The Topeka state journal., 1902-05-01
Wichita is Planning to Locate a
Sugar Factory.
An Expert is Hired to Instruct
the Farmers.
ON CROP CULTIVATION.
Committee Has Visited Rocky
Ford Plant.
After August I5 Beets VIII Be
Sent There.

Wichita, Kan. May 1.-The directorate OF
the Chamber of Commerce has decided to
engage the services of an expert in the
cultivation Of sugar beets to spend TWO
intend the cultivation Of an experimental
crop of the plant.
This is the first step in any. effort to Sc
cure a factory of the American Beet Sugar
company for Wichita. If it is demonstra-
ted that sugar beets can be. successfully
factory in Wichita.
For his services he will receive S65 a
about $50 a month. The finance committee
of the Chamber of Commerce will secure
the funds necessary to meet this expense
In order to have the cultivation of sugar
beet in this vicinity thoroughly tested, the
among about 40 scientific gardeners and
farmers. The farmers will receive COM
plete Instructions as to how to plant the
crop. They viii be asked to plant a patcn
one rod wide by two long Three seeds
are to be placed in hill. The hills are to
be ten Inches apart and the rows eighteen
inches apart. AS the season for the plant
ing of beets is somewhat advanced the
seeds will be soaked in water for twenty
four hours. which viii give them the ad-
vantage of a weeks growth !,
committee composed of ]. H Stewart NJ.
A Mcclellan and Cash Henderson, which
was sent to Rocky Ford, Col. to inves-
tigate the sugar factory and the cultiva-
ton Of beets made It's report. Chairman
Stewart saids
Rocky Ford cost $97O.000 It is expected to
run about six months a year, and when
running employs 400 men. The year round
it employs about forty people. It makes
240 tons of sugar day and has contracted
it used $4,000 tons and in 1900. 43 600
tons. In 1901 it paid the Santa Fe railroad
for freight $4,000. In addition to this the
refuse beet pulp is used to feed 5240 head
Of cattle, the care Of which requires the
Mr. Stewart gave the following statis-
ties of Rocky Ford to demonstrate how
the cultivation of sugar beet benefited the
Maximum tons per acre. a; minimum
tons per acre, 35;average crop on old land,
10 tons; average crop on new land, 80 tens;
average cost per acre. to raise crop, $50.
At IS tons per acre at "a the average
crop will bring $50, leaving a profit OF $50
Mr.. Stewart stated that the, company
tanning "A per cent sugar and 80 1-s cents
for each 1 per cent additional per ton. 1t
will contract for beets for five years.
Mr. Stewart stated that the committee
not only talked with the representative of
the sugar company, but also with the
the community. and that all testified to
the value of the industry. One man said
the value of land had increased at least
The sugar company has stated that it
acres are sown in beets. and it is demon
strated that the beets can be prohtably
grown here. As the principal element IN
the growth of beets is sunshine. according
to the statements of the cOmpanys s off1-
Gals, and as there would not De Lne ne
cessity for Irrigation in the vicinity of
Wichita that there is in Colorado. the
members of the committee are confident
that the beets can be grown here
In order to demonstrate to the. company
that Wichita is in earnest on the propo-
sition and in order that more peoDle in
this city might become acquainted with
the facts concerning the factory the Cham
Der of Commerce selected a committee
composed of NJ. NJ. Mnrdock, H. J. Tag
ny. Charles Davidson, c. G. Cohn and B.
F. Mclean, to go to Rocky Ford next
Weel-.
After August Is the beets which are
raised near Wichita for experiment will
be sent to Rocky Ford for inspection #
the sugar passes the test a committee CT
farmers win be sent to Rocky Ford TO
learn from the representatives of the COM
pany just what it desires them to do 1t
is not the intention of the Chamber Of
Commerce to interest merely. the, farmers
in the vicinity of Wichita in the culti-
walton of sugar beets but also the farmers
along the Arkansas river about 50 miles In
each direction.