White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-03
BEET SUGAR OFFERS NE
VADA GREAT OPPORTUNITY

y t1ta -
peting probably for the most distant
markets is the most significant fact
which has been brought to light by the
recent report of the Truckee-Carson
experiment farm. 1t is one of ire
mendous Importance to the state. The
ability of what in the past have been
regarded as waste lands to grow good
crops under irrigation has, OF course
already been established. But because
Of Nevada's distance from the great
markets of the Atlantic sea board and
its limited transportation service thu
difficulty has been to market them
over any extended area. Now. how
ever. this may all be changed.
The medium which Is to rem0ve
from Nevada's farm products the
handicap of distance has been discOv
cred In the sugar beet, which. II its
olutionize the agricultural history OF
the state. The report of the expert
ment farm shows thai of all the staple
crops grown this outranked all others
yielding "A maximum of SHIFT an acrs
In farm value and IN average OF
$685.. In other words. Nevada can
grow sugar beets on her reclaimed
lands and grow them with big profit.
So significant il this apparently sim
pie fact, not only for Nevada. but for
the entire west as well. meaning as II
! does millions of additional farm wealth
to this state alone. that 1t has caused
an economist who has given much
study to this matter to call its impor
lance to the attention Of Senator Fran
els G. Newlands and other western
senators in a striking letter.
1.-THE last census" says this author
ity, showed that the eleven western
most states had increased 66.33 pei
cent In population within the last
decade as compared with the average
increase OF 21.8 per cent for the entire
country.
1.-The one great problem In connec
ton with the development OF the west
is transportation to the great consum
ing centers OF the east. Local con
sumption OF general farm and garden
products must necessarily be limited
for many years except In the vicinit,
of the large Pacific cities. An export
crop must therefore be ~produced-One
that will find a ready market at desti
! nation.
The one great staple for which ther,
is a constantly expanding market il
sugar. The United States imports a.
the present time nearly 100000 ton
of sugar per annum from foreign coun
tries, practically all from Cuba. Sugal
Is a staple for which there Is Away
a market, and If necessary IT can N
stored for long periods with little de
terioration. Furthermore. beet sugar
Is a finished product. representing onl.
about Is per cent OF the weight of thu
raw material from which 1t Is produc
ed, whereas. In the case of fruit. alfalfa
and grain crops. high freight charges
to the eastern markets must be paid
on the ENTIRE weight of the comm
or the field.
st has been demonstrated by years
of experience that no section Of tn,
United States-in fact. no country IL
the worlds better adapted to the cul
tivation Of the sugar beet than are the
fppfUo fol landa ~ tho waaf Tho npA
ducti0n of sugar beets under irrigation
for the first time in the worlds histor,
was commenced in Utah In 1891, ant
so successful has 1t been done that n
per cent of the total beet sugar output
Of the United States is now produced
In the western states under irrigation.
ut has been demonstrated also thai
the cultivation of sugar beets In rota
ton. with alfalfa and grain crops In
creases the yield of the latter to suci
an extent as to make the production OF
cereals profitable even with the higl
cost of irrigation.
"In order that the beet sugar indus
try may expand and become a greatel
factor in the development of the west
new factories must be built. The beet
growers themselves. as a rule, art
pioneers. and whatever capital they
possess is required in the improvement
of their lands. Outside capital cannot
be secured for the erection of large
factories after free sugar has given
the eastern reiner a m~oDopolistic con
troll Of market conditions. The inevi
table result will be not only the aban
donment of many of the present fac
tories, but IL will be the d%eathknel
Of future expansion. This Will mean
that the thousands of acres now II
beets and which would be planted II
beets In the future under condition
permitting this industry TO expand
must go into fruit. alfalfa and othei
general farm products and will resul
In Cutting n market already on tn,
verge of o~rersupply."
Following the wear 1891 when raw