Cost of Sugar Production in B. Guiana. 125 



vided for under any of the foregoing heads, and 50 cents 

 per acre paid as a special contribution to the Govern- 

 ment by the planters to meet part of the loss of revenue 

 caused by the giving up of certain import duties to meet 

 the requirements of the McKinley Tariff A61. It is pro- 

 bable that the McKinley Tariff A61 will be abolished in a 

 few weeks, and the tax of 50 cents per acre will, according 

 to the understanding come to when it was imposed, no 

 longer be levied. Other expenditure and sundries cost 

 about $1 per ton sugar. Insurance. — Cost of insurance 

 should not exceed 25 cents per ton sugar. There is now 

 very little risk of fire in sugar fa6lories and adjoining 

 buildings, compared to the days when logies existed, and 

 many modern fa6lories are so constru6led as to be 

 pra6lically free from any risk of hre. Water supply and 

 Stone &c., for Sea Defences. — All estates have not to 

 provide for expenditure under this head. The average 

 cost may be staffed at 50 cents per ton sugar, but in many 

 cases the outlay will be double this sum. The re-payment 

 with interest of money borrowed from the Government 

 to provide a satisfactory supply of fresh water, is a very 

 heavy tax on some estates, especially in the East Coast 

 distrift. 



In the foregoing statement no provision has been 

 made for extensions and improvements that are outside 

 the ordinary working of an estate, and interest on capi- 

 tal is also unprovided for. 



