The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-10-19
SCIENCE AND The WEST INDIES.

Hawaii must prepare to maintain
herself against the reign OF science,
which is instructing the sugar planters
of other countries how to cultivate the
sugar cane, and extract the juice. The
old system of conducting the sugar in
dustry in the British colonies is about
to end. The absentee proprietors, who
took little or no interest in imprOy-
ing the conditions of the industry and
urgently demanded income, their man
ayers also who took no interest in
adopting improved methods, because
the absent owners refused to encourage
them; the resident proprietors who
lived beyond their means or spent their
time quarreling over the low price of
sugar, are now forced to go into final
bankruptcy, or reform the methods of
the industry. AS some of the colonies
have applied to the Imperial Govern
ment for aid, that government has pro-
missed them some help but tells them
distinctly that it is largely their own
fault that they cannot make any pro-
fit out Of the industry, that if they
will use the present knowledge which
is available, and can be obtained
through trained experts, the increase
of yield in their plantations will secure
them profits even in spite of the dis
eliminating tariffs and bounties.
The new commissioner of agriculture
for the West Indies, DR.. Morris, has
already begun to promote scientific Gull
tivation and manufacture in the West
Indies. He has at his disposal $1,000
per year. This sum is small but he
believes that with it, he can place the
industry on the 'rock-b bottom of science
and common sense The first agricul-
tural congress of the West Indies was
held in the Barbados In January last
1t was attended by planters and Off
cials from all of the colonies. Great
enthusiasm was manifested i'm it's pro-
ceedings. 1t was stated by Dr. Morris
that the sugar cane could now be pro-
duced from seed, and in this way i'm
proved varieties could be obtained and
the percentage of sugar increased. A
certain cane known as Barbados or
"B 147," obtained in this way had al
ready produced as high as three tons
per acre, Or double the average yield
in that colony. The frightful waste of
Juice in the grinding process was dis
cussed. 1t was said that in the old
Muscovado process over 1000 pounds
of sugar per acre was lost, or left in
the canes.
II the yield of the present acreage of
lands under cane cultivation in the
West Indies should be increased by
only one ton per acre, the product
would begin to add largely to the
methods are adopted, as they will be,
and the increase trebled the yield will
add still more to the worlds supply
Those who are interested in the
sugar Industries must not forget that
the British hold a vast store house of
labor in the millions of East Indian
coolies, who can be placed on the sugar
plantations. They can be confined to
British territory, and kept to British
use. Better methods of cane cultiva-
ton and manufacture will enable the
planters to pay better wages. But the
low priced labor of the coming century
is in the hands of the, Imperial Gov
eminent Of Great Britain.
Within a few years, perhaps fifteen
or twenty, the American tariff on sugar
will break down. The annexation of
Cuba will make it useless. The sugar
beet industry will gradually make it
less important as a source of revenue
These are the conditions which will
confront Hawaii. not for some years
to come perhaps, but inevitably in the
end.
There is no encouragement, from
this outlook, for the main industry OF
these Islands, but it gives full anC
abundant warning that we shall be
before long in the noble struggle fol-
existence.