181 



of colonial sugar 83,000 tons. In 1847 the first advanced to 50,000 tons, the 

 latter to 88,000. In 1850 tlie beet-sugar production reached 62,000 tons, and 

 the colonial cane-sugar had decreased to 51,000 tons. In 1852 another change 

 unfavorable to beet-sugar was made by the tariff regulations, and this was fol- 

 lowed by two seasons unfavorable for gi-owing the beet ; but in 1853 a disease 

 of the vine greatly lessened grape alcohol, which doubled in price, when the 

 manufacturete of beet-sugar turned their attention to the production of alcohol 

 from the beet. The production of beet spirit in 1852 was 352,000 gallons; in 

 1857 it was 9,240,000 gallons, and that from the vine showed almost an equal 

 decrease. But in this last year the vine recovered from the disease, when the 

 manufacture of beet-sugar was resumed to its full extent. In ] 858 its manu- 

 factiu-e was 124,000 tons,* and the importation of colonial cane-sugar was 

 116,000 tons. 



In 1860 the internal tax was again changed to 60 dollars per ton on beet- 

 sugar ; a duty of $52 88 was laid on colonial sugar, and of $66 12 on foreign 

 sugar. 



The per cent, of sugar now obtained by improved processes is from 5 to 6 ; 

 the Germans get from 7 to 8. But in Prussia greater cai-e is observed in the 

 selection of the beets used. The crop is successively immersed iu three different 

 tanks of salt water of the densities of 4, 5, and 6 degrees Beaume; the roots 

 floating in the first tank are rejected ; those which float in the second tank form 

 the third quality of beet; those which float in the third tank constitute the second 

 quality of beet, and those which sink iu it make the first class of beet. The 

 cost of the production of beet-sugar has been reduced to about four cents per pound ; 

 the tax is about three cents, other charges about 1^ cent, maldng the selling 

 price from 9 to 11 cents per pound. 



With this brief account of the rise and present condition of the sugar trade of 

 France, taken, as to its facts, from Marshall's Population and Trade iu France, 

 1861-2, we place before the public the letter of Mr. Kreismann, relative to the 

 progress of its production in the ZoUverein. It is addressed to the Stale De- 

 partment, and this department is indebted to the usual kindness of Mr. Seward 

 for it. 



U. S. Consulate, Berlin, March 17, 1866. 



Sir : In view of the circumstance that the question of manufacturing beet- 

 sugar is at this time attracting considerable attention in our country, a brief ac- 

 count of the present extent and condition of that business here in Germany may 

 not be devoid of interest. 



In the year 1840-'41 there were in operation in the states of Germany, con- 

 stituting the ZoUverein, 145 beet-sugar factories, 102 thereof in Prussia. These 



* 124,000 tons make 277,760,000 pounds. The New York Journal of Commerce of May 2d 

 says : "It appears from official returns that the bedt-root sugar manufactured in France be- 

 tween the 1st of September and the 28th of February last amounted to 242.114,000 kilo- 

 grammes." The kilogramme is equal to 2.2057 pounds. T le beet-root sugar crop of France 

 last year was, therefore, 534,130,849 pounds ; an increase over the crop of 1858 of 256,370,^44 

 pounds. 



