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A Chicory Factory

A Chicory Factory image
Parent Issue
Day
17
Month
March
Year
1899
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

              To Be Started by Heinzmann & Laubengayer.

                        ____________________

                       A VERY PROFITABLE CROP

                        ____________________

                Some $18,000 a Year to Be Paid Farmers.

                        ____________________

                   A Farmer Profit of $30 an Acre May be Made. -
            Contracts for 300 Acres of Chicory Wanted at Once. -
                       Farmers Should Try the New Crop.

                        ____________________

A new industry of great importance to the farmers and citizens is to be started in Ann Arbor.
This is not a call for citizens to subscribe money, but will be made a success by the enterprising firm of Heinzmann & Laubengayer, if they only receive the support of the farmers in raising the plants at a good figure.
The proposed new industry is a chicory factory.

At various times items have appeared in the papers about a chicory factory that was started in Bay City 10 years ago.
It has gradually grown and developed until today it consumes the product of 1,500 acres.
Its success has been so encouraging that two new factories with a like capacity are being built.
John Heinzman, of the firm of Heinzman & Laubengayer, has quietly been investigating this industry. He believed it would be a good thing for our farmers.
He therefore, to fully convince himself of all that he heard, spent 10 days in Bay City returning last evening, bringing with him John DeRonde, an expert.
This morning Mr. DeRonde, in company with Jacob Laubengayer inspected the farm lands around the city.
It was most satisfactory to Mr. DeRonde and the firm. The latter was surprised to find so much of the sandy loam and muck land of just the quality that grows the best chicory.
Upon their return to the city at noon it was at once decided to push the factory. Mr. DeRonde will have an interest in the new enterprise.
The number of contracts for chicory will be limited to 300 acres, and therefore it behooves every enterprising farmer to be up and doing, because first come first served.

The first question naturally asked how must the roots be raised and what will be the profits.
As to the latter the product runs from 8 to 12 tons an acre the average being 10 ton an acre.
The price paid for the roots, will be about $6 a ton, which will make the profits per acre much larger than raising wheat or corn.
The seed must be sowed between May 15 and 25. It takes about a pound of seed to the acre. It is thinned to six inches between the plants. The roots are harvested in September. They are not hard on the land and chicory can be grown 10 years in succession without exhausting its fertility.
One fact will be especially appreciated by the farmers is that the roots need not be pitted in winter, but can be hauled to the factory when convenient. This will give them ample time to realize on the roots when most convenient.
Mr. DeRonde will superintend and give instructions as to the raising and cultivation of the chicory roots. He has been in the business tor more than 50 years and thoroughly understands not only all the details of raisin the roots, but their treatment at the factory. He has been employed in the Bay City factory for the past six years and has helped to develop the factory to its present size.
A detailed statement of a farmer who last year raised 50 acres of chicory was shown the Argus.
He received $54.87 gross per acre for his roots. After deducting the cost $23.73; the net profit was $31.14. This same man will this year raise 250 acres of chicory.

The effect on the price of land since chicory and sugar beets have been raised in Bay county is simply wonderful, land having more than trebled in value. Farms that were offered for sale two years ago at $15 per acre cannot today be purchased for $30 an acre, while during this time, the owners have been realizing $60 a year profit.
The labor in raising chicory is less than sugar beets and it can be shipped a considerable distance.
In Bay City chicory is received from farmers living 30 miles away. This of course depends on the freight rates given by the railroads.

The enterprise of Messrs. Heinzmann & Laubengayer in undertaking to establish this new industry, the cleaning, roasting and grinding of chicory in Ann Arbor should receive general recognition from our business me. They can help spread information among the farmers thereby hurrying the business along.
Every business step that helps the farmers around the city is a help to the merchants of the city.