The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-10-06
Looking Into the Future Of Sugar
Business.
PROSPECT OF INTERNAL RIVALRY
Commercial Effect of Probable
Made BY DR.. Maxwell.


received from DIR. Walter MaXwell)
In the course OF interview and de-
liberations with the Board OF Agri-
culture" and the India Office" upon
matters OF forestry, irrigation and
sugar production. which the director
OF our Experimental Station is care
fully investigating, DIR. Maxwell states
that he incidentally approached the
British high officials upon the subject
OF the sugar production OF the British
Indies. and also upon the far greater
questionable commercial results that
must follow the Spanish-American
war. The second highest official OF the
Board OF Agriculture. and Sir George
Birdwood, of the India Office. who is
at the head OF the Forestry Division
for India, assured Dr., Maxwell that
they were of the opinion that the
United States must finally take care OF
what they had obtained as a legitimate
outcome of the war. Further, that IL
Cuba and the Philippines, as well as
Hawaii, come under the influence and
control OF American capital and enter
prise, the expansion of the cane sugar
production will be rapid and very
great.
The British officials asked DR.. Max
well what he thought the effect of such
expansion would be upon the sugar
industry generally, and specifically in
the United States? The Doctor gave
his views about as follows: There is
no other industry that is, and has need
to be, watching the commercial results
of the settlement OF this war so in
tensely as the sugar industry. The
beet sugar growers foresee that the re-
lations OF beet and cane sugars will
be finally controlled by the matter OF
possession of the great sugar producing
properties. II the United States con-
troll Cuba. the Hawaiian Islands. and
the Philippines, these countries Qeav-
ing the home production OF Louisiana
and California out of the question for
the momenD will supply the cOnsump-
tion OF the American people, and with
in few years there will be surplus
for export unless the home cOnsump-
tiOn greatly increases.
These results are clearly foreseen
by the beet sugar producers. and are
"A cause of senSitiveness in Germany.
concerning the settlement and transfer
of the Spanish sugar properties"
Major Craigie asked: What will
be the political effect?'
DR.. Maxwell replied: 1T is likely to
furnish a more logical reason for the
present high protection OF American
homemade sugars against foreign sug-
ars. At present the consumption OF the
United States is 2,3OO.OOO tons. but the
home production is only some 100000
tons. Now the more educated think
ers even among the Protectionist ranks
foresee that the American psop!e will
not continue to pay nearly two cents
a pound extra for their sugars merely
10 keep in existence the men who are
furnishing less than 10 per cent OF the
total amount consumed. II. however,
America should produce, as she will,
most or all OF the sugar consumed,
there will then exist a more natural
ground for closing the door against
outside products-but this will lead 10
competition amongst the home pro-
ducers OF American sugars. II Cuba
Hawaii and the Philippines can and
should and will produce all or more
sugar than the United States can con-
sumo then these countries viii come TO
attacking each others throats; and
| that is the final form OF competition
that certain fields OF American produc-
| ton, and especially that OF Hawaii,
/ have 20 anticipate. For several eco
nomic reasons, Hawaii is less favored
than Cuba and the Philippines, and
these must force the Islands TO main
/ tain the highest excellence in their
methods OF production"
! DR.. Maxwell says that the way Ger.
! tain questions were received which nc
put upon the probable outcome OF the
present deliverance OF the sugar mer
in the British West Indies caused hin
TO think that a transfer OF those isl nd:
TO the United States upon a basis that
the British and American Government!
shall agree upon. need not be an as
/ tonishing fact OF the future. The d c
I tor remarks that those West Indi;
/ islands will ne one more thrust in n,
/ side OF Hawaii, and that she must lool
we'll to her laurels."
DR.. Maxwell incidentally mention
the fact that the Departments OF STATE
in London tried to out-do each othe