The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-03-12
MISCELLANEOUS.
IMPORTANTLY MPROVEMEN in
MAKING BEET SUGAR.

-
MAKING BEET SUGAR.
The editors of the New York Observer have
been favored with the following letter from Hor
f. l.. Ellsworth, commissioner of patents, to G
friend in New York with permission to publish
WASHINGTON, October 10th 1888.
DEAN SIR Since your leaving the city,
have had the perusal of late paper published
in Paris, containing communication from M
Michael Cheunlier, on the subject of Beet Sugar
1t would indeed seem that we must soon ap.
proach perfection, SO quickly is one improve
ment crowding upon another! The difficult &
tedious process of ordinary evapora ton, with
all the concomitants of blood, animal carbon,
&c. &c. to be dispensed with, and instead of
three, four, and five per cent. nine per cent is
to be surely obtained in less time and with half
the expense ; in addition TO this, the common
sugar is refined without any new solution, or ev-
en- changing the moulds
DesccatiOn, or drying of beets, has been re-
commended. This is certainly the correct
principle, as much noxious matter is carried off
by evaporation and the bulk of the beet is re-
duced Eve sixths, enabling the farmer, who lives
at a distance from the factory, to transport his
produce with trifing expense. Experiments
made before the French Academy, shew that
there are in 100 pounds Of beet, IS pound of
water 10 510ihs pounds of sugar, IOths of
mucilage, and pounds of fibrous ma,ter,-
This was extracted by nj. Beyraud in eight min
utes, by the aid of heat and and pressure. In
the Duchy of Baden process is adopted, and
one better suited TO large establishments. M.
Schuetzenbach. at Baden, cuts the bees into
pieces onetllird of an inch apart, by "a vertical
knife. These are again snbdivided by other
sharp knives AS soon they come in contact
with the warm mir they curl up, and lose all
their adhesive property, $50 common to some
vegetables) and allow free circulation of heat
in tile kiln. Kns are hented to "a or 40 Reau-
mer. The apparatus of Mr. s. is simple. The
4 d.
cutting machine costs not more than Sioo: One
halfa horse power is sufficient to propel thisand
working every day for three months, it cuts l.
100000 Kilograms, equal to 1903 tons.
stove, or kiln, 10 feet long by 8 feet high,
during "a hours dries 5000 pounds of beets, and
consumes 400 lbs. of charcoal. Three such
stoves, or kilns would dry all that wonld be cut
with the above machine. MIR S. reduces the
dry beet to coarse powder, and slows this a
way in casks or bins, sprinkling it with lime
In this manner it will keep perfectly good
long time. When it is wanted for manufacture,
a small quantity Of water is added to it, which
produces sweet water, which is easily evaporat-
ed by Roths apparatus, without any other pre-
paration. The first crysalization produces
what is called ga good fourth" which after a
second generalization makes common sugar
The advantages of this method are such, that
beets 10 1887 ess rich than former years,) yield
ed per cent. of sugar, INSTEAD of per cent,
which was the highest by the old process.
A great desideratum is now Obtained Of max
ing refined sugar Ivy the aid of pressure in three
days, without IA change OF the mouds In the
old mode it required three weeks
The researches Of young chemist of Tou-
ouse promise great advantages. Heshas invent
ed new sacchrometer, by which he can dis
cover TO fiftieth part, the richness of the sac
charne matter in beets, and ali other substances
containing crystalizable sugar. As remarked
before, 100 pounds CT beets contain 10 pounds
Of sugar, allowing one per cent for waste, nine
per cent remains. To dry the beet and extract
the sugar, does not cost over ten francs add to
this, the cost of the beet. twelve francs-twenty
two francs making ninety pounds of sugar
cost $3.50 per cwt., or five cents per pound =
add for refining and other contingencies SO per
CENT and excellent refined French sugar costs
only about z cents pound,
10 Derfec. inc present inventions the French
Government have offered premiums to discover
the best method of drying the Understanding
she sugar-conyerting raw sugar into refined,
without changing the moulds, also for the best
sacchrometer.
What grelaer encouragement IS needed, il
.hese discoveries can he brought to this country.
How desirable is il, that there should be an agri
cultural bureau added to some department OF
the Government to watch over these interests. |
No country has neglected the laboring classes
who till the ground so much as our own-but l
will not enlarge OH this point, tor Congress seem
disposed TO take up the matter, and will, trust,
do something corresponding to the magnitude of
the subject.
When we consider that our rich lands yield
20 tons Of beets per acre, equal to 10000 bs.,&
that nine per cent. would give 5000 lbs. Of SUI
gar, leaving valuable residum for agricultural
purposes, we must congratulate those whose |
means have SO long denied them the full en- |
joyment OF the greatest Injuries of life, and
congratulate Our country too, on such additional
means of making us independent.
With great regard,
(Sgned) E. L. ELLSWORTH.