MICHIGAX BEET SUGAR , 411 



compeMtion is thus aunounced between the producers of these two 

 kinds of sugar. Secretary Wilson, in an interview last week said: ''The 

 operations of the sugar trust in cutting- the price of sugar out west, 

 where beets are grown, are likely to convince the American people 

 that the beet industrv is not controlled by the trust. The growth of the 

 sugar beet industry has alarmed the trust.'' 



REDUCTION IX PRICE OF SUGAR. 



The editor proceeds to say: "It is yet to be proved that the develop- 

 ment of the industry is likely to lower the price to the consumer." Time 

 is a necessary condition for the development of any industry. A hus- 

 band at dinner remarked to his wife that he was ''disappointed not to 

 have fried chicken for dinner. You remember I brought home a basket 

 of eggs yesterday." "But it takes time for eggs to hatch into chickens, 

 and a longer time for the chickens to grow to the frying size. Have 

 patience." 



The tendencv of all manufacturing industries, when sufficient time is 

 allowed, is to reduce the price of the product. Thirty years ago Prof. 

 Tracy bought some wire nails to use at the college, paying 20 cents a 

 pound; they are now sold for four cents. Fifty years, ago cotton sheet- 

 ing- sold for 121/2 ^ yard, that now sells for five cents. A box of fric- 

 tion matches cost 2.5 cents; now two cents. In 1854 I bought in Kala- 

 mazoo a gallon of kerosene, for which I paid .$1.50. With better ma- 

 chinery, improved methods, and competition, the price has fallen until 

 a better kerosene is now sold for eight cents. This is the history of 

 every species of manufacturing when left open to free competition, and 

 to some extent even under monopoly. 



Will the sugar industry be an exception to this general law? I have 

 seen the price of refined sugar fall from 18%. cents to five cents, till the 

 trust took hold of it, and the price is now six cents in Lansing. What 

 will be the intluence of beet sugar on prices in the near future? The 

 industry is yet in its early infancy. Ten years ago there were two 

 factories in Nebraska, and three in California, or five factories in our 

 land. Three years ago one factory was erected in Bay City. The next 

 year factories were built in Alma, Caro, Rochester, Holland and Ben- 

 ton Harbor, and this year thirteen factories will be in operation. Is it 

 reasonable to expect that this infant industry in three years shall so 

 compete with the giant sugar trust as to compel the general reduction 

 in i)rice of commercial sugars? Give the eggs time to hatch, and the 

 chickens to grow. If left to the natural laws of manufacturing indus- 

 tries I feel confident that within five Aears refined sugar will be sold 

 in our groceries for five cents a pound. The ine\^tal»le competition of 

 factory with factory and of all the factories wilh the sugar trust will 

 compel a marked reduction in price. 



INCIDENTAL BENEFITS. 



The incidental, though less obvious, benefits of the sugar beet indus- 

 try are not to be overlooked. \N'liile the price of products is on the de- 

 scending scale, the ])rice of labor in our country and age is on the ascend- 

 ing scale. The one costly, and ever increasing thing in price in our land, 

 is human toil. Fiftv vears ago the usual wages for the common laborer 



