New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-10
BEET SUGAR-INDUSTFr OR CRAZE?

The making Of sugar from beet roots must
undoubtedly be reckoned serious factor In the
industrial world. First undertaken on large
scale amid the throes Of war, century ago, 1t
soon became firmly established, attained con-
siderable dimensions, and effected something
like revolution in the sugar trade. For to 1t
we owe most Of the Improvements In sugar
making processes, and especially the now we'll
nigh universal refinement of the product 10 us
purest and most attractive form. But for Bona
parties quarrel with England the sugar OF
general use might still be muscovado. In later
years the beet-sugar industry has pushed Tor
ward to predominance over that of cane Inc
enc has been greatly stimulated by bounty sys-
TENS in France, Germany and the Unlted
States while social disturbances and other In
fuences have much depressed the other. Two
years of war have almost destroyed the cane
sugar industry Of Cuba, and IN Imperial Com
mission is holding what seoms much IKE an
ante-mortem inquest upon that IN the British
West Indies At the same time the Deet-sugar
industry in the United States has been greatly
developcd, and under the energetic encourage
ment OF the present Administration bids falr 10
continue its growth at an accelerated rate.
There is little doubt that the industry can be
made widely profitable. The best beet roots
contain about as much sugar as does cane. Inc
Weld Of them TO the acre is enormous. They can
be grown through far wider climatic range OF
country than can cane, and thus can be pro-
duced where industrial conditions and proxim-
ity 10 market are most favorable for profit. or
nil this there Is no reasonable doubt At the
same time. much caution Is to be observed by
all who would seek to engage In the enterprise.
There are men now living who remember the
disastrous mulberry tree and slkworm mania
and other similar crazes that have swept over
this country. 1t will not do TO rush thus heed
lessly into the growing of sugar beets, for the
resul, might be even more ruinous than that OF
any previous craze. There are, no doubt, places
in this country where silk culture might be con-
Quoted as successfully as in France or Japan
1t was the indscrimnate attempt to 90 IL III all
places. without regard to fitness, that brought
ruin. There are probably millions of acres OF
land in the United States on which sugar beets
can be grown as successfully as In France or
Germany: but there are also millions or acres on
which they cannot. That is the first fact FOR
the farmer to take into consideration, and for
the Agricultural Department 10 make clear
The sugar beet experiment was tried in Eng
land where common bees and turnlps nave
long been a leading and most profitable crop.
But it has failed, and the last of the beet-slgar
factories has closed It's doors. The rivalry of
the Continental beetsugar producers, VINO ell
ioy large Government bounties, Is named rs Il
reason for this result Perhaps 1t Is one rea-
son; but another potent one Is almost certainly
TO be found in the unfavorabe climate or Eng
land The summer is too short and the weather
too cool and damp to develop the fullest amount
of sugar in the beets. That is an example that
may well be borne in mind here. Careful IN
vestigation and experiment can alone determine
the fitness of any region for this crop; and these
should be undertaken. There Is possibility
and a probability Of developing vast and
benefcent industry. There ought to be no dan
ger of an insensate and disastrous craze.