The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-10-28
From the y. ". Morning Cali Oct IL
Our Sugar Supply.

In we" OF certain facts connected with tho
prouuctIon VI sug1r in Cuba, n little encourage.
ment 70 tne pisnteiT Of the Hawaiian Island.
places is to shorten tho sur,,. aSS-y :" osnsr
consequence to advance the prices ~ -. ssS.
is produced. This would be a na,io,aII a.,a ~"
no the production Of the cane has bccoms nna
the necessities of civilized life. Commerce.. s,o'
tistics give the total amount Of raw .BnRars man
featured in 1875 at about $4,000 tons. of
which sugar cane supplied 1900 tom and
beet root 1850, 900 tons. The sugar crop manu-.
featured from cane this year 10 only about $780,
600 tons, showing n falling Of OF 234, 900 tons,
or a little more than thirteen per cent. The csti-
mates for this years beet root crop arc not yet
completed, but a small increase Is anticipated.
Our market, however, is not materially affected
by the beet root crop Of Europe, as very little Of
that production is imported into this country.
Cuba has been and still is tho PRINCIPAL source
Of supply Of raw sugar. We take about eighty
per cent Of that islands produce OF this article,
and there is no probability that our market
would be supplied nearly as chcaply from any
other quarter. The present high prices Of raw
sugars do not attract to this country any incrcas-
ed imports from other sugar-producing countries,
nor does the condition of foreign markets warrant
the assumption that we can make good our dim
inishing supplies from Cuba, except at n very
material advance in present prices.
The decrease in the sugar products OF Cuba is
principally owing TO the war. Havana papers
estimate the deficiency this year compared with
last at about twenty per cent in sugar and twenty.
six in molasses. A great many sugar-producing
estates have been destroyed in the past year, and
others, which were permitted 10 reap their harvest
under a promise OF paying to the Cuban Govern
ment the taxes hitherto paid 10 the Spanish, have
since been destroyed, in consequence Of the pro-
mise not being kept. It Is said that since jan
uary last the Cubans have destroyed one hundred
and twenty estates in the district comprised In
the Western Department Of the island. As
many Of these estates contributed their quota 10
the product Of the last year, the decrease the
coming year will in all probability be even more
serious. Another cause will operate 70 decrease
production. Hitherto, as one estate was destroy
ed the field hands would be removed 10 others
further from the seat Of war, andin this way the
aggregate OF production was in n measure sus-
tanned. At present, however, with the risks at
tending the business and the high taxes imposed
by the Government, the profits are 20 small that
both the value Of the land and hands has materi-
ally deprecated. II lie stated that q good field
hand who was worth twelve hundred IN 1868,
would bring at present not more than four hum
dred. The outlook for sugar from Cuba il not
therefore encouraging. Their is no immediate
prospect Of the war being brought 10 q close.
The planters in the Western Department OF the
island who were induced 10 break faith with the
Cuban leaders in the matter Of taxos, on tie as
surance that the Spaniarde would drive the
Cubans out, now find themselves at tile mercy OF
these leaders, the Spaniards being unable 10 pro-
tect them. The United States therefore, while
still receiving large supplies from Cuba, will look
to other sources to make up the deficiency. The
beet root crop can be almost without limit in
creased, il the assurance is held out that the de-
mand will be permanent. The amount received
from the Hawaiian Islands will doubtless be some
what increased, but the whole possible product OF
these islands is but triaing compared TO the an
nual importations OF sugar and molasses into the
United States,