Page:A History of the Pacific Northwest.djvu/320

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in which an almost indefinite expansion can be expected in the future.

Beet sugar manufactories. Several plants for the manufacture of beet sugar exist in this region and others are promised. If general conditions continue to favour the industry the beet sugar factory will undoubtedly take its place as one of the resources of the Northwestern farmers generally for securing profits from the cultivation of the soil. The growing of beets for this purpose contributes to the building of a permanent agriculture since the beet tops can be used for silage and the pulp which is left after extracting the sugar is accounted a valuable food, both for dairy cows and other stock. Idaho, Eastern Washington, Eastern Oregon and Southern Oregon appear to possess special advantages in beet sugar production because for reasons connected with soil and climate the sugar content of beets grown in those sections is especially high.

Manufacturing nitrogen from the air. One of the most interesting investigations into manufacturing possibilities has been with reference to plants for the extraction of nitrogen from the air by electrical processes. Owing to the unlimited water powers and the consequent cheapness with which electric energy can be produced, it is believed that the Northwest can enter upon that line of manufacture with reasonable hopes of success. The United States government, for reasons of military preparedness, appears to have some interest in such projects, but their permanent success