Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-25
EDITOR
SUGAR COST IN LOUsINIANA

OF especial interest to sugar men of the terri
DRY is a detailed report that has just come froI
he department Of commerce giving the result
II the investigation Of the agricultural costs {
growing sugar-cane on the plantations of LOui
ana and of the manufacture into raw sugar j
he factories there The following facts al
given in the bulletin: ~s= "@@.~-. !.
The investigation made in 1912 by F. J. Sher-
idan commercial agent of the bureau of foreign and
domestic commerce. under the general direction of
the tariff board, and the compilation completed by
him by direction Of the secretary of: commerce
The agricultural and factory costs are shown for
the three years Of 1909 1910 and 1911 On account
of the freeze the sugar costs per pound for
1911 were abnormally high In twenty three parishes
329.6s4 in sugar cane In 1911, 5,S09,54
tons of cane were raised and 6S3,98s633 pounds of
sugar produced The average cost of producing one
ton of cane harvested for the factory was $500 in
1911 1870 in 1870 and $415 in 1909 The highest
cost per ton s1717 for 1911 1929 in 1910, and
s6272 in 1903. The lowest cost was 1913 in 1911,
s3l1 in 1910, and 1924 in 1909 The number of tons
harvested per, acre and the number of pounds Of
sugar per ton of cane governed the cost of produc
ton. e
In 1871 the average number of tons harvested per
acre was 1747, in 1910 1898, and in 1909 1856 The
highest number of tons harvested per acre was
23.so in 1911, 24o4 in 1910, and 26.5 in 1909 The
lowest number of tons harvested per acre was 1923
In 1911. 1904 in 1910, and 1886 in 1903.
In the factories the average cost of production
per ton of cane ground was s5ss4 in 1911. s5.49 in
1870 and $685. in 1909. The highest cost per ton
ground was $615 in 1911. 5000 in 1910. and s64s in
1909 The lowest cost per ton of cane ground was
1892 in 1911. s4ss in 1910. and 1898 in 1909.
The effect of the freeze on yield and cost may be
noted in the yield per ton and cost per pound. The
average yield of sugar per ton of cane ground was
133 pounds in 1911, lat pounds in 1910, and 156
pounds in 1908. The highest yield was III pounds
in 1911 l7S pounds in 1910. and 1s3 pounds in 1909
The lowest yield was ia pounds IN 1911 122 pounds
in 1870 and 1873 pounds in 1909.
The average cost Of production per pound of
gar was 439 cents in 1911. 372 cents in 1910. and
3.62 cents in 1909 The highest cost per- pound of
sugar was 1876 cents in 1911 All cents in 1910, and
4S6 cents in 1909. The lowest cost per pound of
sugar 1888 cents in 1911 sts cents in 1910. and
26s cents in 1909 Interest and depreciation are not
included in any of the costs -
The factory having the lowest cost in 1909 of 269
cents per pound had yield Of 1873 pounds Of sugar
per ton of cane It's cost Of cane at factory but
$500 and its total factory cost 1898 per ton of
cane. Its cost of repairs and maintenance was be-
low the average and its general efficiency better
A comparison of Cuban and certain Louisiana
factories for five years shows average yield in
Cuba of 1898 pounds per ton of cane, and 1919
pounds In Louisiana, difference in yield of GA
pounds of sugar per ton of cane. The sucrose in.
extraction juice 1850 per cent in Cuba and about
11.5 per cent in Louisiana.
The plantation labor cost per acre was 503 per
cent of the total cost while the factory labor cost
was 459 per cent of the total conversion cost per
ton exclusive of cost of This is owing to the
fact that production the plantation is carried on
by manual and animal labor, while factory produc-
ton is the work of machines. chemical processes,
and white labor, the work In the grinding season
going at top speed.
On $50 plantations 142,981 acres were cultivated.
OF these BIT per cent in stubbe cane in 1911,
S04 per cent in plane cane, and $40 per cent in
storatye crops. Sixteen per cent of the acreage
occupied with canals, ditches roads and headlines.
The appraisal value of the equipment and build
ings of sugar factory having 1000 tons daily grind
ing capacity are shown to be $473,33115 and in a
2S00-ton plant the value appraised at 1904
32434. The cost of transportation of cane pur-
chased to factory, ranges from cent per ton to 62
. cents per ton of cane. a-= 2
1t is remarkable to see the rapidity and una
unity with which tho nuhlic service eornors