27 



machinery. Many of those experiments have been so closely allied to and dovetailed 

 into the regular work of the factory that it is very difficult, if not wholly impossible, 

 to clearly separate the cost of the experimental work from that of the general opera- 

 tion of the factory during the season. At the same time it is highly important that 

 you know as precisely as possible the cost of working and the profit or loss on each 

 ton of cane handled. 



As you are aware, the crop of cane contracted for last spring was very much less than 

 the capacity of our works to consume. It was considered prudent to limit our dan- 

 ger from loss, by reason of the experimental nature of the work, and at the same time 

 to have sufficient cane to determine thoroughly the value of the work on a practical 

 manufacturing basis. This has been done, though it is now apparent that had the 

 crop been twice as large, the expenses for working it would have been relatively much 

 less. Indeed, a crop double the size of the one just finished could have been worked 

 in about the same time, and at a comparatively trifling additional expense. The 

 plans, methods, and processes which have made the work of the season successful be- 

 yond our most sanguine expectations-, were adopted early in the season, so that the 

 risks incident to experiments taken into account when contracting for a crop were 

 reduced to the minimum. The fact that at least a portion of these highly successful 

 processes were not tried and adopted last season was no fault of your company, nor 

 of any one connected with this season's work. 



To arrive at the cost per ton of cane worked, let us take the working of a single 

 average day, when in full operation, and apart from the cost of experiments referred 

 to. 



The capacity of our factory, aside from deficient centrifugals, is limited to the ca- 

 pacity of the diffusion battery. Working twenty-two hours per day, this battery can 

 comfortably handle 135 tons of chips, or cleaned cane. This represents a capacity of 

 field cane, or cane with seed tops and blades, of about 170 tons. To handle this, aside 

 from curing and handling seed, cost us per day of twenty-two hours, when running 

 regularly, as follows: 



1 weighmaster, at $2 $2. 00 



1 team, pulling cane onto storage racks, at $2.50 2. 50 



5 men, unloading and getting cane to cutters, 22 hours, at 12^ cents 13. 75 



1 man, cutting machine, at 15 cents. 3.30 



1 man, cleaning machine, at 12| cents 2. 75 



1 man, grinder, etc., at 15 cents 3.30 



1 man, oiler, at 15 cents 3. 30 



3 men, diffusion battery, 1 at car and 2 above, at 12 cents. ., 8. 25 



1 man, diffusion battery, director of battery, at 20 cents 4.40 



2 men, defecating, at 15 cents ~ 6.60 



2 men, double effects, at 15 cents 6. 60 



1 man, strike-pan, at $5 5.00 



1 man, hot room, at 12^ cents 2.75 



1 man, barreler, at 12^ cents 2. 75 



2 men, centrifugals, at 15 cents .. . 6. "60 



1 man, machinist, at $3 3. 00 



2 men, engineers, at 20 cents 4. 40 



5 men, firemen, at 15 cents 16.50 



2 men, roustabouts, at 12 cents 5. 50 



1 man, water boy 2. 00 



1 man, night watch 1. 50 



2 men, foremen, at $2.50 5.00 



Total cost of labor 111.?:. 



Oil, etc 2.50 



Coal, 23 tons slack, at 90 cents 20.70 



Total 134. 75 



