The record-union., 1897-10-17
The ALL-ABSORDIAG TOPIC.
SHALL WE HAVE A BEET SU-
GAR BOOM?
Monsignor Capel's Advice to Farm
ers in the Neighborhood
of Elk Grove.

was no one present to give those VINO
did attend any information on the sub
ject. and had it not been for the very
interesting remarks made by Monsignor
CapeI of Arno and Senator Doty's ex-
preston of his views. the meeting
would have quickly dissolved.
aIr. Doty called the assemblage to
order, and at his request George Nc
Connell, a wide-awake young farmer
of that neighborhoOd, presided.
Mr.. Mcconnell said he understood the
object Of the meeting was to consider
the sugar beet industry. He had re-
ceived a request from the Sacramento
Chamber of Commerce to canvass that
neighborhood for the listing of lands
for sugar beet cultivation in view of
the offer for the erection of a sugar
factory if the requisite quantity Of
beets would be planted. The question
is, what land is available for beet grow
ing? Some persons believe the red land
about Elk Grove to be as good as bot
tom land
Mr.. Mcconnell exhibited some speci
mems of sugar beets grown near Shell
don, on what is known as upland, with
out irrigation and without cultivation.
They were said to be excellent speci
mems of the sugar beet. The Chairman
then called on Monsignor Capel, who,
he understood, was able to impart some
information on the subject.
GREAT INDUSTRY IN EUROPE.
Monsignor CapeI said he found him
self in a false position. He had come
to the meeting that he might learn
something about sugar beet culture,
and not for the purpose of speaking on
the subject. He had merely promised
to be there if the meeting were held
that was aII-yet it appeared that some
thing was expected of him in the way
Of a speech.
For his part he was willing to do all
in his power to assist in securing the
necessary acreage to warrant the erec-
ton of a sugar factory in this section.
He regarded it as a matter of grave
Importance to the farmers. While he
had little practical knowledge of these
things, he could say that he had trav-
eled much and seen much. In France,
Germany, Italy and other European
countries visited by him, he had seen
vast quantities of beets grown for
sugar making, and everywhere it SEEM
ed to be profitable and permanent in
dustry
He was convinced of one thing-of all
classes of people, farmers are the most
difficult to hold together. People en-
gagged in other industries stand by one
another and work in concert, but farm
ers, as a rule, go in ruts-one behind
another. If one makes a fortunate hit
ofef,, Mi oil h Or
go into the pig business. If one farm
er's wife happens to make little mon
ey on her turkeys one year, then they
all go to raising turkeys. Like the eats
tail, the farmer is always behind.
It behooves the farmers of this coun-
try, said Monsignor Capel, to look for
ward. By the year 1900 the great Rus
sian railway will have been construct
ed from st. Petersburg to the Pacific
Ocean. traversing thousands of miles Of
fertile country.
He had been over much of that terri
tory, and could say that it was great
soil for wheat growing. When that
railroad is completed Russia, with her
cheap labor will be able to put wheat
into San Francisco at lower figure
than it can be grown by California
farmers.
There is no use in trying to shirk the
fact. he said, that, however success
full eat-growing has been in past
years, it connot be perpetuated. The
only thing to do is to take UP some
new industry that promises to be pro-
ftable
The Oxnards promise to expend about
n h0i~
plant in operation, and men who are
willing to lay out that much money
are not likely to commit the folly of
saying to the farmers that they would
do it unless they know it will pay both
themselves and the producers, and that
they know the soil will produce the
article they demand for keeping their
factory in operation.
The speaker said he had carefully
examined the analyses made of the
various soils in which experimental
growing of beets had been made
Loamy soils had been shown to be
excellent, but beets grown on ground
a little higher are shown to have more
sugar, while not being subject to the
dangers that beset lower grounds
There is plenty of red soil in the vi
River.
Beets require close and careful work
in their cultivation, but every farmer
should make up his mind to work. He
has the soil, and labor is his only re-
source to make the soil produce prof
itably. If farmers viii plant even
small tracts of land to beets and culti-
vate them carefully they will be able
to make at least from so to S1S pei
acre profit, according to the results
given in the Governments reports or
that industry as followed in other parts
Of the country. 1t is by utilizing small
farms and the labor Of every member
of the family that the industry can be
made profitable.
Recently an Eastern society sent out
an agent to secure 10000 acres in this
State on which to locate a colony Of
Germans who are to engage in sugar
beet culture. and soon ], 100 persons
viii occupy that 10000 acres. Claus
Spreckels, the sugar manufacturer has
agreed TO pay them 81 per ton for al
the beets they may raise. If these
people can raise sugar beets success
fully, others can do so. The average
sugar beet weighs not to exceed -four
or five pounds. and those grown on up
lands contain more sugar than thos'
on lowlands
In his country (England). beets art
extensively grown, but only for fee6
for livestock, but with good results
That is not what they are grown fol
in America, however. Here there ar
10000 0G0 Of people. and they all seen