Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-19
IS NOT A MENACE
Hawaii Cannot Compete With Our
Sugar Producers.
SECRETARY WILSON TO The SENATE
Large Importations by the United
States.
GROWING HOME INDUSTRY

One of the most important documents,
containing expert testimony regarding the
effect of the annexation of Hawaii on the
sugar beet industry in this country, is
the communication sent to the Senate late
Monday afternoon by Secretary Wilson of
the Department of Agriculture. Printed
copies of this communication were receiv
ed from the government printing office this
morning and were upon the desks of sena-
tors when they arrived at the Capitol. 1t
was the first opportunity they had had to
read the views of Secretary Wilson on this
question. The paper was read carefully
by senator's and was given greater weight
from the well-known fact that Secretary
Wilson regards the beet sugar industry as
one of the most important features of his
administration, and he has worked hard
to build it up. In view of these facts his
argument in favor of the annexation of
Hawaii is looked upon as especially i'm
portant, for 1t is believed he would not
favor such action if it involved any dam
ger to the beet sugar industry Several
days ago The Star outlined the views of
Secretary Wilson on this subject and
showed the favorable effect they had on
senators who were heSitating about the
Hawaiian annexation problem on account
of its effect on the sugar beet industry.
The Secretary goes into the subject very
thoroughly. In his communication to the
Senate he says:
ImpOrtatiOns of Sugar.
THE average amount of sugar imported
into the United States annually from 1850
to 1897, inclusive. was 1,S30.1S2 tons of
2.2iO pounds each, valued at s101 SO, 2293.
The importation during the fiscal year end
ing June 80. 1897. IVES 1892 tons more
than the average of the four preceding
years. which was 1.752.611 tons, owing to
the desire of importers 10 anticipate the eff
feet of the tariff act pending in Congress
during the last months of that year.
The average Importation of sugar from
the Hawaiian Islands from 1893 to 1897, in
elusive. was 1886 tons, valued at 1913.
92i. The Importation for the fiscal year of
1897 was 192. sos tons, being 43,O5o tons
above the average OF the preceding four
years During 1897 the Hawaiian sugar
was 81 per cent of the amount consumed
in the United States From 1893 to 1897 it
was IL per cent of our consumption.
Consumption of Beet Sugar.
THE beet sugar consumed in the United
States in 1896 was Is per cent; in 1897, II
was 81 per cent of the total consumption.
The disturbed condition of Cuba doubtless
caused much of this marked increase. but
the beet sugars from countries in CONT
mental Europe are those from which we
may expect the most active competition.
The production of beet sugar in the United
States IN 1897 was IL .3jI tons of $40
pounds each: of cane sugar. 2SI .UOi tons;
of maple sugar. 5000 tons, and Of sorghum
sugar. 500 tons.
THE total domestic product was 335 csc
tons
The total refined product of imported
sugar was 1.76O6o1 tons. making the total
annual consumption 2,0.6.263 tons.
From the foregoing it appears that 81
per cent of the sugar consumed in the
United States was imported
Hawaiian Sugar Fields.
"A prominent question is. Can this Ha-
wa!ia1 production be greatly increased in
competition with the American farmer?
Free entry into the United States from
these islands has given great encourage
ment to the production of sugar, and the
industry has been developed very rapidly
We must take into consideration methods
of cultivation in Hawaii before We can
certainly conclude what the future of the
Industry Will be in that direction. Sugar
cane is grown continuously on the same
land in Hawaii, and for this reason the
soil is being exhausted. The planters are
now compelled to buy commercial fertil-
iZers. The three elements of plant food
most necessary to vegetation are nitro
gen, potassium and phoSphoric acid. Ha-
waiIans Will find saltpeter in Chile, potash
at the Stassfurt mine III Germany and
phosphates in Florida Guano on the is
lands of the Pacific is being exhausted and
is quite expensive. When ii becomes neces-
sary to fertilize the soil in order to grow
a crop. the expense becomes considerable
item and must be considered in determin-
Ing what the effect of competition would
be on American sugar growers.
sugar Will be grown in the United
States by American farmers. The Depart
meat of Agriculture has been experiment.
Ing in two-thirds Of the states of the Union
during the past year, and will experiment
IN ali the states during the coming wear
10 ascertain where We can grow sugar
producing plants most profitabiy. de-
tailed report now being prepared for Con-
gress VIII show the results of the work.
The Indications that come TO us regarding
our past season 5 work are that there is
q wide extent of country from the Atlantic
to the Pacific where sugar beets can he
prohtabiy grown as an additional money
crop.
Bect-GrowinE Industry
The slpo.rooeo now paid for sugar is a
great incentive. and numerous factories are
pIannei and arrangements for growing
beets are being made in many states. The
per cent Of sugar in the beets in MANY
parts OF or country is much higher than
The average in Europe. Sugar beets will
be grown most protitably by the American
farmer in connection with dairying or meat
production They will not be grown sue
ceoslE siy on any piece of ground b1t
VIII become a feature of rotative systems,
Alternating with the grasses legurnes and
the grains that rccuyeratt the soil and
store II with plant food suitable for prov,-
h-a the beet on any one piece of ground
Nitrogen
VIII De replaced by the clOvers and other
ieSuines Potash and phosphoric acid will
become available in most of our soils while
lh.y are resting in grass
Inc American farmer can grow tho
sugar beet proftably for the dairy COW
young arimais and fattering stock if tho
sugar Is not extracted at all; the Hawaiian
mas rot these auxilIarics. The pulp of the
sugar beet contains all the heterogeneous
matter OF the plant. III this is taken hack
10 the farm and fed to stock and through
mat lnstrun entality returned to the soil
sugar b=ets can be grown perpetually on
the same farm, without at all reducing the
fertility Of the soil. because the sugar
comes from the carbon dioxide of the al
Hosphere and takes element of fertility
from the land.
Ere first sugar beet factories established
IN tne United States imported machinery
nom contin, ntal Europe. The ingenuity of
our people has been at work and has grad
uaIly supplanted every piece of achinery
imported. so that both in the field and fac
tory American machinery is supersedinp
the foreign and enabling the America n
farmer ard factory owner to do the work
more expeditiCusly and economically.
Hawaii Cannot Compete.