The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1914-02-14
HOPE Fur SUGAR INDUSTRY.
Determined Effort will be Made to
Weather the Storm-Conferenc
Suggested to Study Situation and
Agree Upon Policy.

: The newspapers in the sugar dis
trlct OF Louisiana are decidedly more
hopeful than few months ago, and
give encouraging reports OF the plan,
ssSSia5+et> work being done and the
PlanteE'ations for the next crop. The
industry has gone through one of the
hardest seasons ever known, with
low prices, a small crop and hostile
| tariff legislation following swiftly or
losses by flood and freeze. The
price OF sugar during a large part of
! this period has been below the cost
OF production, and the outlook has
| been SO unfavorable that it has been
difficult for many planters to secure
| that financial support and backing
necessary to enable them to carry
on their business successfully an
other year.
During the worst period of depres-
sion, when the passage of the I'm
derWood bill warned the Louisiana
| cane-growers that they would soon
have to face the withdrawal of all
duty on sugar, and establish COM
plete free trade as fa1 as that pro-
very pessimistic. It was announced
that a large number of planters had
decided to abandon the field alto
gether, and either allow their lands
to lie faHoW, cut up the plantations
into small farms and sell them, or ex-
pertinent with other crops. It look
ed for time as though a consider
able area would be taken from sugar
cultivation this year.
Although conditions in some re-
spects continue bad, although prices
are still low and the Underwood bill
still faces us, a better feeling pre-
walls, and it is evident a determined
effort will be made to weather the
storm. 1t is believed that with bet
ter methods, greater economy and an
Improvement in prices, cane-groWing
can be continued profitably, at least
IN many places in Louisiana. The
country papers note many favorable
signs. A number of Plantations pre-
yiously reported as likely to abandon
cane altogeth>r will, upon reconsid-
ration, try IT again this year. The
planting season now under way has
been unusually favorable, and while
there has been some difficulty in
the way of advances the planting has
generally gone ON satisfactorily,
with a smaller decrease in acreage
than expected, apparently not over
20 per cent. The planting eondi-
tions being, as we have said, ex-
ceptionally good, the prospects for
10 of Of
promising as those of 1913. The ques-
lian Of price remains, of course, un-
certain; but the hope is entertained
that the sugar industry has already
gone through it's worst period and
may expect some improvement from
this time forward.
One point deserves the fullest con-
sideration. The success of the su-
gar industry of Louisiana will depend
largely upon the getting together
and securing the fullest cooperation
of all who are engaged in it, the
adoption of a common policy and, a
union Of int9rests. The industry
has been weak7for this reason, and
because, while the planters, the su-
gar manufa cturers, the cane-groWers |
and others have been without combi- |
nation, they have faced in the sugar |
trust strong enemy. Other indus |
tries have encountered equal, or near
~ equal, difficulties, but have by |
cooperation and |
united action surmounted them, and |
have done what a few individuals |
Or companies would have found i'm
possible. The citrus fruit growers
Of California are thoroughly organ
zed, almost as cooperative COM
oany, with the object in view of
strengthening the business Of all
The orange growers of 'sthe coast
and guaranteeing the quail
ty of their output, increasing the
demand and extending their terri
;ory. Here in Louisiana the cypress
have done some splen-
lid work in the way of uniting all
hose engaged in this industry and
hereby strengthening it. For
triumph over the various difficult
les facing the sugar business some
such organization and cooperation is
AS we suggested here before, a
conference of those interested in
ugar, to look over the field, to
;tudy the situation, to face the diff
iculties presented, and to agree
lpon a common line Of policy, is es-
ential for any Intelligent plan of
lction, and the sooner such a con-
erence is held the better. It will
all, improve the situation
nd open the way for a vigorous and
campaign. Such a confer
nee should be broad, including all
Who are interested ii any way in
he perpetuation and prosperity of
he sugar industry of Louisiana. ,
he discussion should be full and
'oards ilrs to show the course to :
lae-pehuted It's program should be ,
aid down at the very beginning Of :
he sugar year, SO that all may know !
! and prepare accordingly. A pro-
tam of this kind is not only advis- (
ect, but it is absolutely necessary :
O overcome the difficulties in the :
'ay of the sugar industry.-Times-
democrat.