The record-union., 1897-02-07

the German product on the Western
markets. 1t appears desirable says
Mr.. Yanjoul, in conclusion. to limit the
production Of sugar in Russia to the
needs Of the country's consumption.
THE SUGAR BEET BUSINESS IN
AMERICA
Leaving Europe with its 100000
acres of fields, its product of say f.
100000 tons of sugar annually and its
annual sale to the United States of
S20,00000O worth of sugar, let US con-
slider the beet at home. The history Of
the beet sugar business America is
short story. We have been very slow
to follow the example of the nations of
Europe, which, with the same climatic
conditions, but with less territorial
space, have made themselves indepen-
dent of the cane and more than self
supplying
Our first commercial experiment in
making sugar from beets was near
Philadelphia, in 1890 contempora-
neously with the final establishment
Of the business in France, but with
pursuit in that country brought sue
cess; ignorance in our own disastrous
failure. The experiment was tried
again in 1888 by a man in Massachu-
setts. His sugar product cost him IL
cents per pound. He was the victim of
the theory that beets must be dried be-
fore processing. He had his expert
ence, and those who came after him
profted by his failure.
For twenty-five years thereafter
America made no attempt to make beet
sugar. In 1863 a factory was estab-
lished in Illinois. The land was un-
favorable to beet culture, and, after
six years Of unintelligent endeavor, the
factory was moved to another part of
the State not more favora BILE, and fail
ure again was the result. Again the
machinery was moved, this time to
Wisconsin, where both the soil and
climate were unsuitable, and since 1871
nothing has been hard of that estab-
lishment. A small factory was started
at Fon du Lac, Wis, and attracted
much attention.
HISTORY OF THE SUGAR BEET IN
CALIFORNIA.
In 1869, the owners, two German
chemists, came to California to super
intend a new enterprise of the same
sort at AIvarado. started by Mr.. Dyer,
who is entitled to the credit of inaugu-
rating the beet sugar industry in this
State. He still resides in close prox-
unity to the Alvarado factory, and, We
are pleased TO note, is yet a stock
holder in what is now a dividend-pay-
~; -
his long years of persistent effort. After
years of Indifferent success, the COM
pany was reOrganized in 1889, the plant
enlarged, and since then the enterprise
has been successful.
Sacramento started a factory in 1869
with machinery costing 100000. In
1915 it was sold for $4,000 and used
To re-equip the Alvarado factory,
which from that time until 1889 was
the only beet sugar factory in Amer
lea.
In 1SS990 the Western Beet Sugar
Company erected its factory at Wat
sonville. Cal. Chino, Cal, was the
next enterprise started in 1891, and
about the same time factories were
erected at Lehi. Utah, Grand Island
and Norfolk, Neb. New Mexico and
Virginia each claim one factory.
A new factory is now being con-
structed al Alamitas, in the vicinity Of
Anaheim, Cal, and one has also been
commenced at Salinas, Cal. Thus we
have at present eight factories in he
entire United States, three of which
with two more in process of construc-
tion) are located in our own State In
this vast country of unlimited acreage,
favorable climate and soil, there are
perhaps to-day about 10000 acres
about one twentieth of / per cent. of
the area of California, devoted to beet
culture. and yet we are paying annually
$6,OO0,O0O to our friends across the
water for what we could as well and
better produce ourselves. 1t is graf
ification that the greatest progress in
this line has thus far been achieved in
our own State.
WHERE OUR CLIMATE COMES IN.
This sugar beet has been bred and
bred for desirable points, such as shapa,
size, color, foliage and saccharine con-
tents. until by careful selection these
valuable qualities have become fixed.
The seed planted in California has been
imported from France and Germany.
but under the influence of our climate
and our soil we have developed a higher
percentage of saccharine than any
ether known locality produces. Beets
are now grown in our State ON about
-, 600 acres in four counties, and while
we know that they flourish in the
neighborhood Of three factories, it is
interesting to describe the method Of
| NO nd hrir1 urip tp n
new territory. 1t has been the expert
ence Of all the factories that for the
first few years the greatest difficulty
has been in securing a sufficient guam
tity of beets. but as soon as the farm
ers began to understand the business
the supply Of beets taxed the utmost
| capacity of the factories. Beets as a
crop are of little or no use without a
sugar factory. and a factory is value
| less without beets; therefore they are
absolutely dependent upon each other.
! The farmer has the land which he
knows will produce good beets. but the
! capitalist will not venture his wealth
until he sees the beets growing, and
unless the capitalist is also the land
owner and appreciates the advantages
of the sugar enterprise it is most diff
cult to inaugurate the business.
| THE VENTURA BEET ENTERPRISE
In Ventura Country there is a beau
tiful valley, extending from the see to
| the mountains, populated by thrifty
/ farmers whose present comfort has
come from the soil, which grows every
| thing from tumble weeds to oranges.
| These farmers found in their local pa
/ per nf Erabruary 9th last wear the fol-
! lowing notice:
| We are now glad to announce that we
will supply sugar beet seed TO any Of