The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-01-06

ject under consideration. IL is seen tina
the normal export Of sugar from Porte
Rico 10 the United States before The
war was in round numbers -. 900 900
from Cuba 2.000,00O,OOO and from The
Philippines 100000 pounds. These
are the quantities OF sugar which were
produced and exported to the United
States under Spanish rule and by Span
ish methods of agriculture and manu-
facture. 1t is now certain that all these
countries will be rid of the Spanish
yoke. It is also already decided that
two Of them, viz, Porto Rico and the
| Philippines, will become parts of the
United States and therefore their pro-
ducts Will be admitted free OF any duty
In the case of Cuba the probability is
| that it will remain under an American
protectorate. All the teachings of our
past history, as exemplified. especially
in the case of Texas, indicate that
Eventually Cuba will also be a territory
or state Of the union. For the pres
ent, however, We must exclude this
event from any immediate influence on
| the sugar industry in the States In
other words, it is fair to presume that
| for at least the next ten years Cuban
sugar will pay a duty on entering our
present borders
1t is also fair to assume that under
American institutions the agriculture
Of Porto Rico and the Philippines will
be improved and the production of SUI
gar increased. These countries being
parts of the United States, it is evil
dent that this increase in production
will be consumed here, so that practi-
cally all the sugar exported from those
islands will find market here.
1t is not possible to give with any
degree of accuracy an estimate of how
great this increase will be. We do not
know enough about the available lands,
the vicissitudes of the climate, the con-
ditions of labor, and the attitude of
the natives towards their new rulers
to make any positive statements. 1t
appears to me, however, that for de-
cade at least the rate of increase in
sugar production in these Islands will
be ten per cent per annum.
At this rate, in 1910, the quantity of
sugar exported to the States from Por-
to Rico will be, in round numbers,
200 000, 900, and from the Philippines
300 ,00O,0 900 pounds, or a total Of $780,
900 900 pounds.
1t seems quite certain therefore that
that quantity of sugar, including the
Hawaiian product, which will come in
to the States free of duty in 1SOS-1910,
will be at least 1,500,00O,000 pounds.
Our consumption of sugar at the pres
ent time in round numbers is 1000, OOO,-
600 pounds. At the normal rate OF in
crease of population we will consume
in 19OS-1910 fully 100000, 900 pounds.
If we assume that the production of
sugar in the States from beets and
cane does not increase, it is seen that
practically the same quantity of dutl-
able sugar will be imported in 1910 as
at the present time. If the same rate
of increase be found in the home indus
try which has been accorded to Porto
Rico and the Philippines, our domestic
production, excluding recent acquisi-
tions, will be nearly 1900, 100000
pounds in 1910. 1t is not likely, how
ever. that such a rate OF increase Will
be maintained, since capital will be
slow to enter the sugar industry in the
States until the final status of Cuba is
determined.
1t is evident therefore that the guam
THY of dutiable sugar entering our
ports during the next eleven years is
not likely to be diminished and may
be increased. Nor is it likely that any
tariff changes threatening a lower rate
of duty on imported sugar will be en-
acted within the time specified. The
Republicans have control of the
ate for at least six years to come and
whatever party may be in power 1t Will
be only too glad to have the benefit OF
the duties on imported sugars to help
pay the expenses which the enlarge
ment Of our territories naturally en-
tails. a conservative view Of the pres
ent situation, therefore, leads to the
opinion that for at least the next de-
cade the annexation of the Spanish
colonies will not work any injury to
the present sugar industry Of the Unit
ed States. It must be confessed, how
ever. that the uncertainty in regard 10
the final disposition OF Cuba and the
certainty that there will be a large in
crease in the imports of duty free SUI
gar will discourage the investment OF
capital in new enterprises. This Will
he especially felt in the beet-sugar in