Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1905-09-16
the BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY.
An Industry That Would Prove Profitable in
Mason Valley.

|
| On several occasions in the past
the TIMES has presented to its readers
the great advantages which would
accrue to Mason Valley could COM
pany be induced TO enter this field
and prevail on the land owners and
farmers to cut up their large tracts
of land into small holdings for the
purpose OF raising sugar beets.
Last week Mr.. Thomas Wheat
ley, OF Utah, visited this valley, and
from what he saw of the country
was greatly taken up with the pos
sibilitics for business that present
themselves. Mr.. Wheatley is ii
farmer who has made agriculture a
study from scientific standpoint.
lHe lives in a section of Utah. where
the sugar beet industry is being
carried on for all there is in it. From
him we gained the following data
relative to this industry:
The land in the sugar beet section
OF Utah produces an average of
fourteen tons OF beets to the acre,
and the percentage OF saccha rine
matter in the beets must run as
| high as twelve per cent. or the pro-
duct will not be received at the fac
tory. AS general thing this per-
centage runs from ID to IS. The fac
tory pays for beets, delivered there,
81. so per ton. This gives the raiser
who produces fourteen tons OF beets
for his crop, or the one who only
raises twelve tons to the acre, a
value of S54. 1t is estimated that
| the cost per acre to raise and har-
vest the crop is from $40 to S25; in
fact Japanese can be hired to attend
to the whole crop for S24 to $40 per
acre. This covers the planting OF
the seed, the cultivation of the beet,
the harvesting OF the crop and put
ting the product on the cars for the
factory, so that it can easily be esti
IldIth indl Nilt ShG1I btCl "a 1 me- ~
Utah il clea ring on each acre of land
from S2S to S37. The sugar beet
rms are not large in Utah; they
range from 20 to 100 acres, and the
average is probably not greater
than 90 acres. The man with SO
acres in beets, therefore, by a COM
putation OF the figures given above,
would be receiving net income of
| c.. al hB
farmer who only puts in 20 acres
would be clearing about $500 per
wear on this portion of his crop.
give equal results and for which
there is certain market The farm
ers of Utah are becoming wealthy
since the establishment of sugar
plants in their midst.
There is no lack OF transportation
facilities, for whenever sugar tac-
tory is established the railroad COM
panv Is glad to build spur line to
secure the hauling. This builds up
the country as it makes it easy of
access. UnAer this state of cultiva-
ton land prices have been raised
from $50 per acre to $50, and up as
high as $50. The country is becom-
. ing InlCklN SNN'lOA anu NNf' ~
| comfortable homes established.
While Mr.. Wheatley IL not en-
gagged in the beet raising industry,
but is proprietor of a large Touring
mill he says that beet raising is cas-
ily the most remunerative kind OF
farming in Utah. In connection
with his business he states that for
some wears past he has been testing
dry land farming and finds it will
pay. BY dry land farming is meant
the raising of wheat without irriga-
ton. To do this the ground is sum
mer tallowed and the grain planted
in the tall The moisture OF the
winter months produces crop the
next season, which if not equal in
the amount of grain raised on irri-
grated fields, has been raised at prac-
tically no expense for cultivation.
What little Mr.. Wheatley saw OF
Mason Valley led him to believe that
this system would prove profitable
here on the large tracts which are
now lying idle, and as regards the
beet indus he declares that the
land here is equal to that of Utah
if not superior, tor the cultivation
of the sugar beet.
In this latter conclusion he is no
doubt correct, for tests OF sugar
beets have been made in this valley