East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-11-17

Belongs to DR.. ii. w. Wiley Tor It's ;
Modern Development. 5
The sugar cane antedates the sugar
beet, hut the latter has been known
for many centuries. report of the
United States department OF agricul.
ture tells an interesting story of the
sugar beet. 1t was given to civiliza-
ton by the Roman Empire and after I
the fall of that government it was in
trodlced into Bohemia, where 1t was
grown for food. Its cultivation, how
ever was sparing for many centuries
after the Romans discovered its food
value until 1909, when the discovery
was made that it would yield alcohol,
Further analysis by u Prussian chem
ist in l74I led tc the discovery that
it would Yield sugar in commercial
quantity.
In 1901, at Cuern, in Silesia, the
first beet sugar factory was built |
This was at time when the demand |
for sugar was just beginning to press
upon science for greater supply,
and Napoleon Bonaparte seized upon
the sugar beet as means OF crippl-
ing British commerce. His scheme
was to shut out of his possessions
sugar from the British colonies by
statutory acts and to supply the home
demand with beet sugar. According
ly he encouraged, by law and subsidy.
the establishment OF beet sugar fac
tories in all the countries where he
ruled, and in 1910 the first factory
was built in France.
Since then the industry has grown
| TO enormous proportions in Europe,
the money invested in factories being
nearly $700,O00,000. Even Russia
supposed by us to be so far behind
the rest of Europe and America In
civilization. has 276 factories, and
produces annually 100000 tons OF
beet sugar. The United States has
eS beet sugar factories, which cost
about s52.000,000. and they produced
in 1905 about 100000 tons of sugar
. Sometimes the fear is expressed by
uniformed persons Of an overpro-
duction of sugar in the United States.
This is removed by the reports of the
government on the subject In the 10
years Of 1S91-1901 the consumption
of sugar per annum in the United
States increased from 1.S72,400 tons
to 2.372,3l6 tons, an average increase
of per cent each year. II this rate
I has continued since 1901, the amount
of sugar used this year should be
more than 100000 tons-an increase
since 1901 of about $4,000 tons.
But the increase of the production
of beet sugar in the United States
with all its phenomenal growth from
1901 to 1905, was only 1SS,070 tons
If this years production should reacl
the estimate of 100000 tons, 1t woul,
be a total increase of about 274,00,
tons. whereas the increase of con
sumption of sugar has probably beel
more than twice that amount. 1t
evident, therefore, that there Is n
danger of beet sugar factories bein
built SO fast as to overstock the mar
ket.
For the successful development o
the beet sugar factory the countr
is largely indebted TO the department
of agriculture, and especially Or. II
w. Wiley chief OF the division c
chemistry of the department. AS i
Germany, so in this country, it too
many years of effort, experiment an
investigation, with many failures. be
fore the conditions requisite for sue
cess were definitely established. Man
Of the carly attempts were made 1
Localities not adapted to raising suga
although the factory at AlvaradC
Cal, did become a success so earl
as 1879. It was not until after tn
Cxnards entered the business In Cal
forria IN 1890 that the rapid exter
sion of the industry began.
There are so many factors neces
sary for complete success-large caI
ital, elaborate and expensive machir
cry, technical skill. pure water, lims
stone, coke and coal, and a reliabl
supply of good beets-that it require
much experience to get them all c
the same place. When these factorit
were properly combined the busine.
Immediately became very profitahl
pttt oubui companies Va NOi'
RADIO and Kansas began with all II
experience of the other beet suga
regions to guide them, and 1t b,
been proven from the start that Il
Arkansas valley Of Kansas and ca
orado. and like valleys Of course
the arid regions, are well adapted 4
the culture and growth of the bee
Climate, soil and irrigation unite
make perfect conditions. In the va
ley the beets yield from 15.7 per ce
to 18 per cent sugar.
Besides the sugar value of the bee
the pulp is good for cattle and hs
feed. II may be fed to hogs, shee
iattenlng steers, growing cattle, mill
cows and brood mares.
Fed to cows, the beet increases
a remarkable degree the flow
milk: promotes the fattening of ca
tie. and not only adds materially
the nutritive value OF the ration, b
it has a sanitary effect in the prom
ton of digestion. The beet or Il
pulp produces better quality
meat, as has been shown on the blo
In many instances. This applies
pork as we'll as to beef. The ste;
/ or roaet liz more firm, jucier al