PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 783 



twelve thousand dollars, could be effected. In my publication 

 the probable cost of beets is discussed. There can be little doubt 

 that the actual cost to the farmer will rarely exceed three dollars 

 per to % even with small crops, while with twenty or thirty tons 

 per acre, the larger of which is by no means an uncommon yield, 

 the cost would be from one dollar and a half to two dollars a ton. 

 Manufacturers could certainly raise their own beets at three dol- 

 lars per ton, and probably at considerable less. 



In fact, there can be no doubt that the estimated expenses are 

 placed sufficiently high, being at the rate of four and nine-tenth 

 cents per pound of sugar, or one and eight-tenth cents higher than 

 in the French manufactory, which it is proposed to copy; while 

 excluding the item of labor, the balance of expenses would be less 

 here than in France. The actual expenses for labor in the French 

 manufactory are less than one-half a cent per pound, and one and 

 eight-tenth cents per pound has been allowed as the excess of cost 

 here over that in France. 



I present below a table showing the estimated result, with the 

 yield of sugar as great as in the French establishment, namely, 

 eight per cent., provided it were sold at its present market value, 

 say twelve and a half cents per pound, and the molasses at twenty- 

 five dollars per ton, or ten cents per gallon, which is less than half 

 its actual value for distillation. 



1,920 tons of sugar at 12| cents per pound $537,600 



720 tons of molasses at $25.00 per ton 18,000 



4,800 tons of pulp at $2.00 per ton 9 ,600 



$565,200 

 Less expenses - — 194,500 



Profit (equal to 123 per cent on capital) $370,700 



Or, deducting taxes and internal revenue 16, 000 



118 percent $354,700 



By the poorest methods prevailing in Europe six per cent, of 

 sugar is obtained. By the best processes nine per cent, of sugar and 

 two and a half per cent, of molasses can be and repeatedly have 

 been extracted from beets containing twelve and a half per cent. 

 of saccharine matter, which is the amount in the beets raised in 

 Illinois on the first experiment. I submit, therefore, the accom- 



