Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1907-04-25
BEET SUGAR WORTH MILLIONS.
Four Factories VIII This Year Turn
Out Huge Quantity.

Four Factories VIII This Year Turn
Out Huge Quantity.
With the planting of sugar beets
this spring by hundreds of Wisconsin
farmers, many of whom have not han
died a similar crop, the season opens
In this state and by next fall, when OPP
erations at four huge factories begin,
the magnitude of this industry will
have been demonstrated in manner
that will surpass all predictions made
a few years ago, when the first plant
in the state was built at Menomonee
Falls.
Fifty thousand dollars in improve
ments, a general overhauling of the
whole plant, new water sewerage
system, large force of men, an in
creased beet tonnage and a CORE
spondingly increased outut of sugar is
the program planned by the United
States Sugar company of Madison for
the coming season.
When the changes are completed
the capacity of the factory will be
500 tons of beets a day. When the
saccharine begins to flow into the
bags ready for shipment next fall fully
$50 men will be employed.
Besides the overhauling of the plant
the Improvements include the rear
rangement of machinery and the re-
placing of new machinery where nee
essary.
The United States Sugar company is
making contracts daily for the beet
crop of farmers throughout Southern
Wisconsin. Beets will be shipped
here from other points as far west as
Prairie du Chen, Sparta and Lancas-
ter. east as far as Watertown, north
as far as Portage and south as far as
GAINESVILLE Dane county will furnish
much the larger part of the crop re-
ceived. Last year over 1000 tons OF
beets were grown for the Madison fac
tory. This season 5000 tons is the
amount set by the officials of the plant
which, from present indications, will
be reached by the farmers. The av-
erage crop per acre is from twelve to
fourteen tons. The beets will begin
to arrive at the factory during the first
two weeks of October.
Most of the company's product is
sold to a Chicago brokerage house.
from which it is distributed to all parts
of the country
The United States Sugar company is
incorporated with a capital of $800,O00.
It's officers are: Magnus SwensOn.
president; Richard G. Wagner, vice
president and general manager; H. L.
Russell, treasurer; J. A. Awkward,
secretary. The plant is in the village
of Fair Oaks at the eastern outskirts
Of Madison.
Since the year 1901, when the beet
established at Menomonee Falls, Wis,
by the Wisconsin Sugar company, the
industry has made great strides in this
state. About 100000 was invested.
three additional factories were built
within the state, and fourth factory
has been located close to the boundary
at Menominee, Mich, most of the
sugar beets consumed by this factory
being grown in Wisconsin.
These factories last year paid out
$1,500,000 to farmers for beets, and a
like amount for other supplies and in
wages to employees. There were over
10000 acres planted in sugar beeta
last year in this state.
Farmers who have become &C,
quainted with the crop appreciate the
great advantage that sugar beets have
over other crops in the fact that they
are a sure crop, rain or shine. They
are not affected by blight, bugs, OF
worms, and are not subject to danger
from early frOsts. Sugar beets have
the further advantage that they are
easy on the land and make desirable
addition for crop rotation. While ex.
treme weather conditions have some
effect on the yield and contents of the
crop. the results are always sufficient
to give the farmer fair days pay for
his labor, and to pay him for the use
of his land, and under normal weather
conditions they yield handsome pro.
Ats
Refined beet sugar as produced in
the Wisconsin factories is physically
and chemically the same as refined
cane sugar grown in the tropical coun-
tries. Beet sugar has been imported
from continental Europe and used in
this country for many years. Sixty
per cent of all the sugar grown in the
world is beet sugar, mostly grown in
Europe, Germany producing about one
third Of the product.
The total consumption Of sugar in
the State of Wisconsin amounts to
160,000,0 900 pounds annually. This rep
reSents value of over $4,000 day.
The factories now in the state pro
duces one-fifth of this amount of sugar.
Judging from the progress made dur
ing the last six years, additional facto-
Eies will soon be in operation, so that
the vast amount of money now sent TO
foreign countries will remain here to
be distributed among the people OF
WiSconsin.-W.
While standing in his back yard
with q teleScODe J. E. MelliSh an am