The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-11-11
OUR SUGAR INTEREST.

and the lack Of saccharine richness ID the
root, which bids fair unless q most propitious
season ID met with to seriously impair the
Yield, has already had lta effect upon the
markets VI the world, and the enhancement
lii the price " sugars has met with sympa-
thetic response on our levee, the advance this
year over the price OF last year ut the same
time being two and d half cents per pound
AL the outset Of our harvesting season this ID
most gratifying to the sugar planters OF this
State, who look forward to remunerative
compensation for the hard labor and expense
OF the past year. The exceedingly low price
at which sugar and molasses ruled last win
ter discouraged some Of our most sanguine
planters, and In spite Of the richest yield
since the war, the thoughtful and prudent
were compelled to face the truth that the
market value of their product had gone below
the cost Of production, and that, even with an
exceptional season, the industry WAS unproflt-
able here, unless 1t were possible to secure a
greater yield Mt the same cost, or when our
market was influenced by the shortages else
where We are proflting this year by an ac-
cident the recurrence OF which is 30 unfre-
auent as to eliminate 1t entirely from our cal
culations for the future. The beet culture In
Europe has steadily been increasing and the
perfection Of machinery and all the appli-
ances OF science have been invoked To obtain
from an equal weight Of q sacchartferous
plant less rich than the sugar cane
q greater yield Ia sugar. To hold Its own.
therefore, the cane sugar industry must keep
pace with the beet sugar industry In the Rp-
plication Of scientific improvements. The Inn
portanee OF resorting to improved methods of
ameliorating their condition was keenly felt
by the planters last spring, and whenever
able, the improved machinery for perfecting
the product and bringing 1t up to the highest
standard was contracted for, and the clarified
sugars OF Louisiana are to-day sent out Of the
State to compete III purity and excellence
with those of the world. Should the present
hopeful outlook be maintained until the end
Of the season, 1t will bring relief to many Of
our planters and enable them to carry out the
plans OF Improvement to which they are al
ready keenly alive, and Of which their more
favored brothers have awaited themselves.
That change 10 being effected 10 the minds
OF our open kettle sugar planters as to the
most profitable way Of prosecuting their en-
terprise Ia clearly shown by the number Of
contracts entered into this year for the sale
either Of cane. or OF syrup cooked to certain
density, the conviction having been fixed IN
their minds that. except for the very choicest
grades, to complete the manufacture with
open kettles would entail greater expense
than the market value OF such stock war
ranted
Taking the past season as fair standard
OF prices for the future, the question resolves
itself into problem OF how to make a fixed
plantation Investment return profit at such
market value for the product as we had last
year.
The only solution seems tobe to improve not
only the quality but the quantity Of the pro-
duct without enhancing the cost. When
Louisiana makes o hard grain vacuum pan
sugar she will then come into the market Of
the world upon an equal footing, 50 far as the
quality of her product Is concerned, the cost
Of production only having to be considered.
III the yield from the same tonnage Of cane
can be largely increased by the introduction
Of the most improved machinery, at but a
slight increase over the present annual cost
Of obtaining result, the relief Is apparent ut
once In this direction, for no further reduction
In the annual cost of making crop, under
the figures OF the present year, can be OK
pected. Provisions have been cheap, skilled
labor figured down to a close margin, and,
except III certain localities, the wages OF the
field laborer reduced to as low pressure as
this human machine will bear at present,
as the scarcity Of labor In certain
parishes will always create demand snffl-
cent to neutralize every attempted reduc-
ton OF wages In others.
At present prices, with q fair crop-and
with an open season it ID not unlikely that
the present crop will reach 100000 hogs
heads-and at the cost Of production this
year the open kettle planter will realize a
handsome profit, and unless he be too deeply
involved to extricate himself under any cir
1t behooves him, II his crop war
rants 1t, to make such alterations as will put
him on plane with his more fortunate
who have already erected vacuum
pans. And to those who have given their at
tentioD to improvement In the manufacture
Of the product. the experiments made this
year. Ia the State. Of the benefit Of different
kinds OF mills, should be carefully studied.
It Is gratifying to learn, from the published
report OF the proceedings OF their last meet
ing, that the subject will be thoroughly exam
ined into, and cosely tested by the president
OF the Louisiana Sugar Planters Association,
assisted by committee Of several well known
planters and the results given to the planting
through the association, In due
Time Theaverage yield Of juice from our best
mills Is now only 81 per cent, and
an increase up to 10 per cent-a difference Of
Is per cent-would add 10 gallons to every 100
now obtained, or with juice at 81 Beaume
1857 pounds OF sugar for the increase. Atan
average Of five cents per pound this would be
SIS 40 on every 1000 pounds of sugar made, or
In crop OF 100000 hogsheads 81 .296ooo That
this excess, and perhaps more. can be OBJ
tained Is as undoubted as that science has
overcome obstacles seemingly greater
Whether 1t shall be through the instru-
mentality OF the large and ponderous single