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than thirty days, requiring, therefore, more than five hundred 
persons to be at this work during that month. 
COST OF MAKING BEET SUGAR. 
Few facts are made public regarding this important 
question. 
The figures obtained^are incomplete. The results in 
1 13 German beet-sugar factories in 1889-90, showed the mean 
capital invested in each factory to be $193,400 and the mean 
fiet profit for each factory, $34,240, or nearly 18 per cent. 
The average sugar product is not stated. These factories 
used an average of 10,503 tons of beets. ^ The profit per ton 
of beets was $3.26. 
Unofficial data from Lehi, Utah, show the 1896 expenses 
to have been ; — 
Cost of 43,203 tons beets $190,000.00 
Labor in factory 32,000.00 
Coal, coke, etc 30,000.00 
Limestone, sacks, filter cloths, oil etc. 25,000.00 
Interest, 8 per cent on $400, 000 32,000.00 
Salaries, insurance, repairs etc 20,000.00 
Total $329,000.00 
This makes the cost of the sugar $3.60 per cwt. 
FACTORY CUSTOMS. 
The grower is required to take sample beets to the fac- 
tory at intervals in the fall, that the chemist may determine 
when they are ripe. At some factories the beets can only 
be delivered when required. They may be ripe, but they 
cannot be dug. A rain may come, followed by warm wea- 
ther, and the beets may begin a second growth. Then a 
test may show they are below standard, in which case they 
may be taken at a lower price, or they may not be taken at 
all, i e, they may be too low in sugar and purity. If the 
factory delay its call until freezing weather, then the beets 
must be pulled and covered in pits, at the grower’s expense 
for handling, and perhaps some loss by freezing. 
A tare is deducted at all factories for dirt and any 
improper topping of the beets. A sample lot is taken usually 
from each wagon load, and several samples from each car 
load, and the dirt is removed with brushes or a dull knife 
and the beets are properly topped, if necessary. The loss in 
weight determines the tare per ton. 
When the beets are bought on a value based upon their 
