The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-02-19
CULTURE OF SUGAR -BEETS
Number Of Factories Now In
Operation
HISTORY OF THE INDUSTRY

Facts Regarding Beet Sugar Furnished
by Albert Gerberding Before the
Chit-Chat Club, of San Francisco.
Mr.. Albert Gerberding delivered an
address before the Chit-Chat Club, of
San Francisco, which contained brief
history of the beet-sugar industry in
this country. As the subject of start
ing the industry in the Northwest is
being agitated, it is thought information
from its perusal may be obtained. The
historical sketch of the industry is as
follows:
Europe has s, 900, 900 acres of fields,
producing say, 4, 500, 900 tons Of sugar
annually, and of this amount is selling
to the United States sugar to the value
of $40, 200, 900 year. Although the
industry has been established in Euro
slow to gain hold in America. Its
history on this side of the Atlantic is
short, although the same climatic con-
ditions prevail.
"Our first commercial experiment in
making sugar from beets was near
Philadelphia, in 1880, contemporane-
ousIy with the final establishment of
the industry in France, but with wide
ly different results. Intelligent pursuit
in that country brought success; ignor-
ance in our own, disastrous failure.
The experiment was tried again in 1888
by a man in Massachusetts. His sugar
product cost him IL cents pound. He
was the victim of the theory that beets
must be dried before processing. He
had his experience, and those who came
after him profted by his failure.
For twenty-five years thereafter
America made no attempt to manufac-
ture beet sugar. In 1868 factory was
established in Illinois. The land was
unfavorable to beet culture. and, after
six years of unintelligent endeavor, the
factory was moved to another part of
the state, not more favorable, and fail
ure was again the result. Again the
machinery was moved, to Wisconsin
this time, where both the soil and cli-
mate were unsuitable, and since 1871
nothing has been heard of the establish
ment. A factory was afterward started
in Fond du Lac, Wis, and attracted
much attention.
'In 1869 the owners, two German
chemists, came to California to superin-
tend new enterprise of the same sort
at Alvarado, started by Mr.. Dyer, who
is entitled to the credit of inaugurating
the beet sugar industry in this state.
He still resides in close proximity to the
Alvarado factory, and we are pleased to
note that he is yet stockholder in
what is now dividend-pa paying enter
prise, the ultimate result of his long
years Of persistent effort. After years
of Indifferent success the company was
reorganized in 1889, the plant enlarg-
ed, and since then the business has
been success.
Sacramento started a factory in
1869, with machinery costing $780,
600. In 1875 it was sold for S45, 900,
and used to re-equip the Alvarado fac
tory, which from that time until 1889
was the only beet-sugar factory in
America.
''In 1889-90 the Western Beet Sugar
Company erected its factory at Watson
vile, Cal. Chino, CAL, was the scene
of the next factory, started about 1891,
and about the same time factories were
built at Lehi, Utah; Grand Island,
Neb., and Norfolk, Neb. New Mexico
and Virginia also claim factory each
now.
"A new factory is now being con-
structed at Alamantis, in the vicinity
of Anaheim, CAL, and one has been
commenced at Salinas. Thus we have
at present eight factories in the entire
United States, three of which with two
more in process of construction are To-
Gated in California. In this vast state
of unlimited acreage, favorable climate
and soil, there are perhaps today about
10000 acres. or one-twentieth of per
cent of the area of California, devoted
to beet culture, and yet we are paying
annually $6,000,0 900 to our friends
across the water for what we could as
well and better produce ourselves.
''This sugar beet has been bred, and
bred for desirable points, such as shape,
color, size, soilage and saccharine con-
tents, until, by careful selection, these
qualities have become fixed. The seed
planted in California has been imported
from France and Germany, but, under
the influence of the climate and soil, q
higher percentage of saccharine matter
has been developed than in any other
known place. Beets are known to
grow in this state on about 90, 900 ares
in four counties, and, while we know
they flourish in the neighborhood of
three factories, it is interesting to de-
scribe the method of testing and bring
ing to public notice new territory. It
has been the experience of all the fac
tories that for the first few years the
greatest difficulty has been in securing
a sufficient quantity of beets, but as
soon as the farmers begin to understand
the business, the supply taxes the
utmost capacity Of the factory.
Beets, as crop. are of but little use
without the factories, and factories are
valueless without the beets.
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. %
News comes from Round Valley,
CAL, to the effect that an Indian
named Dick Bell had killed a man
named Thomas Steele. Bell has been
arrested. Steele was shot in the back.
Real Tragedy on the Stage.