Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-08-28
CUBAN SucAR.MAKsRs.
Process Through which They Put tho Cane
In Order to Extract Its Sweetness.

| pdSseu III NltlCH l;tSL WIS 10 ille ~ uONcl
and would be to anyone an interesting
experience.
This plantation is located on the Viii
lannesa railroad nearly 100 miles from
Havana. and is known rs Las Canes
Gin English The Canes''). 1t Is situ-
ated in fine, level country rs nice in
appearance as any western prairie,
with rich, red oxide-of-iron soil.
Astounding in canc-ields far and wide
as extensive rs Illinois corn-fieldS
and much resembling them in appear
ance.
Las Canes is an old plantation, where
thousand slaves used to be owned and
worked. The plantation consists OF
several thousand acres. and now be.
longs to heirs OF tho late Don Juan
POey. who died some years ago. Its
administrator (manager) is Gabriel
Menocal, a brother of the well-known
civil engineer, Mcuocal. who is now
directing the construction of the Mic
aragua ship canal in Central America.
Both of these gentlemen are native Gu.
bans. The engineer, however, has long
resided in Washington.
Administrator Mcnocal, | was in
formed, was considered very able ag-
riculturist and skillful manager of sug-
ar plantations. He was induced TO
leave a plantation of his own, in south
ern Mexico, few years ago, to take
charge of this one. At present nearly
1000 hands arc employed during the
| grinding season and about two-thrds
as many during the balance of the
year This help is composed of ne
| groes, Chinese, and Cubans and con-
stitutcs quite Il hamlet. The great
main factory covers several acres with
| its principal and auxiliary buildings.
Then the proprietors have a fine large
house and the administrators another.
| There are also general store. and a
doctors office, besides many lesser
buildings for subordinates and help.
In connection with the propretor's
and administrators houses is a botani-
cal and vegetable garden, in which
great variety of choice and rare tropi-
cal trees and fruits are found, many of
| them kinds unknown in the states-as
they term our country-for the reason
that they will not bear transportation.
Many of the varieties are richer and
finer than any fruits we ever see in
our own markets. Bananas. cocoa
nuts, and oranges abound, among the
rest and the latter were thInner-skin-
ned and sweeter by far than we find in
our markets.
The cane fields arc reached by steam
cars. the plantation having many miles
OF iron rails, stationary and portable,
and two locomotives. The loaded cars
run up along the side of long travel
ing apron that leads to the rollers of
the crusher or mill, which is n ponder
Gus piece of machinery; the rollers
three in number being eight feet long
and over three feet in diameter, and
propelled by a steam engine of several
hundred horse power. They take the
cane in deep layers and crush it flat,
causing a stream of juice to flow from
the mill like small river. The crush.
ed cane then travels upon aprons, with
out any stop. to another set of rollers,
where it is again crushed aud leaves
the mill almost dry. 1t is then dumped
into carts and taken to field near by
and spread upon the ground in thin
layers to dry for day or so. when it is
recarted to the furnaces, where it makes
the fuel for the steam power to run the
great works, proving amply sufficient
for the purpose.
Such is the history of the cane in lite
journey from the field TO the furnace.
The sweet juice has an equal but differ.
ent journey. From the crusher it is
conducted through pipes to the defecat.
ing pans in long array upon the foo,
above, where, at different degrees OF
heat below the boiling point, it is treat
ed with quicklime aud other chemicals
This causes all of the impurities to rise
in scum; this is carefully removed, af-
ter which the sirup goes 10 the evapor-
ating pans, the final ones being known
vacuum pans. where the sirup can
be boiled at lower temperature than
in the open air because the air pres
sure is removed. These vacuum pans
were large enough to contain some
81, 900 worth of sugar, and they were
turning ont three such patches in each
twenty-four hours, the concern being
run night and day, including Sundays,
after the grinding season commences.
This continues from the last of Janu-
airy till the middle of April, the help
working six hours and laying off six
hours. Great is the hurry and hard
the work during the grinding season.
The help are negroes, Cinnamon, and
some Cuhans, and all appear to give
close attention to their work, but with.
out apparent driving or buster.
The hot strip of the vacuum pans,
when found to be at just the right point
by skilled sugar tester, is drawn into
iron receivers, where it cools and crys-
tallizes into dark-colored mass of
coarse sugar and molasscs. After par
TALLY cooling in these reccptacles it is
dumped into hopper and taken to the
centrifugals, which, by their rapid 70.
tary motion upon vertical spindles,
throw out nearly all OF the molasses
and leaves the sugar dry, light,
golden-brown yellow color ready to
go into the bags in which it is stored
and shipped-about 335 pounds in a
bag.
About one-third of the product re.
mains molasses, which. of course, is
stored in casks.
The foregoing process, thus briefly
stated, appears quite simple, as in fact
it is: but the works are mighty in mag.
nitude; machinery, pipes, tanks and
pans, and the plant involves big out
lay of skill and money. Land. build.
ings,. and machinery are valued at
nearly or quite $1,000, 600. The ma.
| chinery in use at Las Canes was con-
structed for the khedive OF Egypt, but
for some reason the trade failed. and it
was purchased for this estate by Mr..
Poey.
Oxen are much used on the planta.
ton for carting and $50 yokes are en-
ployed; also some fifty horses and mules.
From 500 to SIS per month wages, in
gold. is paid to the help,
1t takes about ten hours after the
cane goes through the mill for the fin
ished sugar to 90 into the bags and
warehouse. 1t was an interesting and
suggestive sight 10 see the naked China.
men, with only narrow girdcs about
their lons, standing in the sugar while
shoveling it into the centrifugals.
Barefoot and perspiring from head to
foot on account OF the heat arising
from the partially cooled sugar, 1t oc.
Cured to the writer that they were lit
orally earning their bread by the sweat