The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-08-08
THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY.

The probability that northern Mon
tana will become a producer OF bee
sugar at some time In the a future
gives interest TO q review OF the in
dustry by officials of the federal de-
psrtment of agriculture. They report
excellent progress in the development
OF beet sugar production in various
parts of the country, and express the
belief that the industry will expand to
large proportions.
According to the latest information
collected by the department more than
625, 0OO. 900 pounds of beet sugar was
manufactured in this country during
the past year. OF the northwestern
states Michigan and Wisconsin have
made the most progress, the produc.
ton in Michigan last year being 1872.
O00, 900 pounds, and IN Wisconsin 49,.
O00, 900 pounds.
Regarding the general progress of
the beet sugar industry in the country
generally, the department officials as.
sert that it has been of q more sub.
stantial character than during the
earlier years of the history of the in.
dustrv. mo factories have been in.
stalled on guesses or assumptions in
regard to conditions" say the Off.
Gals in their summary of the progress
OF the past year. Six states are men.
toned as notable In their develop.
ments during the past few years in
beet sugar production. Illinois. Mich.
igan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio
and Wisconsin are mentioned as the
states in which successful results have
been obtained. Complaint is made
that in the establishment Of sugar
factories in the east it has been found
almost impossible for the sugar a
u%facturers to obtain the large quaint.
ties of land required at prices that
will make the industry profitable. In
the west the industry is not 80 much
embarrassed by these conditions.
In a summary Of the past years re.
suits in Wisconsin, Minnesota, the
Dakotas and Montana, the general
are set down as good. Wis.
consin is listed by the department OFF,
Gals as a state in which results Justify
considerable extension of the beet
industry. 1t is claimed that the
beet crop is becoming popular with
the tobacco growers in southern Wis.
consin and that the best crops of beets
are produced in the district where ex.
perienced tobacco growers have be.
come interested in the tillage Of the
sugar beet. The factory results in
Wisconsin are also set down as pro.
ceeding upon correct lines.
In Minnesota, it is said, a large
number of places were Investigated
during the past year to ascertain con.
ditions adapted to the beet sugar in.
dustry. Special attention vas called
TO the southeastern part OF the state as
affording excellent opportunities for
the establishment of two or three
sugar factories. In South Dakota, it
is claimed, we'll directed experiments
to demonstrate the fitness of the soil
and climate to sugar beet production.
In regard to Montana the official
report is that the state has many IA.
tural resources for sustaining the beet
sugar industry, and information
reaches the department tina, plans are
On foot to install factories in a num-
Der of the valleys in the state. These
projects nov slowly on account of the
necessity OF railway extension and the
construction Of irrigating bitches.
The latest advices the department
has regarding the beet sugar produce
ton in the world shows that since 1901
the production Of beet sugar in the
United States has increased from l63,.
600 tons to 2S3, 600 tons, which is
nearly equal to the production of all
European countries except Germany,
Austria, France and Russia. The to.
tai worlds production of beet sugar
is about 1000, 900 tons, and the four
countries latterly mentioned produce
more than 5000, 900 tons Of the total
crop. Germany leads the world with
a production Of $500, 600 tons.