Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-04
ABOUT SUGAR MAKING.
To the Editor OF the Eagle.


AS there is an effort made by the own
ers Of the patent covering the roasting
process, which has been tested in small
way this year, to introduce that system
for the extraction of the saccharine con-
tents of sorghum cane, one of their strong
est arguments in its favor is the cheap
ness of the plant as compared to the diff
fusion process. That is falacy, intend
ing to mislead those who wish to erect
sugar plants the coming year. In sup
port of this assertion l will compare the
diffusion machinery with what will be
required for plant in the roasting pro-
cess. All Of the machinery and appli-
ances used after the juice is extracted,
for officiating, clarifying. eyaporating,
granting and centrifugals for drying,
must necessarily be the same, with the
exception of small reduction in the
evaporating effects, owing to the smaller
volume of juice to reduce, which will be
twenty-five per cent less. Then the only
difference in cost. if any, is in the man
ner of extraction. The carrier to bring
the cane to the mill being the same in
both cases. In the diffusion process
there is the batteries or cells, Q2) twelve
in number. with their attachments and
the machinery for cutting and shred
ding the cane: the power required
to drive the cutting machinery, will
be the same as in the roasting
process, which process requires heavy
rolls and the machinery of the rooster.
Let us compare the price of each. In
diffusion, the twelve cells of 100 cubic
feet capacity which will handle 200 tons
of cane in one day Of twenty-four hours,
with their attachments, will cost SO, 900,
the cutting machinery complete $4,000.
In the use of the roasting process it will
require an extra heavy three roller mill,
which at the present time will cost S10,-
900, machinery for the rooster 81, 500, in
that sized plant, making but the small
difference of $500; even with this differ
ence in cost do not see but little in
favor of the roasting. for experience has
demonstrated that a three roller-mill
sugar content; and if we add supple
$4,000. Even with a supplemental mill
the extraction will not be as great as by
diffusion; it is fact. by diffusion we
ScL OI1 oh dScIdSo uluoty -CiSut pei CcuC
extraction. In the matter of fuel, the
rolls will leave the beggasse in condi-
ton to use as fuel, but while it is used as
such under the boiler there must be
separate fire for the rooster; the beggasse
will not furnish both, thus we will find
that to get an equal amount from the
cane; in the two processes, the cost of
the machinery will be less with diffusion
than by the roasting process.
1t is an easy matter to represent the
cost of any plant to be small sum if we
do not take into consideration the
amount of work that it will perform; for
instance want plant that will work
ten tons per day, it will cost $1,000, but
if want to work 200 tons in the same
time my machinery and appliances will
cost proportionally more, and who ever
is led into investing, thinking that any
process can be erected and worked to
profit without sufficient appliances, will
get badly left. There is no class of sugar
machinery but what calls for a liberal
outlay of money. l do not make these
statements as a reporter or one who does
not know anything about machinery,
but my experience of several years in the
sugar business gives me that knowledge
which is obtained by personally erecting
and operating the same.
S. G. SHIRLAND.
Ness City, Kan