206 



SUGAR. 



The sides of tlie boilers are not coated with any non-conductor, as it 

 has been found that the damage caused to the boiler by the contact 

 of any insulator and any leakage that may take place, is not com- 

 pensated for by the heat saved which would otherwise be lost by 

 radiation. 



8. The Usine always more advantageous to the Cane-grower than an 

 Estate Mill. — Some planters are of opinion that if they had mills of 

 from 25 to 30 horse-power, it would pay them better to manufacture 

 their own sugar, than to send their canes to the Usine. I am inclined 

 to think, however, that if the data they have given me are correct, the 

 Usine, under any circumstances, pays them better. I conceive that 

 the profits of the Usines are generally much greater in proportion 

 than the profits of the cane-growers who supply them. The Usine 

 should be established by planters, they being the shareholders. So 

 great are the profits of the Usine, that almost every year a new one 

 is started in Martinique, and not the slightest difficulty is experienced 

 in raising the necessary funds. 



9. Cost of establishing an Usine. — The plant of an Usine capable of 

 making, say 2000 tons of sugar, costs, including about 8 miles of 

 railway and ^4000 for ten acres of land, about ^240,000. The largest 

 Usine at Martinique was established by Baron de La Renty ; it is 

 called the Usine de La Benty, and is capable of making 3750 tons. 

 The plant cost ^500,000. 



10. Salary of the Manager. — The gerant, or administrator (manager ?), 

 of the Usine gets, in addition to a salary of from K3000 to K4000, 

 a percentage which often brings him more than his fixed salary. One 

 of the most successful, and probably the most economical adminis- 

 trators in Martinique is M. E. Bougenot, of the Usine Frangois. Such 

 a man might probably be induced for ^5000 or K6000 to order the 

 machinery for, and superintend during the wet season (when the 

 Usines at Martinique are not at work) the erection of an Usine in 

 Trinidad. I consider that even K 10,000 dollars would be well laid 

 out in securing the services of one who has practically worked and 

 established Usines at Martinique. 



11. Profits of Usines in Martinique. — One of the Usines pays the 

 shareholders from 40 to 48 per cent, per annum on the capital in- 

 vested. I am informed that the average profit of Usines is from 25 

 to 30 per cent, per annum. 



12. Number of Hands employed. — An Usine of 2000 tons employs 

 on an average 150 hands. 



13. Distillation of Bum.— -Besides the apparatus for manufacturing 

 the sugar, there is attached to every Usine a distillery where the 

 refuse is utilised for the manufacture of rum. I was unable to ascer- 

 tain what were the profits of the distillery as compared with those of 

 the manufacture of sugar, but was assured they formed a material 

 item in the general return to the shareholders. 



In Guadaloupe there were in 1874, 20,686 hectares of land under 

 culture with sugar-cane. The number of sugar works was 495, of 

 which 59 had mills worked by steam, 80 by water-power, and 80 wind- 

 mills, and 1 by cattle; 264 plantations without works are served 

 either by the eleven central steam Usines, or other mills conveniently 



