The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-17
THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY.
The Profits or Sugar Beeta to the Fnrme RI q
Compared with Wheat.

compared Win wheat.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir. In part
answer to the attack upon tho beet sugar In
dustry of this country. made by Mr.. Edward +.
Atkins of Boston in the Forum, permit me to
give tho result of the year 1896 at the Watson
Vile Beet Sugar Mandatory Of California.
The average yield Of beets was a. 6 gross tons
per acre, and the average product of sugar from
the same was 3.545 pounds. The farmer was
paid IN average of 81 per ton. or $50 per acre,
for the beets. With the present duty upon I'M
ported raw sugar, it cannot be laid down in
New York or San Francisco, duty paid. at less
than GIG cents per pound. Therefore, to pay for
the sugar product of tho average acre of boots
produced near jacksonville. Cal, in 1896 will
require $124, or 165 bushels of wheat at 10
cents per bushel. or the product of Cd acres Of
land at 90 bushels per acre.
Good land well prepared should yield an aver
age of 12i4 tons OF heets per acre. or a sugar
product of Z. 1000 pounds. This gives tho farmer
an average return Of $50 per acre. and the
refined su gar at 3la cents per pound gives the
refner $lO5 per acre. or a margin OF $55
per acre for his services for converting the
beets into refined sugar For the past seven
country has not exceeded thirteen bushels per
acre, and the farmers have not received more
than 80 cents per bpshel for it. At twenty
farmer only received SIS per acre for his wheat
crop: At $50 per acre for beets, one acre of them
yields as large returns as three and O half acres
OF hrst-class wheat.
We consume 1000, 900 tons of sugar annually.
To produce IL at 5000 pounds an acre will re-
Quire 1888, 1913 acres of land of good quality
well cultivated. To buy it in Europe in the
raw state and pay duty and freight upon 1t
to New York will cost $l40 900. 900 or the prod
uct OF nine and one-third million acres of wheat
at .$l5 per acre. All consumers must pay
freight upon imported sugar from
whereas II produced in all parts OF our country
the cost Of distribution will be very much less.
Sugar iso e of the most valuable and impor-
tant foods consumed, by highly civilized people.
people for our supply. Our fruit industry de-
densed milk industry. We are producing nearly
all of the iron, steel. glass, white lead, pottery,
tin plate. rope, Irvine, and machinery. We
consume. and shall at no distant day produce,
az least the sugar we are compelled to import
for homo consumption.
The beet sugar industry, like hat of tin plate,
has come to stay. Next year the largest beet
sugar mandatory in the world will be consum-
ing 5000 tons per day of California beets. This
means paying the farmer Sl20.O 600 per day for
beets. II the factory runs 100 days for tho sea.
son OF 1893, 1t means 81 ,440 600 disbursed TO
tho farmers In a single locality for sugar beets.
The sugar beet industry has passed the expert
mental stage. When n practical sugar producer
and refner like Mr.. Claus Spreckels invests
w 900. 600 In 4 beet sugar refinery it is proof
positive that the industry Is one OF great Value
to tho farmer and retiner.
NEW YORK, Nov. III.
FRANCIS WAYLAND GLE