Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-09-21
We Must Grow Our Own Sugar.

suggest some new method OF deaiihg
with the sugar question. We are
not now in a position to say Whe-
ther it is their intention to main
tain the existing bounty system or
whether they would be more incli-
ned to revert to our former system
of Protection by means of a customs
tariff only, or whether they may be
inclined to admit raw sugar free of
duty and thus not protects the IN
dustry at all.
The position of the American
Economist is we'll known on this
subject. We have advocated, and
we always will advocate, that 1t will
be more advantageous for the Uni
ted States to grow its own sugar
rather than to import it and be de-
pendent upon foreign growers of
raw sugar for L supplies. This
country is large enough and has
such diversity of soil and climate,
and we may say such excellent soil
and climate, that we can IN one
section, if not in another, raise the
entire amount of sugar that the
American people can consume.
When we realize that our per
capita consumption exceeds 62
pounds of refined sugar per annum
and that the total consumption OF
the country exceeds 1900, 600 tons
annually, which costs us Sl25, OO0,-
900 every year for the raw product
alone, it can be seen how great is
the Importance Of this industry.
1t is important not only in a manu-
featuring sense, but also asa branch
of agriculture, affording what is
needed in these times of low prices
for farm products, another crop and
one that is profitable.
1t was the aim of the Mckinley
act to build up the raw sugar in
dustry by the system originally
established by European countries
viz, a bounty system. The re-
suit has been to cause al expendi-
ture of Sc, 00O, 900 in beet sugar
factories, which, last year, produced
1885 tons of raw beet sugar. The
cane sugar industry Of the South
has also been extended and impro-
we'd. Had it not been for uncer-
tainty as to possible future legisla-
tion and the idea that the bounty
might be repealed or raw sugar
admitted entirely free from duty,
in accordance with the policy of the
free trade party, the beet sugar in
dustry would have been much more
largely developed.
We know Of q company that had
been formed with a capital of 3d.
600, 600 for the purpose of erecting
factories. The papers of this com
pany had been drawn up and signed
and its incorporation would have
been effected under the laws of one
Of our states last November, had it
not been that our Presidential and
Congressional elections resulted in
the choice by the people of a Presi-
dent and a majority IN Congress op
posed to Protection. 1t was felt by
the incorporators that it would not
be wise to invest their money in
such an enterprise until the present
party in power had outlined it's
policy in this connection.
This they have not yet done, but
probably will ID within afew weeks.
The more we consider and study
the matter, the more impressed we
are with the urgent necessity OF be-
ing self supporting. Sugar is a
necessity OF life. Suppose the pro-
countries were To be ingol,
yed ia ii warfare with one another,
j contingency that is liable to occur
in Europe ut any time. what would
be tie result. The price of sugs.
immediately advance 100 per
bent. or mare. We should he en-
derendent for our supplies
ppon the sn,ali crops grown ia The
pane producing islamls that are
Bcattercd about the world. Instead
II paying five cents for sugar we