Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-11-16
SORGHUM SUGAR.
The State Sugar Inspector on the
Kansas Sugar Industry, and
WichIta's Relation
Thereto

LAGIGBO-
Prof E. B. Cowgirl, state sugar In
spector, spent a few hours in Wichita
yesterday on his return from Conway
Springs, where he had just inspected
about $4,000 pounds Of sugar, which
graded 98 per cent pure. Mr. Cow
gill says the Conway Springs factory
is making a success in spite of several
adverse circumstances, including a
late start, limited capital and some
unforeseen difficulties.
The work at Conway Springs set
ties several points heretofore consid-
cred uncertain. One Of these is the
fact that this section produces cane
of uniform and unprecedented rich
ness in sacchrine matter and deter
mines south central Kansas as the.
home of the new and rapidly devel-
Oping sugar industry. According to
the tests Of the government chemists,
who, thanks to the efforts Of Senator
Plumb, have spent the season at Con
way Springs, the juice Of the canes
worked in the month Of October con
tanned an average 1878 per cent of
sugar, or each ton Of topped and
cleaned cane contained about 235
pounds of sugar The actual yield
obtained is about 100 pounds of sugar
and over twenty gallons Of molasses.
The Conway Springs company have
about 100 acres of cane to work yet
and the prospect is that they will
work it. Their factory has already
run nearly a week after all others
have shut down, and viii run for a
week or two yet It is safe to say
that counting the two weeks which
our season opens earlier than at To-
peka, and the two weeks later occur
renee Of freezing weather, this section
has an advantage Of at least a month
in the length of the working season.
Perhaps the most important matter
settled by the Conway Springs sue
cess is the fact that the sugar indus
try Is not dependent upon occult, Sc
cret or patented processes. Every
thing is as open as day at Conway.
Only two Of the men ever worked in
a sugar factory before. OF course
much credit is due to these men, viz. {:
superintendent Z. w. Demming and
Sugar-boiler Merit Kimbau, for their
energy and persistence in surnount-
ing obstacles and making a success
which the eyes of the state are watch
ing with eager interest
Replying to questions of market
for this sugar Prof. Cowgirl stated
that there is no difficulty in disposing
OF the product of this season at re-
muneratiye prices, but as the industry
developes into larger proportions it
becomes necessary to refine most Of
the sugar, because our people are too
fastidious to use anything but pure
white sugar except in limited quaint
ties, while our demand for refined
sugars is practically unlimited The
rehners of the United States, import
annually about one hundred million
dollars worth of foreign sugars, on
which the duty is over fifty million
dollars, or our domestic demand foI
sugar exceeds the home supply by
about S150,OO0,OOO every year. Yes, d
refinery in Kansas Is a necessity OF
the immediate future. 1t need moi
be a large one at first, and can doubt
less best be connected with a sugar
factory, much Of the machinery used
in the refinery being identical with
that used in the factory. Such a
factory and refinery established i'm
mediately at Wichita Swiu determine
this as the sugar center, the New
Orleans Of the west.
Professor Cowgirl is preparing a
iull report of the sugar industry, IN
which machinery and methods viii
be fully considered and illustrated
with a view to. preventing the costly
mistakes which have been made by
lack of such Information as this re-
port VIII contain. 1t viii appear in
the biennial report OF the state board
of agricultural