Therefore from 1887 to 1900, i.e. for a period of thirteen years, beetroot has yielded on ten occasions sugar with a 30 fr. tax rebate, and, therefore, for ten years the premium allowed on alcohol made from molasses has amounted to 13 fr. 20 per hectolitre (44% of 30 francs). The quantity of alcohol made from molasses rose from 250,000 hectolitres produced some years ago to 750,000 hectolitres for last year. And all the molasses of last year have not been distilled, but some thousands of tons which are stored away will increase this year's stock. Alcohol from molasses will very soon, if not even this year, reach the enormous figure of one million hectolitres. To-day, that is on the 31st of December, 1900, there is an increase of 50,000 hectolitres on the three corresponding months of 1899. Official returns are taken from the 1st of October, to the 30th of September of the following year. From the 1st of October to the 31st of December, 1900, they show 165,785 hectolitres, against 115,998 during the same period in 1899; an increase, therefore, of 50,000 hectolitres. For December alone the increase was 20,000 hectolitres, yet this is not the period of greatest activity! It is quite certain that in order to kill two birds with one stone, sugar manufacturers do not seek to put a stop to the production of molasses; on the contrary, as shown by the table on page 100, there is a tendency to increase it very materially. In 1885-86, 105,175 tons of molasses were obtained by the sugar industry, which is equal to 3.16 per cent. of the weight of the roots worked. In 1886-87, there were only 92,819 tons of molasses, equivalent to 1.90 per cent. of the weight of the roots. At that time, there was no tax rebate when sent to a distillery, consequently manufacturers found it advantageous to get as little of them as they could, and to extract as much sugar out of the roots as possible; it was quite logical of course, and it was the natural outcome of the law of 1884. But as soon as the modification of the law of 1887 was applied, the proportion between the weight of roots and that of molasses produced, increased very much, rising from 1.90 per cent. in 1886-87 to 4.37 per cent. for the following year, and remaining at an average of 4 per cent. At the same time, the total output of molasses increased from 92,819 tons in 1886-87, to 244,536 tons in 1898 99, and then to the enormous figure of 310,828 tons for last year. This year will give even a larger figure. By forcing the production of molasses to this extent, sugar manufacturers have two objects in view. The market is freed from large quantities of sugar, not extracted, it is true, but yet obtaining a rebate, whereas the alcohol market is glutted to such an extent, that distillers cannot hold their own. If, then, this is perhaps a process to decrease by-products, it is, at any rate, a means of suppressing the competition for the buying of beetroot, and also a means towards industrial monopoly. M. Roland is bitter when he speaks of beetroot farmers : If Had the legislator aimed at making the sugar manufacturers the sole beneficient of his bounties he could not have taken a better course. all the sugar factories belonged to the farmers this preference would have some reason. But such is not the case; on the contrary there are very few factories owned by farmers, they are nearly all in the hands of capitalists, who think of nothing but large dividends, and therefore want to buy the roots as cheap as possible. The interests are consequently antagonistic. Not only did the law give a monopoly of beetroot alcohol to the 339 sugar factories now existing in France, but as molasses sent to distillers are turned into bountyfed alcohol, the sugar manufacturers object to sell to the farmer who wishes to use them to feed his cattle. This is distinctly confirmed by the table on alcohol production up to the end of February, published by the Journal Officiel on the 19th of March. During the first five months of the season (1st October, 1900-30th September, 1901), the production of beetroot alcohol was 934,488 hectolitres, against 1,027,877 in 1899-1900, showing a decrease of 93,389 hectolitres, whereas alcohol made from molasses show an increase of 81,648 hectolitres, being 302,461 instead of 221,213 hectolitres. A premium on sugar, therefore, leads to a premium on alcohol made from molasses and naturally to an increase in its production. While sugar manufacturers are induced to make molasses which will be turned into bountyfed alcohol, the duty on alcohol is increased in order to put a check on its consumption, and a fresh premium of 9 fr. is granted to impure alcohol. Le Siècle, of March 30th, said: M. Jean Dupuy, the Minister of Agriculture, has requested the Superior Council of Agriculture to vote in favour of suppressing the rebate of 14 per cent. given to molasses for distillery purposes, a measure which would benefit purely agricultural distillers who complain of the competition they suffer at the hands of industrial distillers. After a short deliberation the Superior Council decided to postpone their decision in view of the conflicting character of the interests involved. VI. Exportation of Raw and Refined Sugars. FRANCE. Exportation of Raw and Refined Sugar Exports (including pieces) in tons. 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 ... ... ... ... ... ... 2,207 5 2 43,195 188,132 5 ... ... We see that the law of 1884 did not develop exportation at first. On the contrary, the exportations diminished. Then, after 1890, except in 1892 and 1893, raw sugar exports gradually surpassed those of refined sugar (Ch. X, pt. 1). It is perhaps useful to compare the value of our sugar exports with that of our total exports. Seasons or Years. Sugar exports compared with the native production and colonial and foreign imports. HOME IMPORTATION. TOTAL. Years. EXPORTS of all pared with Out EXPORTS Com put and Imports 1892-1893 523,366 143,576 666,942 225,710 30.50 1893 269,379 40.03 1893-1894 514,789 170,000 684,789 1894 297,347 43.46 843,057 1895 217,088 25.26 158,590 752,237 1896 237,144 31.52 793,824 1897 484,637 61.03 99,721 829,788 1898 311,275 37.51 The table shows that our exports in 1900 amounted to 61 per cent. of our production and imports, that is, a quantity superior to what was consumed at home. Suppose that our exports were checked, either by competition, countervailing duties, or by our customers taking to |