The record-union., 1897-10-06
BEET SUGAR FACTORY.
Now is the Opportunity to Secure the Erec=
ton of One.

somewhere in the State, which will
cost $1,000, 600, and probably more, and
whether or not Sacramento is to have
it depends entirely upon the farmers
Of the community.
''Au l desire, continued Mr.. Oxnard,
SIS a guarantee that 10000 acres shall
be planted to beets for five years, and
when / have that guaranty 1 viii con-
tract 10. buy the product. 1 estimate
that Sacramento County beets will av
eraSe 10 per cent. sugar, which, con-
sidering the tests furnished me, is a
very low estimate. In contracting to
do this. it means that 1 will expend
annually for bests, fuel and labor,
nearly S1,0O0,0O0."
Mr. Oxnard stated that he expects
each acre planted to produce at least
fifteen tons to the acre. and afterWard
gave it as his opinion that the rich
lands along the river bottoms will pro-
duce from twenty to thirty tons per
acre He explained that the prices he
would pay for beets depends on their
richness in sugar. For beets bearing
u per cent. Of sugar, the factory would
pay So per ton, and for each additional
per cent. p cents extra on each ton.
In answer to a question as to whether
or not Hawaiian annexation would ma
terially alter the prices for sugar beets,
Mr.. OXnard said it would retard the
beet-sugar industry of California for
the reason that we would not be able
to compete with the cheap labor of the
islands. If the islands are not an
nexed he felt certain that prices for
fos lao
cents higher than now proposed in case
a factory is erected here. He did not
believe the islands would be annexed,
but the uncertainty of the matter had
to be considered in their fixing prices
at this time.
Mr. Oxnard figured that the land will
produce fifteen tons of beets per acre
at the lowest and that it would cost
81 90 per ton to put them on the dump
at the factory. Allowing 81 per ton
as the selling price, this left clear re-
turn to the farmer of 500 80 per acre.
He stated again, and with emphasis,
that he required no bonus nor subsidy
of any kind-nothing except that farm
ers would contract to plant 10000
acres to beets and bring them to the
factory, and that the same number of
acres should be 50 planted each year
for five years.
7. w. Sheehan drew from Mr.. Oxnard
the statement that he believed the riv-
er lands will produce from twenty to
thirty tons Of beets per acre, with from
IS to 20 per cent sugar
As for the factory said Mr.. Oxnard.
"Ill make the guarantee for its erec-
ton before a seed is put in the ground.
All want is a contract with the farm
ers that they will plant 10000 acres to
beets.
H. n. LaRue, who has had some ex-
perience in beet culture, stated that
land ought not to be planted to beets
for more than two consecutive years,
and that after a beet crop has been
harvested the land is ready to be sown
to wheat, without plowing, and with
the assurance that the crop of wheat
Will be from 20 to 80 per cent. heavier
than ordinary. owing to the sub-culti
walton necessary in the culture of the
beets.
Il don't believe" said Mr.. Oxnard,
that any better land exists in the
world for beet raising than that in the
vicinity of Sacramento, and there is no
question in my mind but what the land
in this vicinity win easily supply a
factory of 1000 tons daily capacity.
I came here to talk to you," he con-
tinued, because L believe this is a
favored locality. 1 am not saying that
| will build factory here, but I do say
that l shall build factory, and 1 will
say further that / like this place.
I want to tell you. however, that
two other localities have already sub
scrbed the required acreage of land,
but [ have not yet accepted their ten
der, and shall give the citizens of this
county two weeks to accept or refuse
my offer before I close up any other
contract"
J. o. Coleman questioned Mr. Oxnard
as to the proper course to pursue in
rounding out the business and bring
ing it to a successful conclusion.
The latter suggested that agents and
committees be appointed and a farm
to-farm canvass made and get the
farmers of all the districts to subscribe
a specified number of acres which will
be planted to beets.
In answer to a question by Edwin F.
Smith, Mr.. Oxnard stated that in Eu-
rope beet pulp is considered the very
best feed for cattle and is sold to cat
tie raisers by factories at the rate Of
81 per ton. In case a factory is built
here, he said, each grower win be al
lowed TO haul home, without cost, pulp
amounting to 30 per cent. of the weight
Of the beets delivered, Soout 80 per
cent. Of the weight being lost in re-
duction.
MIR Oxnard further explained that
the factory VIII furnish a practical beet
agriculturist whose whole duty shall be
to advise the farmer when and how to
plant, and when to harvest the crop,
and by this means there need never be
any siloing Of beets at the factory.
The. factory would also undertake to