The advocate and Topeka tribune. [volume], November 23, 1892, Page 6, Image 6

About The advocate and Topeka tribune. [volume] (Topeka, Kan.) 1892-1894

Image provided by: Kansas State Historical Society; Topeka, KS

                
T3 XJOHTGOILTZZ
' ETJGAE BEETS IK KANSAS.
Immediately after every genera
election the cormorant! begin prepa
rations for a descent upon the legisla
tar with all sorts of "jobs " calling
for appropriations of the people's
money providing fat, easy places for
somebody and often concealing
schemes of vast proportions. These
are usually innocent looking and care-
" fully disguised as being for the pnb-
- lio good. Every reform member will
be on his guard as to these matters,
and the Advocate will be on duty to
assist by calling attention to all ques
tionable schemes which come to its
notice. It is not the part of the true
reformer to oppose indiscriminately
everything proposed, but to examine
carefully and decide with delibera
tion and honesty what should and
what should not be promoted.
As an illustration of the demands
which will be made for useless ex
penditures and appropriations with
out reason, we copy the following
from the Kansas Farmer of Novem
ber 2, with reference to experiments
which are important enough, but as
the Farmer well shows, already amply
provided for:
Aft the recent meeting of the Kanaka
Academy of Science, a resolution was
adopted favoring an appropriation by the
state legislature for the purpose of conduct
ing extensive experiments in the cultivation
of sugar beets. Whether any discussion of
the subject was had or any statement of
what has already been done in the line of
such experiments, has not been stated to
the public While Kansas is very broad
gauged and liberal in all matters of public
enterprise, yet it is well, before determin
ing in favor of appropriating the people's
money, for any purpose, to asoertaia what
has previously been done, what is now in
progress, and what has been provided, for
the continuanoe of the work proposed. The
experiments with sugar beets have not been
10 meagre as may be supposed. A brief
statement of it is here made:
In 1888, the Douglass Sugar Co., of Doug
lass, Butler county, Kansas, through its
superintendent, Mr. Fred Ilinze, imported
from Germany a quantity of sugar beet
seed of the most improved varieties. A
portion of these were planted, under the
capable supervision of Mr. Hioze, and grew
very well until moet of them wers destroyed
by insects. Samples of those that survived
the attacks of the insects were anal) zed by
United States Government Chemist Hubert
A. Edson, and found to contain, at their
best, a fair percentage of sugar, considering
the vicissitude through whioh they had
passed.
In 1889, the remaining portion of the seed
imported at Douglass were planted at
Medicine Lodge, under the supervision of
Mr. Henry Hinze, superintendent of the
Medioine Lodge sugar works. These made
a fine growth and contained good percent
ages of sugar, as shown by the analysis of
the chemists of the department of agiioul
tare. Moet of these beets were manufac
tured into sugar. So pleased was the sugar
company at the result that it was determined
to plant a considerable aorenge the follow
irg season. Three tons of seed were im
ported from the beet growers in Germany,
and the farmers who had grown beets in
1889 were asked to contract for considerable
crops in 1890. To the surprise of those most
interested, those farmers who had'seenmost
of the practical work of cultivating beets in
1889 were very loth to contraot in 1890. Con
sequently a considerable proportion of the
seed was "spared" to persons who desired
to experiment with sugar beets at other
places. Some of the se ed went to Nebrask a,
some to Iowa, some to Missouri and some to
other parts of Kansas. But a considerable
crop wasproduoed at Medioine Lodge under
the careful oversight of Superintendent
Hinie. These were worked at : the I factory
ai the close of the season of working sor
ghum case. They were analysed, as before,
by department of agriculture chemists,
and found to be very rioh in sugar Con
eerniag them, General Manaser Hinxnan,
of the sugar works, wrote: We have dem
onstrated that we can grow the finest and
beet sugar beets in the world." Dr. Wiley,
chief chemist of the department of agrioul
ture, was so skeptical as to the sugar con
tents, that only after personally witnessing
the analysis would he accept the results as
oorreot, and then declared -that he would
have to revise his map of the sugar beet sec
tion of the United States so as to inolude at
least a portion of southern Kansas.
The official report of the Hon. Geo. P.
Kellogg, state sugar inspector, for 1890,
states that the average per cent, of sugar in
the entire crop worked at Medioine Lodge,
was 15 23. Such beets are entirely suitable
for the manufacture of sugar.
The sugar company immediately began to
consider plans for the addition of such
machinery as would make of their works a
complete modern beet sugar factory. But
on mentioning to the farmers the matter of
growing a sufficient supply of beets for a
full season's run, it was found that those
who had grown beets in 1890 would not con
traot again, stating that there was no profit
in growing beets at the factory prices, the
entire proceeds and more being r quired to
pay for the labor of producing and deliver
ing them.
In 1890, the State Agricultural college
took up the work of experimenting with
sugar beets, under the able management of
the chemical department. The beets pro
duoed at Manhattan, in 1890, notwithstand
ing the seed was of the best varieties,
Imported directly from the most reliable
seedsmen, and, notwithstanding the excel
lent culture given them, were not generally
suitable for the manufacture of sugar.
Only two samples contained as much as 10
per cent, of sugar.
Some fairly successful attempts were
made in 1890 to produce sugar beets in
Harvey county, and a carload of workable
beets from the vicinity of Newton were
manufactured into sugar at Medicine
Lodge.
Experiments were also made at the United
States government station at Sterling, un
der the direotion of the expert, Mr. A. A.
Denton. Workable beets were produced;
and yet Mr. Denton did not become satisfied
that they could bo made a profitable crop.
In 1891, the experiments in beet culture
were repeated at Medioine Lodge on a much
smaller scale than in 1890. The experimental
plats planted did well, and the analyses con
tinued to show satisfactory percentages of
sugar.
The experiments by the agricultural col
lege were this year very much extended. In
their report Professors Failyer and Willard
say:
It was thouzbt that more mlzht be learned re
garding the capabilities o( our soils and climate
by growing the beets In many portions of the
state tn&n oi connmng our rims to one or a lew
localities, even thonnh the plats In this more ex
tensive trial were quite small In size. Further,
It was considered mat the test would be more
conclusive If the preparation of the soil and the
methods oi culture round mot sncctsrui in the
sugar beet growing countries of Europe were
adnptd.
to maae toe tsn, as aoove lncucaiea. it was
necessary n secure the co-operation of many
farmers of the state, tn growing the beet. Two
distinct lines wer pursued In aecurlrg this co
operation In such a way a to give sausfcutory
geographical distribution. Twenty-six localities
were selected bv u because of the character and
extent of the tillable soil as well as the freo
Krapbtcal position. These sections were visited bv
a representative of the chemical department of
the ataMon, and the plan explained personally to
the farmers whose assistance was sought. Fur
ther than this, an offer was made in furnish
seed to alt who applied for 1. and to analyze the
beet sent In to the station The se4 furnished
was the beat kinds of Germin and French suear
beets. In pursuvice of the above plans, this
seed was distributed to about 360 farmers and
f:ardeners abont 250 of them la the selected
ocalltle. It will thus be seen that the farmers
cheerfully responded, the number assisting In
the several selected localities varying from tlx to
twenrv-flve. The farmers to whom the rot in
considerable number of packages of seed were
sent on re quest were mora or lws Isolated. There
were fifty-six counties of the state reached In one
or the other of these ways, twer-tv-slx counties
being represented by at least a half dozn plats.
Those who planted beet seed under the
auspices of the college were furnished care
fully prepared printed instructions.
In addition to these experimental plats
grown by the farmers of the state, the chem
ical department of the college grew larger
plats on thoroughly subsoil ed ground, after
the same methods given in the printed in
structions to ths farmers. II was not thought
thai the results of one season would be at all
conclusive, but the plan involved the con
tinuation of the trial through several years.
in order to eliminate the effects of variable
seasons.
- From the experimental plats planted by
farmers, 110 specimens were analyzed
These came from thirty-seven counties.
Nineteen of theeo specimens, ooming from
cine counties, contained over 12 per cent, of
sugar and were suitable for use in the sugar
factory. Some of the specimens were very
rioh in sugar, containing over 18 per cent.
There were many specimens which fell only
slightly below the 12 per cent, mark and
would not have been rejected at a Bugar fac
tory. No doubt further experience in beet
culture would materially improve the gen
eral average content of sugar and enable
Kansas farmers in many, perhaps moet parts
of the state, to grow beets suitable for the
factory.
The chemical department of the agrioul
tural college and experiment station is now
engaged in the analysis of the beeta grown
in 1892. The results have not yet been an
nounced, and indeed cannot be until the
olose of the work for the season. All Kan-
Bans may, however, rest assured that the
work is being most thoroughly done, and
the question of the production of sugar
beeta in Kansas will be more nearly an
swered at the end of the present season.
In considering the question of what ought
to be provided for by the appropriation, it
will be well to glance not only at what has
been accomplished and what is now in pro
gress, but also at the provision already made
for further work. It is doubtful if most
people in Kansas understand how well the
munificence of the state has been utilized in
the equipment for experimental work under
the agricultural college. To the judicious
husbanding of the generous land grant with
which the college was originally endowed
under aot of congress has been added the
careful investment of all sums appropriated
by the state. The later generous appropria
tions by congress for ths experiment sta
tion, amounting to $15,000 per year, when
applied under the experienced and careful
management of the college, makes possible
an immense amount of experimental work.
It does not appear that there is any neces
sity for further appropriations by the state
for experimental work of this kind unless
indeed it be for suoh permanent improve
ment of the general faoilities as the laws of
congress do not permit to be made from the
government fund.
It is probable that the resolution of the
Academy of science was passed without due
consideration; for surely the work is being
well done with the means otherwise pro
vided, and by experimenters whose capa
bilities and industry are unsurpassed.
A. recent article m the New York
Herald contained the following,
which was considered of enough im
portance to be sent out as a press
dispatch: "Some day a great politi
cal party will take np this question
seriously and make itself famous by
wpiing our useless and cumbersome
diplomatic service from the face of
the earth. It was the prophetio
voice of James Gillespie Blaine
which tittered this prediction some
years ago to the then Congressman
McAdoo, ef New Jersey. Nearly
$100,000 is spent in the empty trap
pings of useless office. More than a
third of a million dollars each year
expended by the United States
that its black cloth men may dangle
at the tail of a diplomatic kite. The
question of abolishing the diplomatio
service and substituting a perfected
consular service in its place has long
been favorably considered in democ
racy loving minds. Bat it was not
alone democratic minds which fa
vored the step. Luminous minds in
the republican ranks echoed the wish
to see the great official Don Quixote;
unhorsed., Will the democratic
party see its opportunity and wis
lasting fame?"
In the Omaha convention which
nominated Weaver and Field, was e
delegate from Pennsylvania, who had
been a preacher, and who was boiling
over with genuine enthusiasm. When
ever anything that occurred in the
proceeding met his hearty approval,
either a speech, motion, "amendment
or announcement of a vote, old Key
stone would climb upon his seat and
sing out in a tone that could be heard
for a mile, "Let all the people say
amen," dwelling at length on the last
word. The saying became a by-word
among the delegates, who carried and
spread it over their respective states.
We'have heard of it being repeated
in chorus at many campaign meet
ings, and now since the people begin
to realize the immense vote that was
cast in the different states for the
nominees of that convention, we can
hear through the reform press a
grand, reverberating chorus from
millions of throats, "Let all the peo
ple say amen."
While Lieutenant Governor Felt
is not the most important personage
in Kansas, a great many people will
be surprised on reading the article
which we to-day copy from his Cham-
pwm, to learn that the governor has
lately discovered something. . Why,
O, why is it that people cannot see
things in their true light just before
an election instead of just afterward?
Sometimes we fear that editors are
so much like common mortals as to
allow their political prejudice to stifle
their honest judgment
Another evidence of Harrison's
lack of diplomacy is the way he
thrust greatness on Ed Little, of Abi-
line, by appointing him consul to
Cairo just after his election as prose
cutor of Dickinson county. Why
didn't Harrison confer the favor on
one of the numerous Kansas republi
cans who have been smothered in the
late elections Farmer Smith, for
instance.
A foblobn looking republican at
the state house, while gazing sorrow-
fallyat the newspaper portraits of
Curtis and Broderick, remarked,
"And is this all we have saved out of
the wreck?" The deep stillness that
surrounded him answered, "Yes."
It is conducive of sadness to notice
that all republican newspaper com
ment regarding the recent changes
in state and national administration
centers on the question, Who will
get the offices!" That's as far as
their patriotism goes.
Bi.the way, we forgot to ask if this
man Hudson, who used to be a prom
inent journalist in Topeka, ever re
covered from the jar he received at
Garden City?
What will become of the imported
voters in the Seventh district? Will
they leave the country for the coun
try's good
At the present rate, about how soon
do vou think your seat in the aanat
will be vacant, Mr. Ingalla.