The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-02-21

farmers and the merchant who has adj
| vanced him supplies. The small mills
have nearly all succumbed in this strug-
gle, and only the big mills, with the best
improved machinery, can live and thrive
under the present conditions = mills
which have cost their owners half
a million dollars. The machinery is in
use about two months in the year, or
during the sugar-making season, and
| then 1t lies idle the remainder of the
year. The owner must also carry a
heavy rate of insurance on account of
the greater risk of fire on mill property.
At the end of the year there is No
accrued interest on his investment. but,
instead, bill OF expenses for repairs, ct
cetera.
FINALLY, continued agitation of the
subject and adverse legislation upon the
only profitable crop of this soil aud eli
mate, viii bring irretrievabe poverty
and ruin upon this fair land.
The above is undoubtedly true state
ment of the sugar industry in the south,
and where it can be made most profit
able. The experiments made within the
last few years in the manufacture of
sugar, from sorghum and beets, In the
northern states, have been sufficient to
demonstrate the fact that sugar can be
made from these products probably,
not only to the farmers who raise Sor
ghum and bees, but TO the manufactur-
er also. But can this be done without
high tariff or bounty on sugar? IL the
United States government would extend
to the sugar industry the same protec-
tion and subsidy that France, Germany
and other European countries have given
it IN those countries, ii would not be five
years before this country could produce
all the sugar that the people
consume. Those countries placed a
higher tariff on sugar than this country
has ever done, unless 1t was during the
war of the rebellion. At the same time,
they paid large bounties to the sugar
manufacturer. Government aid was
kept up until the industry was thorough
ly established, and was being success
fully managed by improved machinery
and processes of manufacture, and the
experimental stage entirel y over. With
a bounty of two cents per pound, I'M
doubleday the sugar industry could
flourish in this country, even at the
present low prices of sugar, but without
it, it cannot be done. Now, the ques-
ton arises, which Is the most profitable
to the people; to pay the bounty of two
cents per pound on the small amount
produced or place tariff OF
two cents per pound on all that
is consumed that we do not
produce in this country? 1t must be
evident to every intelligent man that a
bounty of cents per pound viii be far
more TO the advantage of the people
until we make nearly half the sugar we
consume. At the present time we do
not produce one-tenth Of the sugar con-
sumed. The Mckinley bill made the
most economical arrangement in regard
to the establishment of the sugar indus
try of any bill that has ever been passed.
What the Democratic party will no IN
regard to this matter remains yet to be
seen; but they pledged themselves in the
Chicago platform to repeal the McKin-
ley DILL" If they do, the sugar bounty
goes with it, aud the probabilities are
that if they do anything, they may re-
place the tariff on sugar, and in this way
subject the people to All expense of from
500, O00, 900 to $40, 900, 900 year on their
sugar, made abroad in consequence of
the tariff. instead of from 81, 900. 900 to
SO, 900, 900 year to pay the bounties on
sugar made at home. E. p. NJ.