Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 December 1897 — Sugar Beet Fever [ARTICLE]

Sugar Beet Fever

Still Increasing In The Kankakee Talley. Township Meetings Being Held-Over - _ Two Thousand Acres I’leaged at Monterey. The prospects for a beet sugar factory being built some place in the Kankakee Valley during the coming year is growing brighter day by day. Interest in the matter is assuming a tangible forn). The Sugar Beet Association has decided to call meetings in the various townships in the counties of the valley for the purpose of getting the farmers to subscribe , the number of acres which they would be willing to cultivate and deliver on track at their nearest station. It is not thought best to decide on any particular locality for the first factory as it is not best to divide the strength of the movement at this stage of affairs. It is probable the selection of the location for the factory will have to be left to the captalists who might become interested. In any event the successful operation of one refinery will stimulate the erection of others.' The great purpose of the present movement is to open up a market for a new crop product from our farms that will be remunerative and give additional and profitable employment to idle people and lands dnd to retain at home the $100,000,000 sent abroad annually for sugar that can be produced at home coukl we but interest capital.

Monterey has already held a meeting looking towards the location of a factory at that point and secured pledges for the growing of about 2,500 acres of beets in case of a factory is built in that town. It is not known whether those interested would be willing to cooperate in case the factory jphould be built elsewhere. It is oftentimes necessary to make some sacrifices In order to attain the desired result and such may be the case in this instance. What is now a sffccess-

ful enterprise in Nebraska for the first three years was on a precarious footing. The men who had been instrumental in locating the sugar factory at Grand Island had pledged the required acreage of beets. When it came to closing up the contracts only about one acre in five of the required amount could be secured within easy hauling distance of the plant. They then proceeded to contract acreage any place in the state wherever a farmer could be found to grow beets. This was kept up three years before the people could be convinced of value of the crop and the surety of a market. _ Now it is the other way. More acreage is offered than can be profitably handled. Any one in this county who wishes to grow beets and make ascontract for the same should c6mmunicate with some member of the Sugar Beet Association.