St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-29
HOW TT PROGRESSES

In some parts of Wisconsin the Ger
man-AmericanS, who have been famil-
lar with the beet sugar industry in the
old country, are moving for the de-
velopment of the production in that
state. At Kewaunee 100000 has been
subscribed for factory, and a mass
meeting at Manitowoc is to be held soon
to initiate the movement in that sec
ton. 1t does not appear that there are
any advantages for the promotion of
this industry not shared by Minnesota
and the neighboring states. Some eX-
perimental steps have been had in sew
eral of them. Nebraska has taken the
lead in this effort, however. 1t has been
growing the beets and manufacturing
the sugar to some, extent for several
years. 1t has a factory at Grand Island
equipped at an expense of half million
dollars, which seems to be success in
making sugar. 1t now turns out several
hundred barrels per day, and of
satisfactory quality. At Norfolk there
is still larger plant and others are in
construction or prospect. 1t is not un-
derStood that the beet needed is grown
with any more success or ease there
than in this state or the Dakotas. The
movement there has been advanced by
the offer of bounty Of two cents
pound paid by the state. In view of
the prosperous outlook claimed for this
industry in that state, it would hardly
be expected that the repeal of the
bounty act would be advocated by those
who grow the beetS and are presumed
to be the chief benefciaries of the fos-
tering policy. But it is noted that
among the demands set forth at the re-
lance is the repeal of the bounty of two
cents per pound for manufactured beet
sugar. The manufacturers protest that
this would be unjust to them, as they
have invested their capital in view of
the encouragement afforded by the
state. Without full knowledge of the
conditions of the bounty and the influ-
enceS that actuate the demand for the
repeal, there would seem to be room for
just complaint on the part of the sugar
makers. 1t is stated that the action of
the Alliance was had without opposition
or discussion, and that the most active
in its support were the farmers who had
been growing the beets and selling them
to the factories. They had been disap-
pointed in the experiment so far. The
prices paid them for their beets did not
meet their expectations. Their labor
had been severe, and they did not like
the outcome. Their grievance must have
been regarded as more than the tempo
rary incident of new enterprise.
If they anticipated an adequate return
for their labor in the early future they
would not urge the cutting off of the
chief margin of advantage to the buy
ers of their products. AS other states
are not offering any bountieS, it would
seem that the manufacturers in Ne
braka should be able to pay more than
where they did not have the two cents
pound for their sugar. The reason
assigned for the Alliance action was
that the bounty tends to foster monop-
oily. That is sound political sentiment.
but its application to this case requires
some explanation. The bounty policy
is believed to be erroneous in principle.
but in the Nebraska case it was hoped
it would come near vindication. 1t is
extremely desirable that the beet sugar
business shall be made a success in
the West.