The independent., 1907-01-31
GRAND ISLAND FACTORY WINDS
Up LONG CAMPAIGN.
BEST RUN IN ITS HISTORY
Over Hundred DAYS REQUIRED to
Work Up the Beets-Contracfs
for Next Year Being
Entered Into.

GRAND ISLAND. Neb. Jan r.
The longest run in the history of the
local plant Of the American Beet Sugar
company is about 10 draw 10 a close
The factory has now been in operation,
on the 1906 crop Of beets, for 1s1 days
while the average run win not be
much over loo days Over FIVE thous-
and acres of beets were contracted for
and the tonnage and quality of bee.s
has been good, above the average. A
fine product Of sugar is being turned
out, and especially considering all Of
the disadvantages the management has
been under the Campaign" has been
very favorable one. The factory
uses carloads upon carloads of coal
coke, lime rock, etc, besides having
10 haul most OF the beets by rail. Witt
the condition Of traffic, the railroads
having not been able to foresee and
prepare for the immense increase in
this section, there has been little of a
shut down, night or day in the process
Of making sugar. Two hundred men.
one half each for a day and night
shift Of twelve hours each, have been
employed in the direct beet campaign
not including the force necessary In the
earlier Osmose campaign of working
over syrups-and about s75, 900 in wages
have been paid. About $3.50. 900 will
have been paid out for beets for which
the factory has been paying S. per ton,
nat, Tor all beets containing IL per cent
or sugar or over.
Something like LOO acres of the
5000 have been raised in Grand Island
territory-by which is meant within a
radius Of thirty miles from the factory.
the rest have been raised from Kear-
ney west, and some in The Republican
valley. In the outside section better re-
suits are generally secured, it Is said.
on account of the fact that it Is by
irrigation and moisture can be more
readily applied just when needed.
However, successful as has been the
campaign, both for the factory and the
beet raiser, there is some question
whether the future Is just as bright as
the result this year would indicate.
The directors of the company have
decided that for the ensuing year the
contracts with the farmers shah be
on the sugar-test basis. Instead of
paying fat price of S. per ton for
all beets testing II per cent or over.
50 will be paid for beets testing Il
per cent. $3.50 for all testing from 14.9
to IL, and 81 for all beets testing less
than IL per cent of sugar content.
Years ago such contracts were in force.
They almost invariably caused some
dissatisfaction. Farmers rightly or
wrongly, found fault with the testing.
They are privileged to make their own
test, by their own chemist, in the fac
tory with free use of the factorv's
LABORATORY, but that did not seem to
MI the bill completely. Whether there
VIII be material reduction In the
acreage for next year on this account
yet remains to be seen Some of the
old and steady beet-raisers are takine
up the contracts without much dissent
But these are experienced men. some
OF tnem Germans who were acquainted
Win the intensive nature of the cul-
ture In the old country and know how
ana are willing TO do intensive farm
ing. Others are through japanese labor
On the other hand the company aoIds
out. not without some good reason thai
the nat scale is unbusinesslike and has
as us tendency, careless culture in
stead or the best culture and over-fer-
uilzation instead OF that degree in
Wnlch the beet thrives best and does
pest Tor its intended use The factory
al Norfolk was dismantled several
years ago. The machinery In the local
plant, the first 10 be built in Nebraska
mas been used-the greater part of If
Tor seventeen years In inside circles
there Is some question, particularly ~
the percentage OF acreage should con.
tinue 10 be less In the immediate ylcin.
ity or the factory. II new machinery
VIII ever be installed and IL the fac
tory has many more years "a run.
The institution Is an excellent one
and every effort viii be made ~ kean
~ In operation. And that ID will be yoy
another year or two at least is certaIn
by reason of the fact that contracts
are being entered into for 1907 The
result OF the change Ia the contract
the corresponding proportion Of acre.
age with Its freight ~peation and fhc
success of the next campaign will
however BE- watched with ornnwhat
more anxious Interest than heretofore