The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-06
THE SUGAR PLANTERS.
AN INTERESTING MEETING HELD ny
THEN LAsr EVENING.

Sugar Planters Association nj their new rooms |
on Baronne street ard the representation was |
larger than was expected. Prof. Mccullough, |
the noted scientist In organic chemistry. was
also present as guest.
After the meeting Ind been called TO order |
the president. Hon. Duncan f. Kenner, said: |
Allow me gentlemen. TO congratulate you on
your ,easselnbl ng. after an interval Of several
months The dreadful scourge Of the summer
has left It's blight behind and we mourn among
the dead two Of our memhers-one the dear son
of one OF our most prominent members Mr.. |
Edward J. Gay. Jr.. and the other that worthy
aud good citizen, Mr.. J; J. Irby; and most of us
friends ana relatives l cannot forbear to eX
press In your name the thanks of our associa-
tion for the many munincent donations sent
from all parts of our common country to re-
lieye he wants Of sur afflicted city God forbid
that such sad affliction should visit any OF our
nntoward event happen ] think can surely
say that New Orleans will be- no aggard In the
race to contribute her full quota to their re-
Several events have transplred since your last
meeting to which | would call your attention
Some months since the United States govern
was alleged that these sugars had been stained
Of dark color after they had been manufac-
posed by the tariff on lighter colored sugars
70 ascertain the truth Of these allegations the
Secretary Of the Treasury sent treasury agent
or commissioner TO Demerara to learn how
these dark colored sugars were manufactured.
The report Of this commissioner. am credibly
Informed was to the Effect that these sugars
were manufactured without any Qualification Of
the cane juice: that the cane juice WAS allowed
TO flow directly to the clariflers. was then treated
with the usual dose Of lime. not skinned or
allowed to settle, but was passed, mixed with all
its impurities. TO the concentrating pans.
brought to the density of syrup. and then run
syrup tanks was drawn into the vacuum pan
and graf ned into sugar. This treatment OF The
cane juice was the cause Of the dark color Of
m nj a1
After this report was made the Secretary OF the
Treasury sent treasury agent or commits
was ever treated In this way by Louisiana
sugar manufacturers and what would be the
effect OF su n treatment. This treasury agent
the officers Of this association and was advised
to summon the principal planters and manu-
facturers OF sugar In the State. and to hear the
testimony Of these parties in the matter A list
Of al those. whose proximity to New Orleans
justified the belief that they could be present to
appointed by the Secretary Of the Treasury and
the United States Court at Baltimore. was also
furnished. The testimony. was taken In the
form of interrOgatOrieS and eross-interfOgato-
rles, was very full and WIS transmitted to the
United States Court Mt Baltimore. The re-
seized sugars had been cnlored after they were
manufactured and the effect of the colerin2
was to lower the grade Of the sugar and thus
lessen the duties. though they excupaed the
importers Of any knowledge Of how and why 1t
was done. This decision Of the Jury In this
case was indisputahly due In great measure
| to the testimony taken before the commission
held in New Orleans. The effect of lowering
the grades or classification Of these sugars was
to lessen the import duties on these foreign SUI
gars fully one cent par pOund-in other words,
to reduce the tariff on sugars one cent per
pound-to the great injury Of our Louisiana
sugar industry,
The development Of the facts In this case
which was materially aided by the efforts OF
this association. ought to be an additional in
ducement to our members to maintain and OK
DrgnujZltiDn Influence
be beneficial to our sugar interests.
| / would also call your attention TO the results
Of the COMMITTEE of Ways and Means of the
House Of Representatives In New York city this
summer. This investigation developed another
class OF frauds. which not only diminished the
revenues Of the government by false classified
lions of sugars and by other expedients. but
also made manifest system OF refining sugars
which must seriously affect the health Of the
upon the purchaser. This Investigation
q cheap extract, principally of corn,
but which wants the es senta element OF sugar
viz, sweetness, is being mixed by certain par
/ ties wi b cane sugars. aud then sold rs pure
cane sugars. This adulteration Is made for the
purpose Of manufacturing cheap product,
sugars-the purchaser paying for a pound OF
sugar, but receiving probably not more than
two-thirds OF q pound of saccharine mat
ter. 1t appears that this new system Of max Ing
cheap sugars Is being carried on on q large
scale, assisted by the most perfect maehln-
cry end by all the lights Of oto modern
these manufacturers not satisfied with the
adulteration OF sugars by the admixture Of an
inferior product, in order to captivate the eye Of
the purchaser improved the color OF these adul.
terated sugars by the use Of chemicals very in
furious to health. These practices though Ger
tainly more scientific, are scarcely more honest
than the retail grocer Of the oden time who
sanded his sugar and watered hs brandy and
who invariably closed his daily business by ask.
Ing his store assistant, John have you sanded
the sugar. Yes sir" job have you waterad
The brandy" Yes. SIR Then. let ms 60 to
prayers" The development of these aduter.
ations must enhance the value and increase the
demand for Louisiana sugars-and very pro
perry too.
| Allow me, gentlemen also to call your atten.
ton TO IN investigation. which has been inau-
gura'od by the Secretary Of the Treasury into
the working e the ,Ireciurocity trea y with the
Sandwich Islands. This treaty. which Ia tho ra
suit of q combination between the owners o
sugar estates on the Sandwich Islands living IN
Boston, and the reiinets In San Franciseo. ant
which was assented to by the United States Sen
ate without objection on the part Of our imme
date representative in that body should mos
GeFe5ny 10 ee rpGaed bo this fa s BE al
may not be mmedia ely felt, It mus
eventually be r very disastrous to onl
soil more fertile han our delta. wi tn climate
equal to that Of Cuba and with al, China one vas
hive Of population. almost ut their doors. from
which an unlimited number OF cheap iaborers
can be drawn, will soon ship such quantities 0
sugar to the United States. coming In Tree 0
duty, and made at such small cost as to def
competition on our part. The usual Yield o
sugar per acre In those islands Is from four t.
six tons-say eight to twelve hogsheads. and a
much as ten to twelve tons have been produced
from one acre. All that these islands required
was a market and this they have obtained b.
this treaty. The constant cry Of our Senators
and Representatives In Congress on the matte
of this treaty should be Dalenda est Carthage
The Secretary OF the Trsasury is entitled t.
our thanks for his efforts in exposing the In
juries Of this treaty. In conclusion. gentlemen
allow me to congratulate you on the fine yield
: esf sugar we are having the present season. Th'
hagy reports we have from all quarters tina
frofe2OOO to 5000 pounds is obtained az an aver
age to the acre from large fields of cane is yer,
encouraging and should stimulate our planter
to continued efforts, as II proves cOncusivel
that our fields are not exhausted and that ever
with the present LABOR system We have much t.
hope for.
On account Of the meetina at the Varietie
they adjourned.
The Champion EmbezA'er.
We have had so many and so enormous