Evening journal., 1906-10-03

matter OF fact. one-hfth on an average OF
the land occupied by a plantation is
actually devoted to raising cane. A con-
siderable proportion OF II is planted In
food crops for the consumption OF the
several thousand laborers and their FAINT
lies which are attached to each large
plantation OF mill Then again there are
a number OF buildings. certain amount
OF timber aud grass and other DISPOSE
tons OF the acreage. In the early days
OF the industry each farmer ground his
own cane and carried the product to the
nearest mart behind pair OF oxen. This
system. OF course. entalled a series OF
wastes from the planting 10 the consump-
ton, and the finished article was OF a
very poor grade. These IN separate and
Independent farms were succeeded by the
more economical "colonias" or aggrega-
lions OF small plantations. which. while
they cultivate Independently. combine In
transporting the output TO a central" or
properly equipped MILL
Whilst "colonias" are to be found at
present all over the country and. IN fact.
include 90 per cent. Of the total number
Of charlottesville process Of evolution
and complete plantation furnished with the
buildings aud mechanical plant necessary
for the entire operations OF growing and
grinding the cane and manufacturing mo-
lasses. Such plantations are called ''ln-
genios." There are probably 200 Of
these In operation. occupying from 10000
to 10000 or more acres. They represent
invested capital OF at least 100000. 900,
OF which one-third Is American money,
and considerably more than one-half for
eign. large number OF these plantations
have cost one million dollars to estab-
fish, and several OF them two Millions.
The machinery OF n mill with a capacity
OF 1000 bags a day will cost $500 900.
and includes improved furnaces, CHARTERS.
grinding apparatus, dehbrators. defeca-
tors. vacuum pans, centrifugal separators;
and, In short. every description Of modern
sugar machinery and all such lnbor-sav-
ing devices as can be applied to the
manufacture. The various auxiliary
buildings will involve an outlay Of $780,
600 or $500. 600. There Is. Of course. the
cost OF land. which will vary, and then-a
very heavy item-the field trackage.
Each large plantation has It's own rail-
lodQt NltAAA1A ~ otNaAA toNoHethNo ohN
equipped with a large number OF cars
The individual mileage will run from 10
TO 30 miles. and there Is an aggregate OF
something like a thousand miles OF such
track in the island. The plantation rail-
road Is employed to bring the cane from
the Geld TO the mill aud to carry the
sugar or molasses from the mill to the
nearest trunk line. Before long further
economies will be effected In the matter
OF transportation. Among other plans
looking TO this end are suggestions for
the employment OF electric or alcohol
motors IN place of steam engines. Alec
hol being a by-product OF the sugar cane,
would appear to be a convenient and
cheap agent for the generation OF motive
power.
The productive acreage Is somewhat
less than It was 10 years ago. Most OF
the sugar we receive from Cuba Is de-
rived from the old plantations, which
have IN many cases been renovated and
refurnished The effect OF the new mills
upon the output will be markedly felt In
about a years time, and from thence on
a constant Increase In the yield may be
expected. New ingenios are In process OF
formation all along the line Of the Cuba
Railroad. The most ambitious project OF
this sort, for which syndicate OF
American capitalists Is responsible, Is