AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES 195 



for half a century, the pioneer of an industry which 

 had ninety factories in operation in this country 

 in 1919. 



Beet-sugar production in California underwent 

 many vicissitudes. At first it encountered stiff op- 

 position from the capitalists who had funds in- 

 vested in the refineries for imported cane-sugar be- 

 cause the beet-sugar factories brought no raw sugar 

 to them but turned out sugar white in the first in- 

 stance and, therefore, came into direct competition 

 both with refiners and with traders in cane-sugar. 

 The latter not only did their best in price cutting to 

 make beet-sugar investments unprofitable but pro- 

 claimed no future for it that further undertakings 

 with the beet might be discouraged. Those who de- 

 sired to promote beet-growing from an agricultural 

 point of view had no recourse against such opposi- 

 tion as beet-sugar production is impracticable in 

 farm factories and large establishments requiring 

 great investments are essential. 



Several poorly equipped factories operated for a 

 few years but were abandoned, so that in 1880 the 

 pioneer factory at Alvarado alone survived. This 

 factory struggled along until 1887-1888 when it was 

 sold and rebuilt and in that year no beet-sugar was 

 made in the United States. At that time also a re- 

 version set in among those interested in cane-sugar 

 refining and they became convinced that beet-sugar 

 was better for their investments and they proclaimed 

 the beet as the hope of the United States as a source 

 of home-grown sugar. Capital became available for 



