Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-21
THE SUGAR QUESTION SETTLED.

From the Kansas Farmer.
Prof. E. B. Cowgirl. state sugar inspec-
tor. has completed his tour of inspection
among the sugar factories. and from
what we learn of his experience and OBJ
servation, we are satisfied that his report
will be the most interesting which has
ever appeared on this sucject for it will
make clear two propositions. First that
the manufacture of sugar from Kansas
sorghum is practical financial success,
and second that this depends in no way
on any patented machine or process,
Notwithstanding the fact that sugar 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 in each of the years
mentioned the work was more or less
experimental. But this year the Fort
Scott works were conducted without any
government supervision or .outside pro-
fessional assistance or interference, and
the sugar product at these works this
year will amount to about 1,500 barrels
of 800 pounds each, 450, 900 pounds. The
machinery had one years use, defects
had been remedied and such changes
made as experience had shown to be
needed. The process of extracting the
juice-diffusion, 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 i'm
portant parts We're geared too slow; but
with all the delays and defects, when
Prof. Cowgirl was here nearly two weeks
ago, he inspected 1872 barrels averaging
over 800 pounds each, and it tested 90
per cent pure sugar. The Topeka works
will undergo such changes as are neces-
sary to do the fastest 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
perfected as nearly as possible. But the
great thing is the demonstrated fact that
sugar making in Kansas is a financial
success.
The works at Conway Spring in Sum-
ner county, and Douglas in Butler coun-
ty were constructed this year: every
thing was new, and the different parts
not well adjusted. This necessarily in
terfered a good deal with the work.
There will be no money made at either
of these places this year. but the essen
tial fact of sugar making was demon
strated there as at other places, and
what was learned from defective and i'll
adjusted machinery will serge to help
the people there and elsewhere in the
selection and arrangement of machinery
in the future. The work done, though
not this year remunerative, is so salts
factory that the proprietors look for
ward to final success without any mis-
givings.
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 relieves
the people of all embarrassment on &C
count of patent rights. Farmers can or
gaDize and build factories whenever they
desire to do so and will have no impedi-
ments of this kind in the way. The ma
chinery already in use at the factories
named can be examined before work is
begun SO that no mistakes need be made
in plans. Prof. Cowgilfs report will |
show all these things in detail, repre-
senting machinery by figures and giving |
the process of manufacture so that any |
person may study the whole art for him.
self