, 1874-11-21

poses that for that amount it will be possible
to get Central Factories established for the
whole Island--for the enterprise, it will paw. and
experience in Martinique also variants this
expectation. In some cases in Martinique
Central Factories do not pay but the reason of
that is, as has been pointed out in the report
from the Gentlemen from here who visited that
Island, chiefly the want of sufficient supply Of
canes. Therefore, when those Gentlemen re-
turned from Martinique, he at once A@4A4eYa
meeting of planters, and proposed to them
to sign what quantity Of canes they would bind
themselves to deliver to Central Factories when
established. But in other cases, where Cen
trail Factories in Martinique have had the pro-
per supply of canes, it has been proved that
the business gave good returns of the capital
invested. From that experience he thinks we
could be justified in expecting that Central
Factories here would give C. 20 p. ct. i'm
some eases they have given SO to so p. Oh. -
but even if we start from that low rate, the
risk Of the capital to be invested would not be
very great, when once it has been secured that
the Factories will get the proper supply of
canes. And the consequence then will also
be that in adopting this DRAFT, there will be no
risk for the Colonial Treasury, whereas, on the
contrary, it will be easily seen, that this plan
is the best way Of securing the future of the
Sl6hu' - rum NIL 1 A'GS%u HO AENCIhNO IN
answer that he would do what be could, but
he also said that the confidence outside of St.
Croix in ST.. Croix was very little, and the
money markct in Europe on the whole bad
still, as the capital would not be required till q
later period, he promised 10 examine the que5.
LONESOME 6 or 8 weeks ago intelligences from
Copenhagen were rather promising for Central
Factories in fact they were such as to afford
reason to believe or to expect to see Central
Factories established at once, SO as to be
able to have the crop Of 1876 taken off by
them. But, he was sorry to say, afterwards
he received information that the parties
interested could not at present venture to
forward the matter, in such a manner that
they could come in operation at the COM
mencement of the year 1876. Therefore
we must now do every thing within
our power, which might still forward tie aim.
He had not long ago forwarded to the Home
Government a report Of the whole matter as
it had developed itself here, and called Gov
ernment's attention to, that even it this crop
turns out a successful one, and even if in
such cases the planters be enabled to clear off
some or the whole Of the passing debts on.
their Estates, there is no certainty that the
next crop will also be q & cd oHe, and IT 1t
should not be, there was great danger that
we would come to the same state of aHlirs az
this year. He had laid out the results in
figures, in order to shew the Home Government,
that it is not a theory but all experience
gained elsewhere, that shere is a possibility
Of increasing the yield Of the canes from 5 lbs
on every 100 lbs as at present, up to s lbs,
aud at the same time to improve the quality
of The produce from the value Of 81 pr 100 to
$5@ and that, hence, The saving to be obtained
in that way by every Estate delivering canes
to the Central Factory, will be equal to
about / of the expenses at present incurred for
the boiling etc. Of the liquor so that in the
second year after Central Factories, any
Estate. delivering canes will be able to turn
that amount either into increased aud improved
cultivation, which it is to be hoped will be
preferred, or else save it.~-Hc could not come
to any other conclusion than this, that if VIC
do not increase the yield of the canes and
improve the manufacture Of our produce, then /,
and if we take the experience Of past years,
comparing it with what might be expected
in future, the cultivation Of the Island can
in a short time not be kept up, IS no man
will be able to carry on Sugar Estates with
a small yield, poor produce and low prices and
even if there should be some few proprie-
tors who would be able TO continue, they
would gain no profit i ftbey had any profit,
a greater share would 90 to pay the
taxes than at present, as such remaining.