The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-11-07

The spent pulp is used either in the
fresh state, from silos, or in dry form
after being prepared through a process
of kiln drying which preserves it for
many months and allows shipping long
distances.
Eight and one-half tons of the wet
will make one ton of the dry pulp, the
latter selling in Germany for about $50
per ton.
Taking so per cent Of the weight of
beets sliced as representing the wet
pulp, we arrive at the following esti-
mate as to the quantity and value of
the Michigan output for 1902, providing
our American farmers knew its value
for feeding purposes The so per cent
OF 100000 tons beets gives us 400, 900
tons wet, or AZ 900 tons dry, pulp, max
ing the latter worth nearly one million
dollars.
The waste or crude molasses, which is
3 to per cent of the weight of beets, is
valuable in Germany for mixing with
cattle feed and making alcohol. In
Michigan it had no value until last
year Consul General Mason, Of Ber-
lin, reports that it has selling value in
Germany of $1.13 per 100 Kilograms
GEO pounds) in carload lots. In the
making of alcohol from these crude
syrups, more or less potash salts are re-
covered, which are of value as a chem
ical fertilizer.
The Michigan Chemical Co., recent
organization, built last year at Bay
City the first alcohol factory, and op-
Grated it last winter, using the waste
syrups from Michigan factories. The
factory and tank car line represents an
outlay of several hundred thousand dol
lars, and the alcohol business is GER
tainly remunerative one to our gov
ernment, for this company paid on its
first seasons output an internal revenue
tax of 81, 1866, 900.
This industry in Michigan is doing
much towards inaugurating good roads
in many counties of our State, especial
ly in Saginaw and Bay counties, where
vast sums have been spent to improve
our highways. The cost of hauling the
products of the United States to market
or the nearest railway station is esti-
mated by the report of the Industrial
Commission at $500, 900, 900 yearly.
This amount exceeds the entire cost of
operating the entire railway system of
the United States. This enormous cost
comes largely from our poor high
ways for which our country is noted.
Much more could be said about the
direct and indirect benefits spreading
from this young infant of only four
years growth in the State, but space
forbids.
The unfortunate agitation in congress
last winter, when this promising agri-
cultural industry was signaled out to
pay the whole moral debt of gratitude"
this nation owes Cuba for making her
free and independent, has had for the
present a serious effect upon its develop
ment in this country. Many new and
pl ospective companies in different states
are now hung up awaiting the favor
able or unfavorable action of congress.
With our labor and capital, with our
climatic and soil conditions with our
energy and Skill is it not possible for us
to grow on American soil, all the sugar
we consume without sending abroad
each year one hundred million dollars?
1t is not necessary to make answer in
the affirmative, for the rapid growth of
the beet sugar industry in this country
during the past five years gives the lie
to the pseudo economist, as it did twelve
years ago when he declared that tin
plate could not be produced in this
country.
But to successfully continue its de-
velopment we must have wise and be-
Inefficient laws, the fostering care and
protection of our government to support
us against bounty fed sugars, the
"Cartels' of Europe, and against the
inroads of sugar produced by semi-slave
and contract labor of tropical isles
We would respectfully refer the read
Ell to the speech of the Master of the
National Grange, the Hon. Aaron
Jones, made last January before the
Ways and Means committee in WASH
ington, d. G. Without solicitation
from the sugar beet growers or manu-
facturers, he appeared before this com
mittee, not alone in their behalf, but for
the general welfare of all American
farmers
Broad in view, unprejudiced and pa
triotic, his earnest plea was that an at
tack on any special agriculturafinterest
was an attack on them all.
Union Plains