Honolulu star-bulletin., 1916-01-01
Yield WhI Probably Be About
43, 900 Tons Less Than in
1915, But With Favorable
Weather May Come Near
Record Figure
PRICE OF PRODUCTION
Is STEADILY LOWERED
Many Leading Sugar Men Of
Honolulu Express Conf
dence in Future, and Pr0ph-
esy Continued Prosperity
During New Year

Preliminary estimates from most of
the large plantations in the territory
Indicate that Hawaii's sugar crop for
1916 will fail short of the yield of last
year by about $4,000 tons. These pre-
liminary figures. based on present
weather and crop conditions. may very
possibly be greatly exceeded by the
actual yield In case the weather Is
favorable for the cane during most Of
the grinding season now Just getting
fairly under way.
The Sugar Factors pre-
liminary estimate sfor
1916 is ...s.......s. :. 497,OO tons
Those of the G. Brewer &
Compan plantations
which do not ship
through the Factors
have issued preliminary
estimates totaIing s.... s0,550 tons
Estimates from six other
small producers which
shipped independently
in 1915 have not been
obtained. but last year
their tonnage was only. 26,326 tens
The three foregoing figures give q
total 603, ,s76 tons as the present pre-
liminarF estimate as agalnst 1915 ship
ments Of 646.445 tons, but the January
estimates are Sllrarn 'knrje ~ 10 Ht6n5
siderable revision Last years pre-
liminary Of the Factors, for instance,
we $4,000 tons, whereas the sugar
actually sent out BY them totaled $685.
600.
Sugar men Of Honolulu are uniform
n optimistic concerning the prosper
ity Of the Industry during 1916. and
all expect good prices during the con-
tinuation Of the European war. War
prices are hailed as Of enormous adj
vantage to the plantations. The result
art large earnings enabling them to
install eouipIIent which lowers the
cost Of handling and milling the cane.
so that they win be In splendid condf
tiop for the most economical produc'
ton possible when ne expected drop
in sngar prices comes at the close Of.
the great international conflict
Eoresees Low Prices.
A conservative note, almost note
Of warning, is struck by w. o. Smith.
secretary of the Hawaiian Sqfar
Planters, Association, who foresees
the probability of low prices for SUI
gar at such future time as the war in
Europe viii be ended, and European
beet fields again resume their output
IN a volume equal to that before the
war.
Good prices for the year, probably
the next two years, seem reasonable
certainty" says Mr.. Smith. in short.
with TIE present tariff retained. see
no basis for fear of low prices dur
ing the continuation Of the European
war
But 1t must be remembered that
the war cannot last forever. Some
time the beet districts of Europe will
resume the enormous output (which
they turned out before hostilities be-
gan. Meanwhile all the principal cane
sugar districts Of the world have
been planting enlarged areas, and the
enlarged sugar output win have to
compete with the European beet pro
auction.
~One Of the worst years we ever
had in Hawaii. so Tar as prices were
sconcerned. was In 1913, and that was
= year with the full Payne-Aldrich
tariff IN force. so that even q reten..
tion OF the present tariff viii not as
sure Hawaiian planters a good price
once normal European production. is
resumed after the war.
AT present practically all of the
plantations and companies In Hawaii
could pay largers dividends than are
being disbursed nows All Of them are
wisely investing considerable share
of present profits in improvements.
machinery and equipment. which viii
make for the more economical produc-
tion Of sugar, and. the cheaper handl-
ing Of cane.
Also during these good times much
work is being done to increase the ex-
traction per ton of cane, and to In
sure larger yields Of cane per acre. as
well as a larger sugar content per ton
Of cane. All of this expenditure. made
possible by the war prices of sugar,
will enable the Hawaiian plantations
to make better showing in case