The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1903-08-25
SUGAR INDUSTRY
IN THIS STATE
EXPERIMENTS JUST OVER THE LINE
EAGERLY WATCHED BY
MONTANA MEN.
GIGANTIC FACTORY PROMISED
II II Is Found That Beets Can Be Grown
Successfully Here Thousands
Will Be Invested.

OF unusual interest to Montana is the
success of the sugar beet factory that the
Mormon settlement in Northwest territory.
a short distance north Of the international
boundary, is building.
If it proves to be a paying venture one
OF more similar factories are expected to
be built in the northern part Of this state.
w. e. Conrad of Great Falls, who is
building an extensive system of irrigation
bitches in Teton county for the purpose of
recaliming vast tract of arid land, is said
TO have decided to await the success OF the
Canadian sugar beet factory venture before
investing money in such an undertaking as
has been reported.
Are Very Similar.
The soil and climatic conditions in
Teton county and at the site Of the Nor
mon sugar factory are so similar that the
success of the one will ensure the success
OF the other
The Mormons arc spending vast sum
of money on their factory. 1t will repre-
sent an outlay of about 100000 when
ready for operation.
1t is being built on the most up-to-date
plans and is expected to give complete
satisfaction.
Contracts have been made with the Nor
mon farmers for sugar beets for this and
succeeding years, and it is expected the
plant will be started this autumn, or as
soon as the bets arc ripe.
A market for the saccharine product of
the plant has already been secured in
Canada, as the duty would prevent an ex-
tensive importation into this country.
In Practical Way.
The Mormon farmers are going at the
business in practical way and il they
cannot make success OF the beet sugar
industry it is conceded no other set of
farmers can. as they have few equals as
successful tillers of the soil.
They have an extensive system of irri-
eating bitches capable of furnishing all
the water needed for irrigating many thou
sand acres Of land.
The soil OF Alberta and the climate have
been demonstrated to be favorable for sugar
beet culture
All of these things were demonstrated
before the church loaned the hardy farmers
the money with which TO build the factory
across the line.
The experience gained in the manage
ment OF the Mormon sugar factory in Utah
has helped the church people in setting on
foot the Canadian enterprise.
The one great drawback confronting the
successful management of beet sugar
factory Is said 10 be the certainty of secur-
ing an adequaes supply of beets.
Four Months in Year.
a factory is not supposed to run more
than four months in the year. but during
that time II is necessary to have a large
supply OF bcets on hand.
In order to guarantee such supply the
management Of factory must have an
ironclad contract with farmers pledging
their best efforts to furnish plenty Of beets.
1t is said that this doubt about being
able to secure all the bects needed has
caused Mr.. Conrad and others who con
templated putting up beet sugar factories
TO wait until reliably assured there will be
plenty OF the vegetables available.
Mr. Conrad is trying to induce prac-
tical farmers who know something about
irrigation to locate upon the land he is re-
claiming in Teton county.
When he has secured settlement sufii-
ciently large to furnish the amount of
beets required il is quite certain, unless his
present plans are changed, he will make
arrangements for the construction of the
sugar factory. as has been widely heralded
in the press of that section.
Favorable for Beets.
The soil and the climate, not only of
Northern Montana but OF other parts OF
the state, are said to be more favorable
for the culture OF beets. and there is every
reason to believe that with the success of
the Mormon factory similar institutions
will be built in Montana that will add to
the states wealth and population.
At the next session OF the legislature
there promises to be quite an element in
favor of the state offering a bounty upon
every pound of sugar produced for GER
tain period from native beets.
Other states have enacted similar laws,
which have fostered and encouraged the
industry