The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-09-25
CENTRAL SUGAR FACTORIES.

Though of late years the sugar inter-
est In Louisiana has been gradually
growing up to the position it held be-
fore the war, and under q continuation
Of present circumstances and condi-
tions for several years to come the State
may be expected to exceed its former
production; still the extension of the
sugar industry is not 80 rapid as it
would have been had new modes Of
manufacturing been earlier introduced.
Sugar culture, from planting to har-
vesting, in the old manner OF cultiva-
ton required an enormous outlay Of
capital, the principal part Of which was
invested in the costly buildings and
machinery OF the manufactures. In
1860 there were nearly 1900 sugar-houses
in this State. Some of these contained
more than 800, 900 worth OF machinery,
and the average cost OF the equipments
of each was certainly over $4,000.
Thus the planters carried on their
hands over $13,OOO,00O Of idle capital
nine months of every year.
They however managed to do this
and carry on a prosperous business.
But after about two-thirds Of this ma
ehinery had been destroyed during the
war, and the remainder generally dam
aged, the planters could hardly have
been expected to refit and refurnish
each of their unstooked estates with ex-
pensive sugar mills and machinery.
Great numbers of them wisely turned
their fields to the cultivation of other
crops, while many failed after endeavor-
ing to again rebuild their sugar houses.
Other small planters who owned sugar
houses were unable to replace or repair
their old and worn out machinery.
Under such circumstances the sugar
crop could not have been expected to
reach more than 1t has done up to the
present year, even il we leave out OF the
question the political troubles, the
financial crisis Of 1873 and other evils
which impeded it's progress.
Some system that would decrease the
cost OF machinery to the proportion of
land in cultivation was advocated most
Justly by those most interested in this
industry. A central sugar factory capa-
BILE of manipulating 1000 acres Of cane
would necessarily cost far less proper
tionately than one constructed to work
up only 400 acres OF cane a year, and
would necessarily take burden off the
shoulders of farmers and small plant
ers, who are unable to bear the expense
OF the crudest machinery made to man.
ufacture the lowest grades of sugar.
The central factory, with complete ma
chinery, could manufacture the highest
grades Of sugar and pay the producers
as much for their cane as they would
obtain for their raw sugar, after deduct.
ing the actual cost of manufacturing it.
This is the theory of central sugar fac
tories, and we are glad to say that it has
been practically proven to be correct in
several portions Of our State where CEN
trail factories have been established.
The cane delivered at these is purchased
at $5 ton, generally under the condi-
ton that the cane juice must not weigh
less than eight degrees Beaume. The
average yields Of cane on several plac 50
has been from 100 to 1875 pounds of sugar
and four to five gallons Of molasses ad-
ditional to the ton. The manufacturer
sells his product for more than double
the price he paid for the crude material,
and has fair profit left after paying ex-
penses.
n Now, a careful and Industrious farmer
or planter can produce an average Of
twenty tons to the acre, or sell his crop
on each acre for the amount two bales
Of cotton would bring after bearing the
expense Of ginning.
We say central factories have been es.
tablished in Louisiana, though only a
few. Around these few cane culture is
rapidly extending, new fields are being
stocked and small farmers are rapidly
getting their farms into cane.
These factories should be scattered
all over the sugar district Of Louisiana
in the rich sugar region OF Red river,
over the western sugar parishes and at
convenient intervals along the banks OF
the Mississippi. They would prove the
most profitable investments wherein
capital could be placed; they would
eventually cause the cultivation Of all
available sugar lands in Louisiana,
amounting to over one million acres,
and would hasten the advent of the
time when this will become the richest
agricultural region on earth.
The St. Louis Republican announces