Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-08-19
ASH. ". WRIGHT SEESN
Detroit Journal of Recent Date
Contained the Following
Interview.
MlnulnhM IM cIInhD MnIIcTQV
MICHIGAN IN SUGAR INDUSTRY
So 600, 900 Worth Is Raised Here
Every Year Increases Value
of Land.

Few men in this state are more
widely known and none more highly
respected than A. w. Wright of Alma.
Through a long honorable business
career his name has stood for sound
judgment and conservative methods.
He founded the Alma college and has
literally assisted in its maintenance;
was one of Michigan's greatest lum-
bermen; was instrumental in building
the c., s. & M. railroad and a consid-
cradle portion of the Ann Arbor; is
the head of the Advance Thresher Co.;
is president OF the Peerless Portland
Cement Co.; is prominently connected
with some of the greatest wholesale
and retail mercantile establishments
in the United States; is director and
leading stockholder in several banks,
trust companies and insurance COM
panies; has done more than anyone
else to create the city OF Alma and is,
withal, the largest individual farmer
IN Michigan. He is a splendid exam
pie of the highest type of business
man that this country has produced.
Alma is in the center of beet sugar
district, and Mr.. Wright, better than
anyone else, can speak authoritatively
on the benefits of this industry to
community. In an interview with
representative of The Journal, he
spoke with a clearness and directness
that would carry conviction to any
hearer. Said he :
In Gratiot county there are two
sugar factories. The one at Alma has
been in operation nine years and the
one at St. Louis four years. During
this time the two factories have used
100000 tons of beets, three-quarters of
which, or practically 10000 tons, have
been grown in Gratiot county For
these beets our county farmers re-
ceived nearly $2,75o,ooo These fac
tories are now using 100000 tons OF
beets yearly, $4,000 tons of which are
grown in Gratiot county. The annual
value of that portion of the crop now
crown in Gratiot county is about
$425,ooo. As we cannot see that our
other agricultural products have at all
decreased by the introduction of the
beet crop, the establishment of the in
dustry in Gratiot county means an an
nual increase of nearly half million
dollars in our farm products. You can
rest assured that the general effect of
such an influx of ready money is most
marked throughout the entire section.
From my personal knowledge, | can
say that many farm mortgages have
been paid bv the proceeds of the beet
crop, and the register of deeds tells
me that the records in his office show
that the number of such discharged
mortgages has greatly increased since
the erection of the two sugar factories
in our county | understand the
factories are having less and less
trouble every year in securing their
acreage and that from Is to 30 per
cent. of their patrons remain with
them from year TO year. There is
no friction between the farmer and
the factory and our farmers are rec
ognizing the fact that the beet crop
is furnishing them with their surest
source of ready money.
THE contracts under which we
grow the beets are written during
the winter months and the price for
the crop is specified in the contract.
The only risk the farmer runs is that
of climatic conditions We have
found, however, that beets are as
hardy crop as we can raise and that
we can get some returns on our beets
when other crops are a total failure"
Do you find that growing beets in
jures your soil for other crops" was
asked
mot at all We believe in crop ro-
tation and the same soil produces
crop OF beets but once in four years.
The intense cultivation we give the
beets improves the soil for other crops
and we find from experience that we
are getting better results with our
corn, oats, beans. wheat and clover
There is marked Improvement
throughout our county in soil condi
tions. methods of farming and the
general appearance Of farms and farm
buildings"
as the population of Gratiot county
largely foreign?"
"By no means. There are few coun-.
ties in the state that are as distinctly
American we have no foreign colony
in the county Moreover, there is no
large city in the county from which
we can draw labor Nevertheless.
neither the Alma nor the St Louis
company has been obliged TO bring
I1uCU HtlD INTO OTdtlOt County from
the west We have taken care OF our
own beets and been compelled TO hire
very little extra labor This. I think.
is owing to the fact that the average
size of beet contract in this county
is only about four acres. and the or
dinary farmer can take care of his
field Of beets with his regular help.
The result Of this is that when the
crop is marketed we receive practic-
ally the entire returns for our own
labor and the use of our land Since
the establishment Of these factories
the rental value OF land adapted to
beet culture has increased in our
county from So to 81 or $40 an acre.
and the selling price Of the land has