The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-28

sugar IactOkle9 Ou1it, say lue sugar
makers. under the present tariff sched-
ule.
The beet sugar men say that with the
intensive farming methods Of European
countries. and cheap labor. that this
country can not raise beet sugar in
open competition with Germany, France.
Russia and Austria. When the Under
woOd-Simmons tariff bill was pro-
posed, with it's free sugar schedule,
the 81 beet sugar factories of this coun-
try protested. They were willing to
agree to a reduction but they wished
sufficient tariff to protect this grow
ing industry in the United States. The
free sugar schedule, reducing the sugar
tariff year by year until it is all re-
moved In 1916. was adopted. The first
reduction Of Is per cent, was made
March this year. AS a result sixteen
beet sugar factories were forced to
close this year and the 1914 crop OF
sugar beets in the United States Is
$1,000 tons less than last year. The
beet sugar men say that when the en-
tire tariff is removed that not more
than a dozen beet sugar factories can
continue.
The Garden City factory, like all
others. contracts for sugar beet seed a
year in advance. Early this year this
factory did not contract for beet seed
for 1915 as the officers felt that with
the further reduction in the tariff that
they would not be able to operate.
Along came the war and up went the
price OF sugar temporarily. There was
stay Of execution for the beet sugar
industry. The Garden City people made
desperate efforts, last summer, to con-
tract for beet seed. The seed comes
from Europe and the war caused a
shortage: They succeeded in securing
seed and they will contract with the
farmers for beetS In 1915. After that
well the sugar men hope that the en-
tire tariff will not be removed and that
the sugar industry in this country will
be assured of its existence.
One Of the interesting sights of the
Garden City territory out on the plains
and mid the sand hills. is a lake.: real
sure-enough lake. 1t is seven miles long
you can't see across tt-and a little
more than one mile wide.
This lake was built by the Garden CITY
ton reservoir. It cost more than 81 900 900
think of it! This lake is fed by the flood
waters Of the Arkansas river.another
conservation idea-a lesson from Western
Kansas Immense irrigation bitches are
fed by this reservoir-when there is
enough water in it.
Of possessing near its borders, the largest
lake In Kansas attempted a pleasure re-
sort. A steamboat-pinch yourself. q
steamboat in KanSas!-was operated upon
the lakes placid waters.
The newspaper party couldn't detect the
boat the other day-but out On the surface
of the lake was far better sight-a per-
feet blanket of ducks. Upon hearing the
sound of a shot they arose from the wa
ter like the Kissing cyclone clouc-a VERT
able lid had been lifted from Lake NC
Kinney.
Speaking of irrigation-Garden City can
teach the country a few lessons along this
line. The beet factory has in operation
s. miles of sturdy pole lines over Whacn
electricity is carried to operate pumps
The plant has a capacity of 300 horse
power with about LOO horse power m
use at this time.
Like a mammoth fence, these poles ro-
tate in all directions, carrying productive
ness success and prosperity over the
heavy wires. Current is sold to the farm
ers and the company has 10000 OF the
10000 acres of land under irrigation from
these pumps Eighteen pumps bring wa
ter from wells between Is and 30 feet IN
depth. Eight wells are from $50 to I'D
feet beneath the surface.
Just to give an idea of the extent of the
operations OF tho Garden City Sugar and
Land company and it's value to Garden
City and Finney county, here are a few
facts concerning it outlay. The total in
vestment In the property near Garden
City amounts to $5.5O0,000 The farm lands
are valued at $500. 900. The vaiue of the
products run from $350,000 to $4,000
year. This of course, varies with the
year and the character of the product.
The payroll is about $500 a month on the