The Savannah morning news., 1901-08-23
BEET SUGAR IN AMERICA.
British Consul Finds Conditions in
This Country the Best.

Washington, Aug. 22.-Beet sugar
growing in the United States, and es-
pecially in the southland, promises to
revoIutionize the sugar growing inter-
ests of the world. Judge Wilson, the
amiable and able secretary of agricul-
ture, has made several visits to the
South since he became member of the
Mckinley administration. Being a
practical farmer. he has made person
al observations and examinations
which convince him that the sugar pro-
ducing beets can be raised in the
Southern states to better advantage,
and with greater profit to the farmers
than in any other section of the coun-
try.
In connection with the sugar indus
try, some very interesting data has
recently been received at the Treasury
Department. 1t confirms the opinion of
Secretary Wilson that sugar beets
grown in THIS country, are superior to
to those grown in foreign countries.
The foreign sugar growers are already
beginning to look with anxiety at the
rapid growth of the beet sugar indus
try in the United States.
The growing belief that the United
States will shortly be able to produce
from beets the 100000 600 worth of SUI
gar, which her people now annually
import, seems to be shared by British
Consul Wyndham, who has given the
subject close attention, and reported
upon it to his government. The fol-
lowing is an extract from his report:
THE production of beet sugar in the
United States is rapidly increasing, and
in the Chicago consular district there
are four factories in the state of Illi-
nois, three in Nebraska, and three in
Colorado; those in Nebraska and Col
orado belong to the American Beet SUI
gar Company, and are at Grand juno
ton, Rocky Ford and Sugar City, and
when fully completed will employ
thousands of hands.
Statistics indicate that the United
States consume more sugar than any
other nation, or approximately one
quarter of the whole of the worlds
product The condition of soil, climate.
and other advantages are quite as
good in the United States, and espe-
cially in Colorado. Nebraska and ILL
nois, for the development of the beet
as in any of the countries of Europe
or Asia. The worlds production and
consumption of sugar is now about g.
100000 tons per annum, two thirds of
which is produced from beet and only
one third from cane, whilst the nor
NAL consumption is estimated as in
yearly.
THE success attending the cultiva-
tion of the sugar beet in this district
has proven that 1t may be made a prof
liable and successful investment. A
large factory has been built at Rocky
Ford, Col, which cost 100000 to build
and equip. 1t is proposed to have it
ready for the crop of the coming sea-
son. To supply it the farmers in the
vicinity fn6 10 9
acres of beets a year for FIVE years.
From tests made, they estimate their
beets will yield Is to Is per cent. of
sugar. The factory, when running at
its full capacity, will consume daily
1000 tons of beets, which it will con-
vert into about 100 tons of refined SUI
gar of the highest purity. The beets
reach maturity with high percentage,
and seldom go below Is per cent.
Twelve per GEN.. is taken as the basis
of buying beets at the factory.
The beets are grown by the farm
ers under contract with the factory,
and paid for according to the sacchar-
Inc content determined by chemical
tests made of samples taken from the
wagon at time of delivery. In addi-
ton, the factory controls about 5000
acres of land. Most OF the land will
be farmed by tenants, but only a por-
each year. Growers sell their beets
based on the sugar content. The tests
somewhat resemble the assaying of ore
from the mines. Selling upon this ba-
sis encourages better farming and the
raising of better beets. 1t is the only
fair way, both to the raiser and the
manufacturer.
"At Sugar City, a farm of 1900 acres
has been cultivated for raising sugar
49, e. -
built with a capacity of 500 tons every
twenty-four hours. On the farm 1000
men and women have been employed
during the summer, and this seasons
crop Will be converted into sugar. The
establishment of the sugar factory at
this point, built the town, which a few
years ago consisted of a hut or two,
and thousands of prairie dogs. Next,
year fully 1900 acres of beets will be
in cultivation. The output will be IN
creased as rapidly as possible, and
every day the demand for workmen Is
increasing.
"A general estimate of the cost of
constructing, cost of operating and
general results to be counted upon, of
beet sugar factories in this district. as
taken from the Rocky Ford plant,
places the general average of sugar in
the beets at IL per cent. So far as the
AThdHSdS Ndlty III 1OlOi 10 COH-
cerned, this percentage is being large
ly exceeded; the minimum percentage
of sugar being about Is per cent, while
the maximum has reached 20 per cent,
with a co-efficient of purity ranging
from so to 95 per cent. In stating these
results, reference is especially made to
the factory at Rocky Ford, built and
worked by the American Beet Sugar
Company, a New York corporation,
which works two factories in
California, and three in Ne
braska. the one at Rocky Ford
beinE their fifth. The exports
in charge of this last factory ex-
press surprise at the results of this
first campaign. and they have become
thoroughly convinced that this valley
ARKANSAS Valley. Colorado) is the
ideal sugar producer, thanks to it's
equable climate. ample supply of wa
ter for irrigation. cheap fuel and lime
stone, and an unlimited extent of avail
able land for beet culture. 1t is expect
ed that the same company will erect
one or more factories in addition to the
one at Rocky Ford.
'As an example of the quality of the
sugar beets produced upon this land.
IL may be mentioned that so far six
carloads of beets from one field have
been tested with results as follows:
One. carload. 1913 per cent: three car
leads, 1873 per cent, and two carloads,
20.4 per cent"
THE WEATHER