O processo de modernização da agroindústria canavieira e os engenhos centrais na Província de São Paulo

Abstract

The main purpose of this article is to demonstrate the importance of the development of central sugar mills in São Paulo in the second half of the XIX century, specifically during 1875-1889.

Law 2.687 of 1875 was meant to develop central sugar mills and authorized the government to provide funds to all companies which built these mills utilizing the most advanced machinery and production methods.

This system was based on a separation of agriculture and manufacturing. In the Province of São Paulo, most of these central sugar mills failed. Despite these setbacks, this system created the technological basis for the introduction of modern mills.