The morning call., 1893-04-07
BEET SUGAR AND WHEAT.

IL Is quite within the range of probabilities
that during the first decade in the twentieth
century Caiforca's product of beet sugar
will be more valuable than its product of
wheat. Wheat can be grown almost any
where in The temperate zone aud con-
sequently in that industry we have the
whole world as competitors. Butthe range
OF tile beet-sugar industry is much narrower.
peculiar soil is required TO produce beets
with enough Saccharine matter to warrant
their conversion into sugar. The beet
sugar factories stipulate that a certain per-
centage If saccharne must be carried as n
condition Of purchase. A higher percentage
brings a higher price. The soil and climate
of California are especially well adapted to
beet-sugaf culture. The area which can be
adapted to the sugar beet is large enough
To supply the whole country with sugar
Considerable progress has already been
made, but capitalists have heSiiated about
making large investments while there was
a chance that the bounty would be with
held without corresponding duties on the
foreign product. If the bounty clause in
the Mckinley act should be rejected the
beet-sugar industry in California and the
WOODEN and iron industries in the East
would find themselves much in the same
condition. II would be hard work to make
either of these industries pay without some
protection from foreign competition. The
first point of attack would be wages Labor
is so large factor in the cost of everything
that the country which has the cheapest
labor, other conditions being equal, does the
work.
There is some protection for sugar in the
cost OF transportation. A ton of raw sugar
Is orth Frn,
wooden goods would be worth thousands of
dollars. 1t would cost about the same 10
move the $50 ton as to move the $1,000 ton.
This is measure of protection, but is
not enough to overcome the difference
between the cost of labor in California
and in countries which will send us
sugar. If it could be made certain
that there would be duty on sugar of from
to cents pound for the next ten years,
beet factories would go up in all parts of
the Stale. The worlds product of sugar is
rather falling off than iner easing, while the
consumption of sugar is greater per head
each year. Under the most favorable con-
ditiOls the wheat-gIowing industry has lis
limitations. When wheat is worth 81
hundred IN the market the cost Of trans
pOrtaton reduces the returns to the grower
about to the cost of production. 1t is only
in wears when there is short crop in large
wheatgrowing districts that the wheat.
grower realizes more than pay FOR his labor
and fair rent for his land.
The market for sugar is right at our doors
Every county may raise its own sugar. The
country store Will buy its supplies from the
local factory. There need be no waste of
money in searching for markets or for trans
portation to markets. But to realize easy
possibilities there should be a reasonable
certainty of some form and degree of pro-
lection. This certainty is afforded by the
financial necessities of the Government.
Our yearly expenditures are now about
$500, coo, 000, of which the larger part is col
lected at the custom-houSe. If there is
general revision of the tariff in the drec-
ton of tariff for revenue. duty Of at
least cent pound ON sugar will be ineyi-
table