Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1842-10-22
FOR THE COURIER.
No. 3-sUGAR AND THE TARIFF.

MEN Observation-Disclosures 10 %FRAUpULEn
@IMpoRTaH 1oN.. OF SUGAR, THROUGH
MoLA~sEs DUTY.
Extracts from the i-ep,erto Of the Select Con
mittee, IN the use of ,',elasses, etc, o
dered TO be printed by the 'ouse OF Con
monp, 2lst July, 1s31-(1b'a asctnei
10 in the library Of the Capiio1J -
"Minutcs Of Observation-Disclosures C.lst'i'
Esq. witness.:
Query 25-Dses it come withis YOU.
knowledge, whether moIasses ever have beer
seized ia this country, by the customs, in cen.
sequence of their being of extra specific gr..
witty, and being supposed 10 contain a more
than ordinary Quantity Of sugar in solution!
"Answer--I understand That there is a con-
siderable quantity Of melasses, now under eel
zure, in the Port Of London, upon such al1ega-
tlonr, on the part Of the Custom house Off.
cers, and that the matter IL NOW a subject Of
inquiry before the proper Boards.
"Querv 26-Would it nst appear, from
that answer, that inolasscs cannot be consid-
cred as a substance very uniform in quality!
"Angwer--I do not think it follows from
that factl
"Query 27--Are you aware that it's pos
sible TO mix with molasaea a considerable
HuHntly VI Fhnif, anu STU 10 blifF lD0Ns NO.
lasses merely as m~olaases al a duty Of 0 per
cwt.7
"Answer-Tt is physically possible, no
doubt, to mix sugars with ~molasses ; but it il
not The interest Of the planters 10 transmit his
sugar to this country under The name Of mo.
~lasses, and TO sell it here al The prices Of mo-
lasses.
2s-"Do you not think that the present
.x-.Iat..- l.. .l..I tt Iy. -. # =.
taken, Of euaging he molasses, to ascertain
the strength, ia sufficient 10 prevent any fraud,
supposing it even the interest of the parties
to pttza larger quantity Of stger into tie
molasses, and TO try and introduce them at a
low dutv7
"Answ er--T conceive, If the cnstom-honss
officers do their duty, with a moderate atten-
lion, the Custom-house regulation, which has
been long in existence, is quite sufficient 10
prevent any fraud upon the revenue.
"3l-Will You state what is the prese mt
price of West India molasscs and Of low
priced brown sugar, both independently Of d.
ty?
ses. Wi, ,..orit duty, IL about l4s. Sd per cwt.
and that Of wv brown sugar about FL for S3
Is per cwt. ano $4 SO
"32-What are the two prices, Inclusive Of
duty1
"Answer--The prices, including duty, Il
Is. I'D. per cwt. for molasses and about ~
d. for low brown sugar for. $5 "a and 10 So
"a4-What is the weight of one gallon OF
molasses?
"Answer--About II 10 lbs. COCOA mo-
lasses)"
M. John Tnnes, another witness
aOuery 72--Have you formed any estimate
Of the ouanfitysof molasses that may probably
be brought mo consumption by this facility
[alIcwing the use Of molasses in brewerIeal!
"Answer--I have looked into the Whole
~d,lanti,v Of sugar that is produced in the Bril-
tish Colonies, and 7 find it a little under on
an average Of lat. years 2O0,OOO tons. From
that quantity Of sugar, it might be possible
| An, speaking Of an extreme case-to pro luce
10000, coo gallons Of molasses; from which
take the quantity Of rum usedzIn this country,
the quantity which it is usual to give to the
SLAVE population in the West Indies, and the
quantity that is requisite for our North Amer
lean possessisns, as we'll as the quantities
used in the Navy. and for the shipping IN this
5ceustry, which will continue to be taken 20
nearly the present extent, notwithstanding an
increase Of price, say, deduct all these, and
it would be quite impossible. under any price
that could be contemplated, 10 bring into this
country altogether a quantity of molasses ex-
cseding 100000 gallons"
Andrew IRE, another witness-page 50:
"Ouerv sGs-Are you acquainted with the
mode of boiling sugar, for which a patent was
taken out,,b the late Mr.. Howard
Overwhelmingly.
"S6r--Are. YOU aware that some sets OF
this apparatus have been sent out to the West
Indies?
"Perfectly l have seen the sugar pro-
duced by them. -,
.s7O-Are YOU able to speak Of the result!
sit is a perfect plan Of Incorporation.
"s7l--Are you aware that the quantity OF
moIasses have been diminished accordingly
by this plan! 49,.
"It ouphtzte be. The molasses ought in
fact 70 disappearfrom the sugar houses, IN the
| West Indies, by the general introduction OF
| an improved mode of co-op~ratisn.
."s72-Can you state IN what proportion the
weld of fine sugar has been increased IN the
refineries in this country, by the introduction
Of Mr.. Towards, or any similar mode oil re-
fning?
knovledge, that the improvement las amount
ed froml5 a 90 per cent of sugar but every
rrefner c~enceals his own Improvements, be-
cause he does not want his prosperity to be
known; and, secondly.there is a draWback' a,
a certain fixed rate; and if he gets more reht!ed
sugar Der cwt. perhaps he would lot be able
to obtain the large drawback
The above evidences show: .
I. The whole annual crop of the British
West Indies to have been IN
1880, 200,Ooot tons to 4~4s,oU0,ooo los
2. That the yield of such a crop, even by
sconsiderahle advance in the price Of niolasses
could not pessibIyshe increased beyond %
OO0OOO gallons, which is little more tina
rs gallons per each l.610 lbs. OF So ID suea
3. That, if these 49, 10000 ga' Ions n,ola
ses, the consumption fsr the islands then
6 selves, and the rum man, features, reaui
one half; and that undsc. 81 no circumstanc'
could the whole Of the British Indies ship
England, PER anau q, more than
100000 gallon
n 4. That t,.,e boiling in VAGUE has lnereas'
e the yield Of sugar in refining 10 a ~ per
=, at le9 81.
o :. That one gallon good molasses veg
n IL a Is lbs.
rs Deductions from the above premises:
I'm the British West Indies, raw sugars g
s. not carried Beyond the process OF boiiiF
ut when thew are placed, as III LOUISIANA
be hegsheads to purge themselves OF their Il
- In Cuba. on the contrary, the process
~ boil;no is carried much farther; for clay
ia and a larg. portion of molasses are there
nd 4nr,.d INTO low sugars. called Clcardcl