Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-12-01
A Dav at nRaceland."

On Thursday, the 22d ult., not being in condl
ton of body or mind to do much good at home
we were glad to accept apolite invitation extended
by Dr. f. C. Ewing to accompany him on trip t1
Raceland." situated on Bayou Lafourche abont
fifteen miles below this place. After pleasant
ride on the Opelousas Railroad of about an hours
duration, we were safely landed-in company with
some other gentlemen who had joined us on the
way by appointment the Raceland Station, in the
rear Of the plantation bearing that name, and
owned by Messrs. Kittredge & Ewing. At this
point horse car was in waiting to convey pas
sengers to the bayou on the branch road built by
the Company for the purpose Of transporting the
earth used in the construction of that portion OF
the road lying between the bayous des Anemands
and Latourche; and also, for the convenience OF
passengers from the neighborhood of Lockport and
the lower part of the parish. ..
Entering the plantation the mind Of a stranger
might well be lost in wander to behold the vast
an ample space allotted to corn, and some portions
of the field that had already been denuded Of their
rich sacharine harvest during the previous few
DAYS, the eye meets nothing but vast expanse of
sugar cane; mostly green and luxuriant, while
some still bears the mark of the searching and
whitening breath of last May and June. Taking
it all in ALL this crop is quite as good as the mao-
rity of those made in SO. Judging from the
amount Of seed cane put up on this place, the
proprietors intend to make crop that will tell,
next season. They have enough to plant 500
acres.
1t was source Of considerable disappointment
on arriving at the sugar house, to find the mach-
merry at standstill in consequence Of some atera-
ton or adjustment beng required; or, of lack of
the necessary supply Of cane, which was being
gathered from tie most remote corner Of the
plantation. 1t was with no less regret we learned
of the absence in New Orleans Of Mr. W. E.
Flanders, the truly scientific and practical en-
gineer who has superintendent the construction Of
and put up the entire apparatus, and whom we
have known long and favorably as an accomplished
mechanic His passion is machinery; and what
ever he takes hold of is bound to work as smooth
as chronometer. However, the Doctor turned
us over to Mr. J. Wernica, the sugar maker, who
"put us through in the most satisfactory manner.
He said they were then engaged in. filing the
boilers, and would make start sometime during
the night They had already made about fifty
hogsheads Of sugar, which was duly examined,
crtisized, and admired. lis white, brilliant and
apparently, the crystals are as firm as diamonds.
Indeed, gentleman present remarked that you
might kill bird with it as with shot 1t may be
handled with a white kid glove, and leave no mark
to show that you have had your fingers in the
sugar bowl" We have sample that may be
examined by the incrcdulous; not selected
sample either, but a fair one of all the sugar
made; for we could detect no difference in quality
after digging down more than foot into the
tiger"
Bright and early next morning we were at the
sugar house, and found it in full blast. In this
kettles are an obsolete idea. Not
one is to be found in the house. The apparatus
used is of the Rellieux or vacuum kind, while it
combines the advantage of others. The pans are
four in number, the two outside ones being large
oval cast iron pans, holding six or seven hogs
heads, and the intermediate ones are the small
horizontal cylindrical pans Of Rellieux. The pro-
cess of boiling is carried on with the strictest
economy in fuel-not burning, when running regu-
larly more than a cord Of wood per hogs
head; and che sugar being cooked at so low
temperature about 14oo Fairy prevents dscolora-
ton by heat, which always takes place in open
kettles The heat applied is nothing more than
The escape steam from the engine, which is applied
% the first pan. The vapor which is pumped from
his pan to form the necessary vacuum serves to
boil the next and so on throughout. The only
place where direct steam is used is in the clarers
which receive the juice direct from the mill, and
N which it goes through the lining process, and
only being brought to the boiling point is then
Allowed to cool and precipitate. The juice thus
clarified, is then filtered through "bone-black" Or
animal charcoal, when it is ready for the vacuum
pans. As the comeback" becomes clogged
md apparently worthless by the impurities Of the
uice, it is removed, washed and burned in iron
retorts, something similar to those used in the
Of gas when it is again as good as
ever
The steam b6ilers next claim attention. There
Ire five Of the The first series consist Of three
arge cylinder boilers sixty-6ve feet long; and the
second, Of two smaller ones, used for getting up
steam in starting the machinery. The furnace
under the large boilers is constructed for burning
The bagasse as it comes from the mill; and SO
well does it answer the purpose, that it generates
nearly enough steam to serve the establishment.
At least an immense quantity Of fuel is made Of
what is generally deemed worse than useless. 1t
will be impossible to know the exact amount Of
saving until the crop shall have been finished and
he hogsheads and cords counted.
Attached to this establishment is an apparatus
or making gas and it works admirably. The
material used is rosin, and the "rosin oil" OBJ
aimed in the process Of disillation is said to be
worth as much as the rosin from which it is made.
The whole sugar house is brilliantly illuminated by
his gas from one extent to the other; and if we
may judge from the lights we saw burning in the
day time, it is as pure and beautiful as any used