Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1902-03-15
W ISCONSIN AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT
STATION.
To the Editor:

hAD1DON, w lDs
To the Editor:
AT the sugar beet meeting held in YOU
city last Saturday those who were pres
ent were most thoroughly posted ON the
sugar beet situation as affecting yOul
city and vicinity, in what was said by
Mr.. h. e. Wagner, Mr.. A. F. Postel and
myself. However, many farmers who
should have been present were nOticea-
/ ply absent, and thinking that some of
them may be interested in learning
more OF the situation, take this Opp0r-
UNITY OF stating few facts which may
not be without interest to such people
/ ana to your readers generally.
The beet sugar industry is rapidly
growing in the United States. The
state of New York has two beet sugar
factories, Michigan 13, Colorado 4, Utah
3, Nebraska 3, Ohio l, Minnesota 1, Wis
consin /, and California, Oregon and
Washington 10. The fact that we have a
factory in Wisconsin is due entirely to
the energy and perseverance of Mr.. r. G.
Wagner, OF Milwaukee whose factory at
MenOmOnee Falls this year worked up
nearly 28,O0O tons of beets, which pro-
duced nearly 100000 pounds of sugar.
lregard this first years output of the
Menomonee Falls factory as most re-
markable showing, and the people of
Wisconsin should all hold Mr.. Wagner
In the highest regard for what he has
done for our state. Heretofore many
people have always looked with doubt on
the possibilities of producing sugar
from the beet root in Wisconsin. They
p0lut to failures Of factories in earlier
days. They even assert that we are too
Far tn 70 h.
handle them as we shOuld-in general
they think that the whole business is
more or less of a fraud or humbug.
Mr. Wagner showed his faith in the in
dustry by putting his own money in the
M0nomonee Falls factory, and now he
comes to Natert0Wn with a proportion
which is entirely reasonable and which
is not all burdensOme for those who must
JON him If he undertakes the venture.
The progressive citizens of Watertown
should not let this opportunity pass for
securing beet sugar factory. 1t means
the expenditure of hundreds of thous-
ands of dollars for building and ma
chlnery at your city. 1t means the en-
ploynent of large number of people
each year In the manufacture Of sugar
from the beets. 1t means the payment
OF hundreds OF thousands of dollars
each year to farmers and factory en-
plOyees.
To the farmers in the vicinity Of Wat
ertown beet sugar factory offers anoth-
er opportunity for increasing the total
sales OF their farm products. Let it be
understood in the beginning that sugar
beet culture, properly followed, is not
exhausting upon the farm as to reno
wing fertility from the land. While to-
heco growing rapidly exhausts the soil,
such is not the case where the sugar
b..et is grown. The beet pulp which is
turned back to the farmers at the fac
tory, is most valuable article for feed
ing fattening steers, dairy cows and
sheep. 1t is worth about half as mucu
or little less than is the same weight
OF sllage made from corn. Properly
fed, this pulp does not injuriously effect
the milk OF cows or the health of farm
animals; indeed, the reverse is the case.
Farmers in beet-growing districts find
tnat after they embark in the beet-grow-
ing business they keep just as many
cattle as they did before or even more,
and they have all the income from the
beet crop additional. Beet growing will
enable every to earn cash for their lab
or. Boys, girls. women, crippIes, aged |
persons, etc, can all find employment in |
the beet fields at profitable wages. 9th |
er places In Wisconsin are pushing for |
Deet sugar factories. Will the people of |
WatertoWn exert themselves at once to
comply with Mr.. Wagners most reason
able requirements, or will they allow
the factories to be located elsewhere? |
sincerely hope that Watertown will |
secure the the beet sugar factory offered
them by Mr.. Wagner.
The Wisconsin Experiment Station
has been working for more than a de-
cade to secure the recognition of capital
lists In this important matter Now the
capital is ready to seek investment in
our state, will the farmers remain indif
ferent, oa will they do their part?
W. A. HENRY.
Dean, College of Agriculture,
Madison Wis.