BEET SUGAR.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2662, 3 August 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

BEET SUGAR.

Mr Otto Pjsez, U.E., writes to the Dunedin Star —A beetroot sugar industry would open a large payable field to the farmer, and would considerably reduce the price of sugar to the public. Actual experience shows that 14j per cent of sugar ia recovered out of the beetroot, and the cost of manufacture is Id to 1£ per lb of sugar allowing all expenses, labour, wear and tear and 5 per cent, interest on the capital. The price for beetroot is taken at Is per cwt. The usual selling price of the raw sugar ou the Continent is l£d per lb. But to produce 208,186 tons of sugar annually would take a very large establishment indeed, requires a much greater capital than Mr. Joubert's figures can show. The duration of the season on the Continent is generally 100 days only. The cost of a complete set of machinery to produce 5,000 tons during the 100 days is £10,000 to produce 10,000 tons is £13.250, and to produce 15,000 tons is £17,500, to which freight and duty would have to be added. The necessary buildings would take a capital of £6,000, £7,250, and £8,500 respectively, besides the necessary working capital, This process would only produce the raw sugar. The second process of refining the sugar is generally carried on in a separate factory, but could of conrse be combined. The oost of refining 1001b of raw sugar is 38s, to which the cost of the raw sugar (16s) is to be added. This 1001b raw sugar would give 92 per Gent : refined sugar, 7 per cent, molasses, and one per cent loss. The very best refined sugar would cost accordingly about 2£d per lb to manufacture, and could be sold for 2Jd, allowing profit to the fanner and manufacturer.