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 ter
CRY is a detailed report that has just come fro
he department of commerce giving the resul
# the investigation of the agricultural costs
rowing sugarcane on the plantations of Lou
ana and of the manufacture into raw sugar
he factories there. The following facts a
.iyen in the bulletin:
The investigation was made in 1912 by F. j. Sher-
dan, 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 abnormaly high Intwenty-three parishes
S296s4 are in sugar In 1911. $500, 544
tons OF cane were raised and 6939s9,633 pounds of
sugar produced. The average cost of producing one
ton OF cane harvested for the factory was $500 in
1911, $3.50 in 1910 and s4.15 in 1909. The highest
cost per ton was $1717 for 1871 $6273 in 1910 and
sGl272 in 1909 The lowest cost was s2.T3 in 1911,
s3.11 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
tion.
In 1911, the average number of tons harvested per
acre was 1E47, in 1910 1893 and in 1909 1886. The
highest number of tons harvested per acre was
2c.S0 in 1911. 24O4 in 1910, and 26.5 in 1909 The
lowest number of tons harvested per acre 1923
in 1911, 1904 in 1910. and 1886 in 1907
In the factories the average cost of production
per ton of cane ground was 1884 in 1911, $549 in
1910, and $685. in 1909. The highest cost per ton
ground $6.15 in 1911 $500 in 1910, and $6.4S in
1903. The lowest cost per ton of cane ground
$4s2 in 1911, $4SS in 1870 and $4.9S 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
1873 pounds in 1s11.s147 pounds in 1870 and 156
pounds in 1908 The highest yield was III pounds
in 1911, 17s pounds in 1910, and 1sS pounds in 1909
The lowest yield ia pounds in 1s11 122 pounds
in 1870 and 1873 pounds in 1909.
The average cost of production per pound of SUI
gar was 4ss cents in 1911. $40 cents in 1910, and
1852 cents in 1903. The highest cost per pound Of
sugar was s6 cents in 1911, 45I cents In 1910 and
4s6 cents in 1909 The lowest cost per pound of
sugar was ss3 cents in 1s11 313 cents in 1910 and
269 cents in 1909 Interest and depreciation are not
included in any of the costs.
The factory having the lowest cost in 1909 of 2.69
cents per pound had yield of 1873 pounds of sugar
per ton Of cane Its cost of at factory but
s362 and its total factory cost 1898 per ton of
cane Its cost of repairs and maintenance was be-
low the average ana It's general efficiency DelIeT
comparison of Cuban and certain Louisiana
factories for five years shows average yield in
Cuba of 1928 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 was 100 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 cane. This is owing to the
fact that production the plantation is carried
by manual and animal labor, while factory produc-
tioA is the work of machines, chemical processes
and white labor. the. work in the grinding season
going at top speed.
On $50 plantations 1429S1 acres we're cultivated
OF these S27 per cent were in stubble in 1911
3o4 per cent in plant cane and $40 per cent in
storative crops Sixteen per cent of the acreage was
occupied with canals, bitches, 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,S3115 and in
2,300-ton plant the value was appraised at $780,
S2434. The cost of transportation of cane pur-
chased to factory ranges from cent per ton to 81
cents per ton of cane.
1t is remarkable to see the rapidity and un;