The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-10-21
MINNESOTA SUGAR.

MINNESOTA SUGAR.
Samples Of 4 mber Cane Sugar and sirups
From the Faribault Reflnery-Review of
the Northern Cane NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. |
Growing in tho Northwest ROW Placed on
aCommercial Basis.
We understand that Capt. Russell Blakeley,
Wilhelm and Jolly, in the Raribault refinery,
win this morning exhibit to the chamber Of
samples of sugar produced this Sea-
con from amber cane juice, at that establish-
rnent. Al = reporter Of the GId1E recently
visited the refinery and inspected it's working
and prod ncts, the GLoHR is enabled to antici-
pate Capt. Blakeley's presentation Will. re-
of the labors and experiments which have
resulted in tho demonstration, which is At.
f0Eded by the sugar and syrup samples, that
the amber cane industry can be placed on
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 q aCose
of years been produced in the Uuitea States IN
aggregate quantities varying, from 100000
to near 20, 0oO. 600 gallons q year. But these
sirups are largely composed of the grape sugar
which is with the cane sugar in the sorghum
Juices. Tho 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 ire
quent and in larger proportion than had come
from any other variety. The pioneer cane
growers and sirup makers Of Minnesota, year
after year, demonstrate that the amber cane
was = 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
tne;. industry On = 10. vS eom mara na.
too sanguinle to consider what was lacking for
the permanent establishment of a large indus
try, that there must first be some process for
producing the sirup and sugar by which the
best results would uniformly be produced, be-
tore there would be the surety in cane growing
that farmers have in wheat, cattle and the sta
pie products for which they have always q 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.
Mr.. Jolly in about q score of years experience
had become an expert in all details of the cul-
~tivation 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 we're separated the sugar remainder
was larger. They were not ready to begin OPP
| 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 a large supply from that source could
| not be expected. Under these circumstance
| theymade no attempt, except experimentally,
at sugar making, but contented themselves
with turning all 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 so little produced
it was in the market only q few weeks. This
year the conditions were better in some re.
spects, but not wholly favorable.
Since Capt. Blakeley became interested, the
refinery apparatus has been increased apd i'm
proved, and, satisfied with their experiments
of the year previous, Messrs. Wilhelm and Jolly
were prepared to undertake sugar making,
IS o business venture, from the cane received
at the refinery. Although the cane raised
within hauling distance of the refinery was
this year of inferior quality, having been in
iured as to its sugar quality BY the drouth Of
| July 0hO VIC COlO dlu " aug sis u 0ASNOuS
there was q pressing demand for strip which
would have taken all they could hnye pro
duced, they have worked about half the juice
pressed at the refinery into m~olasses, finished il
vacuum and deposited in watts for grsnulation.
When examined by the dLoBE's representa-
tive the granulation was goini
ON finely and promised in every va
to leave only a minor percentage Of molasses
for reboiling. One vat in which FORMULATION
had been going On for two weeks, appeared K
be about 80 per cent. dry sugar. Tn
~stters, which had stood shorter times, had les
proportions Of sugar according to the time
The capitalization was into sharp, perfect Cubes
and a polariscDpe test indicated that the crys
tslizations were IS TO SO per cent. cane sugar
This test, it is understood, ia confirmed by th
appearance of the drysugar as it CONES from
the centrifugal and will be shown in fampl
here to-day.
The G1oBE has heretofore told Of the SUPER
Gritty of the sirups produced at the Faribaul
refnery-thRt they are true sugar s;rups,
chemically and commercially pure, (in thes
respects contrasting with the so-calied strip
of trsde) and that their quality and appearano
will give them a %commercis
standing wherever they are supplied in quan
tity to meet trade demands. The prod uctio
of pure sugar by the came establishmer
completes the proof that the amber cane is PR
fitably and practically a sugar cane, excelle
by the Southern cane in ease of treatment only
The question OF profit in growing the cane al
in making crude strip was settled affirmative
ly by growers and boilers years ago. The que,
ton Of profit in the refinery work we ma
leave to DE-. Wilhelm and those associated wit
him, with the remark that between the cost
crude strip and the wholesale value Of refine
sirup there is margin enough to answer tt
question afirmatively. =
While at the refinery the GLOBE reporter So
numerous samples of crude strip, some fro
Iowa and other ne;ghboripg States, and son
from different parts of Minnesota, which II
producers offered to the refinery for cash
in exchange for refined strip. The lots offe-t
ranged in quantity from one hundred gallon
to one of ten thousand gallons, and
appears probable that enough Of the cruz
syrup can be had this season to keep the Fal
bault refinery running nearly all the yes
Next year its capacity viii be unequal to t
supply of crude syrup which wal be ofere
A much larger establishment will be needed
our State, and probably others will be built
neighboring States. The business presents
opening for safe investment, in the line
Building up the agricultural interests Of S
Paul, which should not be neglected by t
capitalists of this city, to whom we recomme,
Capt Blakeley's enterprise and good JUG
ment in helping to complete the Farib,
demonstration of the value of the amber ca
and the perfection of DR.. Wilhelm's process
working it.
MINNEsOTA NEWS.