The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-05
Bonner Springs to Have Big
Starch Factory.
Will Consume the Potatoes of
the Kaw Valley.
AN IMMENSE PLANT.
Michigan Capitalists Ready to
Grind June To-
Prepared to Turn Out 10000
Pounds Daily.

Bonner Springs, Kan, Dec. "a large
starch factory for the consumption of
the potatoes of the Kaw valley will be
in operation here when the season opens
up next year.
This will be in one sense a new indus
try for this state, and a huge one too,
although starch has been manufactured
from potatoes in this state before.
Topeka formerly had factory but the
trust killed it.
The factory which will be started at
Bonner Springs will be the largest in
this country, if not the largest in the
world 1t will be erected by a company
of capitalists from Traverse City, Michi-
gan.
The total production of starch in the
world is annually about $500 tons, and
one county, Aroostock, in Maine, produces
about half the supply. Several counties
in Minnesota also furnish a great por-
ton of the remainder Of the product.
OF late years the cultivation OF the
potato in the Kaw valley has grown to
massive proportions and many men nave
| become quite wealthy in this business
Prices have not always been satisfac-
tory, however
The soil it is said Of the Kaw valley
and eastern Missouri greatly resembles
that of the soil of Aroostock. Maine, where
the largest plants are located.
The matter was first brought to the
attention of Kansas. through a letter re-
| ceived from the Michigan company by
F. D. Coburn, secretary of the state
4 board of agriculture at Topeka.
This letter was referred to ex-senator
Edwin Taylor, of Edwardsville. by Sec
rotary Coburn with the request that he
give the matter what attention was in
/ his power.
The result of the Investigations of the
| Michigan Starch company Is apparent
from the fact that they have decided to
4 build the starch factory.
| The Kansas City Packer, which has
taken an active interest in the founding
of the plant, is in receipt of letter con-
frming the report that the plant would
be built The letter says:
1.-The Michigan Starch company, Ira
verse City. Mich, Nov. II, 1900
/ Gentlemen: Replying to yours of the
18th. I can state that as far as I know
now, that I will locate a potato starch
factory at Bonner Springs, Kan, ana
| will commence building operations the
fore part of February and will have the
| foctory completed so as to run by June
Is. 1t is the intention to build a factory
| with a capacity of 4, 900 bushels of pota-
toes daily, turning out 10000 pounds OF
starch daily. 1t is also the intention OF
the company to feed hogs on the resi-
due which will supply about 400 to SOD
head. This will be the most modern and
| improved potato starch plant IN the
| United States and probably withou
| doubt the largest. Any further 1nIor-
s.Yoi1rs truly. IS. n. PAXTON
A good Judge estimates that the 1900
crop of potatoes in the Kaw river valley
was something very near 1000 cars, of
an average of 400 bushels per car OF
| total of 500 900 bushels. While this is a
large crop it is not to be compared with
the crop which could be raised IN the
fertile valley of the kaw-
The United States agricultural depart
ment has made a series of experiments
| in this direction and has issued bulle-
tins setting forth the information derlV-
ed thereby and these may De OBTAINED
by sending to the department for them
The bulletins tell the best methods TO
be employed in the culture of the potato
| and the best fertilizers to use ana the
| reasons why such and such things are to
be used to advantage. Perhaps one OIL
| the best articles to use as fertilizer 10
produce the qualities necessary to quail
| fly the potato for use In making starch
| is potash.
| The fact that the potato starch indus
| try will once again flourish in Kansas
| viii be glad news to a great many men
whose occupation is potato raising.
| There have been times when the very best
! part of the large crops which have been
raised in Kansas brought only from 10
to 20 cents per buShel.
With the establishment of the starch
factories in Kansas again the producers
will not be compelled to sell for what
| ever price they may get in the market
but may always receive from 20 to 30
cents per bushel at the factory for their
produce according to the starch giving
! qualities of their various crops.
| Edwin Taylor of Edwardsville. who
/ has perhaps been one of the most sue
cessfuI potato growers of the Kaw val
/ ley and was formerly the potato king, "
read paper on the culture OF that par
! ticular staple before a meeting of the
state board of agriculture, of which body