The Iola register., 1891-10-23
SORGHUM SUGAR.
Gratifying Success at Medicine Lodge
The Process Explained BY Prof
Svaua0n

Gratifying Success at Medicine Lodge
The Process Explained BY Prof
NJ swenson.
1t is now about two weeks since the
government experiment station began
operations and already most important
results have been obtained both in the
field and factory. The crop itself is one
of the most important features Of these
experiments and plainly indicates the
great possibilities of sorghum cane
when grown under intelligent direction
The experimental farm occupies
thirtv-nine acres divided into sixteen
plots OF two acres each. The rest of the
land is devoted to margins at ends and
sides and alleys between plots, each
plot being separated by ten foot alley.
The seed used for the planting OF
this cane was selected from only such
OF last years canes, grown at Sterling,
as showed by analysis the highest
sugar content and this together with
good cultivation has produced crop OF
astonishing richness, several varieties
giving a normal juice as rich in sugar
as sugar cane. But the most interest
ing part of the work is done at the fac
tory where the sugar is made and the
results of the analysis of the cane are
here verified in a most practical way.
The factory is complete in every par
ticular and of ample capacity so that all
results obtained are on a practical
scale. The plant and machinery was
built for the Department OF Agrlcul-
Al drx &
chine Works and consists Of the most
modern sugar machinery. The process
as far as the making OF the syrup Is the
same as Is used in the sorghum
sugar factories in this state, the cane
being cut, cleaned and reduced to
shreds before it enters the diffsuion
battery. The battery is circular in
form consisting of IL cells, each cell
having q capacity OF 325 pounds OF
cane. The juice goes from the battery
to the CHARTERS where much OF the
impure matter is removed. From
there it goes to the triple effect evap-
orators where the juice is concentrated
to syrup. At this stage begins the
new process developed by DR.. Wiley
and which will undoubtedly be the
salvation Of the sorghum sugar indus
try.
AS is we'll known the great enemy Of
the sorghum sugar maker is the large
quantity of gum contained in the sor-
ghum Juice which hinders the crystal
ization of the sugar. DR.. Wiley has
demonstrated, however, that If to a
gallon of syrup at 55 degrees Brix a
gallon OF 90 per cent alcohol is added
practically all the gums are precipita-
ted and by very simple process OF nj
tra.ion are entirely separated
from the sugar, the later being soluble
in weak alcohol, passing through the
cloths of the filter while the gums are
retained in the shape of hard cakes be-
tween the cloths. The alcohol is next
entirely recovered by distillation the
loss of alcohol being confined to the fl
ter press. The comparatively pure
syrup remaining is crystalized while
the alcohol can be used over and over
again. BY this process 160 lbs OF lst
sugar per ton OF cane has been obtained
and the crystalizaiion will probably
bring the yield up to 200 per ton, while
the total yield heretofore obtained at
the factories in this state has not ex-
ceeded an average of S5 lbs per ton al
though part of this great difference
in weld is undoubtedly due to the
A most important experiment was
begun by DR.. Wiley yesterday. which
has already progressed far enough to
indicate complete success. Several
barrels OF molasses with as much sugar
as possible by the old process, taken
out OF it, was obtained from the Medi-
cine Lodge sugar works and treated
with alcohol which produced an enor-
nous precipitate Of gums which were
easily separated by settling and filtra-
tion. This syrup thus freed from Its
gummy constituents, will undoubtedly
yield four pounds of sugar per gallon OF
molasses treated and the resulting
molasses will be even more valuable
owing to the fact that the unpleasant
acrid flavor impaired by the gums, has
been removed.
The Importance of this matter may
be better realized by the fact that the
combined molasses product of the Medi
cine Lodge and Fort Scott sugar factor
les, will reach 250, 900 gallons, worth
not to exceed SIC, 600, while this process
will enable them to get one million
pounds OF sugar in addition to their
ordinary output, which with the
bounty added together with the remain
ing molasses will be worth fully
$50 900 while the entire cost OF working
will certainly not exceed S10,0 900.
Enough can be saved at these two fac
tories this year to pay nearly double
the cost OF the entire experiment. But
even this but family expresses the real
value of the process, for. had it not been
successful, there is but little doubt that
this would have been the last year that
a sorgum sugar factory would have been
operated in this state and the continual
tion and undoubted success of this in
dustry can be set down as the latest
triumph OF the department presided
over by Secretary Rusk.
M. SwENSON.
Medicine Lodge, Kansas, October 9tn,
1891.
UNCOMMON.