The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-05-04
WARS INFLUENCE
ON SUGAR CROPS


Says Facts About Sugar:
Expression Of prominent sugar pro
ducers on the elect upon the sugar in
dustry Of the entry Of the United
States into the world war. and upon
the possibility of increasing production
to meet the demands Of this nation. and
its allies, show that there II little pros
pect Of materially increasing the OUT
/ put Of either beet or cane sugar during
the present year The best that can
be done, according 20 the opinion Of
those in close touch with the situation
Is to begin now to plan for a largely
increased production in the season Of
1882 should the war last beyond the
coming summer. q
Beet Producers Position
w. L. Petrikin, of the Great Western
|. Sugar Company, in statement to
Facts About Sugar on this subject,
says:
eft win be possible for sugar beet
production to be Increased this year
TO the extent necessary TO meet the
demand. On account Of the severe com
petition presented by the high prices
Of other farm products fewer sugar
beets win be grown in Colorado this
year than last. Arrangements are be
Jug perfected to put all the factories
into operation ten days earlier than ID
customary, but the farmers are not
planting as many sugar beets as usual
because thoy can get such high prices
for other farm products that they con
slider these more profitable TO cultivate.
'.Anotherf factor that threatens TO
have a serious effect on the. beet sugar
output is the serious shortage of labor
Our immigration agent has been work
/ ing through the Eastern, Southern and
Middle Western States and has sue
ceeded in bringing several thousand
families to Colorado to locate. This
however, win not make up the entire
shortage nor provide the farm labor
necessary to cultivate an increased
I acreage Of beets even II IL could be
contracted for.
Lower Production Predicted
elm my opion II is doubtful if the
sugar producing sections Of the United
States will be able during the coming
season to turn out az large a percent
age Of the total requirements Of the
country as they have this season. said
f. c. Howe, OF the American Beet
lSugar Company z Much Of our factory
help and many Of our sugar beet grow
ers and laborers represent the German
and Mexican elements of the popula
ton. IL lis uncertain what their atti-
tude win be. Although no serious
trouble is expected scarcity Of labor
for the beet industry during the com
1 ing season seems TO be unavoidable
One Of the largest producers ip
| Louisiana, in special interview with
representative Of Facts About Sugar,
explained that production in I.ouisi-
ana this year could be increased only
by sacrificing seed cane needed for the
next planting, policy which he char
actertized as positively short-sighted.
| Towing TO the nature Of the cane
! sugar industry, - he said, it is impos-
sible to increase production immedr
ately. If it is decided TO increase the
production largely for 1918 II will be
necessary to cut down the output some
what in 1917, because ii will be neces
sary TO withhold additional seed cane
in the fall from this years crop. 80
far the industry isundecided whether u
will be better to produce all the sugar
! possible this year in view Of the posi-
BILE scarcity due TO the unexpected eur-
tailment of the Cuban crop through in
ternal troubles in the island. This ninst
be decided later.
Louisiana Planters Loyal
| Louisiana sugar planters, however,
like all good Americans, are loyal 70 the
country and to the President and will
do whatever Is found necessary and TO
| the best interest of the nation. All
sugar planters will plant IN corn, oats,
peas and kindred crops all lands not
| now planted in cane in order TO secure
useful crops quickly.
Louisiana sugar planters hope that
| if II is the plan Of the administration 70
increase the present tariff on sugar OF
to impose consumption or other tax
I'm order to raise part Of the necessary
funds 10 carry on the war that this Win
be- done promptly and become effective
at once so that the object of such meas
lures may not be defeated. Should q
consumption tax be imposed it should
be made to cover sugars imported IN
bond for refining purposes to be ex-
ported as otherwise the present duty
would be counterbaiapeed and the cane
/ grower might fear TO increase his acre
age notwithstanding that his loyalty 70
! the present need of the country would
prevent his taking exception TO such
omission at the present time. ="
Decreased Cane Supply
( fUnfortunately the outlook nc tho
present time is for smaller cane sup.
ply than in l9l6, said +. s, Armstrong,
who represents Important Porto kicah
producing interests, "The estimate Of
! the Cuban crop, which was originally
3, 100000 tons, has been reduced 70 q
maximum Of 2,s00,0O0, this large reduc-
ton being caused by unfavorable
weather conditions, affecting the cane
yields, and also by the recent insurrec-
tion in Cuba, causing labor TO be fright
ened and leave its work, and blythe de-
struction Of large areas Of cane in the
fields by the rebels. The FINAL outcome
in Cuba win be largely dependent upon
the weather conditions prevailing from
4 now an "a fhot and NJ fha 4arou hut n