The morning news., 1899-05-24
WILSON ON SUGAR INDUSTRY.
LOUISIANA PREPARED TO HANDLE
LARGE CROP.

P'ople More Concerned over the Fu-
ture Policy of Congress Than
Anything EIse-The Situation
Viewed From "A Political stand
point-Secretary Believes DingIey
TariG Has Given Much Encour-
agemcnt.
Washington, May 23-Secretary Wilson
returned to-day from his visit to Louisiana
and Texas, which was made in conformity
with the wishes of the President for the
purpose Of looking over the sugar. rice.
tooacco fruit, cotton, grazing and other
industries of that section
He reports very cordial cooperation on
the part of the producers Of those states
in giving him facilities for seeing every
thing along these lines
Speaking of the sugar industry, the Sec
retary said:
Very extensive improvements have late.
ly been made in the sugar factories, in an
ticipation of life and death struggle with
sugar countries where labor is cheaper
and conditions quite as favorable. The
actual condition to-day is that of admir-
able preparation for handling a large
crop, with prospect, however, of the
present crop being cut down 80 per cent.
by the frosts of last winter. The all
couragement given by the Ding.ey tariff
will have a tendency to increase the area
of production and attract capital to the
enterprise.
Concerned Over Legislation.
The people are much more concerned
over the future policy of Congress respect
ing their industry than they are over the
heaVy loss on the coming crop by the low
temperatures. They are pleased to note
the great increase of sugar production
from neets in the Northern states. Judging
they viii not be alone in the future when
public policies are found regarding the i'm
portdtion of their product.
The large amount of money being paid
to foreign countries for saccharine mat
ter gives abundant opportunity for en-
terprise in the production of sugar within
the United States, and every effort will
be now made by the producers of sugar
to earn that money"
A Difference of Detail.
Referring to the political situation the
secretary said:
The people accommodate themselves to
circumstances. politically. The Republi-
cans say: We want protection Others
VINO do not like to use the word 'protec-
tion,' say, The government needs reve-
nues.' But, however 1t is put. the present
policies of the government are very popu-
lar"
The. secretary expressed the opinion that
the encouragement given by the Dingley
tariff has had marked effect on the rice
tba Gu
tenslve arrangements are generally being
made to produce all the rice consumed in
the United States. which, he thinks, will
be soon brought about.
There seems, the secretary said, to be
very good reason for the sanguine dis
position of capital and enterprise to pro-
duce sugar, tobacco and rice in the Gun
states, particularly sugar as il has been
ascertained through extensive experiment
tation carried on by the department Of ag-
riculture that nearly all the Northern
states. from New York to California, are
well suited for the production of sugar
from beets.
Studying 1t scientifically.
Much has been done for sugar produc-
ton in the South by scientific investiga-
ton. The sugar planters years ago So
cured the service of DR.. w. c. Stubbs,
who has not only directed all their i'm
provements in the field and factory, but
has educated young men in the sciences
and arts related to sugar production, and
these young men are now found connect
ed with nearly all the enterprises of this
kind i'm the Gulf states."
The secretary reports that he found the
tobacco and peach industries gaining a
firm foothold in Texas. and that both are
proving profitable In some localities there
is as much as /, 400 acres of fine Cuban
tobacco in cultivation. He found land gen.
orally enhancing i'm value, and predicts
that the present era of low prices will
.ri.. nj. Il q