Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1912-05-01
BEET SUGAR PRODUCTION
IN UNITED STATES
ON INCREASE

Po""us' rs matter OF TACT the
average citizen cats but 30 pounds
OF sugar each year in its direct
form. The balance is consumed in
canned goods. preserves. soda water.
candy and other articles into the
manufacture of which sugar enters.
IL has been estimated that each
acre OF sugar bcets is worth sl7 10
the railroads of the country in
freight This includes the shipment
OF machinery to the beet factory.
winch may run in value as high as
$4,000, the carrying OF bags. Irvine,
rock, lumber and other building ma
terials and the sugar itself. Perhaps
the most important factor incident
to the production of domestic sugar
from beets is the fact that according
to the universal testimony of gov
eminent and private agriculturists il
is the basis of the prosperity OF the
entire irrigated west save the reIa-
lively small portion Of such lands
adapted for orcharding. This is so
because the sugar beet is the only
crop found so far which yields a
handsome profit to the farmer OF
alkali lands. II is also a well cs-
tablished fact verified by official fig
urcs obtained here and abroad that
the use Of the beet as a rotation
crop about doubles the yield of
other crops. II has also been shown
that the location of a sugar factory
IN the irrigated sections of the west
doubles land values before il begins
operations and specific instances are
on record where land has increased
from $50 an acre to $500 after a
number OF years operation Of the
factory.
In Germany. where the produc.
ton OF beet sugar is held 10 be of
the utmost importance. the govern
ment has for years encouraged the
industry by maintaining a duty on
imported tropical sugar and is even
willing To export sugar at loss
rather than eurtail the annual pro
duction. In fact the sugar industry
for the past hundred years has
played a highly important part in
the diplomacy OF Europe. each ma
ton striving in all sorts Of ways TO
produce its own supply and as much
as possible. II was this rivalry.
supported by bounties. surtaxes and
great variety Of subsidies that
threatened To bankrupt more than
one continental treasury. that led 10
the establishment Of the Brussels
Conference through which the bal.
anee Of power in this industry is
maintained. Through this interna-
tional bureau each nation is told
practically how much sugar IL shall
be allowed to export and the price
Is liked by agreement among the
various nations. which constitutes in
this respect huge international
trust that completely dominates the
industry.
The only great world power that
is absolutely independent Of this In.
terna,ionai sugar combination il the
United States by reason Of iis rapid
lily expanding beet and cane indus
tries. The jealousy caused the Eu.
fopean nations by the increase IN
strength Of the American navy is
scarcely greater than that caused by
the rapid growth 81 the United
States toward complete independence
in the all importan, sugar industry
and the ehaneellories Of the old
world refuse to believe that their
western rival will voluntarily aban
don, through any change 81 legisia
tive policy. the advantage thus gain
ed. II Is we'll known To experts
that the competition 81 domestic
cane and beet sugar. which would
be destroyed by the elimination of
government protection, alone pre-
vents Europe through the Brussels
conference from fixing the price Of
American sugar 4