PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 781 



in the fall and winter months, say from October to February. 

 With us, by reason of a more favorable climate, not only for the 

 earlier development, but also for the better preservation of the 

 beet, it could be extended from September to March, or even 

 later. It will be acknowledged that these are the months in 

 which labor in this country can be most readily and reasonably 

 procured. The probability is, inasmuch as the establishment oi 

 this industry in Illinois would permit the hiring of men by the 

 year, that the price of labor per day would average considerably 

 less than it does at present in the summer time, which, in the 

 region I have selected, is about one dollar and fifty cents per day 

 for a first-rate hand. 



One of the first merchants and manufacturers of France told 

 me that, with wages at three and a half francs per day, the value 

 of labor in a hundred kilogrammes of sugar should not exceed 

 four to four and a half francs. That is, with wages at sixty-six 

 cents per day, the cost of labor should be less than four mills per 

 pound. 



By the preceding tables the cost of labor at sixty-six cents per 

 day varies in a pound of sugar from four to seven and one-tenth 

 mills in France. The average is not far from five and eight-tenth 

 mills per pound. 



If the same amount of labor be required here as the average of 

 France, and its value be three times greater, or two dollars per 

 day, then the average cost of a pound of sugar from beets, yield- 

 ing seven per cent, will be five and one-fourth, instead of four 

 cents, per pound. 



I herewith present a table showing the results that, I have no 

 doubt, can be obtained in Illinois by a company with |300,000 

 capital, of which $200,000 shall be appropriated for buildings 

 and machinery, and $100,000 reserved for working capital. 



Expenses. 



Twenty-four thousand tons of beats, at $4.00 $96,000 



Labor, 225 men, 150 days, at $1.75 per day 50,625 



Salaries 10,000 



Coal, 3,000 tons, at $1.50 4,500 



Sacks for pulp, 8,000, at $1.00 8,000 



Bone-black waste 7,500 



Insurance » -. , „.. 2, 000 



