Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-10-11
THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY.

Secretary of Agriculture Wilson makes
the prediction that within ten years the
United States, instead of importing 800,
100000 worth of sugar annually, as at
present, will actually be exporting that
article. THIS belief ia based upon the
conclusions arrived at after careful and
thcrangh stndy of the beet sugar industry
in this and foreign countries. From
these Investigations Secretary Wilson is
convinced thaoo~ cne sugar 6eeu can be
raised with success in nearly every state
of the Uuion, while the loose, sandy soil
of the west is peculiarly adapted to its
profitable production. Climatic condi-
tions are here most favorable also, and
with water by irrigation New Mexico
fills every requirement pointed out by
experience in this industry.
Last spring the Agricultural depart
ment at Washington furnished beet seed
to $4,000 farmers in 27 states of the
Union, upon promise that they would be
cultivated and returns made of the result.
The department is now receiving SAM
Piles and reports from these experiments,
and it is upon the unexpectedly favorable
nature thereof that Secretary Wilson
bases the prediction referred to. Analy-
ses of the sam pie beets received by the
department are being made as rapidly
as possible, and report will be issued
thereon at the earliest possible mo-
ment.
In this connection some very interest
ing statistics have recently been furnished
by the Oxuard beet sugar factory at
Grand Island, Neb., where the industry is
already we'll established, after varying
success extending over period of some
eight years. These statistics show that
10000 acres have this year been given up
to the cultivation of sugar beets in that
vicinity, the total product being estimat-
ed at about 100000 tons, which would be
at the rate Of ten tons per acre. The
beets have been purchased on the follow
ing schedule: For beets averaging IL
per cent sugar and 80 per cent purity or
better, delivered at factory, per ton, 81;
averaging II per cent sugar and rs per
cent purity, 1926; averaging 10 per cent
sugar and 20 per cent purity, $3.50. The
expert farmers, and it is probable that
nearly all of them become expert after
little experience, are able to secure 81
per ton for nearly their entire crop. The
effect upon the value Of land of the in
PRODUCTION of this profitable crop is quite
noticeable in Nebraska. Land near the
beet sugar factories which could be
bought for $40 an acre in 1890 is now
quoted at $loo per acre.
As an evidence of the growing i'm port.
ance of the beet sugar manufacturing in
dustry in Nebraska, it Is stated that the
factory at Grand leland will this year
produce 100000 pounds of standard
granulated sugar, while the output of the
factory at Norfolk will be even greater.
Commenting upon statlstics above
quoted, the report says:
"The beet sugar industry has proved
OF immense benefit to all concerned in |
Nebraska, though its development has
been of gradual nature. With pro-
duction the size of those at Grand Island
and Norfolk, the enterprise cannot fail to
yield fair return on the investment, and
the outlook for the future is even more
promising on account of the protection |
afforded to sugar producers by the Ding.
ley law. There is abundant encourage
ment TO the extension Of the beet sugar
in the experience of Nebraska.
What is required is the establishing Of
large factories In the immediate vicinity