The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-01-30
Saccharine Poison.

The recent revelations of the adul-
atoms practiced by the sugar refners,
s~ys correspondent of the Tribune,
shows that every person using sugar
especially of the common grades-is be-
ing subjected to process of slow pois-
oning. Were the Investigations ex-
tended to the question of syrups, still
more serious state of things would be
found to exist, since only small pro-
portion of the commercial syrups now
being consumed is either wholly or in
part genuine cane syrup. Nearly all is
glucose chemically manufactured, the
starch of corn or other starch-produc-
ing material being converted to glucose
by the use of sulphuric acid, which lat
ter it is attempted to get rid of by
neutraIizing it with lime, producing
most villainous compound, beautiful to
the eye and pleasant enough to the
taste, but which, nevertheless, can but
be positively detrimental to the health.
And this is the stuff sold by the trade
and in almost universal domestic use.
Retail dealers state that it is difficult
for them to find any syrup which the
wholesale grocer will warrant to be
genuine cane syrup.
Is there any remedy for this state of
things? Laws against adulteration in
this country amount to little, nor afford
any protection to the public, since they
are seldom enforced. The only practi-
cal remedy seems to be to make pure,
wholesome article which can be sold as
low as the poisonous compound can be
produced, and which will drive it from
the markets
From evidence which has been ac-
cumulating for several years past, and
drawn from widely separated localities
East, West, North and South-it
appears to be demonstrated that in am
Der cane we have syrup if not sugar
producing pant growing successfully
upon any soil or in any climate that
will produce Indian rn, and so rich in
saccharine matter that it can be manu-
factured into good merchantable arti-
Gle of syrup, selling readily in the mar.
ket on its merits at fifty cents per gal.
lon wholesale, and wherever introduced
taking the preference over any Other
syrups sold, and paying to the grower 9
profit larger than can be realized from
any other ordinary farm crop.
1t will be remembered that the Com
mercial Advertiser published severa
months ago, an article which was widely
copied, showing the splendid results o.
amber cane culture in Minnesota. That
State produced last season something
like twenty-five thousand barrels o.
cane syrup, and the culture of this cant
is being successfully introduced into
other Western States. As it now stands
the growth of amber cane and its manu-
facture into syrup seems to offer {
profitable industry to agriculturists
The machinery and appliances required
are simple, and cost only about 5000
The most approved processes of manu-
facture are easily mastered by an intel
ligent farmer.
A convention of persons experiences
and interested in the growth of can
and manufacture Of syrups will be hell
at st. Louis next month, at which it i
believed the bottom facts and " true in
wardness" of the business can be oh
tained and laid before the public in sucl
a way as to enable any person of aver
age intelligence to see just what ther
is in it.