Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1867-05-25
THE SUGAR QUESTION.

IA ' HtJttibS WI
IN. o. Times, writing on the 9th inst says
The prospects of an increased cultiya'
ton of the sugar can in yonr region are
so gloomy that attention is being turned
towards the sugar beet, L. B. Grant has
written a treatise on the subject OF beet
sugar, ii which be demonstrates that
from this root the United States can, not
only raise her W supply of sugar, but
become a sugar exporting country. Inc
cane can beat the root, though, after all
that may be said.
The writer is unquestionably correct
upon ore point, and that Is we can beat
The root II We can only secure the labor
With the lights before Us, we fear the
days of cane sugar in Louisiana are num-
bered, unless some system of labor can be
devised for its continued cultivation. The
trouble and expense incidental to It's cul
t~ivati0n now, is almost enough to deter
anyone from the business. Could some
system be adopted by which to control
labor at fair prices, We could make our
State once more the Sugar Bowl" of the
Union. AS it is the prospect is anything
but encouraging. Northern and West
ern farmers are making strenuous efforts
to supply the market with sorghum and
beet-root sugars, in which, Sc far, they
have made wonderful progress. This
fact cannot be denied by the most enthu.
deyotee of cane sugars. Any
branch Of agriculture that promises fair
remuneration IS eagerly seized upon by
those enterprising men as one the best
for capital and industry. There is a va
CUM to be filed in The wants of the
people of this country, and Louisiana
cannot do it as she is now situated. The
reasons are obvious. When France, dur
the wars Of the first Napoleon, was
compelled to turn her attention to the
of the beet-root to supply her
OWN demand, great was the outcfy against
It, believing it impossible /; yet it sue.
seeded beyond all expectation. During
our civil war, England was compelled
procure supplies Of cotton elsewhere
han from the United States, and although
or years it has been supposed that coun-
~ could not succeed in so doing. time
md circumstances have shown I'D the
aliacy, La afew years she will take
'ur cottons or not-as she p~ieases. So
With the cultivation IF sugar cane in the
south, Before the war, q man would
ave been considered a subject for Bed
who advanced an argument in favor
+ sugars in this country other than
ne cane sugars Of the South, Again has
inc developed strange things. Good,
sugars are being made ID
be North and West, which, if properly
'stered and encouraged, will yet go far
owards supplying home consumption. :
he abolition Of slavery in Brazil will ef.
ct the sugar markets and should Spain
wing to the pressure now being brought !,
bear upon her, be compelled to eman.
pate the slaves in Cuba, q wonderful }
npetus will be given to the production !
beet and sorghum sugars 10 the United !
True enough. the advanced price .
cane sugars, which would inevitably .
lsue in such a contingency, might in
Ice u planters to r~eessablish their Il
antations. The incentive would be great '
.yond peradventure. But the stnmb. n
y block, as now, would be the cues. II
OF secured labor. Upon that point II
'ngs everything. Now, if coolies can II
introduced and their labor proves y
.tisfactory, or ever reliable white la 1t
r be secured, We would have no fears G
the result. We could then drive all P
1er sugars from the markets, especially
m the use Of those who desire a bet 81
and far superior article.
n,
1 The string of %conundrums which II
Aa00cate iocat found on his table, from in
ne unknnun ra.can.-. -,