The Detroit times., 1911-04-15
MICHIGAN s BEET
SUGAR INDUSTRY
A Crop That Would Pack Train
545 Miles in
Length.

Wien one reads that the sugar fac
tories in Michigan have, this season,
sliced l,l50,0O0 tons of beets. for
which they have paid the farmers
over $1,000, 100000. and have produced
from these beets from 100000 600 to
270.0OO,000 pounds OF sugar, the
figures convey very little meaning.
The average person falls TO grasp the
significance OF such figures. II we
We're TO translate these statistics in
10 those that one can more readily
grasp, We. might say that. II these
beets, used by the factories in Michi-
gan in making sugar the past season,
were loaded in freight cars. with the
minimum load OF twenty tons to the
car, they would make a solid train
load OF beets 545 miles in length, or
nearly double the distance from De.
troit to Chicago. II the money paid
the farmers for these beets was
changed into dollar bills, and these
bills placed end to end they would
cover, continuously, the four rails OF
a double track railroad from Detroit
TO Bay City, and the two rails OF a
single track railroad from Bay City
to Mackinaw; or to use another illus
tration, the money paid Michigan
farmers. this season, for beets would
4 aAlI ~
one dollar bills.
(, II the coal, used this season in the
sugar factories OF Michigan, was
loaded in cars, with thirty tons to a
car, II would make a continuous train
load OF coal reaching from Detroit 20
Jackson.
II the sugar made from these beets
was loaded in box cars, with thirty
thousand pounds TO the car, II would
make continuous train load OF sugar
eighty-five miles in length, or IL pack.
ed in barrels, and these barrels placed
end to end, It would make row OF
barrels reaching from Grand Rapids
TO Detroit. and from Detroit to Bay
City, and from Bay City to Mackinaw.
The value of this sugar delivered in
the cities in which 1t is marketed Is
81 500, 100000 greater than the combin-
ed capital of all the banks in the City
of Detroit.
Such are the figures with reference
TO this seasons output of beet sugar
In Michigan. Judging from the acre
age already contracted for next sea
son next falls crop will greatly sur
pass this seasons output. When one
considers that this entire business has
been developed in Michigan within
the past ten years, he begins to COM
prehend the importance OF this indus
try to the state. II man is a bene-
factor, who makes two blades of
grass grow where one grew before,
certainly those men who, in a single
decade, have created an agricultural
and manufacturing industry, which
adds $4,000, 100000 a year TO the re-
sources OF the state, have reason TO
feel proud OF the results OF their ef-
forts
Throughout the best districts OF
the state, farm mortgages have been
paid; farm buildings have beeen erect
ed bank accounts have been Great
ed land values increased; business
conditions improved, and general
prosperity enhanced by this industry
No one has been crippled, every citi-
zen OF the state, whether he raises
beets OF lives in the city, has been
benefited by virtue OF securing his
sugar at lower price than he would
have obtained II had not this indus
try been established in Michigan. The
freight bills paid by the Michigan
sugar factories TO the railroad com
panies. this season, approximate 81
600. 100000 Collections throughout tho
beet districts, In every line OF mer-
camille pursuit have been improved
by the distribution OF this vast
amount OF ready money within the
borders OF the state.
Aside from paying their full share
OF local and state taxes. the beet fac.
tories OF Michigan have been furnish
ing enough molasses TO chemical
company. located at Bay City. TO pro.
duce alcohol for tho arts and sciences.
which pays into the National Treas
ury s2,000,000.00 year I'm internal
revenue tax,
! From every factory good gravel
and stone turnpikes have been built
radlating into the country, until, In
\ the beet districts, we now have the
best highways found In the state,
Not least among the benefits derIv.
ed from the industry, Is the indirect
/ influence II exerts upon every other
! agricultural crop Instead OF i'm.
\ provishing the soil, beets improve its
+. fertility. The system OF rotation,
\ adopted by good beet farmers, has
resulted in increasing the yield OF
oats, wheat, beans, potatoes. corn and
clover per acre. The land near the
beet factories, which ten years ago
could have been purchased for $50 90
per acre now brings from s1250O 20
4 4