Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-08
WHIsKEY MADE FROM BEETS.
Process Employed at the Columbia Distil.
Iery, Omaha, Neb.

A special dispatch to the Chicago In
ter-Ocean referring to the experiment at
Omaha, Neb., having for It's object the
production Of pure spirits from the mo-
lasses OF beet-sugar, says:
The process by which the molasses may
be use1 for distilling purposes Is well
known In France. 1t Is only recently that
the attention OF the beet-sugar manu-
facturers In this country has been at
tracted to this additional demand Tor
their product. and the $500 gallons Oh
spirits that passed through the sui Oh
the Columbia Company was the first mat
has ever been manufactured from the
beet-sugar refuse on this continent
There are one or two distillerieS where
the moasses of the sugar cane IS con-
verted into rum, but outside OF Few
laboratory experiments this Is the hrst
practical test Of the utility of the sugar.
beet In this country.
The molasses used in the test was OBJ
tanned from the Oxnard factory at Grahd
Island, and the Columbia Is now using
carload day OF the product. The molasseS
I'm its raw state Is OF deep red color.
somewhat similar to the pure juice OF
the grape, and Is Of the consistency OF
ordinary syrup. When applied 10 'he
tongue a sweet taste Is first noticeaDie'
which Is Immediately followed by an
alkaline flavor that renders 1t uhdesirapie
for any culinary use. The secret OF tne
French system Is the conversion OF inc
alkaline salts by chemicai process
which transforms the molasses INTO d
sort OF glocose which Is perfectly adapted
for distillery uses.
The experiments at East Omaha are
under the personal supervision OF r.. r..
Rrvselbout, the superintendent OF the OK
nard factory, who was brought 10 this
country from France by the Oxnard Com
many. He has had several years expert
ence as a chemical engineer in the CONT
mental factories, and Is considered one Oh
the best beet-sugar experts In the coun-
try. Speaking OF the new industry, ne
said that the success of the experiment
would operate TO give decided boom 10
the beet-sugar industry In America anu
ought to cheaper the spirit producuoh,
since the method Is more economical
than the old style. The dstillers were
willing to pay a good price for the mo-
Iasses. which had heretofore been an abso-
Iute waste. because much better grade
of spirits could be made from II than
from either corn or rye. 1t was from this
refuse Of the great factories that all the
high-grade French spirits were produced
and the new process was boon 10 the
distillers as well as to the sugar manu-
facturers.
The initiatory steps in the manufacture
of the beet-sugar spirits were taken when
the first car Of the molasses was switched
upon the house track, and the contents
were drawn off into the immense vat In
which the alkali. which has been gathered
from the soil In which the beets have
y,atfra1fzal 'rn fha
lasses is added about 10 per cent. of malt
and yeast and a quantity Of the chemical
preparation which Is depended on TO con-
vert the salts. Ii Is left in the vat for
n short time until the alkali Is transferred,
when the process of fermentation begins,
and IL Is then pumped into one OF the
large fermenting watts where 1t lies for
not more than seventy-two hours. until
the process of fermentation is complete.
During the fermentation, quantity OF
carbonic-acid gas Is generated, so that
the greatest care Is necessary in working
over the watts. After the fermentation Is
complete. the watts are drawn of, and the
high spirits are carried through the re-
filming process. while the slop Is run OH
into the sewer. The refining process Is
simply charcoal filter. the spirits being
carried through watts Of pulveriZed char
coal until ali impurities are removed, and
the pure white product Is ready to go into
the cisteIn, from which 1t Is drawn oil
into barrels. stamped by the government
cauger and locked up in the bonded
warehouse.
That the new process Is of tremendous
Importance to the sugar manufacturers Is
obvious. Last year the product OF mo-
lasses from the factory at Grand island
was l77000 gallons. and II is now drawing
for the East Omaha demand from a
tank 60 feet In diameter. This vast pro-
duct would be total waste II 1t could
not be utilized by the distillers. and.
although the price paid for 1t by the
distilers is not quoted, 1t amounts to a
large item In the course OF the season.
This is so much clear gain for the manu-
facturers. and when the projected factory
is located In East omaha IL will be able
10 supply the Columbia direct. and thus
save the freight on one car day from
Grand Island.
The Columbia distilery is outside the
Whiskey Trust.