River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-11-09

ible sweets are costly, require for should
haye) skilled manipulation, and can be used
only during very brief portion Of the year
1t is to bem presumed that machinery for
transforming starch into glucose by aid Of
sulphuric acid costs somewhat less, as the
product sells so much lower, but there is
still another reason 1.-The capital SO used
not compelled to lie idle eleven months in
the year. Glucose factories may run all the
year, bur the product is not liked by all con-
sumers II is dreaded by some tor hygienie
reasons, but the chief objection is that glu-
cose syrups are not half as sweet as the ordi-
nary syrups. 1t is rather chemical combs
nation than genuine sweet, and no more
deserves to rank as sweet than oleomarga-
rine does as butter.
1t may be proper in conclusion to say
few words about the sorghum factory OF your
enterprising townsman, Hon Oliver s. Pow
ell, which the writer had the pleasure of Wis
ting last week. His experiment must be Of
value to all who are interested in the produs-
ton OF sorghum sugar or syrup; but as tile
subject has no doubt been ably treated here
tofore in your columns, less need be said
now. 1t has been q serious question among
farmers and others whether cheap mills can
make good syrup. or rather make it profta-
bly,; and possibly Mr., Powell's experience
may throw some light upon the subject
Fortunately ne is a clear headed accountant
as well as an enter5risiig business man-one
who perseveres, and does nothing by halves
His mill has cost about 5000, so it cannot
be classed as cheap concern, yet he found
by experience that some of his appliances
were too small for his needs, so he replaced
them by larger ones, until now he has one
OF the best ii not the best mill in the State,
and perhaps in the whole Northwest His
experiment would seem TO show that it costs
money to make sorghum syrup at profit,
and yet he does not claim to have come out
much ahead. He utilities more OF the cane
than smaller operator could, using surplus
age usually wasted) tor making vinegar, and
burning large portion of the bagasse as fuel.
His product last year was 10 500 gallons syr.
up and 5000 gallons vinegar in the run OF
five weeks; this year his mill started Sept
26th for an estimated run Of three weeks.
He calculated that by Oct. 7th the yield in
syrup would be s, 800 gallons The purified
sap is evaporated solely by steam and
through coils or convolutions of pipe. A
pressure of from so to 100 lbs. steam per
square inch is necessary Tor speedy evapora-
ton of sap. His boilerage is now 60 horse
power. The engine Icing but l2-l5 horse
D ,wer, it will be seen that tbree-fourths of
the steam is used Incorporating the zap by
supplying three coils-one in the deIecator,
one in the large reducer, and one in the fin
shing pan. Mr.. Powell is one OF the very
few men possessed Of ample means who is
not ashamed to laborwith his own hands
He is a practical man, watches the result of
all he does. and is ever ready with courteous
urbanity to give to his fellow men the bene-
fit OF the ample experience which he has
bought and paid tor. Any persons who are
contemplating the erection of sorghum facto-
ries would do well to correspond with him,
because they may learn facts from him
which would save them hundseds of dollars
of needless expense
The sorghum product of the country is
rapidly increasing, and is commanding more
and more attention; let the methods have
more thought and experiment from those
who have money to back their efforts, and
the result must be beneficial.
A! M. BLANCHARD.