Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-01-06
A LARGE M MEETING.
LARGEST GATHERING OF FARMERS
EVER IN THE OPERA HOUSE.
They are interested and a Factory is
what They Desire.
THE INDICATIONS ALSO ARE FAVORABLE
FOR THE PROJECT.

ton. The opera house was filled to its
utmost capacity, but the audience was
composed Of men-farmers, not women
and children, and a more interested
crowd would be hard to find One
farmer was heard TO remark when the
meeting was over that ne had never
seen as many "mossbacks' gathered in
the county before. He was wrong, they
were not "moss backs or they would
not have been there. Those present
were the representative farmers Of
Gratiot--the intelligent, progressive
class. Such farmers are not to be called
"mossbacks" in any sense Of the word.
The meeting was opened by j. NJ.
Montigel, chairman Of the organization
perfected last week for the purpose of
developing the project Of beet sugar
factory. After a few preliminary re-
marks Mr.. Montigel introduced L. A.
Sharp, chairman of the committee sent
to Bay City to inspect the factory in
operation there MIR Sharp told the
people assembled what the committee
saw while in Bay City, also of the
general satisfaction existing among the
farmers Of Bay county who have en-
gagged in the culture of sugar beets dur
ing the past year. Mr.. Sharp next in
troduced the Hon. N b. Bradley Of Bay
City, who is largely interested in the
Michigan Sugar Co. Of that city and
who is also interested quite extensively
in farming i'll Bay county.
Mr. Bradley's remarks were wholly to
the pint and he explained in a thorough
ard convincing manner the advantages
to be obtained by raising the sugar beet
in preference to any other article that
can be grown on Michigan soil. He
explained the workings Of the state law
which has been partially given by the
RECORD in a previous issue. Mr..
Bradley was a member of the committee
sent into the western states by the Bay
City people to investigate the question
and stated that while the states OF Gal
ifornia, Iowa, Nevada, Nebraska and
Utah were raising the beets favorably,
Michigan possesses IN )re favorable soil
and climate than either Of these states
and the beets could also be grown with
less expense. Gratiot county, he said
was especially adapted to the culture of
the beets. Any land with a clay subsoil
will raise sugar beets, but would not
recommend newly plowed sod. and not
more than two crops should be raised on
the same ground in succession. Several
questions were asked Mr.. Bradley by
the farmers and all were answered
strictly to the point and to their entire
satisfaction.
AT the conclusion Of Mr.. Bradley's
remarks L. A. Sharp read letter from
Samuel J. Higgins of Saginaw, gentle
man who has given the subject much
study. The letter explained more
thoroughly the status of the sugar in
dustry in this country and was in line
with the statistics we publish in another
column of this issue,
lothian Allen of Emerson was re-
quested by some to give his experience
in raising beets during the past year
and complied in ready manner. Mr..
Allen is one of the most progressive
farmers Of the county and raised one
acre of beets in 1898 as an experiment
Over $7S worth of beets were raised of
this one acre and the results far exceed.
ed his expectations.
Prof @. A. Davis Of the college also
spoke few words quoting statistics
A vote of thanks was proposed to r.
Bradley and Mr.. Higgins which rs
given with rousing cheer. lt
At the conclusion it had been intens
ed to obtain the signatures Of ALI tnoss,
who would engage in the beet culture
for the purpose of securing factory
here, but as it was growing late and
owing to the inclernency of the weatliaa'
it was proposed that an expression be
made by raising of hands and after.
wards all who could to step forward and
sign the papers This proposition met
with an upraising of hands which sur
prised even the most sanguine. Nearly
one thousand acres were pledged by
signatures.
The men interested do not propose to
let the matter lag any and the project
will be pushed with vigor. With the re
quired number of acreage pledged the
capital is practically assured and in MI
probabilities the factory will be buTI
this coming season. n
Parties wishing TO pledf,e them
to raise these beets will firid papsrs iOF
that purpose in the hands Of L/N- o"e'p,
j. W. Holmes, W. s. ltk & 90 anu