
          New York, August 19th 1858
To
John Torrey Esq.
Assayer
30 Wall St. N.Y.

Dear Sir

The willingness with which you support the increase
of science and industry in out great Commonwealth, gives
me courage to ask your advice and decision on my project.

I am since 30 years practical gardener and for 10
years I have continued the same business here. I am from
the vicinity of Magdeburg in Prussia; there is manufactured
on and in the vicinity of this city the extent of about
200 square miles, more sugar of beet-root than in all
other parts of Germany taken together. Hence I am thoroughly
acquainted with the cultivation of the beet-root and
superficially with the manufacture of the sugar. Although
I am aware that the result with which the sugar is cultivated
in Europe is very well known here; although I
know several attempts made here and that have failed, to
master the branch of industry, notwithstanding I had for a 
long time the project to occasion another attempt to be made
on a larger scale.

The following are my calculations: the Louisianna
sugar can only concur [added in pencil: compete]with that of the West Indies when
a duty of 30 per. cent is layed on the latter. In Prussia
the tax on the sugar manufactured in the country (beet-root
sugar) is as high as that of the West-Indian cane-sugar; the
rent per acre is $30.00, the burning material and wages
are nearly as high there as in and about New-York Consequently
it is my opinion than the beet-root sugar
would yield a greater profit than either of the above
named, since there is no tax layed on sugar manufactured 
here.

        