THE CUBA REVIEW 



33 



THE SUGAR INDUSTRY 



THE COMING SUGAR CROP 



There have been frequent and heavy rains 

 which, if continued, will retard the crop, but 

 the planters are hoping for more favorable 

 weather from now on, and with the extension 

 of planting and the hoped-for normal weather 

 the looked-for increase in the 1915-16 crop 

 will materialize. 



A LONGER GRINDING SEASON 



The American Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science suggests that efforts should be 

 made to extend the working season of sugar 

 mills by devising methods for preserving the 

 sugar crop after harvesting, and thus elimi- 

 nate the enforced idleness of cane and beet 

 sugar factories for six to ten months of the 

 year, which is figured to be a serious economic 

 loss. A solution of the problem i.s suggested 

 by desicating the cane or beet and preserving 

 the dried material until it is needed for ex- 

 traction. Successful experiments along these 

 lines have been conducted with cane sugar in 

 connection with the Wisconsin University 

 laboratories. 



CUBAN SUGAR WORKERS ASK AID 



The Americaa Federation of Labor at 

 Washington has received from a committee 

 representing many Socialistic and labor 

 associations in Cuba an appeal for assistance 

 for a dozen sugar workers arrested on charges 

 incidental to their attempts to unionize theii- 

 fellow-workers. The appeal asks for funds 

 to employ counsel, but if money is lacking, 

 the Cuban committee asks for a public de- 

 claration of sympathy, or a move for a pro- 

 test from Washington. According to the 

 appeal, the least com.plaint from the wealthy 

 .sugar operators is enough to start the legal 

 machinerj' of Cuba prosecuting offending 

 workingmen. — N. Y. Times. 



FREE SUGAR 



It is provided by the Underwood Tariff 

 Law that sugar should go on the free list on 

 May 1st, 1916. The administration at Wash- 

 ington is evidently considering retaining the 

 existing duties on sugar at least for several 

 years, or imtil normal customs conditions 

 are restored. This will be in line with the 

 wishes of the Cuban sugar producers, as 

 under existing conditions they have enjoyed 

 a rebate of 20%. Of course, if sugar should 

 go on the free list, Cuban sugar would be in 

 the same position as the sugar of any other 

 country shipped to the United States. 



IMPROVING THE SUGAR YIELD 



The problem of improving sugar-producing 

 crops is always before the agriculture scien- 

 tist. Dr. Browne, in a lecture delivered at 

 Panama Pacific Exposition, puts forward the 

 opinion that we have now reached the limit to 

 the chemical improvement of our sugar-pro- 

 ducing plants. Is is doubtful if the laws of 

 osmotic equilibrium will permit the accumu- 

 lation of sucrose in the cane or beet to exceed 

 a certain maximum, which, with normal con- 

 ditions, probal)ly does not exceed 25%. Oc- 

 casional analysis has been reported of canes 

 and beets exceeding 25% sucrose, but such 

 cases are unusual and nearly always the re- 

 sult of drought, or of other abnormal condi- 

 tions. 



NEW SUGAR CENTRAL 



According to press reports a new sugar 

 mill is to be constructed on the site of the 

 old "Redencion" mill in Camaguey Province, 

 near Nuevitas. It is stated that the pro- 

 perty has been imrchased })y Messrs. Andino 

 ct Company, of Havana, for S120,000. It 

 is anticipated that this mill will start grinding 

 next year. 



THE SUGAR REVIEW 



Specially written for The Cuba Review by Willetl & Gray, Xew York, X. Y. 



Our last review for this Magazine was dated September 8, 1915. 



At that date Cuba Centrifugal sugar of 96° test was quoted at 4.45c. per lb. and is now 

 3.70c. i)er lb. showing a decline for the period under review of ^ic. per lb. in market value. 



