The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-08

1t seems from these relative figures
that Kansas consumers are buying their
coal oil about five cents per gallon
cheaper than are the people of any
other surrounding state. From Mr.. L.
T. Hussey, state oil inspector, I learn
that the amount of coal oil consumed in
this state every year is about 10 million
gallons. 1t is a matter of plain mathe-
ma tics, therefore, that these laws are
saving to the users of coal oil about
100000 every year. Perhaps a similar
saving is made to the users of gasoline.
was amused and pleased to receive
from the National Petroleum associa-
ton, with headquarters at Cleveland,
Ohio, copy of the Kansas anti-dis-
elimination law, with request that we
enact it in this state, showing that that
great organization is trying to get other
states to follow our good example, and
inadvertently sent it to me for this pur-
pose l cordially co-operated with the
Kansas Oil Producers association last
year In requesting neighboring states to
adopt these laws. Iowa at once COM
piled. Other states should follow, and
this legislature could do the common
cause great good by commencing in
joint resolution our maximum freight
rate law on oils and our anti-discrimina-
ton law, particularly, to the favorable
consideration of other states. Bills fur
Their fostering our oil interests will be
submitted to you and 1 am sure will
L. T. Hussey. state oil inspector, re-
ports $50, 449.S3 collected in fees by his
department, while the expenses aggre-
gated only s15437.05. leaving a net bal
ance of $1S,012.7S. This is fine show
ing, especially in view of the fact that
the new refineries imposed heavy addi-
tional expenses upon his department. 1t
is the best showing ever made by the oil
department OF Kansas.
Good Roads.
No subject is of more real economic
Importance nor more worthy of consid-
Grafton from the standpoint of pleasure
SI1h1nnt of hn INN eraf ~
our thoroughfares. 1t Is estimated that
half million dollars are annually ex-
pended in Kansas upon its roads, but
the work is done with SO little regard
adequate results follow. Farmers
scarcely realize how much they lose in
wear and tear of vehicles and fatigue
of teams, and in waste of time in haul
ing comparatively small loads of farm
produce to market over bad roads
when much larger loads could be hauled
so much more probably with the roads
improved. I do not like to recommend
the creation of new Offices but it does
seem to me If this whole road making
business were put in the hands of some
be wise and economic departure from
present methods of road making.
The Beet Business.
No industry in the state has made
more rapid progress in recent years
than the cultivation of sugar beets.
recently VISITED Cne new sugar beet
factory now in operation at Garden
City. 1t was to me a revelation of the
agricultural and manufacturing pos
sibilities of that section of the state.
The proprfetors of this great institu-
ton have spent in lands and Irrigation
processes and in the manufacturing
plant several millions of dollars, and
began manufacturing the finest grade
of sugar a few weeks ago under most
favorable auspices Indeed, their ex-
perience is said to break the record, in
that there were over 10000 tons of
beets available for their factory this
year. The factory is running night
and day, turning out 1880 bags of
superior sugar of 100 pounds each
every twenty-four hours. Lands
which a few years ago sold for a few
dollars per acre now command from
500 to 5000. This industry is in its
infancy. Its possibilities are almost
unlimited. The new process for ex-
tracing sugar from beets is making
it more and more possible to probably
manufacture sugar from beets con-
tanning less and less percentage of
saccharine matter, so that the area of
profitable beet culture is constantly
being extended. I believe there is no
more hopeful industry in the United
States than the beet sugar industry.
I believe it entirely possible, under
modern conditions, to develop this In
dustry until we will be able to manu-
facture all the sugar we consume in
this country, and thus keep the enor-
nous amount of money annually sent
abroad for this common commodity,
aggregating. believe, more than 100
millions per year, at home / would
not inject partizan politics into this
official document, but what I am now