The record-union., 1897-02-07
BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY.
Bow the Beet Is Grown and How Sugar
is Extracted.
Statement of the Conditions in CalifOr-
mia Relative to Beet Culture From
aBusiness rIan's Standpoint.
From the Pacific Rural Press.)

The following article on the sugar
beet industry by Albert Gerberding,
President of the San Francisco Produce
Exchange, is the most complete and ex-
haustive discussion Of the sugar ques-
tion yet made in this State. 1t is from
q business mans standpoint and deals,
therefore, in the practical as distinct
from the technical and scientific aspects
of the subject. The paper was prepared
by Mr. Gerberding for the San Fran
cisco Chit-Chat Club. and was recently
read by its author before that body. Its
first publication is herewith-and by
Mr.. Gerberding's approval:
Under the official seal of the United
States Department of Agriculture, we
are told that agriculture is the founda-
ton of manufacture and commerce"
This truth may be demonstrated by
study of almost any product of the soil,
but can perhaps be best shown by con-
Sideration of the beta vulgaris, now
commonly known as the sugar beet.
Served as rations to the builders Of the
Pyramids, used by HippocrateS as medl-
cine, and as food for man and beast for
ages, it was no factor in the civilization
of the world until the nineteenth CEN
Jury
Notwithstanding its antiquity, up to
the middle of the past century the beet
was not thought to have any special
value as an Industrial product. About
that time however the German chemist
iMargraff became imbued with the idea
that cane was not the only sugar pro-
ducer and thereupOn began a series of
experiments with different varieties of
vegetable which resulted in his obtain
ing sugar from several kinds. The beet
yielded the largest proportion, and in
q 100 he published a report of his labOra-
tory experiments, urged the cultivation
of the beet and the establishment of
sugar making to commercially work out
his conclusions.
Margraff wise in scientific research,
yet lacking in business instinct, failed
fin his commercial efforts and so his dis
lcOvery, valuable as it was, lay dormant
for fifty years. About the beginning of
the present century one of his pupils,
Achard. the son of a Huguenot refugee
Tesiding in Prussia, took up his masters
line of research improved his methods
and results and transferred the work
from the laboratory to the manufac-
tory He cultivated beets turned them
into sugar and made known the re-
suits. He met with scientific incredulity
and with all manner of discOuragement;
but in spite Of everything, he still re-
tanned faith in himself and his theory.
He went on with logged determination
and laid the foundation of what has
grown to be one of the most important
industries of Central Europe. He was
still a Frenchman at heart, and wanted
France to take up his discoveries; but
the Investigating Committee of the
French Institute gave a lUkewarm re-
port of his work, which had the effect of
destroying the interest of the French
people in beet sugar.
FOUNDED ON GOVERNMENTAL
PATRONAGE.
During the Napoleonic era Germany
and Russia took up the work of raising
beets and making beet sugar, voting
funds for the establishment of schools
and initiating France in the scheme of
Ton-taXation.
Thus we begin the history of the beet
at the opening of this century and we
find its largest cultivation in Germany,
France and Russia, because these
Governments first gave the producer
substantial encOurag cement. With Off
cial aid the first beet sugar factory was
erected in 1901 in Lower Silesia, and in
Russia in the province of TOula in 1902,
while Napoleon established a factory
fn France in 1872 The infant industry
was nursed and fostered by these Gov
e1nments. and still has national care in
all European countries where the beets
grow. Coming down TO later periods
we find the beet now thriving in Rus
-.
um. Denmark. Sweden, Spain. Bulga-
nia and Bohemia. y recent effort to de-
velop new beet sugar territory has been
that of Frenchmen in Persia. who have
received certain rights with the proviso
that u per cent. of the profits 60 to
his majesty. the Shah.
In all Of these countries we find for
many years the beet question agitat-
ing LEGISLATORS. and the main trouble
is to increase the exports. a remark
able fact is that while German and
French sugar is sold in America for
say three cents pound, the native who
raises the beets and lives within sight
Of the factory must pay double that
price. This probably accounts for the
fact that the average annual consump-
ton per capita in France and Germany
Is considerably less than one-half that
of the average Englisman or American
INDUSTRY UPHELD IN EUROPE
BY NATIONAL ORGANIZATION.
The various Governments in laying
the foundation for this great industry
builded better or possibly worse than
they knew. for 50 many now are de-
pendent upon the beet that low prices
incident 10 reproduction threaten
the peace and prosperity OF thousands
Of French. German and Russian hus-
bandmen. In 1887 the Government hav-
ing refused to undertake the control Of
the sugar production in Russia the
parties concerned had resort to an
agreement by which the amount sold
in the home market was limited and all
remaining product was to be exported.
This agreement was continued until
last year, and but for it. says the Pro-
fessor of Political Economy in the Uni
versity of Moscow, a third OF the ex-
listing establishments (2223 factories)
would have been ruined. for under the
syndicate much more stable prices pre-
vailed than before.
The object of the syndicate is not to
limit. as do many ether similar organi-
cations. the production Of the article in
order to regulate the price Of 1T. but to
divide fairly among the factories the
expectation, which must be carried on
at a loss without diminishing the
amount exported or the country's pro-
duction of sugar.
If the production imposes q loss on
the export trade, the manufacturers are
obliged to cover this loss by raising