The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-11-03
SERIOUS pRosLEM FoR HAWAII

in a few years seriously affect the
cane production OF the United States
there was a disposition here at home
20 ridicuie the idea II was declared
By a contemporary that sugar beet
culture in the United States was in
It's infancy and that it would take very
many years for the beet growers to
produce sufficient to supply the mar
ket Of the United States and doubt
was expressed that they ever could
do so.
The long headed business men who
control what is known as the sugar
trust have already seen the danger
to their control of the market. through
their refining OF cane sugar. from the
rapid growth OF beet sugar production
in the States. and the war now on is
aimed at the destruction OF the beet
sugar industry while II is yet in its
infancy. They have taken a lesson
from a leaf OF history. When in 1881
the first trouble between Great Brit
ain and the Boer colonies in South
Africa arose. Gladstone could have
settled the whole matter very easily
had he shown a little backbone. But
he only temporized and the BOer
youth had become a giant when trou-
BILE came two wears ago and Great
Britain's attempt to do what Glad
stone should have done twenty years
ago has cost that nation millions OF
dollars and the lives of thousands of
men The sugar trusts managers are
far-seeing enough to know that II they
desire to wage a successful fight
against beet sugar growers they must
not wait until the latter have become
strong and self-reliant but must wage
the war while the beet sugar industry
is. so to speak. a struggling infant.
II needs no far-sighted business cal
culator to see. that the sugar beet in
dustry has been going forward with
such giant strides. that a very
few years will place it above the cane
production of the States and Island
Territories OF the Union In 1898, on
ly three years ago, the production of
beet sugar in the United States was
the ineonseQuential amount of 10000
tens. In 1899 il had increased to So
900 tons. In 1900 it had grown to 3d.
600 tons while the production for this
year is estimated by the experts of
the Agricultural Department at Wash
ington at 100000 tons.
Considered on a percentage basis
this shows a growth in 1899 over 1898
OF 81 per cent. in 1900 over 1899 OF
4616 per cent in 1901 over 1900 of IA
per cent. The average growth there
fore has been 80 per cent per annum
since 1898. Should the growth of beet
sugar production continue for the |
next three years at the rate OF 80 per |
cent per annum. instead of at the rate |
OF IA per cent. the rate OF growth OF |
1901 over 1900. the production of beet |
sugar for 1904 would amount to the |
enormous total of 1.400.0 900 tons. twice
the production of cane sugar of the |
States. Porto Rico and Hawaii. Even
that the growth in produc-
ton of beet sugar should only be at |
the rate of fifty per cent per annum
for the next three years. only about
one-third OF the increase OF this year
over last. and on that basis the pro-
iuction Of cane sugar for 1904 would /
amount TO almost 100000 tons.
Is il any wonder that when the men
At the head Of the Sugar Refining
Company. otherwise known as the
trust. calculated the growth of the
beet sugar industry. they saw that il
war was to be made against it it must
be made at once. AS to whether or
lot the growth of beet sugar produc-
ion will continue at the same ratio
Is in the past We would call attention
o the following editorial paragraph
n the last number OF the Beet Sugar
lazette:
Elsewhere in this issue will be found
eports of a large number of projects
Fhich are now under way for beet sugar
actories to be built in time for the cam
align Of 1902 While some of these pro-
ects may never be realized. q majority
( them will very likely he carried out.
nd IN quite 4 number OF cases contracts
ave already been lee for building the fac
cries IL appears therefore. that the
ref sEgar ksdsxfrv Is eroscing et aa in-
ressiag rafe. Tks nsmbsr Of aese pro
ccss iscreases from year 20 Fcar. and
isost frem soafk 10 Asonfh.
OF course all this interests Hawaii
a sugar growers but just what their
'osition is 10 be in the warfare be-
ween the rival interests IN the States
is hard. At this time. 70 say. The
rst idea OF many has been that 1t
ras 20 the interests of the Hawaiian
rowers TO unite with the beet sugar
rowers In their warfare against the
rust. and in opposition TO the en-
rance OF sugar from Cuba to the
'nited States duty free or even AT
sduced rate Of duty. Yet il would
ppear that II the beet producers are