284 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



"During the first six months of eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, 

 nearly seven hundred thousand centners were exported. Thus it may 

 be seen th'at thirty-six years ago all the sugar used in the empire was 

 imported. Now the importation of sugar has ceased, and it has become 

 an article of export and is no inconsiderable item in the balance of trade. 



"The duty on the importation of sugar was reduced in eighteen hun- 

 dred and fifty-five and in eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and the inter- 

 ruption in the steady decrease of the import and increase of the export 

 is owing to this cause. 



" The heavy tax on the beet before conversion into sugar operates as 

 a tax on the sugar. When sugar became an article of export there was 

 a certain recompensation fixed, which in eighteen hundred and sixty 

 equalled five florins sixteen kreutzers per centner on refined sugar, and 

 four florins twenty kreutzers on powdered sugar. In eighteen hundred 

 and sixty-four this recompensation was realized to six florins fifty-one 

 kreutzers per centner on refined sugar, and to five florins thirt}?- kreut- 

 zers per centner on powdered sugar. 



"The continued import of molasses is explained by the fact that the 

 molasses obtained from the beet is not fit for common use, but is used 

 for producing spirits. 



" Comparing the income from customs duty, and the tax on the produc- 

 tion of sugar, we find not only that the proportion between the export 

 and import has changed, but that there is a considerable increase in con- 

 sumption at home. Giving the income in round numbers we have : 



Revenues from the manufactures of beet root sugar. 



Year. 



From customs du- 

 ties on imports. 



From Internal 

 Revenue tax. 



1850.. 



1852.. 



1855. 



1858.. 



I860.. 



1861.. 



1862.. 



1863.. 



1864.. 



1865.. 



1866.. 



Austrian florins. 



5,300,000 



5,900,000 



6,600,000 



3,600,000 



400,000 



400,000 



1,409,000 



800,000 



200,000 



100,000 



100,000 



Austrian florins. 



150,000 



500,080 



. 1,100,000 

 4,100,000 

 5,100,000 

 5,800,000 

 5,600,000 

 7,000,000 

 6,000,000 

 7.900,000 

 6,100,000 



"Notwithstanding the diminished customs duty on sugar, by the in- 

 crease of the amount realized from the internal revenue sugar tax, the 

 total result has grown larger, thereby showing that the domestic con- 

 sumption must have been increased. 



" The expense of the manufacture of sugar during the last year was : 



