Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-11-28
THE SUGAR QUESTION


gill, state sugar inspector, has COM
pleted his tour of inspection among the
sugar factories, and from what we learn
of his experience and observations, we
are satisfied that his report will be the
most interesting which has ever APP
peared on this subject for it will make
clear two propositions. First, that the
manufacture of sugar from Kansas sor-
ghum is practical financial success;
and, second, that this depends in no
way on any patented machine or pro-
cess, Notwithstanding the fact that SUI
gar was made by the new process three
years ago at Ottawa, and again two
years ago and one year ago at Fort
Scott, still at each of these places and
i'll each of the years mentioned, the
work was more or less experimental
But this year the Fort Scott works
were conducted without any govern
ment supervision or outside profession
al assistance or interference, and the
sugar product at these works this
year will amount to about l.500
barrels of 800 pounds each. 45O, 600
pounds. The machinery had one year s
use, defects had been remedied and
such changes Dlade as experience has
shown to be needed. The process of
extracting the juice-oitfusion, was a
perfect success from the beginning.
''At Topeka the machinery was all
new, it was not all in place until some
weeks after the sugar season had begun
some of it requiring adjustment and
some important parts were geared too
slow; but with all the delays and de-
fects, when Prof. Cowgirl was here near
ly two weeks ago. he inspected 492 bar
rels averaging over 800 pounds each.
and it tested 90 per cent pure sugar
The Topeka works Will undergo such
changes as are necessary to do the fast
est and best work; that is to say. the
machinery will be adjusted properly
during the winter and spring, so that
next season everything will be perfect
ed as nearly as possible. But the great
thing is the demonstrated fact that SUI
gar making in Kansas is a financial sue
cess.
The works at Conway Springs in
Sumner county, and Douglass in But
Ter county were constructed this year:
everything was new, and the different
parts not we'll adjusted. This necessa-
rily interfered good deal with the
work. There will be no money made at
either of these places this year, but the
essential fact of sugar making was
demonstrated there as at other places,
and what was learned from defective
and III adjusted machinery will serve
to help the people there and else
where in the selection and arrangement
of machinery in the future. The
work done, though not remunerative,
is so satisfactory that the prOprietors
look forward to final success without
any misgivings.
There was no patent process on ma
chinery used at any of the works herein
named, so far as we know. If there
was it was at Fort Scott only. That re-
lieves the people of all embarrassment
on account of patent rights. Farmers
can organize and build factories when
ever they desire to do so and will have
no impediments of this kind in the way.
The machinery already IN use at the
factories named can be examined be.
fore work is begun so that no mistakes
need be made in plans. Prof. Cowgilrs
report will show all these things in de-
tail, representing machinery by figures
and giving the process of Manufacture
so that any person may study the whole
art for HIMSELF"