, 1875-04-07

other Usiniers to whom the question was
specially put.
To state our opinion of the whole letter
in a few words, we would simply say that
it reads TO US as an advertisement Of Mr..
Flyers Concretor, which may, indeed, be
all that is claimed for it, but this assump-
ton ought not to prevent its patentee
from acknowledging the fact that the
Central Factory system has made the
French islands some of the most prosper
Gus in the Westindies, as we have learned,
besides from other reliable sources, from
three independent reports, two in 1872,
viz. that of the Antigua. Commissioners
and that Of Mr.. Burton, and one In 1874,
viz. that of the st. Croix Commissioners,
with all of which our readers have become
acquainted through the columns of the
avis"
But, while thus most positively con-
tradicting MI. Flyers assertions with re-
gard to the working of the Central Facto-
ry system in the French islands, we do
not for one moment pretend to say that
this system might not be improved on,
or even tna- an entirely different one
might not be adopted. There may even
be q few useful hints in the following
lines which we quote from Mr.. Flyers
letter: "The Central Factory Of the
future, I venture to think, will be
provided with the most massive cane
mills, and will extract the largest percen-
tage of Juice from the canes. The megass
will have the greater part OF the sugar
left in it removed by means of the Afusor.
The contributors of the canes, in
the first instance, will only receive u very
small sum for them to cover the cost Of
agricultural labour; and next the expenses
of manufacture will be paid afterwards
a low rate of interest to the shareholders
and the balance will be divided in some
equitable manner between the %cane-groW-
ers and the proprietors of the Usine. ..."
For the better understanding Of the
whole matter, we give the whole letter
herewith.
To the Editor Of the Sugar Cane.
Sir,
The interesting report of Mr.. Burton
upon the Central Factory system, as adopt
cd in the French Antilles, having been
based to a large extent upon a visit made
some time ago, it may be we'll to consider
whether the circumstances which led to
the success of many Of these establish
ments have not changed to some extent
between that time and the present.
AS the protested intention of Mr.. Burton
is to lay the subject before the planters Of
Jamaica, with the expectation of inducing
them to adopt the system, it will be OPP
perfume to consider whether the prosperity
that attended some of the French factories
could attach to similar establishments
erected in British Colonies, or whether
the success of the enterprises has arisen
to any extent from advantages which are
enjoyed by the French Colonists and not
shared by the English ones.
The truth is most likely to be ELECTED
by such ventilation of the subject, and
indeed much of Mr.. Burton's report is
written in a very quiet and guarded man
ner, and he has from time to time in
communications to your magazine not
concealed from your readers that he does
not recommend the adoption of the French
system precisely as he has found it. in the
French Colonies. 1t was my privilege to
meet Mr.. Burton as he was returning from
his tour of inspection in the French
Islands. and it was abundantly evident
that he had conducted his investigation
with great care and it seemed to me with