The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-23
BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY.
UHIT CLIIS >PKEChELs SITs ON
THE NUBJICT.
Guide to the Farmer a. the Planting, Cul.
tute and Harvesting OF the Crop
An Important Product.


An Important Product.
Colonel Thomas Whitehead. Commits
sioner OF Agriculture furnishes the fol-
lowing admirable article on the beet
sugar Industry, recently printed ia the san
Francisco Gail. In the shape OF an inter-
view with Claus Spreckeis, the sugar
king
A great many inquiries have recently
been received by tine CaI. relative TO tne
beet -u.ar industry. These inquiries icici
NOT 0nly ~ tuc general questions OF audp-
tADluly OK sOl. prOut pa sugar beet gro"
lug and Individual Icucuts 90 he dclNc-t
but also 10 the details OF preparing lnt
soil, selecting the seed, ana tine culihd
ton, harvesting, and marketing oil tuD
crOV.
approaching the long experience ane
thorough knowledge Oh Claus Sprcckci-
upon the subject. the can mas requenu!
taken the liberty 10 refer these inquire.
10 him. Nh. Spleckels has kindly answer
eel these Questions personally. But TIM
increased number OF them, showing the
widespread interest evinced By the farm
ers OF California upon the subject de-
mands the presentation OF ldcta as To-
sugar beet growing ia such manner
that every farmer IN the State may nave
the benefit of Mr. Sprcckcls' knowledge.
with this in mind. Mr.. Spreckels Wa
yesterday asked TO present. through the
Gail, such information as will serve the
people 10 the best possible advantage.
Il believe" said he. that the beet
sugar industry is one OF the great means
by which the State OF California will be-
come universally prosperous. IL Is great
industry. and one that. when more thor
oughly comprehended by enc farmers and
others who should Doe Interested. Will be-
come OF great value to the farming, COM
nerciaL. and transportation Interests OF
the State.
PROFITS FOR ALL.
1T may be Contended By persons not
fully cosnizlnt of all the details of the
industry ana the benefits accruing. that
there Is DrOnt only for the manufacturer.
But this will not be the result. The pro-
Queer and the employe must. in the nature
OF things, share with the manufacturer.
As the sugar Industry Will add 90 the
titled acreage OF California. So will il add
10 the facilities OF the farmer for the
accumulation Of wealth and demand an
added number OF employees The CONNER
ci1l interests OF the towns and cities must
likewise be- enhanced. and the consumer
share in the general result The pro-
ducers and manufacturers Of this state.
by an association which is active in its
EFFORTS, desire the patronage OF home pro-
uuct5 ana home manufactures The beet
sugar Industry is right in line in "a double
sense, as 10 Includes both the production
OF 'ue raw material and the Manufacture
or me article ready for c0n-umpfion.
Should the Industry grow. as / hone If
VIII. 10 such an increase OF acreage a.
10 demand the adycn, ~ more farmer,
mo me state. then 10 will become am inc
'lTect adjunct 10 the Half-Million club
ll alding the Increase OF the population
or California. IL not OF san Francisco.
am WilinS 10 add 10 my Investments
Dbl this state hy the establishment % host
sugar factories. in the hope OF arousin,
the people OF California 10 the due im.
portance OF this great subject AS we'll
as 10 my own profit. No man nuts his
money into an enterprise merely for the
b'heht OF his iellow-man, but II should nor
be construed that an Investment OF money
i'm California home industry is purely
a selfish investment. The people who VIII
be directly or indirectly benefited hy
added sugar plants should not lose sight
of the advantages Of the industry 10
them. Manufacturers are no more selfish
than are others who invest capital with a
view 10 the accumulation Of wealth II
the investor adds 10 his possessions. ma
turaily the people whom his industry
affects will prosper. The farmer who
helps the manufacturer helps himself as
well.
TARIFF on SUGAR.
THE subject OF tariff on sugar Is one
that. I'm view OF adding TO the sugar manu-
featuring industry. must Of necessity in
terest the people Of this State. The Re
publican idea Of protection becomes an
object lesson In the establishment OF the
sugar industry Without q protective
tariff there could be no success attendant
upon the efforts Of capital and the tillage
Of the soil TO this end But the tariff on
sugar should not exceed the demands Of
protection. California asks nothing more
for any industry than 10 be protected
against unfair competition. But This
State need not conine itself 10 the mere
effort to supply the home market with beet
sugar. If this State can become a com
petitor In the markets OF the country
there is no reason why the effort should
not be made. Let there be a tdrin Of -
cents per pound on sugar and California.
with the cooperation OF the farmers
would be enabled TO turn 10000 acres Of
land. which Is not now 10 condition for
filling. into the growing OF sugar beets
and could produce enough sugar TO sup
ply the markets OF the entire United
States.
From a careful study OF the subject
have been enabled to prepare some points
of information for the guidance OF the
farmers that will be OF service 10 those
who may be desirious OF experimenting IN
sugar beet culture
1.-THE tract OF land TO be prepared FOR
heets should be measured and a note taken
OF the crop raised UPON II in the previous