Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-05
SUGAR INDUSTRY IN IOWA.

In a letter sent out to the press,
Robert N. Carson Of Iowa City, presi-
dent Of the Iowa League of CONNER
cfal clubs. points out where 1T will De
profitable to Iowa to pay more atten'
ton to it's beet sugar crop. Mr.. Car
son has secured information concern
Ing the cost Of producing heets for the
manufacture of sugar and the profit
per acre to the farmer. He declares
that If it we're not for the existence OF
beet sugar factories the people would
be paying a much larger price than
they are at present for sugar, If they
were able to get any at all, this being
due to the big shortage in the. cane
sugar crop. Mr. Carson believes it is
up to Iowa to see that proper support
is given the sugar industry in the
state. It's a profitable crop for, the
farmer, he says, and brings great
saving to the consumer and profit
to the ref1ner What more, he adds,
could be asked for? Mr.. Carson's let
ter follows:
"The Iowa Beet Sugar Co., was con.
structed in 1907 but not until 1910 did
It receive It's full supply of beets. This
was due to the necessity Of gradually
increasing the interest in the business
and of educating the farmer to grow
beets. At the present time, more
beets are being offered than this fac.
tory can take care of and it is antici-
.pated there will be developments look
ing to the construction of other fac
tories in the state as soon as the peo-
ple at Washington get settled as to
their ideas on tariff matters, although
there is possibility that they may
take such action as will put quietus
on any further factories.
"The production Of beets in this
state runs from six to twenty-five tons
per acre, although the average is at
present but nine tons, but no doubt
will increase within two or three
wears to about twelve tons per acre,
which latter might be taken as a
standard in figuring the comparative
profit on the crop. The cost of rails.
ing an acre of beets for hand labor
by contract is SIG to $40 per acre de-
pending upon the width CT the rows.
Beets / am told should be cultivated
from Ave to eight times, depending OF
course upon the nature of the season.
"The sugar company pays SIS per
ton on board cars at any station at
which they receive beets. An average
eIicing campaign will take care OF
about $4,000 tons CT beets and they
should produce about ten per cent of
this amount of sugar if the beets are
normal and carry a proper supply OF
sugar. The sugar from the Iowa fac.
tory is practically marketed within
the confines of this state. If it were
not for the existence CT beet sugar
factories, the people at this writing,
would be paying from thirty live cents
to S1.25 per hundred weight more for
their sugar wholesale, at least and il
the industry was wiped out entirely
we would probably be paying today
fifteen cents per pound at retail for
sugar. 1t is only because of the ccm-
petition of beet sugar factories and the
supply that comes from them, that the
people are able to get any sugar this
year, the supply of the world being
about 100000 tons short and the
cane supply is being absorbed
nv European refiners who have a
closer commercial relation with the
districts of production than the Ameri-
can refiners except Louisiana and
Hawaii.
$50 far as the quality Of the sugar
IS concerned, there is absolutely no
difference between the refined beet
sugar and the refined cane sugar. and
anyone that states there is differ
ence is ignorant Of product. / am
sure it is up to Iowa to see that proper
support is given the sugar industry in
this state which at the present time as
stated, is a great saving to large
number of consumers. Iowa wants
more beet sugar industries and educa
ton for the farmers in raising the
heets for the manufacture CT sugar.
It's profitable crop for the farmer
and gree. saving to the consumer