THE BEET SUGAK INDUSTRY. 



15 



"To the President and members of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association: 

 Some time ago your committee on labor mailed to the managers of all the plantations a 

 circular letter asking for information in regard to the condition of labor on their estates. 



MICHIGAN'S FIRST BEET SUGAR FACTORY. 



Property of the Michigan Sugar Co., Hay City, Bay Co., Michigan. Capacity, 360 tons of beets per 

 <l:iy, 3,500 acres contracted for the '98 crop, and some 7,500,000 Ibs. of sugar were made during its first 

 campaign ended In December, '98. The capacity is to be doubled for '99, and 7,500 to 10,000 acres of beets 

 are wanted. The building is 264x108 teet, and four beet sheds 30x300 feet, with railroad and wagon 

 tracks to each shed. 



A series of 19 questions were put to each, with request that they answer them carefully 

 and in full, they being assured that no one but one member of the committee would have 

 access to their replies, and they would not be published except as a total. Replies have 

 been received from all the managers but one, and the result of your committee's labor 

 is embodied in the following: 



'AVERAGE M MHEK OF LAIHWKKS EMPLOYED DURING THE YEAR 1897. 



Total 



Contract 

 Laborers 



Free 

 Laborers 



Japanese 6,379 



Chinese 5,518 



Portuguese 394 



Hawaiian 430 



Other nationalities . . 



5,371 

 1,986 

 1.562 



988 



Total 



av. no. 



11,750 



7,504 



1,956 



1,418 



419 



23.047 



"Supply of labor 45 well supplied, 6 were not: 25 reported many desertions, 21 

 none, 5 a few; nationality giving trouble Japanese, a few reported Chinese; contracts 

 expiring during year 2,235, as a rule contract men did not renew; 23 planters had difli- 

 culty in securing free labor, 28 had none. Rate of wages 7 paid $13 per month, 6 paid 

 $14, 20 paid $15 to $15.50, 8 paid $16; Hawaiiana were paid $17 and up, Portuguese $18 and 

 upward." 





