Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-11-05
Beet Sugar.

IT'S SUCCESSFUL MANUFACTURE AT THE PORT
LAND FACTORY.
Wednesday, October 80, 1873, will be memoirs
BILE in the annals of this State for on that day and
in the presence of Gov. Conner, the Maine Bee,
Sugar Company of Portland turned out over IL 900
pounds of graduated sugar, the first ever made
in the United States from beets grown in Amer-
ca. Several establishments have, it is true, made
small quantities of raw sugar of excellent quality.
but q regular boiling Of refined sugar made from
raw beet sugar produced in the United States has
never before been attempted in the Atlantic State.
Gov. Conner and . number of distinguished
gentlemen visited the Forest City Sugar Refinery
10 witness the process, which in some respects was
the same - that used in the refining Of similar
sugar from the cane.
The fl-masse rs the semi.crystallized mass of
grainy sugar is called in Germany, was drawn
from the vacuum pan into q charger or basin hold
ing 800 pounds and poured into cenrifugals. In
this condition the mass looked not unlike hasty
pudding. The centrfugals being made to revolve
at the rsle Of 1900 revolutions per minute the
white sugar was taken out after fifteen minutes in
moist state and was passed through Q huge iron
cylinder over drum heated by steam and thence
in few minutes was transferred into barrels ready
Tor consumption. The quality of the graduated
beet sugar WAS all that could be desired In flavor
grain and coler II was fully equal to . similar srti
Gle made from the sugar caoe. No one could have
distinguished it from the best article gener-
ally 10 use.
stages OF the process which converts the coarse
nnwashed roots into this beautiful crystal lime pro-
duct. First, the roots were lifted in elevators to
iron tanks to which they were washed. Next they
were thrown into the hopper of the cutting ma
chine which by series of plane blades with cross
knives underneath, rapidly reduced them TO small.
strips called tapes" IheHce thew were conveyed
BY slide into row of cylindrical iron tanks
called battery in which they were washed
by continuous stream Of hot water until
the sweetness was extracted. The sweet Juice
was then pumped up into large kettles hold
| ing 1000 gallons each, in which by heating
with lime the solid substances were precipitated'
Thence 1t flowed down through bag filters and
passed INTO large iron tanks filed with arimal
| charcoal or boneblack which removed the color.
leaving fluid a. clear and white as water, with =
| mild and pleasant saccharne taste. This Aui
| vas evaporated 10 4 vacuum pan to syrup. and
VAS again filtered through boneblack, after which
| it WAS "grsined" in another vacuum pan and
placed in wagons to harden for the centrifuRals.
| On returning to the lower floor the attention OF
the visitors was called to = sinRularly fine wagon
load of beets raised by Mr.. Wentworth, Superin.
| tendent of the Reform School. A desire being
expressed to ascertain the amount Of sugar con
| tanned 10 these beets, the party adjourned to the
| laboratory where Prof Oscar soon showed then
the simple and interesting process known as pols
rizstion, whereby the DETECTION of the rays OF
light passing through the clarified jnice, indicated
the exact percentage Of sugar. These Reform
school beets were found to contain IL IL per cen
OF sugar.
The quality OF the beet sugar was justly regard
ed by the party ~ singularly fine. Toe amount
obtained could not then be exactly asceriained bu
will be in week. The guests dispersed and fell
encouraged by what they had seen. The officer,
OF the company were complimented upon the en-
ergy. skill and perseverance, shown, and the
Governor congratulated them and the State upon
their prompt ful6llment of the obligations of thei,
contract which as justly remarked, while it was {
premium on success provides no compensation
Whatever In case of failure
In answer to inquiries Ii was ascertained that
the Company pave already expended $4,000
N cash. and will probably pay ont $40 ,OCO more
y in their comparatively limited operation Of ths