Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-06-13

H. g. y 7
duct was only e55 tons. there has brsn
cteadly increase in the amount OF our
oeet- sugar output year by year. unit!
ios tho year 1897 1t rose to nearly 1850
tons. TWO years ago there were only
nlne be6t-sugar factories in tho v,hoIa
United States-namely, four In C,i,rors
ma. two In Nebraska, one In Utah. one
IN New Mexico and one in New York
To-day there are all these, and. in ad-
ultion, one more each In California.
Otah and New; York. and one each II.
oregon, Minnesota, Michigan md wis
consin. Besides these there orc three
building in California, one building in
-. ana one building in illinois.
INC factory building ut Salinas, Cal.
VIII be the largest In the world.
IL is estimated If bcet-sugar factories
were established in the United States
in sufficient number to supply the auoor
nov low imported from abroad that $50
ooo'O00 would be paid annually to farnn-
ers for the beets they would have to
grow. 100000 would be paid annually
20 sugar factory operatives for wages,
nearly 100000 would be paid OUT an,
nually for fuel, S2,5Oo,O0O would be paid
out annually for coke for clarifying
purposes, nearly $4,000 600 for limestone
LOT similar purposes. besides over
So.Ooo,0O0 annually for filter cloths. hays.
chemicals. etc. The erection of these
factories would require the Investment
of s200000,000 of capital in. buiidinra
machinery ETC., while $1,000. 600 wouls
accrue annually to. municipalities in the
way or taxes, and nearly $4,000 would
nave to be paid to insurance COM
panies for insurance. In addition to all
these benefits enough pulp would be
available for the fattenIng for market
OF 100000 cattle annually.
THESE figures are used by the advo-
Gates of beet-sugar making to show
what advantages would accrue
TO the country If the In
dustry were so well established here
That 1t would be able to maintain IT.
sell against foreign competitlon and so
prevent the Importation OF foreign
made sugar. 1t Is also pointed out that
III our farmers had the opportunity OF
growing crop of $50 900, 900. now who'll
~ impossible to them. this OF Itself
would be OF incalculable advantage to
me agricultural interests of the coun-
Try, for it would mean an additional
resource. an additional Something to
iaii back on" in that system of mix
ed farming which is to-day the hone
of agriculture.
IN Germany, France and Austria the
making of sugar from beet roots Is a
h'shiy scientific process and process
requiring the highest technical skill in
the operatives employed in 1t. But the
progress of the industry in America
SHOWS That American scientific knowl-
edge and technical skill are able 10
forward the industry here quito as sue.
cesstully as it has been forwarded in
EUROPE. And 1T has also shown that
American mechanical ingenuity is able
even to simplify and cheaper method,
that nave long found favor in Europ..
me only thing Of an industrial ma
ture that can possibly initiate aynios.
me general extension of the beet-sucar
.iuus,ry III America IS the unwilling
ness OF our farmers to adopt the minis
tahihS ana laborious methods which
european farmers resort to in order TO
"ttaih perfection in sugar beet grow
ing AS has been remarked by Mr..
WHEY of the United States department
o. agriculture who perhaps has done
n'ore man any other person to promote
SuSaf-beet culture and beet I,ugar maxi
ing in this country. the preot nrohIar,
III me matter is the agricultural one.
i'ut mere again ii is believed that
american ingenuity will come to the
rescue and that by the use of improved
lInplemehts, as well as by improved
methods Of tilagc, the American farmer
VIII more than hold his own with his
European competitor
ne process OF development of tho
Deet-suGar industry in this country
Will however, necessarily be some
Wnat SLOW. The great competition
which Cuba and the Philippines will
improved political status will undoubt-
euiS De serious factor In the question.
Also me European bounty giving sys-
TEN VIII have disturbing Influence so
'ohg rs 1t continues. Only two years
ago an able advocate OF beet-sugar
production predicted that the yield of
neet sugar in the United States for
1917 would be sufficient. with orr came
sugar Yield. to make up one-fourth or
our total consumption. and that in 1900
the two yields together would be 1000
ooo tons. or onc-half our total con-
Sumption, non, IL turned out. however. that
our bect-sugar yield last year was
some 5000 tons less than 1t was the
year before The truth is that all in
dusiries destined to BE stable are, like
the oak. slow in maturing.
: Note.-This paper concludes the series
on The Worlds Great Commercial
fronucts An examination as the
OASIS Tor the granting OF certificates
VIII be published on Tuesday Iuno on