THE BEET INDUSTRY 109 



exports of refined sugar, which were 5,809 tons in 1871, 

 had reached, in 1888. when the reforms began, 150,341 

 tons, and in 1892, when the reforms were completed, 

 270,607 tons. The direct bonus on export, which was 

 then substituted as a temporary measure, brought the 

 exports of refined sugar up to 503,928 tons in 1897. 

 The German exports of raw sugar were 491,176 tons in 

 1883, and remained much the same till 1894, when they 

 rose to 609,662 tons ; in 1896 they were 760,657 tons. 

 This is a striking picture of the progress of an industry 

 under a judicious paternal Government. 



France was injudicious, but Austria was still more so ; 

 and yet their system laid the foundation for an enormous 

 and flourishing industry. The Austrian sugar duty 

 was levied in a peculiar way. It professed to be a duty 

 on the roots, but instead of a careful weighing of the 

 roots, as in Germany, the quantity of roots was roughly 

 estimated according to an official supposition of the 

 capacity of the apparatus of the factory. It was, in fact, 

 an estimate within an estimate. The Austrian manu- 

 facturers were, therefore, not only stimulated to grow 

 rich roots and to get the utmost quantity of sugar out 

 of them, but also to make the apparatus of the factory 

 capable of working more roots than were estimated by 

 the Government. When the present writer visited the 

 Austrian engineering works in 1871 he found them full 

 to overflowing with work for the sugar factories, making, 

 among other things, diffusion vessels which should turn 

 out more juice per day than those then in use. There 

 were also, in those days, some factories still working with 

 hydraulic presses. They were a curious sight. The 

 work was carried on at such high pressure speed, in 

 order to do more than the estimated quantity, that the 

 place was a perfect pandemonium, and the floor covered 

 with juice owing to the hurry and bustle of the 



