The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-22
Hawaii and Beet Sugar.

The reply of Secretary WILSON to tho
Senate resolution of Jan. ~ must com.
pletely dispose o: any fear that tho annexa-
ton of Hawaii will injuriously affect the
culture of beet sugar or sorghum in the
United States.
Our average annual imports Of sugar from
1890 to 1907 inclusive have been /. S3O,4S2
full tons, valued at SOL, 575. 293, while
from 1893 to 1897 inclusive Hawaii aver.
aged annually only 149,45G tons, valued at
$0,973, o24. During the fiscal year ending
Juno 80 Inst the sugar imports were 443 1873
tons heavier than the average of the four
years preceding, as importers anticipated
the effect of the new tariff act; and Hawaii's
share, accordingly, was AZ, 1852 tons above
her average. But for that exceptional year
she only furnished 81 per cent. of the sugar
consumed here, while her share from 1898
to 1897 was only IL per cent.
OF the total consumption in 1906 beet
sugars furnished 1S per cent, while last
year the percentage jumped to 81 per cent,
largely through the abnormal condition of
the Cuban sugar product. The fiscal year
1897 shows a total consumption of 1906
263 full tons. or this, the total refined
product of imported sugar was 1,78O, 6O7
tons, or 81 per cent, leaving the domestic
product at 335, 6b6 tons, or 10 per cent.
OF this domestic product by far the largest
factor was cane sugar, 2s7, OO7 tons, beet
sugar following with Al ,347. The rest was
maple sugar, exceeding 5000 tons, and
sorghum, about 800 tons.
Such, then, are the statistics which the
Secretary of Agriculture furnishes. The
first question that arises is whether Ha-
wallis production will be increased. 1t has
already been developed greatly by free
entry into the United States, and Mr.. WILL
sos points out that one result Is the
gradual exhaustion OF the soil through
continuous crops. The planters already
have to buy fertilizers, n the guano of
the Pacific islands, in turn becoming ex-
hausted, Is expensive. SO that they must
ultimately 20 elsewhere-perhaps to Chill
for saltpetre, to Florida for phosphates, and
to Germany for potash. This Is the draw
back to any advance on the small share of
Hawaii in our total import of sugar.
Now, turning to beet sugar, its prospects
of increase here are encouraging. Mr.. Will.
soN says that the percentage of sugar in
American beets averages much higher than
in the European, which are their real com.
petitors, rather than the Hawaiian sugar
cane. The crops should be taken in rota-
ton with grasses, vegetables, and grains,
from which the nitrogen, potassium, and
phosphorus acid needed for sugar beet pro.
duction will be restored to the soil.
His conclusion is that the present Ha-
waiian system "cannot compete with
farm management in the United States,
where the fertility of the soil is not at all
reduced" Enormous as our consumption of
sugar is, about 1000, 900 tons, "ten acres
on each of 100000 farms In rotation with
other crops would meet home demands"
But "the Hawaiian z grower is a one.
crop man." and he cannot, in the long run,
increase his production so as to injure
sugar production here.
Mr.. WILSON is also confident that
sorghum will play a large part eventually
in the American sugar supply. Sorghum
molasses is now very extensively made. and
the manufacture of sugar from the sorghum
plant is increasing.
But as to beet sugar and sorghum both.
the main point is that, while the produc-
tion can be made Incidental here to the
feeding of animals, there is nothing Of the
sort possible In Hawaii There 1.-THE cane