120 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Island factories, as collected by the Nebraska beet sugar association, and published in 

 its Hastings proceedings for 1896. The area harvested by each grower was from 3 to 

 80 acres, averaging about 18 acres to each farmer, exclusive of one who raised 455 acres 

 and another with 174 acres. At the time of the Hastings convention, Nov 17, about 

 half these beets had been delivered to the factory, the balance being ensiled for de- 

 livery later. The reported yield was 17,924 tons from the 1442 acres, or an average of 

 12* tons per acre, ranging from 8 to 20 tons per acre the larger yields upon the smaller 

 tracts. The proceeds for beets sold were estimated at $90,016, or $62. 40 per acre. This 

 was based on $5 per ton for beets, of which $4 was paid by the factory and $1 was 

 claimed under the state bounty offer. If the latter is not paid, the gross proceeds 

 are about $12. 50 per acre less, averaging just about an even $50 per acre. The ex- 

 penses reported average $36.88 per acre, leaving average net profits of $13 per acre, 

 as follows : 



Per acre For 1442 acres 



Cost of seed, $3.00 $4.363 



Rent, of land, 3.96 5,708 



Value of all labor, 25.56 36,976 



Other expenses, ------- 4.36 6,302 



Total expenses, $36.88 $53,349 



Profits, $13.12 $18,751 



Total receipts at $4 per ton, $50.00 $72,100 



This shows an average cost of just about $3 per ton of beets delivered to the fac- 

 tory, including wagon haul and railroad freight, on a crop of 12^ tons per acre, over 

 nearly 1500 acres in various sections of Nebraska, and representing all sorts of culture 

 and soil. Closer analysis of the returns shows that the larger yields of the more 

 careful cultivators were produced at a cost of $2 to $2.50, and in one or two instances 

 even less. It is to be regretted that these figures are based on estimates at close of 

 season, not upon actual accounts, though our inquiries indicate that the items of cost 

 are above die actual, if anything. 



It is to be remembered, however, that the foregoing figures are for an exception- 

 ally favorable season. They are based upon the experiences of the better growers 

 also intelligent men, experts, of several years' experience; the other kind, who most 

 need its help, don't attend the beet growers' meetings. Even the best men could not 

 make so good a showing for the unfavorable year of 1895. Yet here are the figures 

 for the '95 crop upon 40 acres grown by Pettinger Brothers at Albion, Boone county, 

 Neb: 



EXPENSES. 



Seed for 40 acres, $107.00 



Hand work at $12 per acre, 480.00 



Extra labor, 150.00 



Topping beets at $3 per acre, 120.00 



Freight at 80c per ton, 538.40 



Total, $1399.40 



PROCEEDS. 



577% tons dressed beets over 



12% sugar 80 purity at $5 



per ton of 2000 Ibs, $2888.33 



461/3 tons inferior at $2.50, 115.83 



Received for siloing 258 tons at 30c, 77.34 



Total, $3081.50 



Deducting the expenses reported ($1399.40) from the gross proceeds ($3081.50), there is left $1682.10 

 as the net return for the team work, use of land, pay for superintendence and profit. This is $42 per 

 acre for these items on a crop that dressed nearly 15 tons per acre, when sold at $5. This price includes 

 the 81 state bounty. Deducting that, or $15 per acre, leaves $27. A detailed statement of Pettinger 

 Brothers' experience is printed on Pages 126-127. 



Mr E. M. Allen, president of the Nebraska beet sugar growers' association and 

 of the American sugar growers' society, says that the result of his six years' experi- 

 ence is that "The cost of growing beets to farmers in Nebraska is from a minimum of 



