Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-02-26
GOLD IN SUGAR BEETS
Captain Day Back from California
Whittier He Went to Investigate
Sugar Beet Industry.
MAKES A GLOWING REPORT
Oogent Reasons Advanced Why the In
dustry Should Be introduced Through
out New Mexico-Special Ad-
vantages Of Santa Fe,

captain ,. IL. DAY, the entefpflSlnt
and energetic uperntendent of th
Santa Fe Water & Improvement com
pany, and an active member of the Santi
Fe board Of trade, returned home yes
terday from an extended trip through
California, whittier he went as the dul.
accredited representative of the loca
board of trade to carefully investigate
the beet sugar industry in the grea
state named, with a view to the genera
introduction of the same important in.
dustry, not only in the region directly
tributary to this city, but throughout
New Mexico.
OF course a NEW MEXICAN scribe
promptly called upon the genial gentle.
man, and in spite of the fact that he
was immersed in disposing of accumu.
lated business, he talked freely and lu
cidly concerning the results OF his trip
remarking in general terms that his
mission had been unexpectedly fruitful
in the way of gaining useful informa
tion, shedding light on the beet sugar
industry, and that he returned more
than ever persuaded that the develop
ment of the industry is destined to be
come most substantial and important
factor in promoting the future pros
pcrity If New Mexico.
"While away | made the rounds of all
the places in California where the beet
sugar industry has attained promi-
nence, said Captain Day. visiting San
Francisco, Los Angeles, Chino, Los Ala
mitos, Salinas, Ventura, and San Diego,
and confess that was amazed at the evil
denccs witnessed of the great growth
of the beet sugar industry in California
during the past few years. found that
everyone engaged in this business on the
coast, from the farmer to the factory,
was prospecting in an uncommon degree,
and all seemed satisfied that the culture
OF sugar beets and the manufacture of
the product into sugar were likely to
prove source of as much wealth to the
state as its world-renowned gold mines.
Indeed, some sanguine ones placed the
beet sugar industry ahead of gold min
ing in wealth producing possibilities.
II had the pleasure of meeting Claus
Spreckles. the famous sugar king, at
San Francisco; the Oxnards, at Chino,
and Mr.. Clark, at Los Alamitos. These
gentlemen are at present the principal
promoters Of the sugar industry in Cali
forna. They treated me with much
courtesy and cheerfully placed ME in
possession of such information as |
sought. learned that Mr.. Sprecklcs,
in addition to his other large factories
in the state, is putting up at Salinas the
largest sugar manufacturing plant in
the world, depending exclusively upon
sugar beets for his raw material. also
found that all the other manufacturers
Of sugar from beets in the state were
arranging to multiply the capacity OF
their plants as fast as possible and that
several new and extensive plants We're
projected" continued Captain Day.
''As l have already limited, | am now
more than ever convincedof the wisdom
and practicabilty of the immediate in
PRODUCTION of the beet sugar industry in
the land of sunshine known to the world
as New Mexico" added the thoughtful
and we'll informed gentleman. 1.-The
soil and climatic conditions here are un-
questionable more favorable to the
production of high grade sugar beets
than those of California. We can raise
more and higher grade sugar beets. to
the acre than they can in California.
This is clearly proved by the expert
demonstrated facts that the
average yield of sugar beets per acre in
New Mexico is 1211 tons, while the
yield per acre in California is reported
at ten tons; that the average percentage
Of saccharine matter in the beets pro-
iuced in New Mexico Is 1s, while the
sugar beets grown In California only
average l414 per centin saccharine mat
ter.
"Such facts speak louder than any
words could command in favor OF this
as sugar producing region. |
am more than persuaded" continued
the captain. that New Mexico is ideal
ly adapted to the culture and manufac-
ture of sugar beets. | believe that
enough beets can be produced in this ter
ritory to support at least IL sugar fac
tories, and, in addition to the other con-
siderations | have presented, the fact
that we have plenty of cheap labor
would assure profitable returns from all
of them. Santa Fe is peculiarly well
for one of these factories. We
are SO located that we would command
the crops of two seasons. one from the
valleys south and the other from this
valley and the Espanola and other val
leys to the north OF us. Then we have
two railroads, connecting us directly
with the north and the south, and "a
plentiful supply OF pure, soft water. We
should exert our utmost endeavors to in
duce capital to utilize these splendid
and exceptional opportunities as soon as
possible. ="