Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-07
SUGAR REFINERY.
Proposition to Refine Raw Sugar
Here.

Proposition to Refine Raw Sugar
Here.
EDITORS HERALD-In bulletin No. II,
of the United States department of ag-
riculture, p. go, the following estimate
appears: 'The annual consumption of
Esugar, per capita, in the United States
sis about fifty-six pounds" The popula-
ton of Los Angeles is about $4,000.
These people consume each year s6x50,-
900 equals $500, 900 pounds, besides that
which is used in the fruit preserving
business. In the same bulletin, p. 70
ct seq. we find that an estimate OF the
cost of sugar house capable of working
1,l23,000 pounds of sugar to be but
$4,000, and this would have to be doubled,
and to supply the demand to such q
ripple effects and clarifying department.
Now, to build a refinery capable of re-
filming sugar for $4,000 people, on the
above basis, would cost about $50, 900,
{exact estimates can easily be had). The
money to purchase stock with and run
the house upon, would easily run into
another $4,000, say 100000 to build,
equip and rua svch refinery.
Raw sugar in San Francisco sells for
21s cents, and according to the Express,
it costs but q of cent to refine it, to
which should be added the freight. Say
refined sugar could be produced for So
to cents at refinery here. And why
should there not be such a refinery
here? Say sugar could be produced at
cents-a liberal estimate-the people
are now paying 63s cents $500, 900
equals $l78, 800, saving annually on
this of 23S cents would mean a saving to
the people of $66, 500 which now goes to
the sugar kings. Why should not Los
Angeles have it's own refinery? You
cannot reason that the city has no pub
]ic-spirited citizens of wealth who are
unwilling to go into such a move from
selfish motives-because no matter how
rRublic-spirited or liberal or wealthy an
individual might be, or how willing to
go into such an industry single handed
or even with a combination of FIVE or
ten citizens, to move in such a matter
would mean ruin. No sooner would
their first barrel of sugar be put upon
the market than down would go the
price of Spreckels' sugar to 81 cents,
and the cut would be continued until
the weaker party succumbed.
But such refinery could be main
tanned in the city of Los Angeles and by
'thescitizens themselves, These citizens
=.c:fe naturally divided into four classes
as to the amounts that they could afford
to subscribe to such an enterprise.
First-The bankers who are inter-
ested in the progress of the community
and in keeping all the money possible
from going to outside sources.
Second-The grocers-wholesale and
retail-who are interested in furnishing
their customers with sugar at as low a
figure as possible.
Third-The large commemorative can
ners and fruit preservers, the confec-
TONERS and bakers.
Fourth-The hotel and boarding
house keepers and every householder.
IL a refinery could be started by these
combined forces, no power could pre-
vent profit being made if the stock
was owned in proportion to the amount
Of sugar consumed. Suppose a confec.
TONER who was using $1,000 worth Of
anoar per annum should hold 5000 worth
al stock. and as soon as the proposed re-
fiDery should get running the price o.
sugar should drop below or to the cosl
Of manufacture, which would be say
from 6s< cents to 31S cents, so that tht
refinery would be obliged to close down.
He could reason thuely; used to pay
for is, 686 pounds of sugar $1,000, 1t nov
costs me but $549.0l. My little invest
ment of $500 turns me in $45O.99, as i
saves melthat in the course OF year OF