Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-08-13
EDITOR
Cuba's Sugar Crop Prospects

The present very satisfactory price of sugar. from
the producers point of view. makes statistics on
that very necessary commodity of utmost interest,
and more 30 when these statistics are a resume of
sugar production of plantations other than those
of Hawaii.
Cuba determines the price of sugar in the United
States and for this reason special interest attaches
to the summary of Cuban crop conditions given in
recent issue Of the Bureau of Commerce reports.
By advanced methods in fertilization cultivation
and harvesting Cuba has made wonderful strides
in sugar production. In six years Cubas sugar
crop has increased from 1,4S0217 tons in 1911 to
1905 625 tons in 1916. The estimate for this year
crop set at $500 900 tons but now, taking into
consideration the great amount of destruction
chargeable to the revolutionists and the time lost
through the inability of the mills to grind while
disturbances lasted estimate is now made that
with the aid Of favorable weather it is possible the
outturn Of sugar may reach $500, 900 tons
Noting the weather that has prevailed during
the time OF disturbances, when large cane areas
were destroyed, and all sugar making work was at
standsti it is fully believed by those conversant
with cane growing, that Cubas estimate of the 1917
crop would have been exceeded It has been pretty
well established by estimates that carry conviction,
that the actual destruction of sugar will amount
to upward of 100000 tons.
The number of acres under cultivation in cane
throughout the island Of Cuba will easily reach
l,4oOOOO This is divided as follows: Pinar del
Rio, 22,777; Habana, 1885, Matanzas, go 400:
santa Clara, 4O4, 900; Camaguey 1s3, OOO Oriente,
o50,SOO. Smaller holdings will swell the amount
to the estimated acreage.
Inc present high price of raw sugar permits the
Cuban mills to harvest and grind cane which Yields
only per cent sucrose. Under exceptionally favor
able conditions, generally in February and March,
q per cent as high as 20 has been reached but the
general run is in the neighborhood of -
Little hope is entertained that next years crop
VIII exceed or even equal the 1917 crop Since the
revolutonists passed through Oriente district.
destroying cane fields as they went there has been
no attempt made to clean up the damaged fields,
and the new crop will not only be hindered in it's
growth but there will be much extra labor involved
In cutting the burned cane as well as the new
Conditions between Alto Cedric and Antilla will
not be 30 bad the planters in that section of the
islands to large extent cleared away all the
burnt trash and cane, and the ration is reported
as good stand. The prospects for large crop in
this section next year are good.
Ihe mills in Oriente East are now grinding and.
with no more disturbances will continue to grind
until September The provinces of Camaguev and
santa Clara suffered the heaviest at the hands of
the revolutionists. Practically one.half of the
cane crop was ruined, and in the neighborhood of
Jobabo the cane fields were devastated
In the northern part of the island, at Chaparra
and Delicas where are located some of the largest
sugar mills in the world the revolutonists DESTROY
ed about 100000 tons of cane.
There are 2O1 sugar mills in the island of Cuba,
and OF this total So owned and operated by cti
zens of the United States
Very little definite information has previously
reached the public concerning the amount of crop
damage done in Cuba by the revolutionists. Cen.
sorship has minimized the activity of the rebels.
But with the Cuban crop estimated at less than
three million tons during this war period it is easy
to understand the present high price of raw sugar
and there is no reason to expect drop in price