The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-11
An Important Project.

All Important fTOJcSp. 81
No more important and no more
promising project has been brought to
the attention of the people Of Seattle
than that which contemplates the es-
adjustment here OF sugar refinery.
1t Is In line with the policy which all
thoughtful men see to be q necessity,
the increase of our manufacturing in
terest But it is not q mere Pigment Of
the imagination or a plan hit upon at
random. 1t grows out Of conditions al
ready existing that prove It to be en-
tirely feasible.
The commerce between Puget sound
and the Hawaiian islands is growing
steadily. 1t will increase more rapidly
than ever now that the passage Of the
Hawaiian bill makes this United States
territory, and applies to its commerce
the laws that govern our coasting
trade. But ii is one-sided traffic.
There are no return cargoes. The ships
that 20 there loaded with lumber and
coal and -four come back In ballast. If
any return business could be built UP
1t would be profitable even at moderate
rates.
There is exactly the same difficulty
In the opposite direction with the COM
merce between the Hawaiian islands
and other American ports. The ship
ments are mostly raw sugar, the chief
product OF the islands, which is sent
to refineries In the United States: and
many of the ships that carry II are
without return carsoes and go back
in ballast Here Is an immense eco
nomic waste that cannot continue long.
To locate a refinery at point such that
the carriers of sugar eastward will be
loaded with American exports west
ward Is the obvious solution of the
problem. Seattle meets the conditions
perfectly. SO that the sugar refinery
suggestion grows out of the existing
business situation.
w nat 10 ntNtNEufN NOW 10 w kO "
work in businesslike way. The cap
ital essential can be raised, beyond
doubt The sugar interests In the ISL
ands will contribute Those engaged in
the carrying trade win contribute. The
capitalists and business men of Seattle
will contribute. For this fund will not
be OF the nature of a bonus: the money
viii be put into a business enterprise
on business basis, and the returns
will be sure and satisfactory, AT the
same time. no undertaking Of such
magnitude can be carried through by
its own weight or by any amount OF
eioquence, II viii require careful, ln-
tenigent and protracted labor.
The first step, It seems 10 us, is the
formation OF complete prospectus
Some one should be charged with the
duty of ascertaining and setting forth
the practical situation. We should
know what such plant viii cost: how
much interest will be taken by the peo-
PIE II Honolulu; what contracts can be
made with the cane growers OF the
islands for their product; what arrange
ment can be made either with the con-
Germ known as the sugar trust. or more
iu,ely with their rivals. the Arbuckles.
10 operate the refinery and dispose OF
its product: and exactly what may be
expected as margin OF profit and a
return on the investment.
| All these facts could be printed on
a single sheet OF paper but it viii re-
| quire immense industry. extensive in
designations. negotiations in various
| centers OF our own country and visit
10 Hawaii before they can be placed In
| reliable and authoritative form. Some
one must do this. and some one must
father the enterprise in this prelimi-
/ nary stage. Then, with the whole work
outlined, its practicability demonstrat-
| ed, and the proposition reduced b bus