The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-08-16
Sugar, VI GLASSES aud Rum.

MAKAwAO, August 6, 1860
Mr.. EDITOR, DEAR SIR Though not an advO-
cate for the manufacture Of rum, 1 think it but fair
that matters should be fairly stated on both sides.
The disti,lation Of rum is a process Of which know
nothing. but I was much surprised at seeing P.'s
statement in your last issue that II gallons Of mo-
hsses we're required for the production Of one-half
gallon Of rum. The statemen seemed, to me, so evil
IDENTIFY incorrect that 1 looked for further information
on the subject. On referring TO PORTER on the Su-
gar cane (Which is considered one of the most reli-
able works on the subject,) I find in chapter sth, the
following in relation TO the formation of the " wash -
"a very usual mixture is 10 gallons molasses, 20
gallons lees, 30 gallons Summing and 40 Of water;
the proportion of saccharine matter being, therefore,
10 per cent" And, in the same chapter, in refer
ence to the result, cit is usual to obtain about lib
gallons proof rum from 1900 gallons of wash" This
does not seem to agree with P.'s statement, and it
seems to me so absurd that the W. I. planters should
sacrifice % gallons molassas to produce only one gall
Ion Of rum, that l think P. must be mistaken.
Again, Mr.. Pennie, in his first letter, states, if /
remember rightly, that in no country are the skim
mings from the CHARTERS used in the manufacture Of
rum; but, in the befOre-named work, same chapter,
1 find it stated, .molasses, scimmiags from the
CHARTERS and cooperating coppers, and sometimes
even raw cane juice ~purposely expressed from the
N1ACr AAE VI IAAN~A ~ ~
In reference to the above 1 wish TO observe, that all
who write Oh either side ought TO be careful not to
make rash statements, as by so doing they are apt to
do injury rather than good to the cause they wish to
advocate. The arguments against the manufacture
Of rum are sufficiently abundant without making in
considerable statements.
P.'s Observations on sugar boiling are also contrary
TO all practical experience. The proper point TO
which solutions Of sugar ought TO be boiled Is that at
which the greatest proportion Of sugar may be OBJ
tanned consistent with the formation Of Il perfect crys-
tn. This point Il indicated by taking a drop Of the
boiling sugar between the thumb and fOrefnger; on
drawing them a part, observe the thread formed be-
tween; il, on breaking. it assumes the form of a spiral
thread or corkscrew, the sugar Is properly boiled 1t
the boil ny IS carried beyond that point q greater
weight will be obtained, but the capitalization is not
s. perfect, and a great part Of the increased weight is
derived from moIlsses a1heriug to the crystal. All
sugars boiled so high will drain" especially, If sent
% n warmer temperature than the place Of mInuflc-
ture. P.'s statement that the sugars are boiled so
high In the West Indies that they may stand the voy-
age 70 England i contrary TO the whole theory OF
equalization, for it IS well-known that the more
perfect the crystal, the drier the sugar may be
male, AMI the longer they viii keep without draining
or suffering deterioration in any way. Let the su-
CARS be boiled to the above point a rapidly as posi-
bic. without Stacking the fire, if the flues are furnished
with 4 damper, and, when that point is reached, close
the dlmper and bail out the sugar If no dimPer IS
provided. slack the fire some minutes before that
point is attained, anil, when the spiral thread Is about
TO form, put ont the fire and remove the su gar as "a
pfIIy As possible. If the boiling is carried beyond
this point the appearance of the boiling liquid Will
render it evident to the mos, inexperienced eye that
q great chemical change is rapidly going on The
spiral thread will form at different temperatures,
ranging, in the common run Of juices from 23O0 to
1861 according to the purity Of the juice, some very
pure juices reaching much higher Il : this TACT
that renders the thermometer an unreliable guide in
sugar boiling, other wise that instrument would BET
perfect guide. The mOlasses from sugars boiled 10
the above point will bear re-boiling, which they Will
not IL carried much beyond it. (unless they are re-
boiled in vacuum) and a profitable proportion OF su-
gar nav thus be obtained. The whole amount OF
sugar thus obtained will be much larger than can be
produced by once boiling, h0U'reT hlgh the coHesn-
trGtioa may be carried. l do not intend to deny
that the IVES. India planter bOils or did boil much
higher than the point I have mentioned, but mereiy
say that his motive for so doing was not TO make MS
sugars 6t to ''stand the stormy passage home 10
England The laws for the protection OF the re-
hners in the mother country were such that he was
not allowed TO export to England an article superior
10 common Muscovado sugar. His aim therefore was
to produce as large a proportion or that article is
possible, and, adopting the very mistaken idea 'ha
De could obtain as large = yield by boiling once &c .