The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1876-03-09
AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.
Sugar and Molasses from Indian Corn.

OuSdI anu HlOlaSSeS IRON 1NUlGn torn.
No American product is so universal in
all parts of the Republic as Indian corn. It
grows luxuriantly in every State and Ter
r;tory, in almost every soil and section,
and It's yield is SO vast that the whole of il
cannot be marketed, and ut times it has
been burned for fuel Immense quanti-
ties are shipped to Europe, and still there
always remains a surplus, although every
expedient is tried to utilize it by feeding
it to live stock, and using it for the manu-
tacture spirits. Under such circumstances
it is a matter of general interest to know
that discovery made by German chem
ist, that moiasses can be proftably mado
from corn, has been successfully applied in
Iowa, and bids fair to lay the foundations
of Il great industry. The corn used was tho
common crop, such as is fed to live stock,
and the product was excellent moasses.
The information on the subject was first
published as a communication in the
Christian Instructor, where it was read by
the managers of Western sugar mill, and
by them the process MAS tried and found to
work to charm. The farmers in the
neighborhood of the mill took their corn
thither and sold it. So that the operation
was On the same basis as the cheese and
butter factories and the canning establish
ments
This crop is better for the manufacture
of molasses than the sorghum or Chinese
sugar-cane, and is understood and availa-
bic everywhere. Small mills can Of course
be had for the use of farmers, who want to
make their molasses themselves, but the
preferable plan is to have the mills ope-
rated on a large scale as separate interests,
like the canning works. That the syrup
can be made to granulate for sugar would
seem only to require skill and experience
in the operator Maple sugar, though
of a dark brown color in store, derives
that hue from the rude processes Of boiling
usually used in the open air, and we have
reliable testimony from Western Pennsyl-
vania that, by careful boiling in kitchen,
the syrup produces light and very clear
and beautiful sugar. Hence we infer that
in the manufacture Of molasses from beets,
sorghum or Indian corn, it is not desirable
that the rude processes Of manufacture on
a small scale be encouraged, as the arti-
Gle produced would be low priced and in
ferior
We desire to call especial attention to
this subject now, because of the boundless
supply of corn in the United States. Ifany
new and general use like this for it could be
extensively domesticated, the crop would
at once derive an additional value from It,
as it would pay the former much better
than at present. The cultivtion of corn is
understood everywhere in America while
that Of the sugar beet is not. All that
seems to be wanted is the general estab-
lishment of separate concerns to buy up
the corn and make moasses from it /; and
if the business could once be firmly rooted,
the results might be immensely valuable.
In this connection we need only refer to
the extent to which sugar is made in
France, Germany, Holland, Austria and
Russia from the sugar beet, and to the largo
amount of money thus saved to those coun-
tries that would otherwise have to bo
paid out for foreign sugar and molasses.
The successful application Of the sep
arate factory system to the production of
butter and cheese shows that the principle
is capable of great results when perseyer-
ingly adhered to. And if it can be applied
generally to the manufacture Of sugar and
molasses from Indian corn, the results may
exceed anything at present dreamed of. 1t
should have an immediate trial in every
corn-growing district, and if rendered per-
manent it will develop demand for capt.
tai and machinery, and give great new
element to American commerce.-Phtlc1-
lelphia North Americdn.
A Tavac Da,,ooro+ h. ,,,, J., !,