Recently the government has put forth some effort to encourage and improve the sugar industry, but so far without much success. A law was passed in 1875 guaranteeing a return of 7 per cent upon the money expended in constructing central factories, a given number being allowed each state. This act was modified some years later and the rate of interest reduced to 6 per cent, but as the refunding period was longer it met with more favor than the first and a number of concessions were granted. In 1889 the state of Pernambuco appropriated a sum equal to $135,000.00 gold to be divided among forty factories, with the understanding that repayment was to be begun after the harvesting of the third crop and extended over a period of twenty years. All this legislation had no definite result. A few years ago, a combination of the producers was formed for the purpose of maintaining a high price for domestic sugar by setting aside a certain fixed amount for export. At first this was 20 per cent, but it was afterward increased to 40 per cent. The plan, however, was ineffectual. A heavy import duty (about 5.86 cents per pound) prohibits the bringing in of foreign sugars, so that Brazil must provide for her requirements within her own borders. Accurate information concerning production, distribution and prices is hard to obtain. Bad transportation facilities, diversity of customs regulations between the states, and the vast number of small producers who sell to the consumer direct, make the compilation of dependable data almost an impossibility. The statistics that are submitted, therefore, are approximative. Brazil’s sugar exports grow less and less. The United States no longer depends upon her for supplies, so that the outlook for the industry in Brazil is not bright at the present time. Modern refining methods are not regarded with favor by the people and any considerable extension in production seems remote. PRODUCTION IN BRAZIL 1891 185,000 tons 1892 200,000 ” 1893 275,000 ” 1894 275,000 ” 1895 225,000 ” 1896 210,000 ” 1897 205,000 ” 1898 151,500 ” 1899 175,000 ” 1900 256,460 ” 1901 312,957 ” 1902 254,693 ” 1903 187,500 ” 1904 197,000 ” 1905 195,000 ” 1906 275,000 ” 1907 215,000 ” 1908 180,000 ” 1909 248,000 ” 1910 253,000 ” 1911 287,000 ” 1912 235,000 ” 1913 204,000 ” 1914 203,394 ” 1915 240,000 ” 1916 194,000 ” BRITISH GUIANA