CENTRAL MILLS. 



141 



The answer to this objection seems perfectly obvious, 

 and yet no one here seems to understand it. They have 

 only to observe one of the most familiar principles of eco- 

 nomical science, and the whole difficulty is obviated. Let 

 them do what is done universally in the northern States of 

 our republic — separate the functions of the agriculturist 

 from those of the manufacturer — and then both depart- 

 ments of industry will be better conducted, upon at least 

 one-tenth the capital now required. There is no conceiva- 

 ble reason why central sugar mills, for example, should not 

 be established, where the planters could take their cane to 

 be ground for a toll, or to sell for a return of a given quan- 

 tity of sugar, or molasses, or rum, or money, or whatever 

 might be agreed upon. The period for cropping sugar 

 sometimes lasts four months and upwards. The cane can 

 be converted into sugar in less than twelve hours. It is 

 perfectly practicable, therefore, to separate these depart- 

 ments of industry to the profit of both. 



Under the system which now prevails here, a planter is 

 usually from three to five months " about," as they term 

 it, that is cutting his cane and making his sugar. He 

 starts his mill in the morning about eight o'clock, and 

 usually stops by five in the afternoon, lets his fires go out 

 and his men go home. Thus the use of more than half 

 his capital is wasted for the period he may have occasion 

 to use his works, and for the balance of the year he loses 



