The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-07-28
Central Sugar Factories.

We arc so firmly convinced that the very
existence of the Louisiana sugar industry
depends upon separation of the agricul-
tnral and manufacturing departments and
the establishment at all convenient points
OF central sugar factories, that we shall
hereafter devote more space than ever be-
fore to the advocacy of this system. Gang
labor Is annually becoming more scarce
and unreliable, since so many avenues are
open to those who are satisfied to make a
bare livelihood.
The expenses attending the cultivation
and manufacture of sugar crop are 50
great that, with the present prices of SUI
gar, no planter who has to borrow money
can long continue the business No one
can now safely calculate on better prices
for sugar, i'll future years, since the worlds
supply is annually on the increase. much
more rapidly than the growth of the de-
mand. Therefore, it becomes all to pre-
pare to meet the inevitable. The future
sugar crop of Louisiana, even in the time
of the present generation, will be grown
ny white men. In every sugar Parish are
now to be found considerable numbers of
white men who are cultivating cane to
sell by the ton, and hundreds if not thou
sands more are only awaiting the oppor-
tunity to do the same thing. Where a
planter has his place worked by hired la
Dor, he seldom cares to buy outside cane.
for it needs u certain preparation for it..
Only few of those who have the most
powerful machinery, and can rapidly work
up the cane, are now doing it. Even in
those cases, they usually put the grower
off until near the close of the season, ma
l. fol MI l.
What is needed is properly organized
and exclusively central factories, where,
after certain date, all cane will be re-
ccived. In order that the purchaser may
not lose from cane being immature, it
should be sold i'll accordance with its sac
charine strength As the central factory
system is yet in its infancy, of course it is
difficult to determine the actual value of
cane, but in one or two seasons, by care
full recording of results, an equitable ba-
Sis could be established.
The Genital sugar factory system will
eanse the growth of that diversity of crops
which is so essential to the prosperity of
any country, and which never can be Sc
cured under the old method of conducting
plantations. The tenant system has been
thoroughly tried and not proven benefi-
eial, The only satisfactory way is to of
fer proper inducements to reliable men
who have sufficient means to furnish their
own teams, implements and provisions.
and all the manufacturer has to do is to
pay for the cane on delivery. If the cul-
tlvators own the land it is preferable, for
1t will be better cared for. In fact, it is
soon demonstrated to the planter who be-
gins that system, that is to be his interest
to sell to them, and act solely as manu-
facturer, bending all his energies to the
securing of the best machinery and the
proiongation of the manufacturing season.
We have hitherto mentioned several
places which We're adopting the exclu-
sively central sugar factory system, and
this season another is being added to the
list by Mr.. Laurent Lacassagne. of New
Orleans, who has purchased and divided
into tracts of one arpent front each, the
entire Greenwood plantation, on bayou
Black, Terrebonue parish His terms are
easy-onethird cash and the balance in .
one, two and three years. Then too, he |
will bny all the wood the purchasers can
cut, furnishing team, free of charge, to
deliver it to his sugar house. The lands
are admirably suited for either sugar or
rice, aud a navigable stream passes thro'
them, whereby surplus timber can be
shipped to advantage. A saw-mill has
recently been erected on the place, which
will enable buyers to improve chcaply. !
We hope, ere long, TO see Greenwood be- !
:ome one of tie most prosperous central +
sugar factories. Sugar Bowl.