Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1854-12-23
Sugar Refining on Plantation.


, parish Of Terrebonne, we had an opportunity, fo
, the first time, to visit "ARDoYNE PLANTATION,
| and were very much pleased and surprised to SET
the great perfection to which the art of refining
, sugar has been carried On that plantation.
, We were politely received by one of the pro
prietors, Mr.. James J. Hanna, and shown all oyel
, the establishment, and he took much pains to ex
plain to the whole process, commencing with the
crushing Of the canc-clarifying boiling into
syrup-fltering- graduating in the vacuum pan
draining, caying and hquoring in the tgers-dry
ing in the store room, and, finally packing in hogs
heads, all Of which seemed to be quite plain while
he was explaining it to us but we doubt very much
whether we recollect it sufficiently well to attempt
detailed description. In fact, we have not space
if we did.
We will state, however, for the information Of
our readers what we saw and do understand: We
saw besides the usual engine and mill for crushing
the cane, a very beautiful pumping engine made by
the "Novelty Works." New York, which seemed
to go along of itself and do its work quietly and
steadily; two large vacuum pans, one of which was
for making syrup-the other for boiling the syrup
into sugar, lat present, however, the syrup is made
in kettles and large quantity Of sugar in tigers Or
coolers, which would rival the snow in whiteness,
and the diamond in the sparkling brilliancy Of its
grain. Certainly more beautiful sugar we never
saw before, except what came from the refneries.
We never expected to see anything like it on a
sugar plantation we were both surprised and
gratifed.
| Mr.. Hanna informs us that about one half of
the crop Of the present year, was Of this white dis
cliption; about one fourth yellow, or pale straw
color and about one fourth brown. The last
mentioned quality is made from the molasses which
drains from the first two descriptions, and is nearly
| equal to fair kettle sugar in quality.
We had been under the impression that it was
slow operation to take off crop with apparatus
Of this description, but we found that we were
greatly mistaken On enquiry we learned that the
kettles made daily syrup enough for sixteen thou
sand pounds of sugar of first quality that the pans
boiled it into tigergrained sugar fast it was
made; that the molasses that drained from it was
boiled into sugar fast it drained and still the
waiting for syrup. That the pan would boil sew
eral thousand pounds at strickland would boil a
strike in FIVE hours-and could make over thirty
thousand pounds Of sugar in twenty -four hours
three cords of wood to the hogshead. We saw the
pan attended to by one of the negroes of the plan
taton who seemed to know very well what he was
about; and we were informed by Mr.. Hanna that
he employed neither sugar maker nor sugar boiler,
except the negroes who belonged to the plantation
Our visit to this magnificent estate, which I'M
questionably is one of the finest and most extern
sive bodies Of land in Louisiana afforded gEsat
at some early day, when we will inform ourself
more fully in regard to all the details Of the re-
fning process, and give our readers the benefit Of
our observation.
This plantation is beautifully situated on the right
bank Of the bayou Black, about eleven miles from
Thibodaux by the usual travelling route, and about
seven miles from proposed depot Of the New
Orleans, Opelousas and Great Western Railroad
and when that road shall have been completed, will
be within four hours of New Orleans. The sur
rounding country is conceded to be one of the most
salubrious in the South-never having been visited
either by cholera or yellow fever. The lands are
high and well timbered with cypress, ash, mag
nolia, gum, ETC., etc. Persons who may be DESTROYS
of embarking in the culture of sugar, are here
presented with an excellent occasion for SO doing,
as we learn that the present proprietors are des-
rous of disposing of this plantation in order to en-
bark in other pursuits.
CHRISTMAS BALL.-Our citizens are to be treated
to magnificent Ball at Ragans Hall, on Monday
evening next, given in honor Of Company "a" Of
the National Guards of New Orleans, which Com
pany will be present in full winter uniform. Really,
it does seem to us that we have already begun to
participate in the many advantages that must of
necessity be brought about by present railroad
facilities with our Commercial Capital. The visit
Of the Guards among us cannot but inspire our
citizens with sufficient military ardor and zeal to
'ioaouSoaAy Vi EoS anu iChiuC SCi eiao
success Of the "Lafourche Dragons" and other
military Companies,
We are much pleased in noticing in advance
hose social reunions of our citizens, as they always
result in the very best effects.
We understand that the Guards intend to
practice target shooting sometime during the after
noon of Monday next A number of the officers
md members Of this Company were here on visit
IN Sundy last; among them we noticed Lieut.
Stone, Sergeant Drew and Waldo, and others. We
rust that they may never have cause to regret
heir visit to the Fifth District of New Orleans,
The CONGRESS OF '76.-As the Know Nothings
lain to contend for the principles which animated
he Sons Of T6, we have an original as well as
ovel proposition to submit to them for celebrating
he approaching Anniversary of our National In
dependence. How would it do to re-enact the
congress of '76? That every member of the con-
mental Congress should be represented and dressed
a the same manner they appeared on the day when
be Declaration of Independence was submitted
nd rood In Eaot IN ro.onoct oil tho rrocood;npo |