Cost of Sugar Production in British Guiana.* 



By. R. G. Duncan, F.R. 



[HE cost of producing sugar is naturally a 

 question of vital importance to those con. 

 cerned in the welfare of this colony, and more 

 especially to every one conne6led with the sugar in- 

 dustry. It is desirable for me to state at the outset, 

 that in the following paper a ton of sugar, when not 

 otherwise specified, means a ton of ist grey crystals 

 polarising 96 deg. This explanation is necessary, as 

 on some estates only one quality of sugar is made, 

 whilst on others two and even three qualities are manu- 

 faflured. It must also be understood that the figures 

 hereinafter given, as to cost of growing and manufa6luring 

 a ton of sugar, are not supposed to be applicable to all 

 estates, on account of the varying conditions that exist, 

 such as difference in quality of soils, supply of labour, 

 methods of drainage, distance from shipping port, &c. 

 The figures stated are intended to represent a fair 

 average cost, and to meet individual cases, various addi- 

 tions would have to be made to, or dedu6lions made 

 from the special items of expenditure which local and 

 other conditions render either below or above the aver- 

 age. In estimating the cost of manufa6lure, I have based 

 my calculations on the assumption that a first grade of 

 sugar polarising 96 deg. is made, ist molasses re-boiled 

 to give a 2nd grade of sugar, and 2nd molasses used for 

 making rum, as this is the system of manufacture in 

 * Read before the June Meeting of the Society. 



