The record-union., 1898-02-12
Report OF President Steffens to the
Chamber OF Commerce.


August following the committee rec
commended that an exhibit be made at
the State Fair of beets to be selected
from the test patches then in charge
of the expert. The suggestion was
adopted and the exhibit was made at
the fair in September, during Which
time assays were made of the beets on
exhibit under the State Fair manage
ment These assays were of the most
satisfactory character, and We're pub
lished at the time. These assays We're
confirmed by those made by Professor
Hilgard Of the State University, whose
report was that Of the eighteen assays
made and representing twelve patches
of beets from different sections OF our
surrounding country, the average per
cent. in cane sugar was 1851, with an
average S4.8 purity coefdcient-
BEET-SUGAR FACTORIES.
The local press from time to time gave
such publicity to the experimental tests
being made here on beet-sugar culture,
and especially of the good results or
both assays made, that the attention OF
capitalists and parties interested in su-
gar manufacturing elsewhere were
drawn to the matter. Inquiries being
made regarding all the facts, this cham
Der, in October. appointed special
Committee on Beet-Sugar Factories.
October 5th there was held in this city
meeting of some sixty farmers
and merchants, at which Henry L.
Oxnard, one of the leading beet-sugar
manufacturers of this country, ad-
dressed the people ON the Importance OF
the industry. He made a proposition
that if the farmers would contract to
plant and cultivate 10000 acres of su-
gar-be for five years he would erect
a beet-sugar factory with a capacity
Of LOCO tons per day, and would also
contract to purchase the product of the
10000 acres at a schedule of prices
based on the per cent. of sugar which
the beets would produce.
The campaign for canvassing for sub
scriptions for the required acreage
opened Immediately, and was most
faithfully prosecuted by the special
committee, seconded by local citizens
not members Of the Chamber of Com
merce: also, by several farmers, who
volunteered to aid the undertaking all
possible.
After the canvass had been we'll
pushed. and there seemed a possibility
of there being a shortage Of signed
acreage, another committee OF citizens
outside Of this organization, got up and
had numerously signed a guarantee
fund to make good whatever shortage
there might be when the canvass was
finished.
The time for making the effort was
limited. and before it was completed
Mr.. Oxnard telegraphed this chamber
that he had closed a like offer MADE
with certain parties in Southern Call
fornia-a locality that had large tracts
of available land, and that had been
entertaining the proposition for over
year before it was presented to us.
IMPORTANT FACTS AND RESULTS
The experimental work done IN sugar
beet culture and the effort to estapilsh
a sugar factory here have brought out
and we'll established certain proposi-
tions, viz: That this is the most CEN
traI point in the State for supplying
a factory with a superior sugar beet
and other needed articles for manufac-
turing. Also that 1t Is the best point
in the State from which to supply the
great interior, having a large local
wholesale trade Of it's own, and also
as favorable a point as any from which
to ship the surplus to San Francisco
or any other great central market
That there is local capital here ready
to invest in the enterprise when man
with proper amount of his own money
and with experience in the business
and good character is ready to start
the work, and desires local assistance
to join him. That while we have a
great variety Of soils in our immediate
surroundings, our sugar beet lands
show, both by State University and
State Fair assays, the best of any lands
in the State and also that we have an
ample supply of such high grade lands
That sugar beet culture contributes
to intensifying farming in that it
cleans the ground from weeds and
makes foul land more available for
growing cereals. That the topping of
the beets returns to the land those salts
needed by the land for its renewal for
grain raising. That many of the farm
ers who have been taking an interest
in the matter are now making short
time contracts for supplying sugar
Factory. That when any legitimate To-
cal undertaking comes up that COM
mands the confidence of the people. and
that Is general in it's character, there
is no lack of willing hands to aid the
enterprise.
RIVER RESTORATION.
The most important question that
from year to year has been referred
to in my annual reviews before the
Sacramento Board of Trade and this
chamber, which now succeeds it, has
been the matter of river improvement.
Nc substantial river Improvement work
has. as yet, been accomplished. The
work of destroying the Sacramento
River has been going on. more or less
all the time. and the river has been
having its revenge, as il We're. by in
turn destroying the adjacent country.
The question of river improvement
has passed to one of river restoration,
and that viii soon pass TO one of gem
eral devastation. unless good shall soon
come cut of efforts now pending.
wish rs say now, in a few words. thai
my position from the first has been that
ii was the duty of all citizens to insist
that as the general Government re-
served the river as its own ward, that
it should be required to care for it. as
ii was doing with other rivers elsewhere
IN the United States. and that all COM
piicated side issues were included and
covered by the proposition the Govern
ment should care for the river.
The present action of putting the
river first on the list for attention now
TO be given. rs Well as the opinion of
men who. for years, have had the river
and harbor matters of this country to