New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1902-12-27
THE SUGAR INDUSTRY OF LOUISIANA

An old saying that "straWs
show which way the wind blows
is doubly true of the sugar in
dustry, for there are many favor
able signs that the turning in the
long lane of depression, low
prices, unjustcompetition, is be
ing reached. The recent steady
rise in the London market IL the
effect of the abolition of European
bounties and all the unfair systems
of sugar disposition and distrl-
button will soon be only spectre
of a very unpleasant and unprotit-
able past Our European sugar
producers deprived of the artiti-
cial stimulus cannot swamp con
sumption with inflated supplies,
which came from taxation drawn
from mistaken and deluded peo-
pie engaged in avOcations that are
unprotected. Now we may look
for the legitimate factors of sup
ply and demand to produce that
healthy competition and stable
market, that the experiments of
socialism essayed to obtain, but
failed. Since the sixties, our
Louisiana planterhas been obliged
to make a fight that required
eternal vigilance, as well as the
highest order of courage and pa
thence. The Civil War came and
passed, leaving in it's wake a
ruined industry, nothing but the
tall spectre-like chimneys, black
ened by the relentless flames of
the burning sugarhouses, was
left of the hundreds of profit
making establishments. Then
came the decentralization following
the horrors of reconstruction
Then the pitiless floods from the
rampant Father of Waters, which
like a wild animal, burst all bonds
and such barriers as the weakened
levees interposed, were easily
leaped and the country inundated.
Labor was demOralized and disor-
ganized and the cost of production
was increased at the very time
when the most rigid economics
were imperative. The advance of
modern and scientific methods,
made all the old time machi:lery
useless, and they were rel}gated
to the junk vendor, and in their
place must be erected the high
class, chemically controlled, large
capacity central factory. All
these great obstacles have been
overcome. The labor is plenty
and reliable, the great bulwarks
of levees under supervision of
Uncle Sam, afford protection from
flood, and it would seem that once
more we are on the high road to
prosperity. Reciprocity and all
the disquieting schemes of the
politicians have stood like beasts
of prey in the path of theplanters,
but all such menaces willlose their
power to brighten or depress
when it is known that the power
Of bountyfed competition is over
The English consumer has been
getting his sugar at a
nominal figure and the
taxpayer has been
footing the bill. The Cuban
planter will now have an outlet
for his product in countries
where he has been practically
The effect on sugar
values is bound to be of an en-
,ouraging nature. But this ap-
oroach of prosperity should not
ull our planters to fancied
security. Even under the new
,rder of things, the needs of
economy will be self-apparent.
Nevertheless there need be no
onger the ghostly fear lest the
'ruit of their anxious endeavors
De swept away by the unfriendly
legislation Of foreign competition
# foreign lands. The outlook
is encouraging and
means much to the holders
# our sugar lands. Capital
will no longer shun them as a
investment, but will
,ome forward and help to realize
hat dream of the American
sugar grower, the entire supply
# the American demand, filled
With American sugar. Southwest
louisiana Industridhst.