Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-10-28
BAN and WEST INDIAN GROWERS
OF CANE ENJOY PROSPEROUS DAYS
rs That Have Not Grown Cane Are Brought Under Cult
alton; American Equipment Is Purchased Chiefly Because
-pgland Is Not in Position to Supply Demand

offers attractions little below those
of the country on the west
The smaller islands, such as the
Danish. the French, and the British
West Indies, are also territory in
which there is much interest being
manifested in the acquisition of all
sorts Of equipment needed in the
growing of cane and the manufacture
Of cane products. These islands. in
the aggregate, constitute a large area
of great purchasing power.
The manager of . large trading com
pany in Martinique complained recent,
ly that he had not been able to find
e catalogue of American sugar mills
machinery, appliances, or equipment
in the French language; that he was
carrying two lines of American cane
mills; and that if he had an adequate
catalogue he could utilize copies to
great advantage and make his sales
larger. Il would seem that the field
populated by people speaking the
French language is of sufficient i'm
portance to warrant the publication
Of such a catalogue on the part OF
manufacturers, especially since the
opening up to. development of Haiti
Ia country OF 100000 population
There is reported to be considerable
wealth in Haiti, which its owners will
now employ in bringing into cultiva
ton and use wide areas Of rich land
Sugar cane is the natural crop tc
plant, and the one from which the
largest returns may be had at the
smallest expense.
The French possessions Of Guade'
lope, its smaller dependent islands
and the island of Martinique are all
populated by folk who in the main
know only the French tongue. There
are thousands of acres Of cane land
available in these colonies and thou
sands of acres already in cultivation
There is also much wealth, and the
owners OF the land are able to make
use of it and to purchase the neces
sary equipment. Direct steamship
connections and liberal treatment by
the home government make the manu-
facture Of cane products in the French
West Indies a very attractive propo
sition, indeed. Small estates are the
rule In this territory, and equipment
Of all sorts is In demand.
It would seem that it Is well worth
the cost Of issuing catalogue in the
French language to have 1t appeal es
pecially to the French trade. AS the
whole list Of cane equipment is moi
very extensive, it is no great under
taking for manufacturer or dealer
to provide such a catalogue. In view
Of the fact that English, French and
Spanish are spoken in the West In
dies, each. in its own territory, ths
reading matter could be made inter
linear in the three languages. The
Illustrations should be ample and wei
executed. Such a catalogue could be
used not only for the West Indies but
for the whole of Latin America al
well.
American mills are not regarded
with the same favor accorded those o.
English make. 1t is complained thai
the American mills do not stand VI
under the work" as do the British
machines. Most of the owners USE
equipment very roughly, leaving 1t ex
posed to torrential rain and tropica
sunlight from enc season to another
AS a rule, the cane-mill operatives
through ignorance, do everything thai
ought not to be done, from overfeed
ing the rollers (by jamming in toe
many stalks at once) to all other con
ceivable and inconceivable ways o
abucing machinery and exercising lacl
of judgment or care.
Only apparatus of the utmost solid
ity and simplicity can stand sucf
treatment and remain efficient Thi:
the cane mills made by firm in Oar
by, England, are claimed to do. This
make of mill appears to be generally
the standard OF excellence in the Yves
Indies, and it is preferred to any other
Various makes of cane mills have
been tried, but the conclusion regard
ing the Darby mills remains. Nor Il
this preference confined to the Yves
Indies. In several countries of Cen
tral America have heard these same
mills alluded to as being the best L
he had in wearing qualities and gen
cral serviceability.
Some mills of American make ar
undoubtedly being sold in the Yves
Indies now, but the main argumen
fer their sale is the difficulty of pro
curing the English mills. As between
the two makes of cane mills, ordinar
lily, there would be no argument Tn,
buyer would take the English mill.
he has used it before, he found it salts
factory and durable; If he is making
his first venture in the use of a can,
mill he has heard oft from his neigh
bors. TheO West Indian is ccnserva
tive and prefers to follow the heater
path in the expenditure of his money