land, begins to throw it's wheat
into competition.
He explained how small a risk would
be assumed by the farmers, since a
definite price was offered them for five
years, with the promise also of the ser
vices of an expert, who would give
information as to how and when to
SOW, to cultivate and to harvest the
crops.
Monsignor Capel urged that our lands
are being exhausted, for wheat crops
are growing shorter, as farmers have
gradually exhausted from the soil all
that makes wheat, and rotation of
crops is absolutely necessary to bring
up anything like the former yield per
acre. Sugar is so universally con-
sumed that the market remains strong.
We are a sugar-eating people.
This county, he said, is favored by
soil admirably suited for raising the
sugar beet, the uplands showing a
higher percentage of sugar, the bottom
lands greater yield. We have also sun
shine, so essential to growth and
sugar. There is water, if irriga-
ton be necessary. France and Ger
many, where beets are so extensively
grown, do not possess such advantages
as does California.
The speaker warned his hearers that
beet culture means hard work and
hand labor Farmers who have been
scratching the soil, throwing in wheat
and then resting on their elbows for
six months, must prepare to labor.
Beet culture cannot be carried on year
after year on the same soil, but rota-
ton is here necessary. Farmers are
limiting that they are offered too small
d return in proportion to the returns
secured by the sugar factory. Then
again, they hint that if Sacramento
City is to gain so much advantage
from the investment, why do not the
bankers and business men cooperate
in Offering money to farmers at low
rates of interest, and thus make such
efforts on the part of the farmer sue
cessful?
Arthur Thornton of New Hope was
present and gave strong Endorsement
to the enterprise, stating that he had
conducted successful experiments on
his own land, and that he had investi-
gated the conditions in Utah, where
the growers We're netting S29 per acre,
in some instances the product being
shipped ninety miles by rail.
Mr.. Hollenstein stated that he had
made practical experiments to such an
extent that he was willing to under
take the culture of sugar beets.
The Chairman urged immediate
action, and Mr.. Bentley submitted the
proposition, in closing, by stating that
the farmers should consider the fact
that experienced men We're willing to
stake million dollars in an invest
ment. depending upon the adaptability
of the soil, and the farmers ought GER
tainly to be willing to take some little
risk.
Five hundred acres We're subscribed,
and it is confidently expected that more
will follow this week.
Many would have been willing to
subscribe more if they felt sure of
having tenants to work on shares, nota-
bly, Mrs. McCauley and Mrs. Valensin,
who each offered to lease thousand
acres to any competent tenants at a
nominal rental.
Frank Miller and D. A. Lindley re-
turned yesterday from Woodland,
whittier they had gone for the pur-
pose Of ascertaining how many acres
could be secured in that neighborhood
for beet growing.
They had a conference with a COM
mittee of the Woodland Chamber of
Commerce, who gave the visitors as
surance that 1000 acres could be de-
pended on. To-day Mr.. Lindley will
return to Woodland to see that the
canvass is made among the farmers.
Z. Greer will to-day go to Swingle's.
near Davisville, and interview the
farmers in that locality. Other COM
mitttees are now at work in this coun,
ty, and it is believed that the neces-
sary 10000 acres will be listed this
week.