The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-31
SUGAR BEET HISTORY.
Industry Has Been Receiving Atten-
ton Since 1859.

facts relating to the sugar beet, th'
manufacture Of beet root sugar anC
the history of the industry.
In 1850 Oliver de Sores saws that the
red beet had been known in Europe q
long time and that the juice Welded
on boiling is similar to sugar syrup.
In 1872 a small red, a large red, a vel
low and a white variety were known
according TO the Able Roster
The Disette one of the above vari-
cites, was introduced into France by
Nflmor5n. ancestor of the senior partner
in the colossal seed firm of Nilmorin
Adrieux & Co. One Perkins introduced
ii into England in 1855.
In the middle Of the eighteenth cen
fury, Margoff in Germany made some
experiments with the beet and other
vegetables to ascertain their sugar con-
tents. He found the beet the richest in
sugar and predicted that great in
dustry would grow out Of it.
Fifty years later, Karl Franz Achard,
a pupil of Margoff's took Up the work
and presented the results of his inVes-
tigation 10 the French institute. He
stated that a crude grade of sugar
could be produced for s cents a pound.
The institute made a favorable investi-
cation of Achard's report.
The report aroused little interest in
France, but in Germany ii was ao-
piled in practice. In 1905 Baron de
Happy and Achard. himself, erected
factories. Other factories soon fol-
lowed. Their development was stimu-
lated by NaDoleon's decree of Milan
forbidding the ports of Europe to all
English and colonial manufactures or
products. Sugar became scarce on the
continent for Napoleon was master,
and the factories of Achard and Koppy
made money.
In France, attention was largely di-
rected to the manufacture of grape
sugar But in his report to the en-
peror in 1911, Montalivet, minister of
the interior stated that one Secei had
produced 500 tons of beet roots from so
acres and expected to get 10000 pounds
of sugar: and that another Molar had
planted 200 acres to beets for the pur-
pose of making sugar. Reports of ex-
periments in other parts of France,
Holland and GERMANY were made.
Napoleon was greatly interested, for
the success of this industry meant a
hard blow to England's industrial su-
prernacy. In 1911 he decreed that 1000
acres should be devoted to beet grow
ing: that six experimental schools
should be established; that 100000
francs should be devoted to the en-
eourasement of beet root sugar and
indigo; that the importation OF sugar
ana indigo from the Indies should be
prohibited.
AT this time no method successfully
produced sugar at less than 10 cents
nound. NAPOLEON established six
schools. and directed that hundred
pupils should be admitted to them in
1872. Great progress was also made IN
Germany, and two schools were estab-
lished.
English papers caricatured Napoleon
had
paper represented the emperor squeez-
ing a beet root into a cup of coffee-
while near him sat his heir. the king
of Rome, sucking a beet root, and the
nurse was represented as saying 10 the
baby: Suck, dear, suck; your father
says it's sugar"
The industry continued to develop
and greatly alarmed the English, who
offered Achard first $4,000 and then
500 GOO if he would publish state
ment to the effect that he had been /
carried away by his enthusiasm, and I
that practice did not confirm his eX-
periments.
Failing in this. Sir Humphrey Davy, |
the scientist, was persuaded to declare !
that beet root sugar was bitter and /
unit for consumption But Napoleon /
kept on, and as long as he reigned /
several million of francs were set aside /
each year for the announcement of the /
new industry. After Waterloo, how
ever. only one factory continued in
France but it soon multiplied itself
into ten money making factories under
the management of NJ. CresDel.
In 1929 some 1000 tons of beets We're
raised in France.
The industry after the fall of Napo-
leon, its universal patron, did not re-
vive in Germany until 1885, when the
successful manufacturers of France
the Germans.
The industry grew SO rapidly in Ger
many that in 1S39-40 over !, $50, 900 tons
Of sugar were produced. In the same
year France produced $4,000 tons.
Russia now produces $4,000 tons;
Austro- Hungary. $4,000; Belgium, 235.-
100 tons; Holland, $4,000, and other
900.
The first experiments were made in
he United States by David L. Child
# Northampton, Mass. He manufac
ured 1900 pounds of sugar al cost of
I cents a pound.
IN 1868 two Germans, the Gannert
lrothers, began TO manufacture sugar
Il Chatworth, Ills. but after six years
hey were compelled to give il UP.
They were also unsuccessful at Free
ort. Ills. Failure also overlook them at
Wis. in 1870 and ISL
BoneStell & Otto, two Germans. con-
Iucted the first successful ENTERPRISE
Wis. in the early '70'S. In 1873 they
we're persuaded by the Alvarado Sugar
OF san Francisco TO move to
'alifornia. This company successfully
perated until 1876. when the failure of
ne beet crop forced them TO SUSPEND
perations. The Sacramento Valley Z
manufactured beet sugar q
rom 1870 until 1875. In that year Cali !
ornia produced 100000 pounds of beet I
ugar-
Since that time experiments more or I
KS extensive have been made in all |
arts of the country.
The factory at Lehi, Utah, built in I
S9091, is now producing 100000 {
ounds Of sugar annually. .
In Nebraska two factories manufac- I
lred $500. 900 pounds last year There .
a successful factory at Recos. y. NJ j
laus Spreckles is building an immense
sctory at Salinas. Cal.
The jacksonville. Cal, factory made .
1000 tons of sugar in 40 days last II
ear, literally 'beeting' the record The Is
hiDo Valley company, in the same o
ate. made upwards of 10000 tons in
e5. Beet farmers supplying these fac W
'ries make from SO to $40 per acre. II
ct, the yield varying from 10 to p n
ms pere acre. and the price being 81 W
IT ton. pi
At the present rate of consumption it Il
i'll take 500 beet sugar factories of the ST
opacity of those already operating in C
alifornia to supply the United States p'
In 1894 the United States imported n
'02, sec tons of sugar OF all kinds, over
700, 900 coming from Cuba k
--s-@S-- RI
Lehi Sugar Notes. fe
Lehi Banner: The land is so dry the ~
cts are growing but slowly. and a tn