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short of the average seeded, which would be explained by 
imperfect stands, unmerchantable beets etc. The yield from 
the beets is about 1,400 pounds of refined sugar per acre. 
This factory now employs 178 hands on its two twelve- 
hour shifts including 20 boys. The wages paid in the factory 
are, boys, 7)4 cents per hour; men, 12)4, 15 and 17 cents per 
hour; skilled labor by the month, at higher wages. Employes 
are paid in cash, every ten days or two weeks — at every 
“clean-up.” All business is done through the local banks. 
About 20 per cent of the employes raise beets for the 
factorv. 
As at Norfolk, this factory grew a large part of its 
beets for the first two or three years. In 1891, it raised 
1,250 acres of beets near Grand Island. In 1892, nearly half 
the total amount, or 1,183 acres, were raised by the company 
some 60 miles west of Grand Island; 450 acres were raised 
12 miles distant and some 500 acres 100 miles away. In 1895, 
the farmers around Grand Island raised 700 acres of beets; 
in 1896, this was increased to 1,300 acres and in 1897, to 2,600 
acres. About one-half the beets are still shipped in by rail, 
some coming (1897) from North Bend, Nebraska, 80 miles 
distant. The company has grown none of its own beets 
since 1892. It had applications from growers last spring to 
plant about 10,000 acres in beets, or double its requirements. 
That locality was settled by a colony of Germans in 
1857. Many of these are among the best farmers, and are 
men of means. There are some Russians and other for- 
eigners, but perhaps one-half the farmers are Americans. 
Much of the hand labor is done there also by contract — by 
the acre, the row, or the ton. 
The farm wages there range from $14.00 to $20.00 per 
month and board; by the day, $1.00 and $1.25. The women 
and children generally work on the contract plan. Many 
girls get $1.00 per day in the beet fields and prefer it to 
housework; boys 10 to 18 years are paid 50 to 80 cents per 
day. Man and team are counted at $2.50 per day there and 
man and horse at $1.75 per day. In exceptional cases, con- 
tracts could be made, as in Colorado, at $2.00 per day for 
man and team. 
The same drought prevailed there in 1897 at Norfolk, 
reducing the yield fully one-third, the average beets being 
8 tons per acre. No crops are raised by irrigation there, 
and no factory beets are raised by that method. Land 
rentals there range from $4.00 to $7.00 per acre — perhaps 
$5.00 is a fair average. 
