Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-05-29
Indications Point to Establish
ment of Factories In Vari-
GUS Parts of Iowa
If NOT, A CENTRAL FACTORY
L. II. Miller, Representing the Sugar
Beet Developing Association, Thinks
the Soil at Rock Rapids is Rich
Enough for Cultivation Of the Sugar
Beet-Farmers Will Try 1t.

capital who are interested in the Gull
tivation of sugar beets for the refined
product are eagerly investigating re-
sources of different counties of the
factories in various parts or a central
factory to which the beets could be
shipped for refining. The present week
L. III. Miller, of Davenport, representing
the Sugar Beet Developing Associa-
ton, was at Rock Rapids meeting the
business men. Owing to the busy sea-
son of the year, but few farmers re-
sponded to the request to be present.
Experiment With Beet.
Mr.. Miller stated that the object Of
the meeting was to see what could be
done to develop the beet sugar indus
try here. He thought that the soil here
was right enough and Was mixed with
enough sand to raise an ideal sugar
beet. There was no data at hand to
tell what could be done. DR.. Vail had
raised some sugar beets in his garden
here In 1897, which were sent to the
agricultural college at Ames to be test
ed, but the samples We're so limited
and the faculties for testing so crude
that nothing Of value could be deter
mined from the test, aside from the
fact that the saccharine contained in
the samples was good. Mr.. Miller
thought that by getting the right kind
of seed and with the proper care we
could raise the best beet right here in
Lyon county.
Farmers to Try It.
The further object of the meeting
was to get six farmers in the vicinity
of Rock Rapids who would properly
care for them to each plant one-six-
teenth of an acre this season. MIR.
Miller said that If this was done he
would come back here in three weeks
and show how to thin and otherwise
take care Of the crop, and would return
again in a month or SO to further in
struct the growers. When the crop
waS matured he wanted a sample of
six beets sent to his firm at Davenport,
and six sent to the college at Ames to
be tested, when it can soon be deter
mined whether we can produce the
beet or not.
Mr.. Miller said that the profit to the
farmer in the industry was immense.
The yield was from Is to 35 tons to the
acre; and that the price paid the farmer
was S. per ton. He said the cost to the
farmer including rent, would be about
$32 per acre. If labor could not be OBJ
tanned here at the proper season the
developing association would contract
to furnish the labor for $21 per acre
80 I,o% y,1a 10 ojd
the association could get foreigners
with large families from Russian Po-
land, who understands the business, to
come here and do the work.
Good for Stock.
Mr. Miller left the seed here with in
structions as how to plant and culti-
waite. ]. H Harrison, Dr.. Vail, and j.
w. Ramsey were appointed a commit
tee to find six farmers who would make
the proper test. He said that beets
made a fine feed for stock and that
farmers who made the experiment
would get feed enough to double pay
them for their labor.
He also said that if it was proven
that the soil was adapted to sugar beet
raising factory would be built at
some town in northwestern Iowa, but
that he could make no predictions as
to where, but presumed that the town
that offered the best inducement would
be the winner. That proposition he
said could be talked over after it was
proven the beets could be profitably
raised here.
A factory which could make sugar
profitably would necessitate pay roll
of about $4,000 month and would
increase our population nearly 5000 at
once with the extra laborers and fam
lilies who would be employed.