Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1880-10-21
MINNESOTA SUGAR.

L
the Northern Cane DevelOpment-Cane
Growing in the Northwest Now Placed ON
Commercial Basis.
We understand that Capt. Russell Blakeley,
of this city, who Is interested, with Messrs.
Wilhelm and jolly, in the Faribault refinery,
will this morning exhibit to the chamber of
commerce samples of sugar produced this sea-
son from amber cane juice, at that establish
ment. As reporter of the GLOBE recently
visited the refinery aud inspected it's working
and products, the GLOBE ia enabled to antici-
pate Capt. Blakeley's presentation with re-
| view of the labors and experiments which have
resulted in the demonstration, which is af-
forded by the sugar and syrup samples, that
| the amber cane industry can be placed on a
! commercial basis and be proftably developed
to an extent which will place it among the
| chief in dustries of our country.
Sorghum sirups have for more than a score
of years been produced in the Uuited States In
aggregate quantities varying from II, ,000, 900
| to near ~, 600. 600 gallons q year. But these
| slrups are largely composed OF the grape sugar
which is with the cane sugar in the sorghum
| juices. The early amber cane of Minnesota,
| cross probably of African varieties of shrghum,
became famuos few years ago for its cane
sugar results, which appeared to be more fire.
quent and in larger proportion than had come
| from any other variety. The pioneer cane
| growers and sirup makers of Minnesota, year
after year, demonstrated that the amber cane
was a true sugar cane. But the conditions
under which they operated, their processes
from year to year, were not uniform, and the
| results were unequal and fell short
of the perfection needed to place
their industry on commercial
| basis. 1t was manifest to those who were not
too sanguine to consider what was lacking for
| he ,fohIs 0G
try, that there must first be some process for
producing the sirup and sugar by which the
| best results would uniformly be produced, be-
fore there would be the surety in cane growing
| that farmers have in wheat, cattle and the sta
pie products for which they have always a cash
market.
To this solution of the northern cane prob
lem DR.. james Wilhelm and his assistant, Mr..
jolly, applied themselves on their coming to
Minnesota, less than three years ago. Dr. Viii
helm was prepared for the work by extended
study and practice of sugar chemistry, with
large experience in field and refinery work and
in the construction of sugar making apparatus.
MIR. Jolly in about score of years experience
had become an expert in all details of the cul-
| tlVation of sorghum canes and the treatment
of their juices. They found the
unsaccharine substances in the amber cane
juice as obstinate as they had found the same
In other sOrghums, but they also found that
when these were separated the sugar remainder
was larger. They were not ready to begin op-
| Grafton with the fresh cut cane of last year,
and when they did begin grinding most of the
| cane was fermenting. At that time the makers
of crude syrup were few and widely scattered,
| 30 that large supply from that source could
not be expected. Under these circumstances
theymade no attempt, except experimentally,
| Rt sugar making, but contented themselves
with turning an the material they had into q
nearly uniform article of pure syrup, which
sold readily, and concerning which the only
complaint was that there was 80 little produced
it was in the market only few weeks. This
year the conditions were better in some re-
spects, but not wholly favorable.
| Since Capt. Blakeley became interested, the
refinery apparatus haa been increased and inn
proved. and, satisfied with their experiments
Of the year previous, Messrs. Wilhelm and Jolly
were prepared to undertake sugar making,
% business venture. from the cane received
ut the refinery. Although the cane raised
within hAulIng distance OF the refinery was
this year of inferior quality, having been in
iured a. to its sugar quality by the drouth of
July and the cold rains of August, and although
there was pressing demand for sirup which
would have taken all they could have pro-
duced, they have worked about half the Juice
pressed at the refinery Into molasses, finished in
vacuum and Deposited in vats for granulatiou.
When examined by the GLoBE's representa-
tive the granulation was going
|
to leave only minor percentage of molasses
for rebOiling. One vat in which granulation
had been going on for two weeks, appeared to
be about 80 per cent. dry sugar. The
sthers, which had stood shorter times, had less
proportions of sugar according to the time.
The capitalization was into sharp, perfect cubes.
and polariscope test indicated that the crys-
talizations were 95 to 50 per cent. cane sugar.
This test, it is understnod, il confirmed by the
appearance of the dry sugar az it comes from
the centrifugal and will be shown in sample
here to-day.
The GLOBE has heretofore told of the superb
ority of the sirups produced at the Faribault
rehnery-that they are true sugar srups.
chemically and commercially pure, (in these
respects contrasting with the so-called sirups
of trade) and that their quality and appearance
viii give them aS commercial
tity to meet trade demands. The production
of pure sugar by the same establishment
, completes the proof that the amber cane Ia pro-
fitably and practically sugar cane, excelled
by the Southern cane in ease of treatment onlv
The question of profit in growing the cane a6d
in making crude sirup was settled Affirmative
ly by growers and boilers years ago. The uues-
tion of profit in the refinery work we may
leave to DIR. Wilhelm and those associated with
him, with the remark that between the coat of
crude sirup and the wholesale value of refined
sirup there is margin enough to answer the
l
While at the refinery the GLOBE reporter saw
numerous samples of crude sirup, some from
Iowa and other neighboring States, and some
from different parts of Minnesota, which the
producers offered to the refinery for cash or
In exchange for refined sirup. The lots offered
ranged in quantity from one hundred gallons
to one of ten Thousand gallons, and IL
appears probable that enough of the crude
syrup can be had this season TO keau the Fari.
bault refinery running nearly all the year.
Next year it's capacity will be unequal to the
supply of crude syrup which will be offered.
A much larger establishment will be needed in
our State, and probably others will be built in
neighboring States. The business presents an
opening for safe investment, in the line Of
building up the agricultural interests of Sc.
Paul, which should not be neglected bv the
eapitalists of this city, TO whom we recommend
Capt. Blakeley's enterprise and good iudr
ment in helping to complete the FarihnIl
demonstration Of the value Of the smber cane
and the perfection of DR.. Wilhelm's process q