Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1904-12-23
SUGAR CAMPAIGN OVER.
Slicins Finished Sunday and are
Now Running on Cleanup.
100000 POUNDS OF SUGAR.
Farmers Realize Good Profits on Their
Crops. all are Satisfied.

The seasons campaign of the Alma
Sugar Company is practically at close
after run of 81 days. The long, loud
blasts of the whistle announced 10 the
people that they finished slicing at > a!
Sunday afternoon. and the sugar end OF
the house will probably finish up this
week. This is the shortest campaign OF
record for the Alma house and the same
will hold good with almost every other
factory in the state.
One reason for this is the limited
number of acres of beets, and alsC
because the weather has been exceptions
ally fine which permitted rapid harvest
ing and hauling of the crop.
This does not indicate, however. that
the season has not been good one foI
the factories and farmers. The average
test of beets here was ID per cent, and
they brought the farmer $3.50 per ton
About 81, 800 tons of beets were sliced
this season. and the house has turned
out 5000 600 pounds of sugar. The
farmers have received over 500, 900 foI
their beets, and the salaries paid for the
81 DAYS run amounts To nearly S3l 900
I'VE had about as large a tonnage as
last year said Supt l.. NJ. Lawson
"and our average grind has been about
600 tons a day. and we have run with
out a hitch all through the campaign.
The men took hold of a new process and
did Well and | am highly gratified at
the results.
\ comparison with other factories
throughout the state shows the Alma
house To be well up toward the lead III
point of beets sliced and number of
pounds of sugar made. The Caro- factory
sliced 30, ,4l6 tons of bcets which con
tanned an average of ID per cont sugar
contents. and paid the farmers $3.50. 600
The Saginaw factory run 53 days and
turned out 100000 pounds of. sugar
while at Bay City 5000. 600 pounds OF
sugar was produced from "a, ,090 tons
The average sugar contents of this
fac tory was 10 per cent and the farmers
report from 100 toi200 per cent profit
Oh the investment. At OwOSSo 10000
tons of beets were sliced in 43 days
which produced 100000 pounds of
sugar. They paid 500, 600 to the farmers.
The feeling toward the growing of beets
is better among the farmers than ever
before because il has demonstrated that
uncommon thing III this community foI
the farmers 10 make $50 TO so gross per
acre Sherman Somerville, of Emerson
for example this year received 800 per
acre for his eight acres of beets-surely
a handsome little income.
With two adverse years. farmers have
been little discouraged in raising beets,
as they had with almost every other
g., IL. Fall a1,
drowned out everything Still the beets
made good when other crops almost
proved an utter failure, for if properly
cared for there Is no crop which will
stand more extremes in the elements
than sugar beets, and come out a com
paratively good crop, involving as little
risk as any farm product
As All indication that the farmers III
this locality are well satisfied with beet
culture, lothian Allen. agriculturist for
the Alma factory said 10 the RECORD
reporter, 1.-THE farmers are writing more
contracts for the next campaign than
they have before III the past three years
at this time, All seem TO be well satisfied
and are making early contracts and
getting an early distribution of seed.
We are going TO place two new weigh
ing stations next year, one at Mt, Pleas
ant and one at Rosebush," said Mr..
Allen, providing we can contract for
the necessary acreage"
There has been disposition on the
part of the farmer TO take more acreage
than he could profitably handle, on
account of the difficulty TO secure labor
to care for the crop, and this plan is not
encouraged.
1t Is becoming more apparent 10 the
farmers that the most money is made
by contracting for fewer acres, just
what he knows he can provide help for,
and give these few intense culture, and
1t makes the most profitable crop to
which he can turn his attention.
The business men of Alma, the rail
roads, and other interests which are
benefited by the operation of the factory
here, should aid in contributing to the
success of the industry by promoting
good roads quick transportation, at
low rates, and otherwise advancing the
growth and utilization of the most
crop, by aiding the farmer
and the factory i'll every way.
The hearty cooperation of the farmer
Is absolutely essential The factory
and the farmer must stand together, and
the division of $200,90O paid out for
beets and $3l 600 for labor, to other
means something for an agri-
cultural community like this