Morning journal and courier., 1885-06-03

ter of the mill and heated. After heating,
 the liquid is forced through pipes into a
 series of kettles which occupy one end of 8
 gallery. Here the dross is removed and a
 white powder thrown into the liquid the in
 gradients in which are plantation secret),
 which is said to eliminate all acids and
 cleanse the liquid. The juice is now returned
 to the boilers for new heating, and then
 forced up into huge kettles at the other end
 of the gallery. These secondary kettles are
 provided with broad rims for receiving the
 scum, and coiIsd hot-air pipes in the bottom
 for maintaining the temperature.
 As already intimated, this refuse is re-
 moved in vessels to such portions of the es-
 tate as are in need of ferti1izing. Back again
 goes the liquid for reboiling,-this time in
 brass-hoeped tanks, called, by harmless
 anachronism, "vacuum pans" This boiling
 is the most thorough of all, and lasts until
 the thickened syrup reaches the point of
 granulation. In it's different stages we were
 suffered to taste of the juice, but there was
 little satisfaction attending that privilege.
 If had an enemy, I should scarcely want to
 condemn him to be 8 lifelong syrup taster
 on Cuban sugar estate
 Finally the granulating syrup is conducted
 into huge kettles, which are made to revolve
 with great rapidity,-the centrifugal force
 causing the square brown pieces of sugar to
 pack themselves around the inner edge of the
 tank, while the nearly black liquid is drawn
 off at the bottom Then the sugar is packed in barrels, boxes, or bags. and shipped to the United States for adulteration. Bags are coming into vogue latterly.
 The Toledo plantation does not undertake to make molasses. It has been found that West India rum is more profitable product, and so surplus syrup is conducted through subterranean pipes to building near by where the necessary processes are applied to convert it into rum.
 conversed with the superintendent, and el1cited additional points touching especially the scale upon which the Toledo operates. Said he: ''We have about 500 hands and GOO head of oxen. We have our own water works system, pipes being laid to a stream a few miles distant. We do not purchase our barrels, but manufacture them ~en the ground. When ill regular running order we make about 40 boxes of sugar per day each box weighing 400 pounds or so. We also manufacture during the season about ,500 barrels of rum. Of course some plan tations greatly exceed these figures
 ''What do you pay for help?" I inquired. s'Our free laborers are paid SIS or S14 pel month in gold. We have some slaves, who get S1, s, $3 or $4 per month in addition tc
 being 'fonnd,' according as they are worth s7O, $50, $90 or s1OO. The approaching end
 of slavery in the island has greatly reduced the price of slaves, and increased the cost of sugar making. Many estates are being work, ed at a loss, and the whole island is going tc the dogs" It plain, however, that the spea ger had Spanish r-tax ation and general misrule in mind as the chief cause oi all this industrial prostration, although he would not say so much in words.
 looked wistfully toward the open paral telegram constituting the negroes quarters, about which scores of ebony pickaninnies were disporting in aboriginal costume; but the superintendent studiously avoided ex. tending an invitation. The present embargo upon plantation visiting is due to the prying curiosity of travellers who have insisted upon invading such forbidden precincts.
 EMILE