Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-02-10
The Beet Sugar Industry.

cember ID last, and as every houses
hold in the land is interested in sugaE
the article will be Of universal interest.
THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY.
The Evening Post bids the heartiest
welcome to every American industry
that can stand on its own bottom ana
make its way without leaning ON the
poor rates. Among these self-support-
ing Industries we are glad TO know, is
the production OF beet sugar. At all
events, it was such two years ago. We
publish elsewhere 4 letter written in
1899, and signed by Mr.. OXnard and
Mr.. Cutting, the chiefs Of this indus
try on the eastern side of the Rocky
Mountains, showing that this was tho
happy condition Of the trade at that
time. If parties masquerading as beet
sugar producers are besieginS the
President and Congress ut this mo-
ment. and pretending that they will be
ruined If Cuban sugar is admitted for
six months at half the present rates Of
duty their false pretences ought to be
exposed.
The letter of Mcssrs. Oynard and
Cutting was probably written for the
purpose of inducing the farmers of the
Mississippi Valley to go more largely
into the cultivation of beets for the
sugar factories. This was a laudable
motive for telling the truth and show
ing the large profits which awaited
both the beet grower and the manufac-
turer il the industry were perscver-
ingly and intelligently prosecuted. To
this end it was pointed out that farm
ers could clear $50 per acre by culti-
vating beets, and might even make
500. But in order to assure the culti.
vator that he would not be exposed to
reverses by possible changes in the
tariff. they proceeded to show that the
industry stood in no need Of protection.
The beet sugar industry. these gem
tlemen say, islands on as firm basis
as any business in the country" They
point out the fact--a very important
one-that their product comes out as u
finished article, refined and granulated.
1t is not. like cane sugar grown in the
West India Islands. . black and often.
sive paste which must be carried i'm
wagons to the seaboard and thence bw
ships to the United States. where, at.
ter another handling. it is put through
costly refinery, and then shipped by
rail to the consumer. who may possi-
bly, be in Nebraska. alongside a beet
sugar factory, which turns out the re-
a,,I .I,I, \
swoop. Indeed, the advantages of the
producer of beet sugar for supplying
the domestic consumption are very
great. We have no doubt that Messrs.
OXnard and Cutting are within bounds
when they say that sugar can be pro-
duced here cheaper than it can be in
Europe" The reasons for this are
that
"The sugar industry is, after all!
merely an agricultural one. We can
undersell Europe in all other crops,
and sugar is no exception
1t follows as naturally as the making
of flour from wheat. II we can pro-
duce wheat cheaper than Europe, then
naturally we can produce flour cheap.
cr, as we do.
But the writers of the letter do not
depend upon a-prioli reasoning 10 prove
that they can make sugar ut profit
without tariff protection. They point
to the fact that under the Mckinley
tariff of 1890. when sugar was free of
duty, the price of the article was four
cents nor nound Wet q nor nrofit of GO
per ton was made by the bcc+ sugar
factories under those conditions. not
counting any bounty on the home nro.
tiuotion of sugar. They boast thar
they made this nro(it while working
under absolute free trade and tbev
have a right TO be proud of tbis resuIt
of their skill and industry. Many
beet sugar factories had been started
in byrone yeors hack in tba sivtios
and seventies of tbo ninetoon+b non,
tury. and had failed becors, tho nro
iectors did NOT understand tba hnsi.
ness. Since then oraat nr,craes hos
been made, both here md ahrood in