The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-10-21
TARIFF HITS INDUSTRY HARD
Farmers Received S18,958 Last Year or
Falling Off of $4,000 from Former
Years Big Factories to Reopen
Later On.

Last year there were 274 acres Of
rd in Kenosha county devoted to the
production of sugar beets. The total
production in the county amounted to
BAGS tons for which forty Kenosha
county farmers received total of
$l8,95S.79. The records show that
this amount is almost $53 900 less than
the amount distributed in the county
in previous years when all of the beet
sugar factories in the state were in
operation. That the farmers of Keno
sha county appreciate the value of beet
growing Ia shown by the fact that this
year there are lis farmers, with total
area of l,525.5 acres, producing beets
in the county.
In 1914 only one of Wisconsin Is beet
sugar factories operated this being
located at Menomonee Falls, the Madi
son, GAINESVILLE and Chippewa Falls
factories having been forced to close
down as result of adverse legislation
Statistics show that the Menomonee
Falls factory, together with the fac
distributed in Wisconsin last year to
farmers alone total of 1870, 493. so.
This tidy sum going to pay for 66,809
tons OF beets, which were grown on
2,077 farms, on 6,095 acres Of land.
In addition to the amount paid to the
farmers the industry distributed in the
form of salaries and wages over
$4,000 The railroads of the state re-
ceived thousands of dollars for hauling
the beets to the factories while the
amount expended for coal, coke and
general supplies ran into the thousands
all of which added to the prosperity of
the various industries in the state.
AS a result of the closing down of
three of the factories the amount dis
tributed to the farmers last year was
$7S2,000 less than was distributed, in
previous years The amount paid to
labor shows decrease of approximately
100000, while the amount expended
for supplies was reduced over 100000.
The railroads of the state suffered
reduction of approximately $4,000.
In other words the closing of three fac
tories in the state reduced the amount
distributed by the beet sugar industry
in Wisconsin approximately $1,382.OOO
AS a result of the European war
locking up the export supplies Of con
tlnental European beet sugar factories,
which undor normal conditions furnish
balF 20 In
sumption, the detrimental effects of
the Underwood tariff law upon the do
mestic sugar industry, have been
largely offset for the moment. This
was brought about by the shutting off
of England from Germany and Aus
tria, causing her to seek another source
of supply for her sugar consumption.
She naturally turned to the American
market. This action caused and con
tinues to cause, shortage in this mar
llet Of both raw and refined sugar and
consequently the law of supply and
demand has forced the price of SUI
gar up
Due to these conditions two of Wis
consin Is factories, located at Madison
and Chippewa Falls, respectively, have
been able to resume operations The
records show that this year there are
1888 farmers growing sugar beets,
with total area of 1914 acres de-
voted to the crop
The sugar consumption of the state
of Wisconsin last year cost the con
sumers approximately $11, 400,0 600 In
view of the fact that only about
100000 worth of sugar was actually
produced in the state during 1914 it is
obvious that over $4,000 900 was sent
out of the state for sugar OF this
amount at least one-half was sent out
Of the United States to foreign
countries,
Considering the vast area adapted to
beet growing in Wisconsin the state
could easily become one of the lead
ing sugar producing states Of the
union, and thus, millions Of dollars
which are now being sent out of the
state for sugar could be kept at home
to be distributed among the farmers
anu puolnSSo HcH OIL w lSCOnSln.
The beet sugar industry no doubt
will have lease on life for as long as
the war continues. The future of the
industry, after the close of the war,
however, rests entirely upon the action
taken regarding the present tariff law,
according to which the duty on foreign
grown sugar will be removed in 1916.
In other words, unless the American
people realize that the enforcement of
this law under normal conditions,
would destroy the domestic sugar in
dustry, the Wisconsin industry will de-
cline and the people of the state will
be compelled to purchase foreign