New-York tribune., 1896-11-29
SUGAR MADE FROM BEE1O
HOW THE INDUSTRY HAS GROWN w.
DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY OF ITS ESTAbi-sh-
MENT HERE-THE IMPORT TRADE IN
GERMAN rrrr SUGAR

DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY or ITS ESTABLISH
MINT uERE-TrIE IMPORT TRADE IN
GERMAN Rect SUGAR.
II Is only within the last few months that the
people who refine sugar in this country nave De-
come aware Of a new factor that promises 10 be
very formidable. TO every family from the Auah-
tic to the Pacific this new factor IS or interest," Iof
the reason that it Is within the bounds OF POSSIBLE
fly that through it the price OF sugar VIII De sun
further reduced. Already it has had the effect OF
lowering slightly prices at times, though the re-
fners and the iniGGdlcnen reluctant TO
acknowledge It. The factor is the increasing
production OF a fine quality Of beet sugar In the
West and the largely increasing Importation or the
same from Germany Not eAcugh has come over
rs yet 10 make much difference. II Is true Du'
52H7 tons have been imported since January !.
against o. 7n tons for tho same period year ago.
and the American crop this year has aggregated
5000 tons. a good o per cent more than any pre-
vious season has shown
In comparison with the total consumption Of
sugar in this country these figures very small.
OF course. but increasing they are they have A
decided influence and significance. The people Of
the United States 100000 tons OF sugar d
year. Eighty thousand tons OF beet sugar Is the
amount Of the German and American products
consumed here since January l-only per cent OF
the tota--yet twice the quantity OF year ago.
Many have noticed this. but have supposed that
the In great part due TO the practical
failure OF the Cuban sugar crop. That this has
not been the case. however. is proved by tho fact
that the American renners have had very little
trouble In getting enough cruds sugars to
mako Up the deficiency from other parts OF tho
world The sole reason be that the
manufacture Of beet-root sugar Is row firmly on It's
feet industry. though a small
yet and IT be proitably made at a selling price
a little below the best granuated the rehneries
turn out This is a good showing for American
enterprise in the lgh: of the fact that there s
longer a bounty on sugar made In this country and
the import duty foreign-refined sugars is little
less than half what It used 10 be- Despite this the
beet people manage 10 sell every pound they make
directly alongside OF the German importers and in
tho very face Of the powerful refining combine
that controls 70 per cent Of the sugar trade here.
SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES.
The chief difficulties In beet-sugar manufacturing
in this country have been 10 find the proper soil for
the growing Of beets. and when such soil was
discovered to make contracts with the farmers in
that vicinity for sufficient quantity OF that vege-
table. Thousands of dollars have been spent In
perimcHts, and poor fortune has attended tho pro-
Jectors In most cases. Only in the Far West and on
the Pacific Coast up TO this time have proper local
ties been foun.. There stand ready moments
notice to-day hundreds Of thousands of dollars
waiting 10 establish beetsugar rehneres in the East
the right soil and substantial guarantees
Of crops can be assured Men have experimental in
Maino and New-Jersey, with unsatisfactory results.
and there have been thoughts of building a refinery
down the central plains Of Long Island. but
OF these plans have como to anything, though II Is
said that the experiment in Maine would have sue
cecded II the refners there had been able to get
enough sugar beetS.
Eight sugar-beet refineries running prosper
ously in the country to-day. Two Of these in
Nebraska. two In Utah. and one is in the Pecos val
ley Of New Mexico, newly opened region that has
considerable promise in It. The remaining three
are in California. OF such excellent quality is
their product that there is difficulty in selling II
near by Practically Of 1t reaches New
York and seldom any OF It Chicago. though when
any quantity Of II does arrive in the Western me-
tropo!s it finds a market easily. In connection with
this It is worth noting that within the last two or
three years some very earnest attempts have been
made to raise sugar beets In Illinois and to erect
large plant II not more than one there. The mat
ter went far that State Commissioner was
actually appointed. and the entire State secured
The extent and importance Of these under
taltings will be realized when It is said that to
establish plant Of this at least $500 900
and that plans for beet-sugar refneries have been
drawn the basis Of expenditure Of nearly y
million outright.
THE GERMAN PRODUCT LEADS.
While more beet sugar comes to New-York than |
to any other city, II is nearly all the German prod
uct. In spite Of the fact that this sugar has TO
pay additional duty because 1t comes from a
bounty paying country. 1t undersells the refined
sugars by quarter OF cent a pound at least
Until lately. very little Of II has been consumed
directly though many of the smaller grocers In
the poorer parts Of town have from time TO time
bought odd barrels Of 1t because of its cheapness
Up 10 this summer. though. nine-tenths Of this |
German beet sugar went into the hands Of con-
foctioners and Diug-tobacco manufacturers. There
Is another reason however for It's lack Of sale |
with the wholesale grocers. The American Sugar !
Refining Company popularity known as the Sugar |
Trust. has clever system of getting the erocers |
TO handle its products 1t sells to the wholesalers
and to them alone-at figure that Is actually |
higher than the rate the latter sell to the retailers
But on each pound disposed of the company (and |
the opponents OF the trust have adopted this sys-
TEN. too gives rebate Of three-sixteenths OF n |
cent. This IS known In the trade commits |
wholesale dealers get their profit sugars, and |
In no other way. Any person can buy Of the
pany, but II is only these dealers that get the
mission or rebate.
pany toward the wholesalers. but the advantages |
OF sticking 10 it In trade way manifest. The |
department stores that have lately gone into the |
grocery business, being wholesalers have been
sold. upon occasions. far below the regular retail
price. 1t has been supposed that they have done
this at loss. but the story has come that
IN more than one instance II has been the German
beet sugar they were selling. bought cheaply in
large quantities. The experiment has been so sue
cessful that the relners are looking the situa-
tion with no little anxiety. II is not at all un-
likely that the consumption OF beet sugar In this
way will increase. The average person cannot tell
the difference between beet and granulated
sugar for the reason that TO all intents and pur-
though the beet sugar is little grayer. 1t is said
to be cleaner.
He PREFERRED MURPHY