Problems for the Manufacturer.- The manufacturer or the capitalist who builds a factory finds that he has even more problems to work out than the farmer, and, like the farmer, he usually discovers that he is entering a field that is entirely new to him. Before establishing his plant the prospective manu facturer must investigate certain conditions: (1) The water supply, for he must have an abun dant supply of pure water for the use of the factory. (2) The fuel supply, as the factory must be located in a section where cheap fuel can be secured (the fuel usually used is coal, but on the Pacific coast petroleum is used to a large extent). (3) A market for the product (this factor should be thoroughly canvassed and settled prior to establishing a factory). (4) The supply of lime (the local quarries of lime rock must be investigated to see if the quality is suitable and the supply sufficient, as a large amount will be required).
The general conditions having been found satisfactory, and the factory being built, other problems arise. In the beginning only a limited amount of slcilled labor is employed. Eventually every employee of the factory will become skilled in his particular part. After two or three campaigns have passed the factory will have worked out the details of producing the best product at the least cost with the machinery which it has. When this point shall have been reached those interested will be prepared to estimate the cost of production of beet sugar. The difference in cost of production at a new factory and at one operated for a considerable time is much greater than one acquainted with the subject would suppose.
Statistics of the Industry.- The first estab lished successful American beet-sugar factory is located at Alvarado, Cal. It was erected in 1870, but success was not attained until 1879. In 1896 in the United States there were seven factories, which produced 42,000 tons of sugar. Since 1896 the expansion has been rapid and there now (1917) are 99 factor ies, which in 1915 produced 874,220 tons of white granulated sugar, valued at approximately $97,000,000. Since 1889, the total output has amounted to 7,613,000 tons, of an estimated value of $760,0013,000. From ' 1889 to 1915 $300,000,000 has been paid to farmers for beets and considerably more than that amount for other supplies, labor, etc. The industry now employs between 30,000 and 40,000 men and annually disburses $75,000,000, nearly one-half of which is paid to farmers for beets.
The factories as at present located, together with their daily beet-slicing capacity, are as follows: California: Alvarado, 800 tons; Chino, 1,100 tons; Los Alamitos, 800 tons; Betteravia, 1,000 tons; Oxnard, 3,000 tons; Spreckels, 4,500 tons; Hamilton City, 700 tons; Manteca, 1,200 tons; Visalia, 400 tons; Corcoran, 600 tons; Santa Anna, 600 tons; Huntington Beach, 1,200 tons; Anaheim, 1,200 tons; Dyer, 1,200 tons; Tracy, 600 tons; Colorado: Brighton, 1,000 tons; Grand Junction, 700 tons; Rocky Ford, 1,800 tons; Sugar City, 600 tons; Loveland, 1,920 tons; Greeley, 1,000 tons; Eaton, 1,200 tons; Fort Collins, 2,150 tons; Longmont, 2,350 tons; Windsor, 1,150 tons; Lamar, 500 tons; Sterling, 1,000 tons; Brush, 1,100 tons; Fort Morgan, 1,200 tons; Si,vink, 1,200 tons; Las Animas, 1,000 tons; Idaho: Idaho Falls, 900 tons; Shelley, 750 tons; Blackfoot, 800 tons; Sugar City, 900 tons; Burley, 600 tons; Twin Falls, 600 tons; Illinois: Riverdale, 500 tons; Indiana: Decatur, 800 tons; Iowa: Mason City, 1,200 tons; Waverly, 500 tons; Kansas: Garden City, 1,000 tons; Michigan: Bay City, 1,500 tons; West Bay City, 900 tons; Holland, 500 tons; Caro, 1,200 tons; Alma, 1,400 tons; Ma rine City, 600 tons ; Lansing, 600 tons; Bay City (Salzburg), 1,400 tons; Saginaw (Carroll ton), 900 tons; Mount Clemens, 600 tons; Cros well, 750 tons; Saint Louis, 600 tons; gwosso, 1,200 tons; Menominee, 1,200 tons; Blissfield, 868 tons; Sebewaing, 85 tons; Minnesota: Chaska, 800 tons; Montana: Billings, 2,000 tons; iVebraska: Bayard, 1,000 tons; Gering, 1,100 tons; Grand Island, 500 tons; Scotts Bluff, 2,000 tons; Missoula, 1,000 tons; Nevada: Fal lon, 500 tons; Ohio: Fremont, 500 tons; Paulding, 900 tons; Findlay, 871 tons; Ottawa, 600 tons; Toledo, 1,100 tons; Oregon: Grant's Pass, 750 tons; Utah: Brigham City, 500 tons; Delta, 1,000 tons; Lehi, 1,266 tons; Moroni, 400 tons; Ogden, 1,000 tons; Logan, 600 tons; Gar land, 900 tons; Lewiston, 800 tons; Elsinore, 750 tons; Payson, 700 tons; Layton, 700 tons; Spanish Fork, 1,000 tons; Smithfield, 503 tons; West Jordan, 750 tons; Cornish, 600 tons; lliashington: North Yakima, 750 tons; Wa verly, 500 tons; Wisconsin: Menominee Falls, 600 tons; Janesville, 700 tons; Chippewa Falls, 600 tons; Madison, 600 tons; Wyoming: Lovell, 600 tons; Sheridan, 900 tons; Worland, 600 tons.
At many other places preliminary organixa tions.have been forrned which are only awaiting developments assuring more settled conditions affecting the sugar industry.