Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-04-19

ed in Germany to sugar beets during
the past three years is 100000 acres,
or 1-25O Of the amount Of sugar beet
land possessed by the United States.
This is an actual planted area equal
to only few ordinary American
counties, yet from this acreage Ger
many produces annually two-thirds
as much sugar as total yearly con-
sumption Of the United States, which
for 1911 was 1851 ,S91 long tons. It
is rather curious fact that with the
rapid growth Of the domestic produc-
tion Of sugar the liking Of Americans
for 1t has increased by leaps and
bounds. In 1881 we consumed A
pounds OF sugar per capita, in 1903
So pounds, and at present about so
pounds. AS a matter Of fact the av-
erage citizen eats but 30 pounds Of
sugar each year in It's direct form.
The balance is consumed in canned
goods, preserves, soda water, candy
and other articles into the manufac-
ture Of which sugar enters.
1t has been estimated that each
acre Of sugar beets is worth ST to
the railroads Of the country In freight,
This includes the shipment Of machin-
cry to the beet factory, which may
run in value as high as $4,000, the
carrying Of bags, twine, lime, rock,
lumber and other building materials
and the sugar itself. Perhaps the most
important factor incident to the pro-
duction Of domestic sugar from beets
is the fact that according to the uni
versal testimony Of government and
private agrlculturists It Is the basis
OF the prosperity of the entire irri-
gated west save the relatively small
portion Of such lands adapted for or
charding. This Is so because the
sugar beet is the only crop found so
far which yields a handsome profit to
the farmer Of alkali lands. It is also
well established fact verified by Of
ficial figures obtained here and abroad
that the use Of the beet as a rotation
crop about doubles the yield Of other
crops. It has also been shown that
the location Of sugar factory in the
irrigated sections Of the west doubles
land values before II beginR opera
tions and specific instances are on
record where land has increased from
$50 an acre to 5000 after a number
Of years operation of the factory,
In Germany, where the production
Of beet sugar ia held to be of the
utmost Importance, the government
has for years encouraged the industry
by maintaining duty on imported
tropical sugar and is even willing IA
export sugar at a loss rather than
curtail the annual production. In fact
the sugar Industry for the past hun
dred years has played a highly impor-
tant part in the diplomacy Of Europe
each nation striving in all sorts Of
ways to produce its own supply ant
as much more as possible, It waS
this rivalry, supported by bountles
surtaxes and a great variety of sub
sldles that threatened to bankrup
more than one continental treasury
that led to the establishment Of thu
Brussels Conference, through whlcl
the balance Of power in this industr!
is maintained. Through this interna
tlonal bureau each nation Is told prac
tically how much sugar II shall b,
allowed to export and the price Il
fixed by agreement among the varl
ous nation, which constitutes in thiI
respect huge international trust tina
completely dominates the industry.
The only great world power tina
is absolutely independent of this in
ternatlonal sugar combination is tht
United States, by reason Of It's rapid!
expanding beet and cane industries
The jealousy caused the European ma