The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-09-08
UNITED STATES
SUGAR INDUSTRY
Some Figures Given Out by Ag-
ricuIturaI Department.
RAPID, HEALTHfUL GROWTH
UTAH PRODUCES MORE THAN
ITS PEOPLE CONSUME.
lsnecinl TO The HeraldO

U1ASHINGTON, sept. tine ue-
w partment of agriculture is very
much encouraged al the rapid and
heaIthful growth Of the beet sugar in
dustry in the United States, and par
ticularly at the progress made last
year. The beet sugar product OF the
country for 1901 more than doubled the
product of any previous year, and for
both beet-growers and sugar manufac-
turers the year was the most prosper
Gus in the history of the industry. Now
that the beet sugar industry is an as
sured success, and is assuming large
propOrtions for an infant industry
the department INDUCES in rather
bold speculation as 10 its future deVel-
opment. a speculation worthy OF eA-
animation.
For 1901 the total consumption OF
sugar in the United States was z'S'z'-
goo tons. Il is estimated that the con
sumption for the present year VIII De
2 AIS. 600 tons. The home production
of sugar for the current year VIII be
bout 300 900 tons Of cane sugar from
the south. and lS5 900 tons of beet
sugar from the north and vest. leaN-
ing 1893. 900 tons that must be imported.
OF the imports, however, about lVo'OVo
tons will come from Porto kico ana
800 900 tons from Hawaii. reducing 10
l. COO, 600 tons the amount TO be acquired
from foreign countries.
Aim of Beet Sugar Men.
II Is the ambition of the beet sugar
men to establish factories enough 10 AT
least furnish this foreign importation
Making due allowances for shortages
the department intimates mat II
would require 500 factories, haVlhs
a daily capacity Of 500 tons OF beets'
to produce the sugar Imported. As
matter of fact, however, there IS Hhely
10 be a apid increase IN bolh peel
sugar and cane sugar factories put
for convenience these calculations are
based on the supposition that the IN
crease will be in beet sugar factories
only.
TO build and equip 500 such factories
would require an investment OF cap
ital of $3.50. 600 900. while their annual
maintenance and operation would re-
auire much more. In round numbers
these factories, 10 produce the required
amount OF sugar, would consume 10,
$50 900 tons OF beets, costing SS4,SI1-uOO'
they would also consume 3,lS1,500 tons
of coal. at So .56z.500. I.sz5,0oe tons o.
lime rock. at SCI go, 600; 5000 tons OF
coke. at $1,000 coo, and would employ
labor at an annual cost Of $ly,0U0 U0O.
In addition to this outlay WORKING
capitaI of SI35. OO0. 900 would be re-
ouired. These estimates do not include
the capital already invested IN beet
sugar. or in the operation or factories
already built.
During the season of 1901 there were
thirty-six factories in operation, De-
sides three slicing stations. These tac-
tories worked up 1856, 6sS tons OF neets'
grown on l75,0S3 acres OF land. Inc
average yield per acre was 30 tons,
and of sugar, 2.l09 pounds The totai
product of all the factories was 5b5'-
| 21l. 1873 pounds Of sugar, in the manu-
| facture of which S,162 persons We're
employed. at an average daAy wage
Of $2.16
Three Banner States.
Three states. Utah, California and
/ Colorado. produced more sugar last
wear than was consumed by their re-
spective populations, and Michigan dld
| not fall far short of the same result
! IL is interesting TO note that IN 1901
] there was a total capital of S5O0OO.O OU
| invested in beet sugar factories, ana
that s.. 49,. 500 was paid out 10 farmers
/ for the beets consumed. Labor con-
nected with these factories commanded
t ST 800 900 for the season. while the to-
/ tai opera ting capital employed during
/ the year was S5,O0O,OOO.
! In closing its speculation. the depart
] ment says
1t is hardly possible that an indus
/ try which affects SO many people over
such a wide scope of country can fan
To receive anything but the most
! friendly, careful and fostering con
sideration on the part of those who
/ shape Industrial affairs. The immen-
sity of future demands, 1t seems, an
sWers effectually those who feel that
the industry might be overdone. At
| tention should be called 10 the IacI
| that not only are present demands
| great. but that the rate Of Increase OF
! consumption is considerable. Accord
| ing TO careful statistics for the last
| nineteen years. consumption of sugar
in this country has been increasing al
the average rate Of almost D l-5 pei
cent annually"