The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-10-04

ton in the Island Of Barbados, in which he gives the
relative prices of molasses and rum at that time, 1879,
as 2s. and IS Sd. per gallon. Hence, If P.ts state
ment is correct, molasses to the value of o. were re-
quired in the production Of a gallon Of rum, value
IS. sd, leaving a clear loss OF =. Al. on the price Of
material alone without calculating expenses Of manu-
facsure. Even s~upposing that the molasses 50 dis
titled, were an inferior article, and placing 1t at but
half the above price, the margin left for expenses
would be so small that there would be IN inevitable
loss on the manufacture
I am further informed by a gentleman whose We
racity is unquestionsble. that when the New England
distillers paid 20 cents per gallon for molasses, they
sold the rum for 81 cents. Here, again, estimating
D gallons molasses 10 one Of rum, there would be a
loss Of IS cents in price Of material alone. Surprising
P.'s s,atment to be correct, it would necessarily follow
that the manufacture of rum from molasses could
only be carried on at 4 loss. Now, il i well-known
that rum IS made from molasses in the West Indies
in Jamaica especially, from which island little If any
molasses are exported CSee Evans Sugar Planters
Manual, page 2o6.) I myself have refined many
hundreds puncheons Of the West India molasses, but
never yet met with Jamaica molasses. Unjust, there
fore. be inferred from the great length Of time in
which distillation has been ~practised, that il has been
done pro6tably, and that also al times when the
prices of molasses were much higher than now. The
supposition that it should have been p~ractised so long
at a loss, is simply absurd.
Let US also consider the matter in Il theoretical
way. Molasses is mainly composed of the same
chemical constituents as alcohol, though in different
proportions. Fermentation, in eject, is n modifca-
ton of those proportions converting the former into
the latter, thus leading to the supposition that the
yield ought to be somewhere nearer bulk for bulk
than P. would have us suppose.
Comparing the relative prices Of molasses and rum,
must inevitably lead to about the same result, sup
posing that distillation is 1T ali profitable, as We must
infer from the length of time in which the business
has been carried on. If, however, his statement is
correct, (and l have not sufficient knowledge on the
subject to positively deny that it is so,) and if he has
had the experience Of which he writes, he can proba-
bly, supply us with some statistical information 10
support his statement. l am sorry to have been COM
PEELED to express myself SO plainly as 1 have done on
some parts of the preceding. But, when a person
puts himself forward as a public instructor, he ought
first to be sure that he has attained a sufficient
knowledge of the first principles of the subject on
which he treats. But in all P.'s communications he
has as yet only betrayed his own ignorance.
| wish now to submit to the consideration of our
planters a suggestion as to improvements in the ap-
paratus, which is much needed. 1t is well-known
and allowed by all parties, that the greater proper
ton of the colOring matter is given to the sugars
during concentration. Decomposition commences
Immediately after the juice reaches the state of n
saturated solution. Thus a large proportion of the
crystallizable matter is converted into molasses, mate
rally increasing the proportion of that article Of
which it should be our object to make the least posi-
bic proportion. The true way to effect this is dame
trically opposite TO that recommended by Mr.. P. 1t
is by concentrating at the lowest possible tempera-
ture.
1 would not go so far as to recommend the erection
os a complete vacuum apparatus for the whole process
of evaporation and concentration but l consider that
a small vacuum pan in connection with the open ket-
ties, would effect all that could be desired. The
whole battery TO be used as a medium for complete
Qualification; the juice TO be brought to the same state
in the tache that it is now brought to in the sirop or
third kettle, and TO a density of from "a degrees to %
degrees Beaume, and then to be drawn into the va
cuum pan for concentration. Thus the molasses
would be reduced more than one-half, the sugars
rnnld he much improved. indeed. Judging from the
best qualities of sugar that | have seen produced on
he islands, | do not hesitate to express my belief
hat by this means we could produce an article nearly
quail to imported crushed. The result would be, 1
assured, that the profits of n plantation would by
his means be increased one-third. This | consider
s a low estimate, but I would rather err on that side
Il II OlItI- u NdtcI power = IL manu-, Inls
ould be erected at small expense, as the air pump
ould be attached to the water wheel which drives the
Mill, or could be driven by a small water wheel put
Up for the purpose, and the only steam required
Tould be the necessary heating medium. An objec-
ion will be raised to this in places where there is a
carcity of water, that n large quantity of water
ould be necessary for the condensation of the vapors
revious to their arrival at the air pump, which is
bsolutely necessary. / have myself hooked upon !
ais as an objection; but when l take into considera- }
on that by that condensation the whole of those va +
ors would be made available in the shape of water, :
nd that the water thus would be constantly increas- \
g instead of diminishing, l must come to the conc,u- q
on that such an apparatus must be looked upon as A
producer not a consumer Of water, and that objec- 4
on is not valid. 1t was my intention to have erect =
a small apparatus to demonstrate this, but losses \
stained through a late accident, and from other r
uses during the past winter, have compelled me to F
,stpone the carrying out of that intention. But :
,reby make the offer that if any of our planters will F
ect a small experimental apparatus on the above F.
inciple, if it does not succeed l will take it off his r
Mt the cost price. Fl
l predict their general adoption after the trial of vW
first. So little am l in " fear Of my craft being Il
dangered, that l will always be found willing, not -
ly to start such apparata when erected, but also to
struct others in their management.
l am, it is true, but n working man, and my opjn-
Is therefore may probably not have much weight;
t those opinions are founded upon experience from
and they are hereby offered for considera-
n, not from any desire for notoriety, but from a
lrtHt desire to contribute my small quota to the
'tkring of our planting interests and to the deyel- "
ament of our island resources. J
am, yours respectfully,
ALEX. E. MCGREGoR.
5(rW AGbrrtjsrmrnts. +