Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-10-21
THE SUGAR BEET INDUSTRY.

a NEW EN- EhT hloE L OIa SIAUNION-
PLoYMENT FOR THE woRKMEN AND A
HOME MARKET FOR THE FARMERS.
The establishment of the Beet Sugar
Factory in Staunton is not only an assur
ed fact but the machinery of Mr.. o. K
Lapham's plant is all on the ground at his
factory and is well nigh up and ready tt
turn out sugar. Several weeks ago the ma
chinerY arrived from France and Germany
and by the middle of November MI. Lap
ham tells the VINDICAToR man he expects
to be turning out to market clearified AND
refined beet sugar. Your reporter
learned with nota little surprise that prob
ably so per cent. of the sugar used in the
United States was made from Deets, while
about three-fift of the worlds consump
tion of sugar was derived from the same
source.
MI. Lapham thought it best to get his
machinery for the sugar plant from
France and Germany, us these two coun.
tries being the greatest producers OF beet
sugar have most nearly perfected the ma
chinery pertinent to the business. The
United States by Il special act passed some
three years ago admits such machinery duty
free, at the same time Substituting the in
FAINT beet sugar industry in the United
of sugar produced.
There is probably no vegetable so abound
ing in sacharine matter as the beet and
with this well equipped plant supplied with
sufficiency OF beets, there is every reason
to believe the new Staunton enterprise vii
prove both paying and a permanent plant
A vast array of machinery is necessary fol
the economical management Of the bust
ness, but withal, the process explained by
MI. Lapham is quite simple. The beets
having been first deprived Of all that part
growing above ground and the tap root,
and being thoroughly mashed by a battery
of knives is reduced to jackstraw mass
of long slivers, these slivers with modi.
cum of water are placed in battery OF
watts, the first watts in the series containing
cold water only on the slivers. These watts
have circulating connections, and as the
drained liquors flow from vat to vat the Ii.
quor is increased in strength of sacharine
solution, and towards the close of the Sc
ries of watts moderate degree Of heat is
added to milk the beets of the last drop OF
sugary matter. This mother liquor is then
subjected to the combined action Of car
bonic acid gas and lime to clearly the Ii.
quor and to precipitate impurities. Mr..
Lapham has just completed most unique
combination carbolic acid gas generator
and lime kiln, which furnishes these ingre
dents Of the beet sugar process. His kiln
will consume Car load day each, of lime
stone and coal. The purified sugar liquor
is then conducted to a battery of rapidly
revolving sugar pans which separates thu
formnlative first sugar crystals from thu
slower crystalizing residuum. This resi-
dunn is then subjected to heat and evapora
ton to further aid the deposit of sugar
crystals.
MI. Lapham expects to soon turn out
the refined product ready for table use
and will make this season about $500 bar
relS.
There is but one bar to the success of this
enterprise. The plant is about ready tt
begin operation. If the farmers of thif
section will put down an acreage sufficient
Of beets, they will secure for themselves 8
good personal and will aid the
community in sustaining an enterprise that
will give employment to many men and
will add to the mercantile prowess of the
city and county.