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Show Lehi Heritage - Thursday, April 2, 1981 - Page 6 Western United States ' First Successful Sugar Factory Located In Lehi By JULIAN MERCER December 26th was a mild winter's day in 1890, as a rather large crowd of people, including city and church officials, were on hand to watch President Wilford Woodruff lay the corner stone that would mark the beginning of construction for the Lehi Sugar Factory. After the ceremonies at the factory, a luncheon was held at the Opera House where further festivities continued. On that happy day, however, not everyone was convinced that such an operation would be successful. Clouds of doubt seemed to hang over the festivities, even though the day itself provided beautiful weather for the end of December. There were no guarantees that the -- finished factory would be able to successfully produce white, granulated sugar from sugar beets. No one was sure that enough beets could be successfully grown to supply the needs of such a factory and the people of Utah. Other attempts at sugar production had ended in failure, beginning in 1852, when President John Taylor, Elias Morris and others brought machinery from France by ship and ox team to Salt Lake. This equipment was used in a factory that was built in the southeast part of Salt Lake, in an area later to be known as Sugar House. This was apparently the first attempt to make sugar from beets in Utah, but because the process used was an open kettle procedure, it proved unable to convert juices from the beets into sugar. Some of the beets used at this factory were grown in Lehi. 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At this time, according to the Lehi History Book, there were two other sugar factories in operation in the United States, other reports indicate these plants, one at Grand Island, Nebraska and the other at Alvarado, California were both sorghum plants. In any event, the factory built at Lehi was the first in the Rocky Mountain company's eventual decision to build its first factory at Lehi was also influenced by one big factor - water. Large quantities of fresh, clean water are required for sugar production. Where in this area can one find a good supply of water near a town? The answer was Lehi, near the old Mill Pond. The Mill Pond site was purchased from Thadeus Powell, and had been the location for the old Mulliner Flour Mills. cane. Quantities of cane were planted in Utah, which resulted in the successful production of brown sugar. The Utah State Legislature awarded Mr. Stayner a $5,000 prize for his success in producing sugar in the state of Utah. This type of sugar production was short lived, because it was soon discovered that early frosts in the high Utah Valley's greatly inhibited the growing of sorghum cane, and such a natural problem prevented enough cane from being grown to be financially feasible, or 10 supply the needs of the people. The conclusion that Utah was not a good place 10 grow sorghum cane led to the organization of the Utah Sugar Company, and renewed determination on the part of those involved in the company to successfully bring all factors together necessary for the production of sugar from sugar beets. The Utah Sugar Company was the for runner of the Utah Idaho Sugar Company; U-- I as the company is known today. The name change to include Idaho came about as the company expanded into Idaho. The Utah Sugar Company included the following officers and directors: AFC - SYLVAN e 100 amount was later raised to $7,000 as the result of additional funds raised by a citizen's committee that was organized for the specific reason to convince the company to build at Lehi. year, 1852-5equipment for another factory was shipped to Provo, however, the Provo plant was never constructed. Some years later, Arthur Stayner, who was later to become the Secretary of the Utah Sugar Company, conceived the idea of After the corner stone was laid that winter's day in 1890, construction on the $500,000 factory moved ahead without delay. The rest of the winter was mild, which resulted in . few, if any, delays in construction by E.H. Dyer & Sons of Cleveland, Ohio, that had the contract 10 build the plant. In the spring of 1891, the first beet seed was planted in Lehi, for the new factory, by George Austin on ground owned by George Comer. Many notable people were on . on hand for' the somewhat auspicious occasion, including Bishop Cutler, who had been named as the factory manager. From this crop and others planted in nearby towns, enough beets were harvested for the factory to have a successful opening in the fall of 1891. The result was the production of 1,000 pounds of refined, granulated sugar. This also enabled the sugar company to collect a iwo cen per pound subsidy the Federal Government was paying on sugar at this time. .... With the successful operation of the Lehi Sugar Factory, expansion was quick 10 follow. Cutting stations were established at Bingham Junction, Springville and Provo. A pipeline was built through which the extracted beet juice was pumped 10 the Lehi factory, which had expanded 10 accomodate this increased supply. In 1903, the sugar company built a second plant ai Garland, Utah. Other factories were later built, or bought, at Idaho Falls, Sugar City, Blackfoot, Nampa, in Idaho and Elsinore and Payson, Utah. A plated subdivision was laid out and approved Northeast of Lehi Sugar Factory, where workers were to have built their homes. . Caxfizti 285 - & iJnUxioxi Kust Siau- - Road (Jnivc. Ulah I'lt-au- 81062 area. . Sylvania Color System Exclusive ASC circuitry (Automatic Sharpness Control) Electronic VHFUHF channel selector Room Light Monitor . . . adjusts contrast and color level when room lighting changes Reg. $689.95 Conference Priced 3589 95 KM The construction site of this first factory by the newly formed sugar company was given considerable thought. No doubt, the decision to build the factory at Lehi was influenced by Bishop Thomas P. Cutler, who was bishop of the Lehi Ward and on the Board of Directors of the Sugar Company, as was John Beck," who is credited for having put forth a great deal of time and effort to bring the factory to Lehi. However, other factors helped to influence the company that Lehi was the place. On August 20, 1890, the Lehi City Council offered the sugar company $1,000 if it would build in Lehi. This Custom Drapes, Bedspreads, Wall Coverings, Custom-mad- e Furniture. Expert Design Consultation No Obligation in Your Home |