The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-07-30
CUBAN sUcAR-MAKERs.
Process Through which They Put the Cane
in Order to Extract Its Sweetness.


A day on one of the large sugar plan
tations on the Island of Cuba such as |
passed in March last was to me Il novel
and would be to anyone an interesting
experience.
This plantation is located on the Vii
lannesa railroad nearly 100 miles from
Havana, and is known rs Las Canes
Gn English THE Canes'). 1t is situ-
ated in u fine, level country as nice in
appearance as any western prairie,
with rich, red oXide-of-irOn soil,
abounding in cane-fields far and wide
rs extensive as Illinois corn-fields
and much resembling them in appear
ance.
Las Canes is an old plantation, where
Il thousand slaves used to be owned and
worked. The plantation consists OF
several thousand acres, and now be-
longs to heirs of the late Don Juan
Poey. who died some years ago. Its
administrator (manager) is Gabriel
Menocal, brother of the well-known
civil engineer, Menocal, 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 Menocal, I was in
formed, was considered very able ag-
riculturist and skillful manager of su0-
ar plantations. He was induced to
leave plantation of his own, in south
ern Mexico, a few years ago, to take
charge of this one. At present nearly
1000 hands are employed during the
grinding season and about two-thirds
as many during the balance of the
year. This help is composed of ne
groes, Chinese, and Cubans and con-
stitutes quite hamlet. The great
main factory covers several acres with
its principal and auxiliary buildings.
Then the proprietors have a fine large
house and the administrator another.
There are also u general store. and q
doctors Office, besides many lesser
buildings for subordinates and help.
In connection with the proprietor's
and administrator houses is a botani-
cal and vegetable garden, in which a
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
our own markets. Bananas, cocoa
nuts, and oranges abound, among the
rest. and the latter were th1nner-sl1in-
ned and sweeter by far than we find in
! our markets.
! The cane fields are reached by steam
! cars, the plantation having many miles
of iron rails, stationary and portable,
! and two locomotives. The loaded cars
| oil - Il IF o1
! inc apron that leads to the rollers of
| the crusher or mill, which is a ponder
| Gus piece OF machinery; the rollers,
three in number being eight feet long
| and over three feet in diameter, and
propelled by steam engine of several
| hundred horse power. They take the
cane in deep layers and crush it flat,
! causing 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 and leaves
the mill almost dry. It 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 its
! 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 a long array upon the floor
above, where, at different degrees of
heat below the boiling point, it is treat
ed with quicklime and other chemicals.
This causes all of the impurities to rise
in scum; this is carefully removed, af-
ter which the sirup goes to the eyap0r-
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
g, 900 worth Of sugar, and they were
| turning out 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-
ary 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.
|
some Cubans, and all appear to give
close attention to their work, but with
cut apparent driving or buster.
The hot sirup 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 molasses. After par
TALLY cooling in these receptacles it is
dumped into hopper and taken to the
centriSugals, which, by their rapid TO-
tary motion upon vertical spindles,
throw out nearly all of the molasses
and leaves the sugar a dry, light,
golden-brown yellow color, ready to
20 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, rs in fact
it is; but the works are mighty in mag
nitude; machinery, pipes, tanks and
pans, and the plant involves Il 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 khediye 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 $40 to $25 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 go into the bags and
warehouse. 1t was an interesting and
suggestive sight to see the naked China.
men, with only narrow girdles about
their loins, standing in the sugar while
shoyeling it into the centrifugals.