Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-15

from now. The estimate OF consumption
published within few weeks past by Mr.
Wfllett, who is considered one of the most
conservative and best posted men on sugar
in the country is that within fifteen years
the sugar consumption of this country Will
be over 100000 tons per annum; and his
advice to beet sugar producers. present and
prospective, is that they need fear no such
things overproduction.
Production of Hawaii and the United
States.
During 1896, the beet sugar product of
the United States was 1850 tons; the~cane
sugar product 240,0OO tons, and the product
OF Hawaii. 100000 tons, leaving over LOO
COO tons which had to be imported from
other countries in order to supply the de-
mand.
Beet sugar has, therefore. an opportunity
to expand until it supplies the 100000 tons
now imported from countries other than
Hawaii, and also until it supplies the an
nual increased consumption before there
can be any competition between 1t and the
product from Hawaii.
There will be no more competition with
beet sugar by Hawaiian than by Louisiana
sugar. AS long as there is protected mar
kct and the domestic production is less
than the consumption, there can be no
competition between either the Hawaiian
or Louisiana sugars and beet sugar, be-
cause both beet sugar producers and the
all they produce at full market prices.
The only way in which Hawaiian planters
could injure beet sugar would be by selling
their product at lower price and thereby
compelling the beet sugar producers to
lower the price for their sugar. But the
Hawaiian planters will have no object in
lowering their price.
Sugar is a world product being produced
in nearly every country in the world. 1t
has regular market price the world over.
Sugar in any country at any given time
and place is worth the regular London or
New York price, less the cost Of getting it
there.
If the Hawaiian planters have free ac-
cess to the markets of the United States, It
Is absurd to assume that they will volun-
tariy sell their sugar for anything less
than the regular market price, which will
be the same price at which beet sugar is
sold. If they do not lower the price. and
the amount required for consumption in the
United States cannot be supplied by the
beet. the Hawaiian and Louisiana planters
&C mbined. there can be no competition be-
tween them and therefore no injury will
be done the beet sugar business by Ha-
Waiian sugar.
Hawaii Has Reached Its Limit.
There is no possibility that Hawaii can
ever furnish the necessary quantity of
sugar required for American consumption.
With free market in the United States
for its sugar for period of twenty-five
years, under the reciprocity treaty, the
sugar production in Hawaii has developed
to practically its full capacity. Its output
is now less than 100000 tons per annum,
and all the natural cane lands of the coun-
try are already under cultivation: and even
present results are achieved only by an
enormous use of high-grade fertilizers.
The only remaining lands which can be
brought under cane cultivation are limit
er area of barren lands lying from $50 to
eco feet above sea level, which can possibly
be brought under cultivation by pumping