The herald., 1894-01-30
rHR BRET SUGAR INDUSTRY.

/. A gentleman from Chino brings us the
gratifying intelligence that there are
about 10000 acres already plowed
for beet planting on the ranch.
He also assures as that sppli-
cations for land are coming in to
Mr.. Grid in great numbers, and that
there is perfect rush for chances to
enter into sugar-beet raising. Mr.. Grid
will raise no beets himself this season,
but let out all his land devoted to that
culture on shares. The activities at the
Chino ranch do not show that the action
OF the lower house of congress in striking
out the bounty feature of the tariff bill
has had any discoursging effect upon
the sugsr-beet industry at that point.
We also learn that the gentlemen who
have interested themselves in the plan to
secure sugar factory in Orange county,
near Anaheim, are still energetically
pushing ahead their arrangements, and
that the farmers are planting out sugar
beets in large quantities. This does not
look as if they believed thatthe outcome
of the tariff legislation would be disas-
trous to the sugar-beet industry.
The fact is, there is general con-
cordance of opinion that when the
Wilson bill goes to the senate it will be
materially changed in regard to its
present sugar feature. The government
must have great deal more revenue
than is possible under the Wilson tariff
bill as it is. Sugar is an article of uni
veresl consumption, and is one of the
most available items in the whole range
Of imports from which to raise revenue.
Free sugar not only strikes deadly
blow at the great advance this country
has taken in its effort to build up the
industry of sugar production in the
United States, but it brings the labor of
the American farmers, who have en-
gagged in the raising of sugar beets,
sorghum, cane. and the increase of the
maple juice supply. in direct competition
with the cheap labor of the West Indies,
the PHILIPPINES and China. The sober
second thought which will have sway
and make itself manifest in the senate,
will show the absolute impolicy OF
placing sugar on the free list, and what
ever duty is placed upon the importa-
ton will be equivalent to a bounty to
the home producer. The bounty now
ranges from one to two cents per
pound, and it is hardly possible that
under the circumstances of our revenue
condition the duty will be great deal
less than the bounty.
The beet sugar men themselves would
prefer to see duty placed upon imported
sugar than to depend upon govern
ment bounty. They know that duty
ia legitimate method, and that a bounty
ia one which is questionable and widely
contemned. The legitimate method is
as favorable to their interest as the on
against which there is 30 much opposi-
ton, and there is mcre chance of per-
manence in tariff duty than in a
bounty.
The farmers who have given serious
study to the beet sugar question, see in
its successful establishment as perma-
nent industry an immense addition to
their income. They will not only get
good prices for their beets, but can in
crease their stock-rsising by the fine
feed which the beets afford after the
sacchsrine has been crushed out of
them. We shall look confidently to the
senate to save US from the calamity OF
legislation that would injure this very
promising industry.