Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-03-11
SUGAR BEET INDUSTRY
Proposition to Erect Mandatory
in Norfolk.
II the Farmers OF This magnificent
Producing Section VIII s'o.0rcr-
nto as Desired Northern Capital
VIII Accomplish the uInncc.

Soh 4>oilulh ana IlucW" ter truck
crs raise two crops OF sugar beets
per year? Are they willing to give over
portion of their farms to this indus
try? Are they ready to so into the
business OF raising sufficient stock-cat-
tie. horses, sheep. hogs--to use the
by-product of $50 to 400 ton sugar
beet sugar mill and refinery?
These questions were either aslicd or
implied by DR. j. NJ. Hines, of Buffalo.
representing the New York Beet Sugar
Cons truction Company yesterday in n
half-hour conversation with a Virgin
ian-Pilot representative at the Office OF
L. S. Clerk OF Courts George Il. Bow
den at the custom house.
REPRESENTS BIG CAPITAL.
DR.. Hines. who is an old friend Of
Mr.. Bowden, is here in Norfolk. stop
ping ut the Atlantic Hotel. and the
combination he represents has an in
vested working capital OF O000,000
ON an affirmative answer to The ques-
lions above prOpoundcd depends large
ly the buying by his company of II
large tract Of land in this section. con
tation and the erection of II 100000
beet-sugar mandatory.
MILLING TO INVEST.
During the course of the chat that
cnsucd between the newspaper men
lfor DR.. Hines has been an able mem
Der Of the press OF the country these
facts We're brought out:
The company he represents Is willing
To acquire the property and erect the
force for from eight months to the fun
twelve each year; furnish free seed for
the first year and pay 81 per ton for the
sugar-beets raised. furnishing also the
by-product or waste to the farmers for
feed for stock, q use for which il has
proven peculiarly valuable.
The seed furnished would be The i'm
ported German "IIlien- Wclchienber"
sugar beet. considered the best in the
world. After the first year (Which
would be n free gifD the seed would
be furnished at absolute cost price.
a PAYING CROP
Taking New York as n standnfd
fourteen pounds of seed per acre would
be needed for each sowing. and this
with proper care and cultivation (about
three workings). would produce from
twelve to eighteen tons per acre. An
exceptional yield might reach twenty
10 twenty FIVE tons.
This. If two crops We're raised. would
give. at the minimum. product per
acre. at S. per ton. of $l20 pes ucrc
gross, and the probable yield III the
prolific land of this region would likely
make this more nearly $3.50 net. New
York State pays bounty of 81 pei ton,
making the price received by beet
farmers. So per ton. neat revenue.
TWO CROPS ANNUALLY.
DIR. Hines thinks the reports of Tide
water Virginia and North Carolina
make it sure that planting the frs .
crop early in February and the second
Immediately on harvesting this crop in
June. two crops could be assured easily
each year. but he wishes to meet the
PRINCIPAL farmers of this section and
talk with them and get their opinion.
He thinks the light. loamy soil of this
section would be ideal for the crops
and the use of heterogeneous fertilizers;
would make fine showing. The 800
ton factory NJ Rome. y. Y. though
running but a few years, is n big sue
cess. and ii in that cold climate il pays
and pays well, DR.. Hines thinks that in
this ideal farming section the profit
should be large.
IN THE FARMERS HANDS.
The factory proposed here would use
400 to 800 tons every twcnty-four hours.
and the half million dollars to start ii
only waits the action of the farmers
hereabouts. Eight new factories were
started by his company this past year