The Delta independent., 1889-03-12
Sorghum Sugar in Kansas.

Inv ioiioW'nS TAKEN rom the Gf0Csrs
Criterion we republish merely to show that
the work of making sugar from cane is be
coming quite an industry.
There is o good deal of Yankee enterpri Sc il
thu State of Kansas, and men are experiment
ing in the processes ofmakng sorghum sugar
VINO VIII undoubtedly persist in their under
taking until they make great success of it.
-Four factories are now running which are
turning out thousands of pounds of sugar of
excellent quality every day. The State gives
a bounty of two cents pound to manufacture.
ers, which is sgiying the industry quite boom.
The yield Of sugar is said to be from 80 to 100
pounds per ton ofcane, and it is thought that
Inventions will soon be perfected which will
enable the manufacturers to do much better.
The grade of sugar is better than ever before
produced. 1t has a firm grain, does not be-
come hard in the barrel and sells readily at
six to seven cents pound on board the oars
Mt the factory. Of course it is too early yet in
the season to tell the exact results this year.
Professor Swenson, now Secretary and Chem
ist of the Fort Scott Works, has just sent out
q circular in which he states that 'this sea-
sons work has been quite profitable, both to
the company and the farmers. The yield per
acre has varied from to IS tons, and we have
already contracted for our next years crop.
We have had about 1000 acres more cane Of
feied than we can take at these works, and ar
rangements are already being perfected for the
erection of another factory south of this city.
The complete success ofthis in lustry has been
demonstrated, and we will soon show our
faith by the building Of Il number of new
factories throughout the State" Mr.. E. w.
Demng. who is at present manager and secret
ary of the Conway Springs Sugar Co., writes:
SIN reply to the inquiry as to how We are
succeeding in making sugar from sorghum,
would say that while the yield is perhaps
trif1e less than we anticipated the csnse is
known and can be removed, being mainly the
presence of an excess of gypsum in the water
used in diffusion. The defects in the operation
of the factory that reduces our capacity from
l50 to 100 tons per day, lie in the cutters that
lack capacity and strength. Diffusers, clari
iers anil vacuum pans are giving entire
satisfaction. The cane is exceedingly rich in
sugar and remarkably low in glucose. which
determines the main and most important ques.
tion that cane can be grown with a sugar con-
tent nearly equal to the Louisiana sugar cane,
the process of manufacture being simplicity
itsslf, using some lime to neutralize the acid,
and then removing the water by the use of
vacuum pans. The grade ofsugar is Superior
to any sorghum placed on the market. show.
ing purity of nearly 9s. Four factories are
now turning out sugar by the thousands of
pounds daily. Topeka, Fort Scott, Douglass
and this plant. Weare now using DR.. Wiley's
process. this being the most valuable addition
to the system of clarifying diffusion sorghum
juice yet made, consisting of busting finely
air-slncked lime upon the chips as they enter
the cell. The yield of cano is from nine to
fifteen tons per acre, for which we pay $500
per ton, taking seed and all, as it grows.
The farmers take paid up stock in the mill to
the extent of one share tsl0O) for each fifteen
seed and control the planting, cultivation and
delivery. The farmers fifty in number are
all we'll satisfied and eager to plant next sea.
son. We could as well secure 10000 acres
delivered here at $500 per ton, as 900 acres,
the utmost capacity Of this factory. In no
section. to my knowledge, has sorghum failed
tO make full crop this season, while in many
sections the dry season, cut all other crops
short. 1t is the general belief that the ex-
perimental stage of this work has passed, and
In the future sugar works will multiply as
fast a. experienced men can be secured to erect
and operate them. Sugar works caI, be greatly
simplified aud cheapened over those operated
last season and this. Senator Plumb is credit
ed with the statement that he believes that
within ten years Kansas will produce more
sugar than Louisiana. Ifthis be true it means
the establishment of q vast and important
industry in this section; one that will revo.
lutionize eagriculture ofsouthw western Kan.
sas if it does not prove its salvation. There
are large sections OF this State, 1 am sorry to
say, upon which sorghum will in dry season
produce full crop, yet tenants cannot be
found who will keep up the improvements
and pay taxes for their use. The Department
of Agriculture has two chemists located here"
Tho CRITERION has always had faith that
success would ultimately crown the efforts
Tint were being made in Kansas to develop the
sorghum sugar industry. The only doubts we
have ever expressed have been as to whether
or not it would be produced cheaply enough
10 compete in the market with cane sugar.
samples have been sent to us which we uli.
hesitatingly pronounce to be equal if not
superior To the best cane sugar. The soil and
climate of Kansas are peculiarly adapted to
the successful growing of sorghum cane and
the hand can be made to produce II in enor.
NOUS quantities. Ifthe quality Of the cane is
rich enough in .accharine properties and i'm
proved methods and process of manufacture
can be invented to increase the amount of
sugar produced a few pounds more per ton of
cane. the manufacture of sorghum sugar can
be made profitable, and if it can be made pro.
htable it will be splendid thing for the State
ofKansas. twill open new field of occupa- :
tion for the farmers and may ultimately result
In the production of sufficient at home to at
least supply the entire domestic demand for
that Indispensable article. We want to have
the experimenters succeed. the whole world
iswaiting for the result Of this season 'swork.
The weather has been favorable, frosts have
been long deferred, the cane il OF excellent
quality and circumstances seem in every way
THUS far to have favored the experim enters"
Now, Delta County can raise as t,ood IL not