The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-11-03
wATSONVILLE BEET SUGAR FACTORY.

jacksonville to-day is one of the busiest
towns in the State The old-time
activity is again manifest in that burg,
while the smiling faces of its citizens
are indicative OF the prosperity they are
experiencing as the successful results of
their efforts in securing for their town
one of the greatest manufacturing indus
tries IN the world, viz: the beet sugar
factory.
This factory is not yet in full opera
ton, nor will it be for some days to
come, owing to various causes that will
in due time be regulated. However,
work was commenced Monday and will
be continued night and day until the
beet crop of '8S Is exhausted. a force of
100 men is employed during the day,
and at o'clock p. m. this force Is re-
lieved by the same number of men, who
continue work until O'Clock a. 10. the
next day. Owing to the scarcity OF
water, and failure of some of the ma
chinery to work in proper form, but lit
tie Roadway was made during the first
day and night, but on Tuesday the ma
Chinery worked more regular, and it will
not be long before the entire factory will
run up to the desired pitch. In the
meantime on an average of $50 wagon
loads of beets from the Salinas valley
IL QuulDGO IulO Tie Oils. nus IdT II Is
estimated that an average of 400 tons of
beets have daily been hauled to the fac
tory and placed into the three large bins,
which are at present about three-fourths
full, representing many thousand tons,
and at least five times as many thousand
dollars that will eventually fill the farm =
ers' pockets. Some OF the beets that
have been tested as to their quality,
represent % per cent OF saccharine mat
ter, for which the producer will receive
$13 per ton. In some cases (thOugh they
are very rare) the amount of saccharine
matter runs as low as eleven per cent.
On many of the farms the production OF
beets will be thirty tons to the acre,
while number of farms will yield as
low as three tons per acre. Consider
ing that this was an experimental crop,
the farmers of the Pajaro did exceed
ingly well and are to be congratulated on
their success.
To justly describe the modus operaEdi
of manufacturing beet sugar would re-
quire more space than can at present be
devoted to the subject. Suffice it to say
that the beets are conveyed from the
bins to the grinder through the medium
of flowing water and elevators. From
thence they are forwarded by means
of the elevator and belts to a pow
erful press, the juice of the beet flowing
to the mixer and purifier, while the
pressed shreds of the beets are conveyed
to the cars and shipped as feed for cattle
to the ranches of Miller & Lux and others
who may purchase the same. The juice
OF the beet, after being mixed with lime,
carbolic acid, etc, flows to the condenser
or boiler and thence to the cooler, from
whence the sugar is taken, placed i'll
sacks and sent to the refinery at San
Francisco.
Everything about the factory is clean
and commodious. Within it's walls are
three mammoth engines, five steam
pumps, two grinders and presses, many
tanks, boilers, etc. An engine for run
ming the electric lights is also operated
by P. l.. Ennor, formerly of Santa Cruz.
Forty-fve Brush Swan incandescent
lamps are used in lighting up the prem
ises. Petroleum IS used as fuel for pre-
pairing steam, six gallons of the crude
oil per hour being consumed in each of
the ten furnaces. New and safe burners,
recently invented by Adam Herber, are
used in the furnaces, and Mr.. Herber is
present and personally instr ucts the fire.
men in the use of the burners.
1t must be mentioned that the lime
consumed in the manufacture of sugar is
burnt in two kiIns on the premises, and
turns out 100 barrels of lime per day to
the kiln, only one of which is at present
being operated.-Santa Cruz Sentinel,
Oct. 18th.