Evening star., 1901-11-29
CoLoRADO's NEED AND CAPABILITY.
With Artificial Irrigation She Can
Raise Sugar.


Colorado is prosperous, according to Rep
resentative Bell who lives in Uncompahgre
| county of that state. However. she wants
Congress to do zone thing and to prevent
another from being done in order to con-
| tinue that prosperity. ,
"These two things which are paramount
in the line of legislation to Colorado" said
Mr.. Bell to Star reporter today, ARE,
| first. a federal appropriation for the con-
struction of irrigation waterways, and. Sec
ond, rejection Of the proposition to give
Cuba a reduction on her sugar, tariff.
'If irrigation is provided, Colorado can
easily produce all the sugar that is needed
| in this country; and this statement is not
exageration."
Mr.. Bell explained that all that was de-
sired of the government in. this connection
was that the reservoirs and waterways
| which the government had already survey
ed and made estimates for, should be built
at government expense. The state would
provide for the distribution Of the water
from the reservoirs
In order to make a successful effort in
this direction, Mr.. Bell indicated that sli
of the western states in which irrigation
was such a vital necessity would doubtless
combine their efforts to the end that q GER
tain amount might be appropriated for each
state.
In order that the government may be
reimbursed for his outlay it will be pro-
which shall be benefited by the irrigation
shall be raised. The price of these lands
now is $1.25 an acre. While fntrinstcaIIy
much of this land Is not worth that price
without water, 1t would be worth great
deal more with Irrigation provided.
Besides making a reputation for sugar
beet growing, Colorado according to Mr..
Bell. is supplying the markets of the east
with the finest peaches grown. and her
apples and canteloupes are most favorably
| known in Europe: All of these productions
of her soil could be multiplied three-fold
with proper irrigation. This same ratio
| SO far as production is concerned could
| also be obtained in many other Of the west
ern states.
If the doctrine of reciprocity with Cuba
! or any other country is put into effect to
allow sugar to be imported at a less tariff
| rate, Mr.. Bell says the effect will be to ruin
| the beet sugar industry of the Rocky
| between the beet sugar growers and the
cane sugar people, as represented by the
American sugar trust, but Mr.. Bell says
that the beet sugar industry is no infant.
and that the reduction in the price Of sugar
recently made by the sugar trust in that
section of the country where beet sugar Is
| produced. is not having the effect desired.
as the peet sugar manufacturers are able
| to store their sugar and hold 1t for higher
prices. Then. too, the latter interests are
| favored by the expense the trust is put to
| in transporting their sugar into that Sec
| tion Of the country.
That the sugar trust is deeply interested
| in getting free raw sugar from Cuba is
| proven, according to Representative Bell.
! from the testimony of the foreman Of the
Arbuckle refineries before the, United
| States Industrial commission to the effect
that his people were acquiring Cuban sugar
lands in considerable. quantities and were
| doing this because the Havemeyer and
other opposition interests were also making
| large purchases in the same direction. Ac-
| cording to this witness Cuba could produce
sugar enough to supply the whole American
inn "a cnn y Roll 1>Q~
! Iieves that thes Congress Of the United
States should proceed with much delibera-
| ton before taking a step which would
seem to benefit primarily the sugar trust,
| and which Dwould work certain ruin to a
| large and growing industry among the
farmers Of hts country.