Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-15
THE SUGAR QUESTION.

THE SUGAR QUESTION.
Prof Wiley. Chemist Of the Department o.
Agriculture. Talks-southern and West
ern Kansas Destined to Be
/ Land Of Sugar.
| Prof Harry W. Wiley, chemist for the
department of agriculture, has been in
Kansas for several days looking after the
sugar industry. He is another Indiana
man but made his debut in his present
position under President Arthur and was
not disturbed during the Cleveland adj
ministration. He is a very clever gentle
| man personally and for some years prior
| to his entering the government service had
charge of the chair Of chemistry In an In
diana college. after thorough course at
Harvard. His trip to Kansas Is for the
purpose Of visiting places where sorghum
| factories are being put in and also visit
the plants that have been in operation.
He is not only observing the success OF
the management and the system used but
looking after to the financial management
and backing and everything that has a
bearing on the prospects Of success. He
visited Attica and Medicine Lodge early
in the week and reports everything IN nice
condition. He said they were well along
in preparations and have good men in
charge. Each have 1000 acres in cane and
are going to plant 500 acres more. He said
they are arranging for series of culture
experiments, the object being to test the
varieties of cane that have shown them
selves of value and Of these experiments
LAs,, Il . 10, 1<%-ty
able.
Of thevarieties there are in all about
one hundred and fifty but one hundred
and twenty Of these are practically out OF
the race for favoritism. In answer to
question he said that there is nothing new
in processes. The diffusion process has
every promise of success and he reports,
has no rival as yet. The many variety of
ways in handling juice would be improved
from time TO time.
The leading problem in the sugar ques-
tion he states is in the line Of improving
the variety of cane so that it will contain
more sugar and less other matter and this
feature is commencing special attention
from the department eff agriculture.
THE PROSPECTS.
Concerning the future of the industry
he said it was most promising. When
asked what he meant by 'prom-
ising," he said he thought sugar
making would be commercial success.
With culture in the field and proper ma
nipulation in the factory, he said cane
could be made yield sixty to seventy
pounds per ton field cane, or eighty or
ninety pounds per ton. clear cane, making,
as he estimates, the most profitable crop
Kansas farm can raise. This, he figures,
will give each farmer fifteen to twenty
dollars per acre, and the actual labor
should call for about one-fourth that
amount.
Concerning the sugar district he said
it is not as yet definitely defined.
II is generally accepted now that south
and west Kansas and the Indian territory
is the best suited to the best varieties Of
cane He said Nebraska is set down in
the cold column as the season is not long
enough to permit of manufacture. Up
north, however, it was very good coun-
try for the sugar beet.
On the question of Wichita factory he
said. in the name of common sense do not
build it in the city,. He said often mis-
takes are made by locating factories in a
town or city, when in fact
they should be in the center of
the cane fields. AS a reason
for this he recalled that cane should be
handled at the factory within twenty-four
hours after it is cut, and hence the argu-
ment for an out of town industry.
According to the professor the depart
ment this year is going to make thor
ough trial of working up exhausted chips
for paper pulp and also test the scheme
for drying them for fuel. The test would
be made somewhere in Kansas the point as
yet not being selected. The location ques-
ton would be settled soon and if the ex-
pertinent is successful all factories can
profit by it next year.
Prof. Wiley returned last evening from
Conway Springs where he had spent the
day inspecting the sugar making plant
there. He spoke very favorably of the
progress made there. Some good sugar
and large quantity of it, too, was made
there last year The 100000 pounds thus
turned out paid the expenses of the plant
and lead them TO enlarge the capacity.
The professor thinks that this fall they
will be able to manufacture from three to
four hundred thousand pounds of sugar.
The manufactured. article Is as good as
any unrefned sugar made anywhere. IL
could have been sold anywhere and in al
most any quantity; for it has a bright,
lively appearance and fine flavor that is
not found in refined sugar and of which
people are very fond. II think" said the
professor, that there will be two million
pounds of sugar made in this state"
The professor left for Sterling last even |
ing to visit the plant there and will also
go out to Ness City. After a few more
days in the state will return to Washing
ton, calling again about September.