Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-07-14

the consumer. Is more than six cents per
mound. But In making our estimate we
nrefer 10 be too low rather than too high,
and will base our calculation on value OF
five cents per pound. Our annual con-
sumption of !, 800, 600 tons at five cents per
Mound. would give us money value OF
$3.50 600, 900 for the year 1883, and as
have already shown that by the year 1900
twelve years hence-we would consume
Q 500. 600 tons, the money value for that
quantity of sugar would amount TO $3.50,
600, 900.
If these estimates are true, and believe
they are approximately correct does 1t not
open up to the agliculturist and the
Iaboring man new industry of great value
and commanding importance? Bread
stuffs and provisions are in over supply, but
our farmers still go on increasing the sur
plus. But here is an article of prime ne
cessity, costing the consumers $3.50, 900, 900
per annum, every dollar of which can and
should be grown In this country. Its value
is more that One-third of all the agricultu-
raj products we export; 1t is equal in value
to three-fourths of all the cotton exported;
1t almost amounts to as much as all the
bread stuffs exported, and Is worth go per
cent. more than all the meats and dairy
products exported.
Or, to state il in different form, the money
value Of the sugar we consume amounts
to one-third as much as the export value of
all the bread-stuffs, provisions, dairy prod
ucts and raw cotton combined. Will our
farmers realize this mine of wealth and
industry that the cultivation Of the sugar
beet opens up TO them? Can the laboring
man realize the increased value and demand
for labor? 1t Is estimated that the produc-
tion of 800, 900, 900 pounds of sugar in
Louisiana supports directly and indirectly
population of near 400. 600 people. If
this estimate is correct, then the sugar we
consume, II produced here, would support
population of 1000. 900 people. or one
fifteenth of our population. and If the
same ratio of increase in consumption and
population goes on, 1t would, by the year
l900-12 years hence-give support to g.
900. 900 people.
Do our farmers know of anything thew
can grow that would be more profitable
than the sugar beet, or that would give
more employment to labor? The average
production of the sugar beet In Belgium is
over thirty tons per acre, worth an average
Of IS per ton or $3.50 per acre. But sup
pose you only grew an average of twenty
five tons per acre, and the price were only
81. so per tonethe same as was paid In Cal
ifornis for beets last year, you would still
get Si12 so for an acre of beets. This crop
is as certain as that Of corn, and more Ger.
tain than that of winter wheat. We have
millions of acres of land extending from
New England to the Pacific coats suitable
70 its growth.
Persons skilled in Its cultivation and
car easily be procured, and
the machinery is already manufactured and
ready to be set up. The farmers are more
than willing to enter upon this new indus
try, and the capitalist stands ready and
eager to invest his money in sugar fac
tories. What then stands In the way of
all the benefits that l have stated?
Nothing but the fact that free American
labor cannot compete with the slave and
pe0n labor Of the tropics, nor the cheap
labor Of Germany. 1t follows
then that unless the government protects
this proposed new industry, we shall con-
tinue to buy our sugar abroad. Is it desir-
able to continue producing surplus Of
and provisions when we have
within our grasp new industry that would
relieve us Of this surplus and give increased
to the laboring man, because
Of the greater amount of labor required?
Upon the farmers and the laboring men
rests the responsibility. By their votes they
,an compel congress to give the necessary
protection to an industry that in another
decade would give support to nearly 6. 000,-
BOO people, or lilo of our present popula-
hon.
MISTAKE NO. 9.
Our free trade friends have discovered a
way by which they hope to prove our
county has not advanced as rapidly since
1850 as it did from 1850 to 1860. They are
strong in counting percentages.
It Is not new, however; they began 1t in
1883 on the wool question, and my friend
Thomas has lately been polishing up his
Of percentages until he has be-
,Ome somewhat of an expert. He can
igure out in percentages that the country
s making no progress-thst it is really
standing where 1t did In 1850. By his
AGILITY In calculating percentages, he dis
,overs that several things have not in
.reased in arithmetical progression. The
Talhe of farms. of live stock, ETC., etc. have
lot doubled and quadrupled every decade
lnce the tatin Ior revenue only OF lS4o and
s5d went down.
Let me give you one sample OF his
on percentages, and it will
Inswer for a column Of his address.
In 1850 the value of farms was S3.271,-
az, 900.
IN asoo the value OF farms was so,o45,-
s2,oou.
IN lsso the Vaiue OF 1arms was slo, 49,
so;ooc.
ms elves US the fact thai the increase
zone in the value OF Iarms FROM lsoo TO
oSo YVES more than equal 10 the wnoie
aiue OF iarms from the beginning OF our
oVernment up 10 lsoo, ana yet my friend
CURES OUT oy percentages that the country
gong uoWn.
Does ne MINK tne people 90 NOT know
hat an increase OF oo per cent on million
neans An increase Oh JUST naii miiiion
'niie an increase OF 5o per cent. on two