PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 745 



Sugar from the cane, 71.42 per cent or 2,000,000. 



Sugar from the beet, 22.50 per cent or 630,000. 



Sugar from the palm, 5.00 per cent or 140,000. 



Sugar from the maple, 1.08 per cent or 30,000. 



It will be seen by the hgures presentee! that, although the 

 amount of beet su2:ar is now less than one-third of that of cane 

 sugar, the rate of increase is greatly in favor of that from the beet, 

 which is now produced in France without any protection and against 

 the competition of the world. This result has been eflected by 

 improved machinery and chemical processes, the practice of fatten- 

 ing cattle on the beet waste, and the cheap price of labor. The 

 problem to be solved in America is whether on cheap lands and 

 with the use of improved machinery we can compete at the north 

 with the owners of the productive cane lands in Louisiana in the 

 manufacture of sugar. The few attempts already made in this 

 country have not been successful. This was to be expected. 

 Such has been the early history of the beet sugar manufactories in 

 every country — we are yet to learn that we have failed to do in 

 this country what has been done in any other similar climate when 

 we have seriously undertaken the business. 



The evening was so fer advanced that it was resolved to take 

 up the subject of beet sugar at the next meeting. Adjourned. 



Amepjcan Institute Polytechnic Association, ) 



January 31, 1866. ) 



Prof. S. D. Tillman in the Chair; T. D. Stetson, Esq., Secretary. 

 The chairman opened the proceedings by presenting the follow- 

 ing summary of scientific news : 



French Semaphores. 

 These signals on the coast of France are now connected with 

 the whole telegraphic system of the empire, so that captains of 

 ships may send and receive orders without the necessity of enter- 

 ing ports, or even quitting their course. 



The Cohoes Mastodon. • 



The remains of a mammoth found a few months ago near the 

 Mohawk river, at Cohoes^ N. Y., have been presented by Mr. 

 Alfred Wild to the State Cabinet, and are deposited in the Geolo- 

 gical Museum at Albany. After being treated with oil, the fossils 

 will be placed on exhibition. 



