Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-08-31
NO. 2os.
Misrrllaneous.
BEET SUGAR.
BY GEO. MAY POWELL.

The following paper by Geo. May Pow.
ell on Beet Sugar, was read at the last
regular meeting of the Agricultural Sec
ton of the American Institute, New York
City: Divide and Conquer" is favorite
maxim in military and in political con-
tests. The beet sugar industry has been
massed about with misleading statements
of ponderous grand totals of expenses
necessary to carry it on. The heavy cap
itals of the old world were known to be
competent to cope with these conditions.
Our own people, however. have shrunk
from incurring the heavy total expense of
the whole industry at every point where
its establishment in part, If not complete,
would be desirable. From $50. 600, to
$3.50, 900 have been supposed to be re-
quired to begin even at any locality where
people might wish to establish beet sugar
making 1t is not however necessary
that sufficient capital should be massed to-
gether to cover the expense of both the
agricultural and the manufacturing de
partments of the industry. 1t is suscepti-
BILE Of division which will make il con-
quest for our country at an early day,
much more practicable than would be pos
sible without such division. As beet su-
gar is chemically identical with cane su-
gar, the refineries at all our great COM
mercial centers for the latter, are equally
good for the former. Reineries are the
major cost of the manu- actureres element
Involved. Their cost Is already to great
extent provided for as above suggested.
Statements recently current in the news
papers that the simple machneres needed
to make apple cider. and to boil down ma
pie sap. are sufficient to make crude sugar
from fresh beets, to send to refneries,
may be received with some question We
are specifically advised by expei fenced
beet sugar makers, that these operations
are too imperfect to be profitable.
As tar as We know the record also shows
that over quarter of a century of expert
menting in making sugar from corn-stalks,
has tailed to produce an article which the
poariscope will not prove TO be uncrystal-
liable sugar. We mention these points to
prevent our being so much divided on this
great subject as to be conquered by it, in
stead of conqueriug it. The cost OF all
that is needed to make unrefined sugar
from both fresh beets and dried beets
has been very much reduced of late
years in Europe but more of this in iu-
lure papers. Drying kilns are the most
hopeful means OF reduction of cost ut
present. Mr.. Gennert. formerly of Chats
worth, Illinois, and now in charge of the
beet sugar work in Maine, writes me that
kiln costing 81 900 will dry from twenty
to thirty tons OF beets in twenty-four
hours. Five and quarter tons OF good
beets. properly dried, will make a ton of
dry beet. containing half ton of unre-
fined sugar. Therefore, klus scattered
over the agricultural sections of the coun-
try, hundreds OF miles from the sugar fac
tories. greatly reduce the plumber of fac
tories demanded. Mr.. Gennert also says
that he has good dried beets in his p ,sses-
| sion which are three Years old. Tne dry
ing kilns consequently seem to be the key
to the manufacturing part OF the question.
The agricultural operations connected
herewith are the main point; and "how
may we know where we can raise beets
containing a sufficient per centage of sac
charine matter TO make the industry pay ?"
is the focus OF that point. We believe we
can make this practically clear without
any puzzing chemical or other scientific
terms not understood by the average lar
mer. The answer is this: Wherever a
man can raise, what in quantity would be
| called good crop of common potatoes,
| which are of a quality that are dry and
mealy when boiled or roasted, he can
raise beets for sugar making 10 advantage.
We believe, as We suggested in q tor
mer paper, that the chiei reason for agita-
| ting this subject. is not the vast material
gain TO our country of keeping gold from
beng sent abroad tor sugar. several times
as great in amount as lhe entire annual
yield OF all our gold mines. The transcen--
dent greater issue is furnishing work to
millions OF unskIlled as well as skilled
ltborers, and thereby, measurably saving
| mat men, women and children from want
| and crime. This agitation, for the latter
reason, is the work the Marggraf Council
has undertaken. 1t is, we think, tar more
IA moral than a material issue. Scattering
practical facts among the people through
The medium Of the press. Memorializlng
| he State legislatures TO make approprla-
| lions OF not less than IRON $4,000 to
| several times such a sum by each OF the
| Nolthern States and most oi The Southern
States for the development OF this industry
IN their own borders. These and such as
these are the point, aimed at, as we
understand it, by the Council.
The soil and climate of large majority
of our whole country is adapted to the
good work. From the Canada line almost
down t. the Gull OF Mexico, good sugar
6eets can be raised. Beets with quite AS
large per cent OF sugar as those now
forming the basis of Profitable sugar busi-
ness On gigantic scale in France, Ger
many, Austria, Russia, Sweden, and else
where in Europe. The mountainous
western parts OF the Carolinas, and the
eastern portions OF Kentucky aud Teunes-
see, as well as Mary aud aud the Vlrglnias
are perhaps quite as good as the New
England aud Middle States. The valley
OF the Missouri we believe to be superior
TO the Mississippi Valley. In much. if
not all these regions, beet sugar Is soon
to become one OF the greatest OF our ma
La intu Sfra