New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-09-17

FCiIcular1
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE =
New Orleans, September Ii 1878. 8
DEAR SIR-At. intervals during the past
four years the attention of this chamber
has been called by the various boards OF
trade throughout the Western States to the
discrepancy in the tare allowed In this mar.
ket on Louisiana sugar in hogsheads and
that allowed in most other markets in the
United States, and many complaints have
been made by umbers Of leading grocers
and merchants of the Western cities who
are most largely engaged in dealing in
Louisiana sugar, some OF whom have repre-
sented that they had abandoned all trade
in it because of the great loss in tare, and
others declare they will be compelled to do
20. The grocers and dealers of this city
add their voices unanimously to this com
plant. Impressed as it has been from all
these representations that it is detrimental
to the interests of the sugar planters ,ot
Louisiana to adhere to the old established
custom OF ten per cent when twelve
per cent prevails elsewhere, as regard
raw sugars in hogsheads, and actual tare on
all refined sugars, committees have been
appointed each year to investigate and re-
port upon the advisability OF changing the
custom
The committee appointed in June last did
not act. With that single exception all
other committees recommended actual tare
or twelve per cent tare.
Various influences and causes have pre-
vented the change. Factors have each been
reluctant to take the initiative in measure
which might be inimical to their constitu-
ents, and owing to want of concerted action,
difference of opinion etc, the old custom
has been adhered to, and may be during the
ensuing season unless this appeal to yoa
shall prevail and effect the change so essen.
tial to your own interest.
Having implicit confidence tia. the sugar
planters of this State are fully as honorable
and honest as any equal number of men en-
gagged in other branches of business here or
elsewhere, we feel confident in appealing to
you for the decision OF this matter so i'm
portant to your own future welfare and the
advancement OF the sugar interest of Lou
isiana.
We submit for your consideration the
following facts:
The entire consumption of sugar in the
United States for the year 1874 amounted
to 1863 tons, of which Col ,S69 tons were
foreign. and 4S 800 tons domestic, which,
reduced to hogsheads averaging the weight
of Louisiana yellow clarified sugar, say
Isl pounds net, would be ,23i $50 hogs
heads
According to Bouchereau's louisiana
sugar report of 1874 there was made in
this State l3 l9l hogsheads of vacuum sugar,
and 16,307 hogsheads of open pan kettle
sugar, etc, a total of all kinds OF 49, 49S
hogsheads. The same authority gives the
crop of this year (lS74-15, at 1866 hogs
heads of all kinds. Thus 1t will be per
celFed now very small proportion of
sugar consumed in the United States is pro-
duced by Louisiana. Within a fraction of
ne-ffteenth-just in the same, nay, even
greater proportion against her, is the custom
as to difference in tare, because most |
Of the Louisiana sugar bought in this mar
ket is sent to other markets, and twelve |
per cent tare allowed on it. The centritu- |
gal and vacuum sugars of Demerara range |
from 1900 to 2200 pounds per hogshead in |
weight, upon which, at twelve per cent tare |
which is allowed to theml, the erocers who
lnpack them gain-is it at all strange that
The preference is given to it by Western |
buyers, who are the largest consumers OF
,ur sugarl Would not you take the same |
'iew of it as they do9 Is it wise for the
louisiana sugar planters to shut their eyes
o these factss
When Louisiana furnished the United
,tates with the major part OF her sugar, as
he did at one time, she might have afforded
o dictate the rate of tare with impunity,
0w she can not do it without suffering loss.
We assure you that this Chamber has let
ers in its archives, received from many |
ersOns, protesting against the ten per cent
are, and declaring their confident belief
hat the establishment of actual tare, or
welve per cent tare in this market would
nhance the value of our sugars from one
,Mth to one half cent per pound, and
reate much more active and larger de.
land for them, and we are fully convinced |
lat such will be the result.
We know the sugar planters of Louisiana |
0 not wish to be paid tor wood instead of
lgar. We know that during the fall and
inter months, when the hogsheads are full
new sugar, ten per cent will cover the
ire in large majority of cases, and that
'me planters are SO scrupulously honest ,
lat they lose even at ten per cent tare.
hat is not just to them. Therefore, we
ost respectfully suggest to you that before
ling your hogsheads you weigh each and
,ery one, adding from five to ten pounds ,
the weight to cover the absorption of wet
lgar, and mark or brand the weight in | 1
gible figures, with your name, on the
,ad of the hOgshead, and authorize your
erchants TO sell by that tare, etc. If you
ould not haye scales, authorize your mer.
ANTS to allow twelve per cent tsre.
If you order hogsheads from the coopers )
this city or coast instruct them to weigh b
Oh and every hogshesd, add the additional 6
. or ton pounds If necessary, and brand
mark them - above. Yellow clarified, Q
centrifugal, or very dry sugar In IN