, 1885-06-24

These facts shew that the idea Of carrying
ont these treaties has not been abandoned,
and as the views of the Senate and Con
gress may change at any time, it is worth
while to consider what effect these treaties
would have on st. Croix should they come
into force.
The population of the United States con
snmed in 1884 about 1,250, 600 tons OF SUI
gar, of which about 200, 600 were prod ced
at home. The Sandwich islands supply IL
considerable quantity, and Mexico it is
expected will in course of time also he an
important source of supply. Under the
superstition that the proposed treaties
came into force and caused the bulk OF the
Colonial products to he sent 10 the States,
Cuba and Porto Rico would be able to sup
ply about zoe. 900 tons and the British West
Indies about 100000 tons of sugar, SantO
DOMINGO also would furnish a considerable
quantity. 1t would not be one nation, but
all, that would contribute, for even III H0l-
land and Germany efforts are being made
70 negotiate similar treaties.
We thus perceive that the demand for
sugar in the United States would be fully
met, and the consequence would he, what
always occurs where there are abundant
supplies, the price would be lowered.
This would be an immediate advantage to
Iuc COllSlIllClS ait luC IlltLGLdlItS; bLO AOO
to the producers. The only advantage to
the producers would be that the conSump-
ton under the stimulus OF the low prices
would in time increase. | have seen it
estimated that III Is years time the con
sumption OF sugar III the States will have
increased to 3,000,0oO lbs.
Our own production is too small for our
exports to affect the American market III
the least degree. During the past 8 years,
1879 80 to 1883 81, the total average eAp0r-
tati0n has been SAG tons. OF which 1886
tons were sent to the United States, 2,22I
tons to Denmark, $3.50 to other European
countries, and the small remainder 10 81.
Thomas. About one-third, therefore, OF
our sugar goes to the United States, ana
this market wOnld be closed to us in case
of the aforesaid treaties being put into
force, unless Denmark also secured a SINH
lar treaty.
Such IA treaty could not, however, be had
without considerable sacrifices. What
terms the United States would propose to
Denmark, ;camn0t OF course be known be-
forehahd, but they would probably not
deViate much from what has been proposed
for other like treaties. If then we take the
terms Of the Spanish. t eaty as a basis,
and calculate what the effect Of such terms
would b. ON our import duty, then we find
that taking the duties on the great classes
of goods to be admitted duty free-viz:
agricultural implements, food aud manu-
featured goods, emitting flour, which pays
duty under the Spanish treaty, the loss ON
our import duty would be about $4,000,
but if flour be added as duty-tree, which 1t
is i'm the Santo Domingo treaty, then the
loss would be about $3l 600. This loss
would nave to be made good by the impo.
sitjoh Of new taxes, and therefore it is very
doubtful how far it would he advantageous
t. the planters to conclude a treaty under
such conditions.
AT the same time it would not do, at
least | suppose ii would not do, to lose the
American market, and therefore Denmark
will endeaVuur to negotiate a reciprocity
treaty with the States if other Powers sue
cted in doing so. The Home Government
is fully aware of the Importance of the
matter.
Finally i'll regard to the third point, tho
depressed state of the sugar market, it
vas considered right, Supposing the crisis
to be temporary, TO help the planters i'll
sustaining the cultivation. In coming to a
conclusion as to how this should be done,
it was found necessary to know something
about the ex penses of the cultivation and
OF the returns therefrom. 1t is difficult, of
course, Oh such a subject, to arrive at all
accurate conclusion, but it appears that in
OEAl