The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1873-10-16
Extraordinary Discoveries
Concerning Sugar.


Concerning Sugar.
The startling announcement is
made in the Fabricants dc Sucrc, on
the authority of the Assemblee Ma.
tionale, that NJ. Jouglct, an engineer
has discovered a means OF making
sugar ar,lficially that IS, by com.
blnatlon Of chemical substances, in
stead OF an extract of sacharitcrous
plants. The chemical sugar can, it
is said. be made at cost of 5 francs
hundred k,los, or say IS per cwt.
The process at present is said TO be a
secret, but consists generally in put
ting some common substances to.
gether, oi which the elements, divid-
cd according to the laws OF chemical
affinity, produce in coming together
again, g sugar altogether similar to
that from the cane or bect.root." We
contine ourselves 20 registration OF
the reported facts, simply adding
that NJ, Joaglet appears to be we'll
known man, and an occasional con-
,ributor to the Fabrlcants de Sucre,
and he has promised NJ. bureau. the
taste the chemical sugar. The state
ment is, therefore, however incredible
i, may seem, not altogether untound-
ed. The diamond can be produced
by artificial means, and there are
MANY other similar facts far more
surprising than the manufacture OF
sugar would be.
Apart from the extraordinary Geo.
nomical changes which the chemical
manufacture OF sugar alluded to
above would bring, but it would put
4 sion 10 one OF the Oldest industries
practiced on the globe. In India
there grows a reed which yields hon
ey wllhoat bees" Such was the
report made to Alexander the Great
ty his Admiral, who had just return
ed from exploring part OF the coast
OF India.
The prophet Jeremiah also speaks
OF "lhe sweet cane Of the tar OH
country and other ancient authors
mention a kind obtained from reeds
and valuable in the cure OF several
diseases. The sugar cane, which Is
no doubt alluded to by all these au
thorl,ies, was cultivated in both Chi
na aud India centuries before it was
known in Europe. The preparation
OF sugar, which was exclusively car
RED on in both these countries, was
however, kept a secret from Other
nations. but lucrative commerce
meanwhile sprang up in that article
with Arabia and Palestine. W.
have this on the authority OF til
Crusaders, who often refreshed them
selves with the juice Of this can
when wearied with their toilsom
marches over the burning plains {
Syria. These reeds were called $,
cra.' from which term we derive ou
, word sugar. BY these noble war;
ors, the plant was made known
Spain, Portugal, and several island
] OF the Mediterranean. It was no
however, till about the year l2t
that correct information as to Il
| preparation of sugar from the car
was made known in Europe. II
O celebrated Venetian traveller, Mar,
Polo, conferred this benefit on u
European community, having asce
tanned the process while journeyil
: in China. In little time the cul
vation OF sugar was commenced
several Of the West Indian Islan'
then recently discovered by Colu
bus, and in comparatively sht
J period the importation OF the artl
Into Europe was 80 extensive as
greatly enrich Spain and increase
ROYAL revenue. It is here worthy
remark that when England took