154: THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



MICHIGAN A GREAT SUGAR STATE. 



The admirable work of the state experiment station and of farmers in testing the 

 culture of sugar beets in the various counties has resulted in a magnificent showing. A 

 large part of the state proves to be peculiarly adapted to the crop. The yield per acre 

 ranges from 12 to 18 tons. In '97 nearly 500 samples from 64 counties made the remark- 

 able average of over 16 per cent, sugar, averaging 83 purity, while 465 samples properly 

 grown on the right kind of soil averaged 16.48. 



The state bounty of Ic p Ib on all sugar produced for at least seven years from 

 March 26, 18S7, led to the erection of the factory at Bay City, which closed its first cam- 

 paign in '98, and its capacity is to be doubled for the '99 campaign. Another factory of 

 750 tons' capacity is to be built at Bay City or vicinity in time for the campaign of '99, 

 and another at Caro, Tuscola county, of 500 tons' capacity. The labor cost of growing an 

 acre of beets under adverse conditions at the agricultural college farm near Lansing was 

 $29.40, reckoning man and team at 25c per hour, man alone 12V2C, boy 8c, while the aver- 

 age yield per acre was over 14 tons. In 1898, the farmers' profits ran from $15 to $30 per 

 acre, after allowing $6 per acre for rent, paying full prices for labor and other expenses. 

 The greatest profits were made where women and children were hired at 65 to 75c per day. 

 Much of the labor was done by children at a time when the schools were not in session. 

 Altogether the industry may be said to be an established success in Michigan, and the 

 farmers are ready to raise beets for all the factories that may be built. 



WISCONSIN EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN SINGULARLY INSTRUCTIVE 



since the appearance of the author's first book in January, '97. At that time, it seemed 

 as though the little sugar mill at Menomonee Falls, Waukesha county, as described on 

 Page 60, would ultimately be a success. It proved, however, that some of the machinery 

 was not properly constructed, the mill was very late in starting up and we believe the 

 creditors came down upon it before the campaign was ended. The financial tangle has 

 not been cleared up as we write, while some experts who have looked over the plant 

 criticise the outfit very severely. Be it fully understood, however, that the trouble in 

 this case was not with the farmers or the beets, but was wholly with the factory, its equip- 

 ment and management, and was mainly due to prolonged lack of capital. It is too bad 

 that the well meant efforts of the builder should have ended so disastrously. The inci- 

 dent emphasizes the importance of sufficient capital and proper equipment and right 

 management in the factory as well as in the field. We let our original paragraphs on 

 this factory stand without change, simply to emphasize the importance of the lessons 

 taught by the outcome. 



This result should not discourage the beet sugar industry in Wisconsin, for that 

 state has shown a marvellous adaptability to the crop. The Northwestern Beet Sugar 

 Company's factory at Merrillan, Jackson county, is to be ready for the '99 crop. It will 

 probably have a capacity of 500 tons of beets per day and is contracting for several thou- 

 sand acres of beets. Wisconsin not only has a soil and climate adapted to the sugar beet, 

 but aconsiderable proportion of her thrifty farmers of German birth have had considerable 

 experience with the crop in the old country, and are anxious to have home markets cre- 

 ated for this new crop in their new homes. 



IN OTHER STATES. 



Pennsylvania is coming to the front with tests of sugar beets of gratifying quality. 

 Of course the cropdofs better in some soils than in others, and yields from eight to 20 tons 



