Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-12-27

- e e,ss...
Refined Sorghum, or yye,,ern
Fantaation Game Syrup.
TO the Illinois State Horticultural,
Society:
The Committee appointed by the H.
limos State Hortiou tural Society At
its late session in this city, to report
on the subject of refining the crnJs
Sorghum, Of Chinese sugar cane svruu
visited the works Of the Chicago Re-,
6nery on Saturday morning after tho
adjournment Of the meeting, and deem
the information obtained Of sufficient
Importance to make it public at an
early day. The following is their re-
port:
On visiting the works of the Chicago
Sugar Refining Company, wo were
cordially received by MIR. Belcher, and
were afforded every opportunity for OBJ
tanning information. We spent sever
al hours examining into the process by
which the company have so successful
ly refined the Sorghum syrup and pro-
duced the excellent article exhibited to
the Horticultural Society. We were
assured by Mr.. Brlcher, and the Chem.
list, and Superintendent Mr.. Bender,
thai there was no secret IN the process;
although expensive machinery and
thorough practical skill are necessary
to attain the best results:
We directed our attention to the fol.
lowing points
LIST. What foreign substances are
used in refining? Would their use be
likely to render the refined product un-
hcalthful
End. What is the loss in quantity by
refining?
Sd. What is the expense Of refining?
18th. How does the refined article
rank in grade with ether refined syr-
ups?
9Th. How can the farmers get their
syrup refined?
9th. Is there any sale for the crude
syrup?
ANSWERS.
LIST. A small quantity Of lime water is
introduced at the commencement Of
the boiling. Next the syrup is strain
ed through canvas sacks. Afterwards
it passes into immense filters, contain
ing 'bone charcoal By these three
processes great amount Of extraneous
vegetable matter is extracted. It is
then subjected to a rapid boiling at
l6O deg. heat, in what is called "vae-
uum PAM" which finishes the process.
So far as we could judge, there was
nothing used to impair, but rather i'm
prove the healtafulEess of the refined
product This cannot te said Of some
Of the refined syrups offered in the mar
ket. a
I'd. One hundred gallons of fair
crude syrup yield about ninety gallons
Of the refined product.
Sd The cost Of refining is not over
six cents per gallon in large quantities.
4th. 1t ranks with the best refined
'Golden Syrup" The Eastern re-
fined syrups are not uniform in quality,
except in the higher grades. 1t has
none Of the ''boneset" taste CT the un-
retiDed syrup nor the smoky flavor
which often occurs in other refined syr--
ups.
5th. The company offer to receive,
syrup at any Of the raill cad depots in.
this city, in quantities Of FIVE BARRELS
or over, and to refine it at ten cents
per gallon, returning to the depot, for
each man, an equal amount OF syrup.
less its actual loss in refining or to
return seventy-6ve gallons for every
one hundred gallons received. These
figures include dyayage, cooperase,
and re. painting the heads.
The company will sci: the refined
Sorghum under the Few name of (now
used for the first time) Western Plan
tatlan Syrup. Small packages of ten
gallons each may be obtained Of them
at fifty five cents per gallon.
9th. The company will purchase for
further experiment 200 or 800 barrels
Of the crude article al thirty FIVE cents.
Per gallon, delivered, before establish.
ing any regular pnee at which they
are to buy it,
A syrup refinery may be started at
cost Of about $4,000. The cost Of
the machinery alone in the works above
was $4,000. 1t has capacity of re-
6ning 100 barrels per day in addition
to its regular business.
We learn further, from number of
wholesale grocers Of this city, that the
syrup tide has greatly fallen off since
the introduction Of the Chinese cine.
In numerous localities country mer-
chants do not keep any but Sorgum
syrup on sale.
TIE cultivation Of the sugar cane in
the Northwest is no longer matter Of
doubt. AS high as 800 gallons of:
syrup have been PRODUCED per acre..
$50 gallons is small yield. Whether.
sugar can be pro6tably produced from.
it is not yet determined.
We shall soon have home supply
ard o surplus to export to tie Eastern
States. G. Il. CHASE.
H. y. EMERY.