New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1920-03-06
LOUISIANA SUGAR NEWS.


fning and sugar-making industry
of Louisiana in process of action
at this time? This is undoubtedly
a very interesting question and
there are many Of the closest stu
dents of sugar affairs in LOuisl-
ana who are of the opinion that
we are witnessing and yet not
seeing. most of us, very reyolu-
tionary change in the character
of both the old line boneblacK
plants and our own historic sugar
houses. This change is a result
of the stringent sugar situation
brought about by the war. Lou
isiana sugar producers are the
pioneers, again in a forward move
ment in the sugar business just
as they have been the pioneers in
the technical progress of the art
of sugar manufacture almost since
the first sugar cane was planted IN
this once French colony of Louis
lana. Those who, with accurate
or inaccurate foresight, are say
ing these things refer to the grow
inc disposition on the part OF the
factory owners in this State to
make direct consumption sugars,
not only out Of what they produce
themselves but also from imported
sugars brought here from Cuba,
Porto Rico, Mexico and anyherc
else that they can get it from.
Five or six years ago, say these
men. it would have been cOnsid-
cred preposterous to have consld-
cred it feasible for the Louisiana
planter to handle imported raw
sugar as he is doing to-day. The
refners, and all the power they
had and threatened the growers
with, would have brought anyone
who as dreamer enough to have
imagined such a thing possible,
suddenly IL bis senses, and his
dream world have remained a
dream and the dreamer'S friends
would have CONSIDERED him lucky
&c have beer awakened without
tne financial losses which were
then a certainty. But now they
say the law makes it possible to
put industrial oppression down
effectively and the planters of
Louisiana are enjoying a newer
and better freedom and are TAX
ING advantage of it.
One leading planter said Thurs
dav that it was his belief that the
refners themselves, with the pos
sible exception of the American
Sugar Refining Company in Lou
isiana. were refining on toll now
so much more foreign sugars than
they have ever done before, that
there was no comparison possible
between this year and other years.
It can be almost safely said that !
never before were foreign sugars
refined on toll for Louisiana deal
ers. About three years ago some
of the Louisiana factories which |
were not equipped to make any
but 96-test sugar, contracted with
the Colonial Refinery at Gramercy
and the Henderson Refinery in /
New Orleans to refine their sugars
IN toll. But those were domestic !
sugars exclusively. Some plant
ers believe that this work being
done with Cubans and other su-
oars now presages the placing of
the refining business of the coun-
try on toll basis entirely.
An then. too, there was never
hnfo~e such wholesale buying Of /
FOREIGN sugar and even clarifieds |
nv Louisiana factors and brokers
as IS now being carried on. It
was not so long ago when all the
sugar that was imported at New
Orleans was the property Of one
of tho three or four refneries.
That condition is not so today. |
The Est of different consignees
for imnorted SUGARS is growing |
o"eate~ and greater daily.-La.