Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-02-20
LETTER FROM o. X. LArnAM.
H. Asks If LATER. st in the Sugar Zee, In
..ustry is NaniuS.


MIR. Thomas Il. Henley Yesterday re-
ceived the following letter from Mr.. o.
X. l-2pham of New York, regarding
the sugar beet industry:
NEW YORK, Feb. 18th 1895
Ihos. b. Henley, Esq:
Dear Sir:-1 don't know whether
you have lost interest in the baet-sugar
me or not l have not heard from you
Tor some time, and never learned what
success You had in getting an acreage
necessary TO warrant the erection of u
Factory.
Il was at a meeting at Freaericks-
'urS since | last saw you. At this
meeting bill was offered for the an
prevail of the farmers in convention.
permitting the State to give a company
SonVictS 10 grow bests.
Later ! Ead Senator Opie. of Staun-
ton. to Introduce a bill TO allow the
Hovernor To give any company one con-
wet lAr every zen acres of land they
would put into sugar beets.-I now
mink one Tor every seven would be bat
iep. IN tnis way the company. or 9th
ars wanting to start the business.
could have the use of convicts. and the
farmers would be relieved. of taking the
risk Of &he new crop tin they could sec
ihe results. Al any time they wished
10 enter upon the business thev could
10 30. l also had Senator Opie to in
roduce bill similar 20 that in New
York State and many other states-one
Wh1ch sooner or later viii be enforced
~ public opinion. as ven as economic
reasons upon every state,tand enc eSpe-
r:ally needed in Virginia sif she expects
outside capital TO enter the State to de-
Eslup the great natura1 advanta geS
which she possesses. The bill was that
all goods made by convict labor in the
state of Virginia, also all goods made
oS >gonv!ct labor in other states and Of
iStSd for sale in Virginia, should bear
IN every piece in some conspicuous
PLACE the words, stamped branded or
marked. rrade by conviet or penal la
Dor. With these Two acts a. part of
ne law Of the State. l; believe l can
interest capital to build snd operate SUI
gar factories in the State. Without
hem am frank to say after a fuller
llderst landing of the laws and bount:es
Jherel in other states With their nat
Iral adva ntages. 1 don't shinl a factory
AN be built and operated successfully
II the STATE.
Very truly yours.
80. K LAPHAM"
Replying to the foregoing letter, Mr.
Henley yesterday sara:
My faith in the sugar beet as a re-
munerativa crop is as Strong as ever.
and | believe that they can be success
FULLY grown in this locality, and thaI
Ne VIII hav= / fa.s%ry.s here r.@xt y@oE
we can only get the farmers in this
Dv each cu!tivating q small patch for
'h@ir st.Ek. They can !asls learn tbs
luantitv they can make per acre. and
su:;aer learn their saccaarine strength
~ analysis of reputable chemists.
With q knowledge Of these facts. thay
an and viii determining before another
ya-ir MAI aI'@age they wifi ruara1:te
to grow for three or FIVE years, on the
sesalt Of Which hangs bur chances of
setting factory here's
=. know the tendency on the part OF
.}-.1:;sa Ia allow thesIS era haSinsn [,
.Nane. and rven vallSs.laA Intentions II.
BE pro2ta tina ed until they are for
FoNen, and more especially is this true
WHARF cooperative effort is needed.
and the parties Interested are scattered
N the country. Therefore. With an eye
to Keeping this important matter be-
fore the public, l suggest that it would
" Well j the farmers would meet here
again before planting their beef seed.
,rnt o!iiy to revive their enthusiasts m,
hul Gacre particularly to discuss III
Gola OF cultivation. as it is important
besl resuMs. Newport News Will be a
So@i point TO which Ia order the seed
or distribution among Tire farmers. on
Vh;ch occasion the meeting which !
nave suggested might be held.
Mt. o +. Lapham is still givinC
much time and work 10 the preliminary
FART of the business. l trust that the
>arnltrS Will appreciate his efforts. by
shpwing a strong and unwayerinG in
crest in their part of the business