Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1905-12-21
MONTANA NEWS
MENACE TO BEET INTERESTS.
Billings Commercial Club Objects to
Tariff Reduction.

At a special meeting of the Billings |
Commercial club the proposed amend
ment to the Philippines tariff bill af-
fecting the sugar interests was dis |
cussed in all it's bearings. 1t was !
urged that the beet sugar culture is |
of greater magnitude than the COM |
bined wool interests, at least so far as
Montana is concerned, and it was the
unanimous opinion that if a tariff re-
duction is made it may cripple not
only the large manufacturing con-
Germs, but may cause loss to the farm
ers of the state.
The matter was finally covered in a
set of resolutions that were presented
to the meeting. They were adopted
unanimously The resolutions are as
follows:
Whereas, certain legislation affect
ing the sugar industry of the United
States is proposed at the present ses-
sion of congress-, said legislation con.
templating a revision or removal OF
the tart ffon sugar from the Philip
pine islands and possibly other pos
sessions in order to stimulate the In
dustry of those islands; and,
Whereas, while such legislation
would undoubtedly have the desired
effect of building up the industry
wherever a tariff revision or free
trade applied, such action would be
followed by grave consequences to
the manufacturing and agricultural
interests of the West and South A
brief review of the sugar business in
this country will disclose
First-It is an industry of consider
able proportion, and under the pros
porous conditions that have existed
for the past few years it is growing at
wonderful rate. Besides the numer-
GUS cane mills there are now fifty
three beet sugar mills in the United
States. Eight are now in course OF
construction, and negotiations are 60
ing on for the erection Of possibly q
dozen more. All of these vast inter-
ests would be seriously affected by
any hostile legislation that would per-
nit the cheap coolie labor of the Pa
cific to compete with American labor.
Second-Since science has demon
strated the commerSa! value of the
sugar beet, vast areas of arid lands
that hitherto were practicall% worth
less have been reclaimed. Experience
has shown that through raising sugar
beets on these lands they are not only
increased many fold in value, but are
put in prime condition for wheat,
grains and many other crops grown
in the West and Northwest.
Third-The cultivation of beets fol
sugar demands the most intensified
farming, and as a consequence more
settlers are sustained on beet lands
than can possibly make living where
other and less profitable crops are
grown.
FOurth-There is now under con.
struction at Billings a beet sugar fac.
tory which, on completion, will fur,
nish a livelihood for 1000 more set
tiers and laborers than are now here
This mill will cost approximately ST.,
100000.
Fifth-Negotiation are now pend
ing for the erection of beet sugar fac
tories in five other towns in Montana
with a corresponding increase in pop
Ylation in each instance.
Sixth-Although Montana is thirG
in area in the sisterhood of states
our population is to-day less than 800,
900, and the area of land susceptible
to reclamation is greater than that Of
any other state. The sugar industry II
of vital importance to the prosperity
oof the state in that it is the frs
step toward utilizing the agriculture
resources of Montana for manufactur
ing purposes; and,
Whereas, we believe that tamper
ing with the present tariff condition.
as affecting sugar would have the di
rect result of causing these proposed
industries to be abandoned and natur
ally affact our local sugar factory, and
by causing lower price for suga
beets. would eventually cause grea
loss to our farmers: therefore, be it
Resolved, That we, the Commercial
Club Of Billings, believing that tn
American farmer should not be CON
PEELED to pay for the prosperity of tn
coolie labor of the Pacific, earnestl
urge our representatives in congress
to use every just means to proven
any revision of the tariff as affectin
the sugar from the Philippines or an
other country, and that a. copy @
these resolutions be sent to each @