The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-09-02
VERY PROFITABLE
Beet Culture is Looked Upon
As Great Addition to
Agriculture.
The Alma Company Has Fine Acre
age Within Seventeen Mile
Radius

Alma, MICH, Angus 10 III MS is une
home of the we'll known Alma Sanitar-
ium, one of the most delightful health
resorts in the country. Its name is
familiar to thousands of people who
have been benefited by the mineral
well that has made it famous. Alma
is also the home of A. w. Wright, cap
italist, whose honored name is connected
with many of Michigan's largest enter
prises. One of the largest business in
situations in Alma however, is the SUI
gar refinery, of which Mr. Wright is at
the head. Gratiot county since the adj
vent of the culture of sugar beets has
been one of the foremost in Michigan in
the way of successful production, and
the large refinery guided by wise and
judicious management has been success
fully operated.
The country about Alma is alive to
the interests of agriculture, and from
the earliest moment, when the farmers
were given the opportunity of adding
sugar beets to their crop rotation, I'M
usual activity has been shown by the
man behind the hoe, which has resulted
in satisfactory acreage each year.
There has been no particular exertion
on the part of the factory management
to induce farmers to grow beets. The
proposition has been presented in a
straightforward manner by those in
charge, with a conservativeness that
has been noticeable to marked degree.
In may be said of the Alma factory
that their acreage has been secured
within a radius of seventeen miles.
This, in itself, would insure success to
both farmer and factory, as the long
hauls by railroad are entirely done away
with thereby reducing the freight
charges to minimum. A large per-
centage of the beets come in by wagon,
and the farmers have the opportunity
of seeing their beets weighed and tested.
But the question of weight and tare has
never caused any sleepless nights to the
beet growers in this good county. From
the outset of operations, Farmer Allen
has been at the head of the agricultural
department. Mr.. Allen is we'll known
and successful farmer of the county,
and his word around here is considered
as good as U. S. gold bond. This is
one of the few places where they did not
make the mistake of loading up the
farmer with more acreage than he
could care for. Beet growing oyer here
is looked upon as permanent, profit
able crop and already land is being pre-
pared for next year. The proposition
has been handled in a business like man
ner and only the best of feeling exists
on all Sides F. r. Hathaway, manager
and treasurer of the business, points to
his fine list of contractors with pride.
Mr.. Hathaway has made night and
day study of the industry from every
angle, and it can be said that much of
the success of the enterprise is due to
his wise supervision. The plant is
modern, being supplied with pulp
drier, thus utilizing all of the refuse
from which fine stock food is produced
which finds ready sale with stock
raisers and dairymen all over the coun.
try. This pulp food has been the sub.
ject of much favorable discussion with
the department of agriculture at Wash.
ington and it is only matter of time
when the demand will be greater than
the supply.
This beet crop in this vicinity looks
healthy, and better than for the past
three years. We were shown field OF
over 100 acres being cared for by Mr..
John Miller and it is very promising.
The acreage as a rule is from a to s
acres, and the fields are healthy and
free from weeds. There is no doubt
about the permanent success of the beet
industry in this county, and the Alma
Sugar company joins hands with the
farmers for satisfactory results on both
ends of the business. Mr.. Wright says
the farmers are his partners and their
interests are his
S. O. BURGDORF.
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