, 1875-04-07

OF Trinidad in a similar manner. rms
will give every advantage to the more
recent years, as that prosperous colony
extends its cultivation and production even
without the special stimulus OF SO pros
porous a year as that OF 1871.
SUGAR CRoPs OF TRINIDAD.
Hhds. Tierces. Barrels & Bags. Pr. Ct.
1870. Al, O31. G,l95. ...2,O62........6
1871. sc, 803. 1897. ...4,09S ......l0O
1872. .43,84O. IL 1917. ...2,369........W
1878. so, O79. 1O,87l.. ..2,23l.......96
1874. Al, 567. 0 1882 1901 .......74
1t is manifest that the year Of comparison
1871 was by far the most satisfactory OF
any of the last five years, and the prosperity
of the French Islands during that year was
due in great measure to the large crops and
the comparatively high prices.
1t may appear to the cursory examiner
that as the price paid for the canes 10
dependant on the price of sugar, that the
Usine is defended from the effects OF the
low prices and as it only pays for the
quantity of canes which it operates upon,
it is also defended from the losses conse-
quent upon a small crop, sutterlngs which
in both cases it contrives to throw upon
the grower of the canes. Such, however,
is not the effect in practice, and the
Usine is soon affected by low prices and
short crops. Low prices are colncldenc
with narrow margin between the price OF
Usine CRYSTALS and bonnie quGtrieme, and
narrow margin means pro6tIess work.
Deficient crops affect the Usine directly
for the heavy charges for repairs, and
depreciation of plant, and some OF the
salaries and other expenses OF manutac-
ture are the same whether the crop be
large or small, 80 that all other things
being equal the profit per ton must be
less in a small crop than in a large one.
The number of tons of produce will al
80 be fewer, so that the lesser profit on
fewer tons to be distributed on same capi-
tai must result in a less dividend. The
brilliant picture which Mr.. Burton very
Droperlv drew of the condition Of the
French Colonies in 1912 could not be
repeated in 1915. Various of the UslneS
have changed owners from stress OF cir
cumstances, and the concerns that are
alone currently reported to be prosperous
at the present time are two private UslneSs
one of them being q Concrete factory.
Thus it would appear that the condi-
ton of things in 1915 is not nearly
the same as in 1912. Y
Let US now consider if there are advan-
tages enjoyed by the French that are mob
enjoyed by the English colonlst.
Happily, the Customs duties upon
sugar in England are things of the past,
and no arrangement in the prices of SUI
gar can therefore be produced upon the
various products of our sugar estates
by their irregular imposition. In France,
this is not the case. The rate of duty
is SO adl usted that the crystals from the
Usine are undertaxed on admission to
France, whilst the Muscovado sugar made
by the old process is overtaxed. In con-
sequence of the urgent requirements OF
the French Treasury, the duties upon
sugar have been increased from time to
time, and each increase of the duty In
creases piroportionately the premium on
the manufacture of Usine crystals, and at
the same time lays an extra burden upon
the manufacture of Muscovado sugar.
The effect of this is to raise artifcially the
price of Usine sugar, and to de-
press arti6ci ally the price of Muscovado.
The proprietors of the Usine reap the bene-
fit in both directions, for the price of their
productions is raised, and the rev sugar.