St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1886-11-13
SUGAR AS MORTAR.
ITimes-OemocrAt.l

It is startling to read a sugges-
ton made by the London Times,
that in view Of the present low
price Of sugar. it might be used as
Q substitute for mortar and cement
The Times suggestion is as follows:
Experiments have recently been
made proving that sugar is a valu-
able ingredient in mortar and ce.
ment, having strong binding qnali-
ties. Equal quantities of finely
powdered lime of . very common
kind were mixed with an equal
quantity of good brown sugar. with
the addition of water, and the re-
suit was q cement of exceptional
strength. This has been tried at
Peterborough Cathedral. two large
pieces OF stone of the broken tracery
Of . window having been joined
firmly together by sugared mortar.
The severest test is joining glass.
which gives no hold to mortar
without the use OF sand. and this
has been successfully done. The
fact appears to be certain TINT sn-
gar produces an extraordinary ef-
feet on lime when the latter has
been allowed to fall into fine pow
der and has been thoroughly slaked.
Particles Of unslaked lime would
destroy the result. because OF their
expansion, which would make the
mortar lift. The sugar mortar thus
made will be found to be as good as
Portland cement, and the only
question, therefore. would be one
of cost, and it is probable that
Portland cement itself would be
made much stronger by the add.
ton of sugar. Treacle (molasses)
might have the same effect. It is
not necessary to mention in detail
the numerous small experiments
which have been made. II is a
matter which any one Can test for
himself by joining bricks with Port
land cement alone, and by joining
others with sugar and water added
to the cement. The fact that cane
sugar and lime form q definite
chemical compound has long been
known. It is used, indeed, for
various purposes. and it may be
hoped that the suggestion of it.
use as an ingredient in mortar may
be turned to practical account by
builders and cement manufactu
rers. It has been suggested to MT
that the use OF sugar is the secret
of the success of the old Roman
mortar.
The scientific gentleman who in
dorses this idea seems to think thai
he is bene6ting the sugar pro
ducers by suggesting new use for
their product. but we are afrait
our planters will be rather more
Mortified than delighted at the dis
covery that their expensive sugar
houses may be converted into NOR
tar factories.
The Philadelphia Times calls at
tention to the fact that the price o
refined sugar was never 30 cheap a
the refining centers. New York
Boston and Philadelphia, as to
day. It was 1905 cents per poun'
in 1877. GIT in 1879. go in 1882
S.3S in 1883. 5.97 in 1884. and Sc
in 1886. having fallen SO per cent
in ten years. There has been q de-
slime in all articles during that pc
riod, but none in any way equalini
the fall in sugar, which has wrough
such injury to the industry through
out the world.
The Times. however. holds til
encouraging opinion that bette
times are ahead. "As against til
largeness Of the prospective suppl
of both beet aud cane sugars"
says, "the increase in consumptio
of sugar is unquestionably goin
on at . steady pace. notwithstand
ing the period of general bushes
depression. labor troubles. etc
through which we have been pas
ing. And this increase in the Col
sumption Of sugar will NATURAL
grow much greater upon any r.
vival of business or improvement
in the general prosperity. signs
which ire certainly msnifestin
themselves"
The effect Of the financial and il
dustrial condition of . country
shown in it's consumption OF suga
Thus, since the present busine'
depression has prevailed in tb
? country. the amount of sugar col
: sumed per capita has fallen of tw
pounds. Great Britain leads Il
list in consumption with 60 pount
, per capita, the United States vii
1913. France with 30 pounds an
Germany with even less. Whe
these countr les shall have reacht