32 • T II E C U B A R E V I E W 



SUGAR REFINING IN THE ISLAND OF CUBA 



By H. O. Neville 



The ever increasing production of sugar in tho Island of Cuba and tlie doubts 

 that naturally arise with regard to the probability of marlceting it in its crude 

 state if European production expands and the production of beet sugar in the 

 riiitfd States continues increasing, lend interest to the question of sugar refineries 

 and <he direct production in Cuba's mills of plantation wliite sugars. In the past 

 only a very limited number of our mills have produced what are known as washed 

 sugars which have gone into direct consumption in the Island. A few mills have 

 established small capacity refineries at which a small percentage of their crude 

 sugais has been purified, this production also going into the local market. But 

 one large refinery has been established and is in continuous operation, this being 

 the Cuban American Sugar Co.'s plant at Cardenas. Also smaller plants have l>een 

 established in connection with chocolate and cracker factories in Havana and 

 others of our larger cities. 



But, as we have indicated above, the continued increase in production of crude 

 sugar in our factories and the knowledge that we must seek other markets than 

 those of the United States for quite a considerable percentage of this production, 

 in connection with the fact that in nearly all other markets, especially those of 

 England, and France, the demand is for refined sugar, has led a number of the 

 leading men of our sugar industry to think seriously of the establishment in Cuba 

 of refineries for purifying and preparing for the markets mentioned above that 

 portion of our crop which it is bellevetl can be disposed of to them. At the present 

 time, a refinery of ."^.OOO barrels daily capacity is being installed in connection 

 with Central "Liniones" by Sr. Lezama, the owner of the latter. A plan has also 

 recently been suggested by Sr. Anibal Mesa to the Association of Hacendados and 

 Colonos that a pool of .$10,000,000.00 be formed among wealthy sugar men of the 

 Island for the purpose of establishing at favorable coast points of the Island three 

 first class up-to-date sugar refineries, these to be used as what might be considered 

 a balance wheel for the sugar industry, being operated at times when difficulty in 

 disposing readily of crude sugar occurs, and allowed to stand idle during those 

 periods when the total production of crude sugar in the Island meets a ready 

 demand. This proposal was submitted in the form of a letter to Sr. Miguel Arango, 

 the President of the Association, and in his reply he indicated his conformity with 

 the plan suggested and recommended that serious study be given it. 



The utility of such refineries can readily be realized by all those who have 

 ■ been familiar with the heavy demand for refined sugars at almost any price that 

 has been received in Cuba from the United States consumers during Xovember and 

 Decemlu'r of 1010 and to date this year. Millions of pounds of white sugar could 

 readily have been disposed of at very remunerative prices, had these existed in 

 the Island. 



GUANTANAMO SUGAR COMPANY SAN IGNACIO MILL 



The Board of Directors has declared a The colonos on the plantation of the 



dividend of one dollar and twenty-five San Ignacio Sugar Mill Company have 



cents (.?1.25) per share, or at the rate of purchased the property for the sum of 



two and one-half per cent. (2i^%) on .$2,000,000, according to an announcement 



the stock of the Company for the quarter made recently in the press. The property 



ending March 31, 1920. payable April 1, is located at Agramonte, Province of 



1920, to stockholders of record at the Matanzas, and the mill has an estimated 



close of business March 17, 1920. The output of more than lOft.OOO bags of sugar 



transfer books will not be closed. a vear. 



