Aside from the small amount of full-duty-paying foreign sugar imported, the only sugar in the above list that paid duty came from Cuba. It is evident, therefore, that under ordinary conditions an increase in the crops of any of the places mentioned would result in a surplus of sugar in the American market. In 1916, with the beet production of Continental Europe locked up by the war, Cuba’s increased output has been absorbed by Great Britain, France, Italy and Greece. Steamers from Hawaiian ports, after arriving and entering at the custom house and passing quarantine and health officers, proceed immediately to refinery docks to discharge cargo. REFINING OF RAW SUGAR Cane-sugar refineries are always located in great seaport towns for the reason that, as practically all cane sugar is grown in the tropics, it must be transported by water to the world’s markets. The refining operation is by no means as simple as may at first appear. It is essential that the finished product be almost chemically pure (99.8 per cent), and the greatest care must be exercised to obtain a perfectly white color, as well as a hard, lustrous grain. The question naturally arises, why do not the planters of Hawaii, Cuba, Java and other raw-sugar-producing countries carry their process a few steps further and make a pure white sugar as the refiners do? This has been attempted many times, but has almost always been found impracticable, notwithstanding the fact that there is no mechanical or chemical reason why. Among the arguments in favor of a mainland seaport site, the following may be mentioned: 1. The producing centers are generally far distant from consuming markets. Refineries located in the tropics would be under unusual expense for transporting and selling the refined article. 2. A refinery in the tropics would be out of direct and prompt touch with the individual requirements of the buyers. 3. Refined sugar should be moved and sold as soon as possible after its manufacture, so there follows the necessity for adequate dock and rail facilities as means of quick communication with the market. 4. An abundant supply of pure, soft water for refining purposes, and salt or fresh water for condensing, as well as fuel for the generating of steam, must be readily available. Another most important requisite is skilled labor, which is more easily obtained in populous seaport cities than in the small, isolated towns of the tropics. 5. There are many commodities used in the refining of sugar and in packing it for shipment that can be purchased more advantageously, both as regards price and promptness of delivery, in the great commercial ports than in the sugar-growing districts. Among these are bone-char, lime, acids, cotton filter-bags, burlap, cotton cloth, boxes, barrels, cartons, iron, steel and machinery of all kinds.