Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1909-02-10
H0H3TZlYG HVE 70Wy. OF C1Mr

aoouI itS near neighbor, America
But now that has all been changed. II
Is only ten years since the island
came under the control of the United
states, and in that time Americans
nave settled in the island and are now
W De found in almost every industry
| there. In fact the chief industries
such as sugar. tobacco and fruit. are
| almost entirely controlled by Ameri.
| can capital.
The sugar industry, which is by far
tne most important, has had a phe-
homenal growth in the last decade.
Fornerly the plantations, scattered
throughout the island, but more espe-
claiIy In the coast regions, were oper.
a'ed independently. The cane was
raiseo' the sugar was made and was
shippeu by each estate This method. of
course necessitated very primitive
ana lhe1hcient process. The power
was almost without exception fur
nlshed by oxen operating a small set
vi Ioilers' into which the cane was fed
| Ny hand. The boiling of the juice and
tne crystallizing of the sugar was done
IN open pans, with the result that a
large percentage OF the sugar was not
recovered. Hence Porto Rico became
famed for her fine molasses. while III.
tlo or nothing was ever heard OF her
production OF sugar.
Today on nearly every estate the
oio mills have fallen into disuse or
nave been dismantled. the rollers used
In road making and the pans for cattle
ulink from, Tor sugar making by in
HVlduals is thing of the past.
american companies have estab-
ushed what are known az "csntrals"
and have made it for the interest Of
plantation owners to send their cane
mere TO be made into sugar These
companies have established railroads
with branches running into all estates
20 orlng the cane quickly and easily to
he mills
In most cases the Central" has q
general supervision over the estates
with inspectors who advise the latest
methods OF cane culture, install irriga-
Ion systems. encourage the opening of
dew lands. often forwarding money for
Such work, and In general promote the
culture of more and better cane.
BESIDES owning several plantations
some OF the larger "centrals" gather
and grind the cane from 60 or more
plantations extending along the coast
sometimes for 80 or 40 miles and far
back into the mountains.
The advantage to the plantation
owner is very evident in that his work
and responsibility end when his cane
8 raised, cut and loaded upon the COM
panles' cars which come by means of
portable tracks into his very fields.
The efficiency OF the modern and elab-
crate method OF sugar making more
than makes up for the division OF
profits.
These sugar houses are euuipped
with the latest and best machinery.
NO expense is spared I'm this respect
Tor by the saving Of even the smallest
| percentage OF additional sugar the
amount saved In tae manufacture of
a seasons crop. often $4,000 tons or
more, is enormous
connected with the sugar houses are
| laboratories with n corps of chemists
| who by continued analysis at every
stage In the process Of manufacture
control II so that the maximum amount
or sugar Is obtained, and the Gnisbed
product Is kept up to the standard de-.
| sired by the refners in the States"
rms process Of manufacturing the
sugar occupies from six to eisht
months in the year, the rest of the
Time being given up to repairs and i'm.
provements.
With the exception OF the Iaborers
| who are Of course natives. these places
are operated by Americans. and during
the grinding season you find many col.
Onies OF them situated far from tho
cities In the midst Of the cane coun.
try. Some men holding positions which
demand their attention the year round
have settled with their families AT
these 'centrals,' but for the most part
those required but for the busy season
go north for the rest OF the time.
where the social and climatic cDndi.
Ions are more agreeable.
The social life Is OF course very lin.
ted IN these places. owing TO the fact
hat they are situated so far from the
titles that. with the very poor means
u transportation, It Is very dimcut TO
reach them.
At the largest "oentrals" you find
but six or eight families living I'm sep.
arate houses and q clubhouse housing
20 or 40 unmarried men or men with.
| out their families.
But even among themselves some
social life would be poGsible we're II
not for the fact that these people come
from so many social classes them.
selves.
The lack Of Schools for the children