276 TRANSACTIONS OP THE 



"This industry has not failed to perform the promises of its youth, 

 and has justified, by its rapid development, the most enthusiastic hopes 

 of its founders. France, in the possession of the beet, has become the 

 fortunate rival of the most flourishing sugar colonies, which she has not 

 only surpassed by the progress made in manufacture, but also in pro- 

 duction, which is not inferior in importance to that of the Island of 

 Cuba." 



The same author remarks that in the large increase in the consump- 

 tion of sugar is to be seen .a solution of the difficulties which have 

 existed so long between the cane and the beet sugar manufacturer, and 

 the eventual harmonizing of these discordant interests. This increase 

 also betokens an advanced degree of comfort and a higher scale of living 

 throughout the entire population. 



Political economists recommend the liberal use of this article, and by 

 so doing throw their influence on the side of the consumers, whose 

 interest it is to effect the abolition or great dimunition of the imposts 

 and duties at present in force, the proper adjustment o*f which presents 

 so many difficulties to the statesman. 



PRESENT CONDITION OF THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Since the establishment of the beet sugar industry, in eighteen hun- 

 dred and twelve, it has spread very rapidly over all continental Europe, 

 and at the present time in most of those countries is placed on a perma- 

 nent and secure footing. It is to be found in Austria, Russia, Prussia, 

 Germany, Belgium and Holland, and its introduction into England is 

 seriously discussed. This shows a remarkable change of feeling in that 

 country in regard to this industry, for no other nation was. so strongly 

 opposed to the introduction of the manufacture of sugar into France* 

 as England, or contributed so much to defeat this object and Tiring 

 this industry, then in its infancy, into ridicule. 



It is proposed to give a brief account of the present condition of this 

 industry in the different countries of Europe, and to enumerate some of 

 the benefits which have resulted from its introduction. 



We will commence with France, for in that country the manufacture 

 of beet sugar is carried on more scientifically and successfully than in 

 an}' other part of Europe. 



France. 



Although the discovery of the existence of a cry stalliz able sugar in 

 the beet is due to Prussian invention and intellect, yet the successful 

 application of the discovery is due to the genius and perseverance of 

 French manufacturers, stimulated by the assistance and approval of 

 the Government, and by that feeling of patriotic pride which finds its 

 expression in the workshop as well as in the battalion. The varied for- 

 tunes which beset this new industry have been already noticed. It had 

 spread since its foundation to many places in France, and in eighteen 

 hundred and thirty-six was to be found in, active operation in thirty- 

 seven departments, the number of factories being four hundred and 

 thirty-six, although the production did 'not exceed forty million kilo- 

 grams. The law of eighteen hundred and thirty-seven, by which a 

 duty of fifteen francs per one hundred kilograms was imposed upon indi- 

 genous sugar, caused sixty-six manufactories to suspend work, and 



