GERMANY'S NAVAL BILL, BEET SUGAR AND DAIRYMEN'S CONVENTION

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, December 10, 1897.

GERMANY'S NAVAL BILL.

Believed That More Battleships Are Not Needed.

GUNS WILL NOT ASSIST EXPORTS.

Combating the Standard Oil Company Monopoly—Uprising of Moslems In Russia Feared, as They Are

  Greatly Excited Over the Greek War.

   BERLIN, Dec. 10.—The reichstag resumed the debate on the first reading of the government's naval bill. Herr Hammacher, National Liberal, declared his party unanimously approved the principles of the measure and attached the greatest importance to the navy. In connection with the export trade, the speaker thought the commercial policy of the United States and Great Britain should be particularly considered.

   Herr Gallor, People's party, said his party would oppose the bill, which he declared was the first stop towards the establishment of naval absolutism. "Guns," Herr Galler continued, "can not open new markets. South Germany is absolutely opposed to the measure."

   Herr Zimmerman declared the Reform party desired to favorably consider the measure, but they demanded guarantees that the burden of new taxation would not fall upon the distressed middle classes. He believed a majority of the party would vote for an amended bill.

   The Bavarian Peasants' association, said Herr Hilpert, reserved its decision pending the government's explanations relative to the manner of providing the money necessary. After other speeches had been delivered the naval bill was referred to the budget committee.

   The minister of the interior, Count Posadowsky, replying to an inquiry regarding the intentions of the government with the view of thwarting the Standard Oil company from monopolizing the German market, said the government was aiding the competition of German spirits-of-wine with petroleum. There was hope that the efforts being made to improve the spirit lamp would shortly be successful.

   The minister of railroads, continued Count Posadowsky, had also arrived at a certain decision regarding the reduction of freight rates on Russian petroleum. Moreover, an increase in the customs duty on American petroleum has been considered. He said the government, if necessary, would proceed ruthlessly against the abuses complained of in connection with the Standard Oil company, and would adopt without delay the measures he had indicated.

German landing force disembarks at Kiau-Chau bay.

Sam-Sah Inlet For Germany.

   LONDON, Dec. 10.—A dispatch to The Times from Pekin says that the Tsung-Li-Yaman telegraphed the viceroy of the province of Chi-Li that China, having complied with her demands, Germany undertakes to evacuate Kiao-Chau at a date to be fixed hereafter, and will receive instead, as a coaling station, the Sam-Sah inlet, in the province of Fo-Kien, over against the island of Formosa.

THE RESTLESS TURK.

Greatly Excited by Success Against the Greeks—Trouble For Russia.

   ST. PETERSBURG, Dec. 10.—Throughout Russian Asia there is general unrest among the Moslems. It is attributed to the exaggerated reports of the Turkish victory over the great Greek empire, which have spread through the length and breadth of the continent.

   The authorities even fear that the revival of brigandage, recently noticed in the Caucasus, is decided almost solely against the government, officials and the unprecedented phenomenon of Georgians displaying hostilities toward Armenians has become manifest. The danger is so serious that a conference of Caucasian governors has been convoked to concoct measures of pacification.

   Travelers in Central Asia report an extraordinary ferment among the Moslems of different races. They are sinking their mutual animosities and declaring that they are first of all Mahammedans, with the sultan as their common chief. It is evident that the slightest pretext would suffice to bring about an uprising and to plunge Russia into the same sea of troubles as India.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

A City That Owns Gas Wells.

   Lancaster, O., is one of the fortunate cities in whose vicinity natural gas has been struck. The town is more lucky than others in the neighborhood of natural gas in that Lancaster owns the gas wells herself. The story of this municipal ownership is a pleasant one. Mr. Mithoff, a prominent man in the thriving little city, bored for gas on his property there. He reached an immense flow. Instead of keeping the well for himself, however, he sold it for a mere nominal sum to the city of Lanscaster out of pure good will to his home town. The city authorities bored other wells and struck additional gas veins. None, however, equaled the Mithoff well, which is known as the "Old Man Himself."

   But altogether there was a fine flow of gas, and the authorities set about utilizing it. They assumed the management of the town's wells themselves, fixed proper prices for the fuel and sold it to manufacturers and private houses.

   The result has been most satisfactory. The money from the gas supply has been sufficient to pay the expenses of running the waterworks. It has also paid the city debt. There is no taxation of the people for city purposes. The steadily accruing money will improve and beautify the city till in time Lancaster will be a model city.

   ◘ There is danger in the electric arc lights that shine so brilliantly above show windows in so many places. A poor man who was peddling tin horns to celebrate the election lifted one of the horns and in doing so touched it to the iron ring of an arc light above his head. He fell back dead and never knew what killed him. A few days ago a man with an umbrella stopped in the evening to look into a brilliantly illuminated window. The umbrella had a steel rod. The man carried it under his arm, the ferrule above his head. The steel point touched the iron encircling the globe of the arc light and this man, too, fell back dead, struck with lightning.

   ◘ During the yellow fever panic in the south, St. Louis alone sheltered 1,000 refugees from the stricken states. Millions of dollars were lost. It is time measures were taken to prevent the recurrence of this plague.

CONVENTION CLOSED.

Three Additional Papers Presented by Eminent Dairymen.

   After the election of the state Dairymen's association yesterday afternoon there were three interesting papers by prominent speakers. The subject of a paper by Prof. W. H. Jordan, director of the agricultural experiment station at Geneva, was "Problems Involved in Milk Production." He dealt largely with different fodders and their relative values. As a rule the field supplies are lacking in nitrogenous materials. As forage plants mature, they lessen in the percentage of protein contained. Clover finds its best place in a rapid rotation of crops. What is the proper function of our markets in relation of our home production? To create a … and search for nitrogenous foods. The farmer's task in selecting foods to buy is a difficult one. It makes little difference what food is fed in order to obtain protein, but there is a great difference in the combinations of foods which contain protein. The speaker thought that a law ought to be enacted in the state requiring the publication of the analysis of foods, the same as is the case with fertilizers. More butter is spoiled after leaving the cow than before. Prof. Jordan discussed the relative values of cotton seed meal and oil meal on the basis of what they furnish the farmer. Neither has much advantage over the other, though the chances slightly favor cotton seed meal.

   Frederick J. H. Kracke, assistant state dairy commissioner, whose territory includes the city of New York, followed with an interesting talk consisting largely of statistics of his work during the year ending Oct. 1. In that time there was received in the city 8,219,887 cans of crude milk, 233,296 cans of cream, and 60,173 cans of unsweetened condensed milk. This makes an equivalent of 11,502,059 cans or 462,863,562 quarts of crude milk. The amount of butter received from New York state was 209,808 packages, and from the West 1,964,675 packages. The number of pounds of cheese received was 66,000,598. The total estimated value of the butter, cheese and all forms of milk was $25,175,000. If no oleomargarine were manufactured the average price of butter would increase three cents per pound, was one of the last opinions Mr. Kracke offered from his experience.

   The last speaker of the afternoon was Mr. R. A. Pearson, assistant chief of the dairy division department of agriculture of Washington, D. C., who discussed "Milk and Its Value." He began by saying that the value of milk to the farmer like any other product is measured by the difference between what it costs and what it sells for. All poor cows should be weeded from the dairy, as they are the chief condition effecting the value of milk production. The character and quantity of food given the dairy cow should receive the most careful attention. The farmer should study each cow, and give her just the food she needs. Another factor is the use made of the by-products of the dairy. The kind of care and handling of the milk is of great importance. Many farmers have the mistaken idea that the highest price means the highest profit. In shipping milk, many dairymen lose sight of the value of the products they would get, such as skim milk and whey, if sent to the creamery. It is expensive to ship, and in many instances the value of the by-products contained in the crude milk is more than the relative prices received for the milk. After Mr. Pearson's address, the convention adjourned.

Beet Sugar at Palmer's.

   Palmer & Co. [of Cortland] have put in 500 pounds of the best quality of granulated beet sugar just manufactured at the new refinery at Rome so that all who desire to do so can test it and compare it with cane sugar. It is safe to say that few can tell the difference. It has quite as pleasant a taste as the cane sugar.

THE SUGAR BEET.

WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT IS CULTIVATED.

Instructive Addresses by Dr. Van Slyke and Prof. Jordan of the Geneva Experiment Station and by J. E. Rogers of Binghamton—Meeting at the Courthouse Arranged by the Board of Trade.

   The meeting which has been previously noted in these columns and which was called to consider the beet sugar question was held in the courthouse last evening. It was called to order by Hon. L. J. Fitzgerald, president of the board of trade, who introduced Mr. F. E. Dawley of Fayetteville, and that gentleman briefly outlined the purpose of the meeting, which was to give the farmers of Cortland county an idea of the sugar beet and its cultivation. Over one hundred were present, and the words of the different speakers were practical and instructive.

   Mr. Dawley introduced as the first speaker, Dr. L. L. Van Slyke, the chemist at the Geneva experiment station, who dealt with the chemical side of the sugar beet question. He said that in raising sugar beets there must be kept constantly in mind the amount of sugar and the quality. This sugar is practically like that in sugar cane. Take one hundred pounds of sugar, and there would be about three pounds of sugar beet juice, for instance, and there will be found fourteen or fifteen pounds of other things in the juice not sugar. These things which are not sugar prevent somewhat the crystallization of the sugar. As a rule a certain weight of non-sugars prevent the crystallization of the same weight of sugar. A rough estimate gives to each beet 95 per cent sugar. The percentage of sugar in the juice is somewhat higher than in the beet. The purity of sugar is ascertained by dividing the amount of sugar in the juice by the amount of solids. The coefficient of purity represents the proportion of sugar present in the total solids in juice. It is the quality of sugar. Climate is one of the most important factors in the raising of the sugar beet. A large amount of sunshine, moderate rainfall and temperature not too low are requisites. The kind of beet is another important factor. A careful process of breeding has produced beets that will produce fifteen pounds of sugar per hundred pounds. The two leading varieties are the Klein Wanzlebener and Vilmorin Improved. The quality of the seed used should be very carefully considered. The beet does not do well in extremely heavy clay, but over a large share of the good New York state farming land, the beets may be raised. Plant food is necessary for desirable results. A ton of marketable beet roots have consumed about four pounds of nitrogen, two and one-half pounds of phosphoric acid, and seven or eight pounds of potash. It is usually desirable to supply plant food to the expense of $5 or $6 per acre. Nitrogenous fertilizers work disadvantageously to the amount of the product and to some degree to the quality. The cultivation requires more care than that of other vegetables. Mellow the soil so that the beet will grow down instead of up. Thin them out, cultivate as often as once a week during the growing period. The sugar beet is not a lazy man's crop. The work must be thorough and systematic. Probably in this region it would be unwise to plant later than June 1. The product should certainly be harvested before the second growth begins. The ideal sugar beet should weigh somewhere from one to two pounds. The largest amount of sugar is in the bottom of the beet. Have just as little of the crown of the beet above the ground as possible. Dr. Van Slyke described the methods of analyzing the beet.

   Prof. W. H. Jordan, director of the Geneva experiment station, was next introduced. In opening his remarks he referred to the fact that though New York state farmers have raised and fed to their cattle the sugar beet for years, yet many do not know what it is. It is a white conical beet. He said the experiment station would in the spring engage in the raising of high bred seeds. This calls for expert business. He described the raising of the beets at the Geneva station the past summer. The ground was deeply sub-soiled and about 1,000 pounds of fertilizer were used per acre. They used fifteen pounds of seed per acre. Very careful thinning out was done. The plants left were from 6 to 9 inches apart. In beet culture the time consumed in the thinning out and cutting off the tops is the most extensive. The cost to raise the best kind of crops is from $40 to $50 per acre. This includes the delivery to the factory. There is no bonanza in the beet business. It is a growth. It is a 6 per cent business and not a 20 per cent business. It requires patience and an ability to handle capital at both ends. I am glad to see men taking an interest in beet culture whom you may trust with your banking business. I am not glad when the professional boomer engages in it. Dr. Jordan said that if any of the Cortland county farmers wished to grow beets experimentally next year, the state department would be more than pleased to make analyses and give any possible assistance.

   Mr. J. E. Rogers of Binghamton, who has investigated the beet sugar business and is one of the industry's most enthusiastic promoters in Binghamton, was introduced. He said that one of the first questions which confronts the sugar beet raiser is that of a market. The factory at Binghamton will have a capacity of only one-half the consumption of Binghamton and the country supplied by a Binghamton dealer. Last spring he secured and distributed among the Broome county farmers seventy pounds of beet seeds. These beets averaged about 16 per cent of sugar and over 71 per cent in purity. He has devoted considerable time the past year to investigation, and is a thorough convert to the business, believing it to be a profitable and valuable one. He is convinced that the home sugar market can be supplied by home production.

   At the conclusion of Mr. Rogers' address, several questions were asked, in which it was brought out that the consensus of opinion was that sub-stations for the partial working up of the sugar beet would not be practical nor desirable. The beet minus the sugar in a comparatively dry state is good for feeding cattle. Dr. Van Slyke said that the samples sent to Geneva from Cortland county seemed to be below the average. This was probably due to the fact that the seed was received too late for planting to get the best results.  A slight frost would not be expected to injure the plant.

   On motion of Mr. Tisdale, a vote of thanks was tendered the gentlemen who made remarks and gave the information, which vote was carried unanimously and the meeting adjourned.

BREVITIES.

   —Mrs. H. E. Andrews has been chosen president of the Juvenile Missionary society of the Homer-ave. M. E. Sunday-school.

   —An application has been made for the appointment of a receiver for the Syracuse Journal, which is temporarily embarrassed.

   —A Washington dispatch under date of Dec. 9 says that Daniel E. Morris of Solon, has been appointed postmaster of that town in place of W. J. Corcoran.

   —The repairs upon the Ithaca hotel give promise of being very extensive. A single contract has been let for $17,900, and the work is divided among several contractors before the refurnishing begins.

   —Notwithstanding certain reports upon the street to the contrary the revival meeting will he held as usual this evening at the First M. E. church at 7:30 o'clock and Evangelist Yatman will speak.

   —C. F. Hornbeck, the jeweler at 39 Main-st., was taken suddenly ill in his office this morning with a sort of a bilious colic. He was removed to his home, 77 North Main-st., and Dr. S. J. Sornberger summoned.

   —Mrs. Weeks, the principal of the guitar, mandolin and banjo department of the Conservatory of Music met her class this afternoon at her studio for rehearsal in preparation for the concert at the Tioughnioga club next Wednesday evening.

   —1898 will have six eclipses, three of the sun and three of the moon. This is the first time in two hundred years that there have been three eclipses of the moon in one year, an occurrence, the astronomers say, that will not take place in two hundred more years.

   —Daniel Clark and his son Charles of Lapeer were in town yesterday, and at the Dexter House barn last night got into an altercation with some of the employees there, which resulted in their arrest on the charge of public intoxication. They were discharged by Police Justice Mellon.

   —John Callahan died at his home on Pendleton-st. yesterday afternoon after an illness of several weeks with paralysis, at the age of 69 years. The funeral will be held to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock and the remains will be taken on the 9:48 train to Cassenovia where the burial will take place.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Mrs. Tillinghast Choral Society Concert, page 5; W. J. Perkins, Christmas Goods, page 4; F. E. Brogden, Perfumes, page 7; F. Daehler, Christmas is Coming, page 7; Palmer & Co., Special Sale, page 6;. McKinney & Doubleday, Christmas Crowds Captured, page 6.