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the saccharine matter undergoes a process of filtration which effectually removes all solid and bulky impurities. The saccharine juice of the beetroot is filtered through charcoal, and, therefore fragments of that plant are not present in the sugar made from it, as they would be, doubtless, were this means of purification not adopted. The various and damaging impurities of Muscovado sugar are thus explained. The presence of the fragments of cane is accounted for by the cane juice not having been deprived by filtration and purification by charcoal of the fungus and insect germs, products of fermentation and nitrogenous matter. In sugars which have been refined none of those impurities are met with. The sugar mite, or acarus sacchari, is first visible as a rounded body, or egg; this gradually enlarges, and becomes elongated and cylindrical, until it is about twice as long as broad; after a time, from the sides and one extremity of this ovum the legs and proboscis begin to protrude. The acarus goes on increasing in size until it attains its full growth, when it is visible to the naked eye as a mere spec. In most samples of sugar the acari may be seen of all sizes, that is, in all stages of their growth, and in every condition, some alive, others dead, some entire, and others broken into fragments, bodies here, legs there. We have said that the sugar mite is very commonly present in the less pure sugars; we might have asserted that it is almost constantly so, the statement being based upon the examination of not less than 100 different samples of sugar."-By Dr. A. H. HASSALL, Analyst of the Lancet Sanitary Commission.

Since Dr. HASSALL wrote the above, a new and important process in the manufacture of cane sugar, by KNIGHT's compound, has been announced. The following is a synopsis of the method :-" As filtration is indispensable for purifying cane juice, the best mode of performing this operation effectively is to add pulverized animal charcoal to the saccharine juice, and to separate the liquid from the bone black and the solid impurities, by a process of filtration through textile fabric. Since its first application to sugar manipulation in 1810, animal charcoal has been universally adopted in the manufacture of beet sugar. This invaluable agency is now the mainstay in the art of manufacturing and refining; it is produced by the calcination of cattle bones in closed vessels deprived of air. When in a dry state its composition is as follows:

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Ground to a fine powder, retaining still ten per cent of moisture, bone black absorbs one-twelfth of its own weight of hydrate of lime, or one pound of hydrate of lime is absorbed by twelve pounds of animal charcoal. Bone black has also the properties of absorbing ammoniacal, azoted, odorous, oily and coloring matters. Applied to sugar it promotes crystallization wonderfully. Animal charcoal, prepared by KNIGHT's process, is transferred into a new product, with increased power for effecting a rapid and perfect filtration, and also for absorbing

lime and coloring matter. It moreover contains, besides a very large amount of phosphate of lime, other mineral ingredients, whieh will make a powerful manure, especially for the sugar crop. Mixed with the scum of defecations, it restores to the earth the substance taken from it by the cane. This addition to the spent compound doubles its bulk and weight. KNIGHT's improved animal charcoal is sold and delivered in Liverpool at £10 the ton. It is used at the rate of two per cent, that is to say, two tons of bone black are employed for manufacturing one hundred tons of superior sugar. These two tons of improved black, costing £20, are more than repaid by the four tons of an excellent fertilizer delivered on the sugar plantation, whereas four tons of Peruvian guano would cost in Liverpool £53. The sugar produced by the new process of manufacture being well purified, does not melt when stored like the common Muscovado, which, during the sea voyage to Europe, loses from 10 to 15 per cent. The improved sugar is of a standard which obtains at least £2 per ton above the price of unfiltered Muscovado. The quantity is increased in the ratio of 10 per cent, i. e., in place of 100 tons of common sugar, the same amount of cane juice yields 100 tons of purified Muscovado. The apparatus required to carry out the new process, is composed of an improved filter, with its appurtenances, a lift pump, and three reservoirs. By the old process of sugar making, 100 tons of brown sugar loses 10 tons from drainage during the sea voyage to Europe, the remaining 90 toas sold in bond at £20 produce £1,800. From the same number of gallons of cane juice, 110 tons of purified yellow Muscovado are obtained with the new mode of manufacture, sold at £22, give £2,420, showing a surplus of £620. Thus, an estate which produces now 1,000 tons of sugar per annum, will make, by the im• proved process, a yearly surplus of £6,200 above its present income; the value of manure produced covering all the cost of the new process, and insuring a steady and constant increase in the sugar crop. The remarkable features of this new process, are its simplicity and its inexpensiveness. It does not require skilled labor, and can be carried on with as little cost on the smallest as well as the largest scale. The manipulator is not restricted to the production of Muscovado alone, the cane juice being so well purified that the sugar can be easily bleached so as to produce the highest class of unstoved sugar. Therefore, should the du ties on sugar be equalized, i. e., if a single duty is put on imported sugar, as is already on tea, whatever be its quality, the smallest sugar estate can henceforth compete with the largest one already in possession of the most improved planta problem now solved for the first time."

JOURNAL OF INSURANCE.

INSURANCE COMPANIES IN NEW YORK STATE.

We have received from the New York Insurance Department advance sheets of the Department's Report, from which it appears that the amount of capital invested in joint stock insurance companies, has been increased over five million dollars during the year. The following table exhibits the increase in the number, capital, and premium income for a period of seventeen years:

TABLE.

Showing the progressive net increase in the Number of New York State Joint Stock Fire Insurance Companies, with their Aggregate Capital and Premium Income, from the year 1848 to 1864 inclusive:

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It must be borne in mind, however, that the average rate of fire premium was not increased at all during the year. but actually declined, and that the aug. mented premiums consequently resulted entirely from an increased amount of business. The fire premiums of the New York joint stock companies increased, as stated above, from $10,181.030.52 in 1863, to $15,618,603.82 in 1864-the ratio being 53.4088, which is the highest ever known in the history of these corporations. The number of policies issued by New York life insurance companies increased from 20,757 in 1863, to 28,782 in 1864, and the amount insured from $140,628,427.10 to $194,819,324.45. The gross assets of all the New York companies, fire, marine, and life, increased during the year from $32,483,066.07 to $103,453,772.76.

The grand average per centage of losses to premiums in all the New York joint stock fire insurance companies has ranged. during the last five years, from 41.15 in 1863, to 60.44 in 1862. For every $100 of premium received in 1862, over $60 was paid for losses. When the individual companies are taken, and the losses to premiums averaged for the five years combined, the range of per centage oscillates from 18.64, in the case of the American, to 95.99, in the case

of the North-western, and when these five years are separated, the swing of the pendulum extends from 0.80 per cent, in the case of the Commerce Fire, in 1863, to 259 81 per cent, in the case of the Beekman, in 1862. Averaging all the companies, for the five years combined, 1860 to 1864 inclusive, fifty have lost less than fifty cent of premiums, and fifty-one more than fifty per cent of premiums; again, separating the years, the number of companies losing more and less than fifty per cent of premium was as follows:

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No. of Co's losing less than

50 ct.

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76

51

45

96

46

49

96

55

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101

21

80

180

63

46

99.20

47

52.20

It is thus demonstrated beyond any cavil and contradiction, by the experience of the last five years, that a very large number of companies actually lose heavily beyond the fifty per cent of premiums received on outstanding unexpired risks, and that therefore this small reserve is, as a matter of fact, entirely inadequate to meet and provide for even the average oscillations of loss, much less for the annual variations which must be considered as certain to occur during a series of years. Shall these losses be paid out of capital, or from an accumulation of surplus profits and a reinsurance fund expressly provided for such contingencies? The Superintendent has but one opinion on this point. Capital should ordinarily remain intact, to be impaired only by such super-extraordinary fires as those in New York City in 1835 and 1845.

The Superintendent feels that it is his duty, as well to the companies as to the public, to reiterate the recommendation of last year on this subject, that a sum at least equal to the full amount of premiums received on unexpired risks should be reserved from division by dividends and maintained as a surplus fund for reinsurance and other contingencies, and that "all our companies should volunta. rily adopt this principle as a golden rule in declaring dividends either with or without further compulsory or restrictive legislation on the subject." This reg ulating principle embodied in legislation would also operate beneficially in discouraging the organization of an unnecessary and embarrassing number of new corporations.

It is only simple justice to officers and directors to say that the tendencies of our companies in this direction have already been marked and decided during the last five years, and have not failed to attract the attention and commenda. tion of European economists and statisticians.

The following average dividends only, have been paid for the last five years:

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The dividends paid in 1864 only about equal the dividends of 1860, although

the amount of capital has increased over eight million dollars. The general impression prevailing that fire insurance stocks ordinarily pay excessive dividends, is thus shown by the above table to be a popular delusion. Whenever heavy dividends are paid, the foundations for such payment must be laid on many years of experience and accumulation, guided by superior qualifications and acquirements in the officers, managers, and agents.

TAXABLE PROPERTY IN BUFFALO.

The Buffalo Courier gives the following as the valuation of taxable property and the rate per cent of the general city tax for the years 1864 and 1865. It will be seen that the valuation of the present year has been increased some $270,000 over last year, notwithstanding the valuation of personal property as assessed is $10,000 less. Something over $700,000 has been withdrawn from taxation by the banks alone, and it is the opinion of those best qualified to judge that not less than $2,000.000 has been invested by citizens and corporations in United States securities, and thus placed beyond the reach of State or local taxation :

VALUATION OF TAXABLE PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF BUFFALO FOR 1865.

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