The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1905-08-11

Consul Canada, OF Veracruz, furnish-
es an interesting article on the cub
tivation and growth OF sugar in certain
of the Mexican states. The values
given in the article are in Mexican
silver. unless gold is stated. The value
of the Mexican silver dollar on July /
was O.4es. owing to the fluctuations
In silver values Consul Canada thinks
a reduction in United States currency
would be of no permanent value. By
estimating the values at about one-haif
of those given in the article, an APP
proximately just value. on an Amer
lean basis, would be reached. His let
ter follows:
The state of ,veracruz has lately
developed into an important sugar
producing territory. My report for the
fiscal year 1s00-l90l states that Az tons
of sugar were exported from Veracruz
In that year, the United States having
taken almost the entire output, less
than 2 tons having gone to other coun-
tries. During the fiscal year lSs9-lsVo
only little over ! ton was exported
though the total production in the en-
tire Republic was estimated at $4,000
tons and sugar to the. value of $26,0oO
was imported. In 1902 not a single
shipment of sugar passed through this
port to foreign parts, but in 1923 the
business began to assume large propor-
tions and $3.50 tons were exported, OF
which amount England took the bulK,
the United States receiving only about
one eighth of the total. In 1904 every
sugar estate in the Republic was busily
engaged in grinding, turning out main
~ muscovado and centrifugal of SO de-
grees, for the English market. The es-
innate of the production of that year
was 5000 tons, while the estimate OF
the production in 1904-5 is $4,000 tons.
The records at this consulate show that
in the September quarter of 1904 sugar
to the value of 1887 gold was shipped
to the United states, and in the Decem-
Der quarter, 1904, sugar to the value Of
S245O gold In the March quarter, 1905,
the value of sugar exported to the
United States reached the sum Of $685.
921 gold.
1t is evident that the sugar industry
of Mexico has attracted the attention
of many personsy for inquiries are fire.
quently received here for information
conforming the industry, from the cost
of land to the cost of production. l
have therefore procured, so far as IT
lay in my power, what l consider trust
worthy data on these points, and give
them herewith.
Mexican statistics show that In 1904,
3S,66S acres were planted in sugar cane
in the following eighteen counties In
the State of Veracruz: Acayucan,
Coatepec, Cordoba, Cosamaloapam.
Chicontepec, Huatusco, Jalacingo.
Jalapa, Minatitlans Misantla. Orizaba.
Ozuluama, Papantla, Tantoyuca, Tux
pam. Los Tuxtlas, veracruz, and Zon-
golica.
The yield OF sugar depends upon the
location of the plantations. On the
higher levels it is not so great as in
the hot lands; 26 to As tons of cane
per acre in the higher lands would be
a fair production. The saccharine mat
ter. from this quantity of cane is 81
per cent of the weight of the cane, and
the quantity of white centrifugal su-
gar produced runs from IL to 10 pei
cent or over-say, about 1870 to 15C
pounds of sugar per ton of cane.
VALUE OF LAND AND LABOR.
Nothing definite can be said as tc
the value of the lands. Wild, uncul-
tivated lands suitable for planting
cane cost from IS to $40 and more pei
acre, but improved lands vary much II
value, according to location, degree ant
kind of development, transportation
| facilities, and improvements. Lane
may be cleared and planted in cane a.
a cost of about $50 per acre. There
are no irrigation works in the State
of Veracruz: such systems as are II
| operation are privately managed ant
no official records of their operations
exist.
The labor required is also variable
| quantity, governed entirely by loca
| conditions, methods employed, dis
tances on the plantation, etc, bu
! chiefly by the location. In the no
lands the harvest is short and a larg,
force of men is needed to gather II
the cane, while up in the higher ranges
| the harvest continues much longer ant
fewer men are required, although thes
work for longer time. However, IL
the cooler regions the cane must b.
replanted every two or three years. ant
in the hot lands only every ten t.
twelve years. Labor, by reason of III
scarcity, demands higher price In thu
hot lands than in the mora elevated
and 'populous districts. In the latte
from so to 81 liz cents a day are paid
while on the isthmus the daily wag'
runs from 81 to SLIPS.
All field labor is arranged on piece
work basis. That is to say. a labore
receives a certain price for the per
Torrance of a given amount of work o
task. Naturally this price will var,
in accordance with climatic conditions
being higher in the hot country thar
in the cooler regions. Although thu
cane is taller in the former, the weed
/ n. ~. n.