Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1867-03-15
! From the Dubuque Herald.
CEDAR FALLS STARCH FACTORY.
History OF tho Enterprise.-Discr
ton OF the build inx-Process OF
Starch Manufacturing, Impor-
s tancc OF ghe EnterprisC, &c.

LAC PScHiS VA Az" PiSN'SS lai DC piS-
pared for consumption here at home,
the price of double transportations will
be saved-freight charges in shipping
Dur products abroad for manufacture,
and freight charges OH SO much as we
must ourselves consume i'm shipping
them back from the manufacturer. Add
to this saving the wealth created by
the Improvement of water powers and
the employment of mechanics and
operators, and we shall arrive ut some
fair estimate of the advantages of man.
establishments among us,
as we'll as be able to determine the
characterofthe manufactures W hich Will
be most advantageous.
In the establishment of starch
factory at Cedar Falls We see an illstra-
ton of SO much as we have written.
The prairie lands of Iowa are unsur-
passed for the production of corn.
Enormous freight tariffs have hereto
fore SO largely taken from its value to
the producer that he has frequently
found it more profitable to burn it for
fuel. Had the freight been, less Iowa
farmers could have become wealthy
from the profits of their corn fields.
The starch factory reduces the freights
by manufacturing the con- to starch,
which is more cheaply shipped, to say
nothing of the quantity consumed in
the vicinity of its manufacture, which
does. not require shipment. The excel
lent water power at Cedar Falls-than
which there is none betterin the state
is also improved, and employment
afforded for mechanics anil operators.
The establishment of this factory and
it's success, already assured prove that
it will be advantageous totthe people
Of Iowa by so much as it \ profitable
to its proprietors.
In 1866 Messrs G. A. Baks', & Bro,
having had extensive experience in the
manufacturing of starch, visited Cedar
Falls, and discovered its advantages COR
an establishment Of this kind. They
at once agitated the subject. The bust
ness men of Cedar Falls have always
been known for the promptness and
heartiness with which they enter into
any enterprise promising to benefit
their town and the country around it
In this case they at once re
sponded to the proposition made b!
Messrs. Baker & Bro, and subscribed
literally for the stock required for th'
constructing and operating Of the fac
tory. The company was organized il
March 1866, and the work pushed
with such vigor, that in January of tn.
present year starch was manufactured
The building is fine stone structure
l35XS4, with walls of 35 feet. 1t is pu
up in the most substantial manner, tn,
walls having $4,000 perch of stone.
has drying kiln with 100, 600 brick IL
its walls. In all its appointments
building, machinery, etc., the factor.
is complete and subtantial. Power il
furnished by two turbine, wheels o
the largest size. The race is vale,
and arched with stone, and furnishc
ample water for the use of the factory
with fall Of seven feet. Water 70
use in the factory is drawn from an ar
tesian we'll seven feet in the bore
twenty-five feet in the solid rock, ant
thirty five feet in depth from the sur
face.
The capital of the factory is stated a
three tons of starch per day, requirin,
for its manufacture three hundret
bushel of corn.
The process of starch manufacture;
is somewhat complicated, and in il
chemical portions is secret. The gen
eral process may be stated n
follows: The corn is shelled, passe
into soaking watts, and when thorough
ly softencd, lis ground. The grinding
and boiling requires fifteen difieren
processes. When those are complete,
the corn is in liquid state, with tn
coarse portions separated from til
starch, which is gluten and album
ell. 1t is then subject to the action Q
chemicals to accomplish the bleaching
after which it is washed, packed an
dried.
There are but four large factories i
operation in the United States, the on
at Cedar Falls, one at Oswego, N. Y
one at Glencoe, and another at Ottaw:
Ill. In Ohio there are small estat
lishments, one at Madison, indiana
one at Gilbert, n. Y. and one Mt Peori;
Illinois. 1t will be seen that the mar
ufacture of starch is pretty well Iii.
tributed through the country, creatin
sufficient competition to render impo.
sible monopoly, and yet not ruinou
to the manufacturer.
AS furnishing sufficient and reliabl
market for corn in the Cedar Valley
the factory at Cedar Falls is of gres
importance to the farmers of that POI
ton of Iowa. We understand tina
notwithstanding the high price Of corr
caused by q short crop last season
seventy-five cents per bushel havin
been paid, and the disadvantages {
starting in the severe weather Of wiz
ter, the factory has been run thus ia
with success and complete satisfaction
The company is known as the "Ceda
Falls Starch Manufacturing Company.
The work is superintendent by Messr.
G. A. Baker 4 Bro, who are also intei
ested as stock holders. The create
part of the stock is held in Cedar Falls
IA we are informed. There arc con,
important changes in contemplation
and improvements, but of these "
not at liberty to speak at present.
Finally, the people of Cedar FALL
and the farmers of the Cedar Valley
may well congratulate themselves o
the location of this important cntel
prise III their mislst.
inlnnrN fri n o erfnr