Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-07-08
A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
The Beet Sugar Question Involves Some
Things Perhaps Unthought Of.

igan public 1t is still live topic In
other localities, however, and in several
of the states the people are not confin'
ing themselves 10 talk. A company
with "A capital of three millions is said
to have been organized In Minnesota
for the purpose of refining and dealing
in sugar, and the business is assuming
mammoth proportions in California.
In fact, the chief opposition to the an
nexation of Hawaii comes from the lat
ter state on the ground that the free
admission of Hawaiian sugar will tend
to interfere with the local beet sugar
industry.
In the June number Of the Review
of Reviews, Herbert Myrick gives
some interesting facts relative TO the
growth of the industry in Europe and
its bearing upon the sugar problem in
this country. Under the stimulating
effect of the bounty laws the product
of Europe has grown to double its pro-
portions in 1880 and now amounts TO
about five million long tons annually.
The worlds supply of cane sugar in
the meantime has increased only about
half as fast and now amounts to about
three million tons. Only four years
ago the Uaited States imported from
Europe but $50, 900 tons, but last year
the importations from the same source
were 5000 tons, while the imports
from the countries to the south OF us
have fallen from 10000 tons to about
10 600 tons. The imports from Hawaii
and Egypt, however, have risen from
$50, 900 to 100000 tons during the same
period.
This is an interesting resume of a
great trade revolution, and the COM
plete overturning it shows of long es-
tablished commercial conditions pre-
pares us for the statement that another
similar revolution is pending.
The impending revolution is due to
the rapid development of the beet su-
gar industry in this country. AS a re-
suit of the experiments already made,
Mr. Myrick concludes that the sugar
beet can be successfully grown in prof
liable quantity and quality and over
area extensive enough in the United
States to supply the demand of the
world He is also of the opinion that
at the same time the cane sugar pro-
duction can be largely developed.
Competent authority estimates that
California, Iowa, Nebraska and any
one of several states can supply the
entire demand of the United States.
For the Michigan farmer there is
both hope and discouragement in this
showing. In the first place it is evil
dent that the production of sugar on a
large scale in the United States is GO
ing to produce a tremendous distur-
bance in the commercial and industrial
world. The producing capacity OF the
countries to the south of us has not
been diminished, and when peace is
restored TO Cuba, there will be an in
crease in the supply from that source.
The productive capacity of Europe is
being constantly increased under the
fostering care OF the bounty laws, and
If on top of all this the United States,
the chief market for all of these coun-
tries, become themselves producers,
what will be the effect of the enormous
over supply of sugar which will be the
inevitable resultl
The question for the people OF this
state to decide Is whether in view of
the catastrophe to which this tremend-
Gus development seems to be tending
it is for their best interest to enter in
to the business and make the enormous
investment of capital the business re-
quires. 1t is unquestionable that with
the bounty offered by the legislature
the business would be for time profit
able. How IL would be in the long run
is another matter The problem is a
more serious one than IL seemed at first
glance. 1t is matter also which must
be decided quickly. The first In the
field are the ones who will best sue
ceed, and in order to be among the
first immediate action is necessary
Grand Rapids Press.