The Hawaiian gazette., 1891-08-18
EVA PLANTATION.
The New MiII-Machinery Nearly
All of Honolulu Manufac-
Work Rapidly
Pushed.

A trip to Eva plantation at this time
is full of interest to almost any one.
While the manufacture of sugar is alto
| gether out of the line OF the GAZETTE
representative, yet the few hours passed
Friday at the mill now in the course Of
construction at Eva were we'll spent
from an information point of view.
A great deal OF the machinery 10 be
used in this mill is comparatively new
in plan. Mr.. J. n S. Williams, Presi-
dent OF the Union Iron Works, has been
the originator OF some of it, or rather the
importer OF the plans of construction,
having, while in Australia in 1887, seen
some new machinery in operation there.
The process of cutting or slicing
the cane is in use In these Islands
only at Hamakuapoko, Waihee and
Hanalei, the three mills having
six slicers. TIE Eva plantation is
the next TO introduce them. having
two made at the Union Iron Works
where all the machinery for this planta-
ton is being made. with the exception
OF the three evaporators that were
brought from Kansas.
These slicers have an outside frame,
something the shape Of cow-cathes on
locomotive, in which revolves
cylinder containing 4 number of knives.
The cane is run from the carriers on the
outside OF the mill into the slicer from
the top, and is cut into diagonal slices
OF about six inches in length. The
knives are so fixed as to be removed
and sharpened to an edge sufficient to
keep from crushing the cane. The
cylinder performs on an average pres
sure of cutting about 125 revolutions to
the minute, but is capable of doubling
the number of revolutions il necessary.
The drum or cylinder is four feet long
and forty-four inches in diameter, and is
capable OF cutting from ten TO fifteen
tons each per hour.
From below the slicers the cane is car
ried aloit, and along a double row of cyl
inders or batteries, fourteen in each row.
The batteries are all one size, eighteen
feet long by fifty-four inches in diameter.
They are connected by pipes for the pas
sage OF water, going in the first at the
slicers and passing through each one to
the last or fourteenth On the inside of
these cylinders are two small perforated
pipes for the passage of steam to heat the
sliced cane, which also aids somewhat
in packing it, before the water is turned
on.
While the batteries are being filed,
lime water is put in to an extent sutfi-
cient for clarifying purposes. The clari-
flying is also aided by the canes refusing
to allow any foreign substance to pass
through. After the batteries are filled
and closed, the stream of water is turned
on, having been heated by passing
through large pipes lined with small
copper tubes filled with steam. The
water fills in from below in each OF the
first cylinders, passing through each OF
the following ones. Twelve charges of
water are sent through, by which time
all the syrup is extracted. From the
cylinders, or batteries, the water con-
tanning the syrup is drawn into two
large measuring tanks, thence to three
P<hh'' VI UPAO
effect, where the product from the cane,
by the diffusion of it, is concentrated
into thick juice. These pans are enor-
nous in size, having a capacity OF evap-
Grating at one time about 165 900 pounds
of water from the mixture.
After the Juice has been evaporated to
the desired amount, it is run into two
large vacuum pans, one nine feet in dia-
meter, the other eleven feet, the largest
diameter of any pan made in these isl
ands. The two vessels have respec-
tive capacity of ten and twenty tons.
There are sixteen centrifugals OF thirty
inches diameter.
The mill is to have six boilers, four,
which are already filled in by masonry,
are to use cane trash for fuel; two, now
in the course of being put in place, are
for coal. The trash, as it comes from
the cylinders after diffusion, is crushed
between heavy rollers, in order to make
it fit for full.
The building when finished will be
one OF the largest, If not the largest of
any single milo the Islands. Its ma
chinery the most perfect. The store
rooms are large. although ira will be
put down SO that the sugar can be taken
away every day.
The work is being rapidly pushed to
completion, Mr. Williams generally
supervising it, assisted by Mr.. L.
Hughes, chief draughtsman of the
Union Iron Works and MIR. E. Hopke,
superintendent engineer for the planta-
ton. The mill is expected to be finished
by October LIST.
The general view from the mill is a
splendid one. Honolulu can be seen
from an upper window, while the eye
can take in nearly all parts of the plant
alton. The laboratory is to be back OF
the batteries, and from the windows of
it the finest view can be seen. Diamond
Head looms up in the distance as plainly
as the mountains nearer. The location,
taken from all points, appears to have
been especially adapted for the site of
mill.
The general appearance of the cane is
quite promising, and even if this years |
crop will be small to what is expected to |
be gathered in after years, a good output |
will be the result