3 BEET-ROOT SUGAR AND 



Mississippi River, with all important points in every 

 direction. 



The condition sought that is unfulfilled is that of 

 cheap labor ; but it is a well-known fact that, notwith- 

 standing the high price of labor, the peculiarly favor- 

 able nature of the soil of Illinois for the use of agri- 

 cultural machinery enables the farmer of that state 

 to cultivate land as cheaply as in any part of the 

 world. For the enterprise in question, moreover, it is 

 believed that the location is a favorable one, for it is 

 in the midst of a German population, many of whom 

 have had experience, in their own country, in the cul- 

 tivation of beets and the manufacture of beet sugar. 



Land can be bought at from twenty-five dollars to 

 forty-five dollars per acre. u Slack " or coal screenings 

 can be had at factory for one dollar and twenty-five 

 cents per ton ; and sugar is usually worth at Chicago, 

 by reason of its distance from the present sources of 

 supply, from one to one and one half cents per pound 

 more than upon the seaboard. 



Having satisfied myself that the manufacture of 

 beet sugar in the State of Illinois promised to be prof- 

 itable, it remained to acquaint myself with the pro- 

 cess and condition of its manufacture in Europe ; 

 and for that purpose I sailed from the United States, 

 early in December last, furnished with letters which 

 have given me access to every establishment that I 

 desired to visit in France and Germany. 



