The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-07-11
ACID FOR SUGAR MAKING.
Gases and Water Combined Form,
Sacchal.ine,
Ihe Great Possibility of the Future,

Saccharine,
1he Great Possibility of the Future.
very novel method of making
sugar has been patented in France by
M. Pellegrini. Sugar is, chemically.
compound of carbon, oxygen and
hyurogen, In such proportions that If
carDOnlc acid, water and certain kinds
ol Illuminating gas could be persuad-
ca 10 unite, IN the proper quantities,
tle composition of sugar would be eX-
actly initiated. Hitherto no one has
Deen able to make sugar by mixing
water with two kinds Of gas, but M.
Pellegrini claims to have succeeded.
The apparatus he uses consists of a
large block of pumice stone, cleaned
Dy soaking. first in sulphuric acid and
then In water, which is set in an iron
Dox, plated with nickel inside. The
length OF the box is three times that
OF the pumice stone, cleaned by soak
ing, first in sulphuric acid and then in
water, which is set in an iron box.
plated with nickle inside. The length
OF the box is three times that of the
pumice stone block, which is tightly
fitted into the middle. and pipes are
arranged to convey the ingredients to
the empty ends of the box as required.
Two OF them enter from the sides, and
serve to bring carbonic acid and hydro
carbon gas, while another pipe from
above, Dranched so as to reach both
empty portions of the box, conveys
steam. All the pipes are fitted with
valves and pressure gauges. Another
pipe, at the bottom of the box, serves
as an outlet. At first this pipe is
closed, as is also the steam pipe from
above, and carbonic acid is forced in
to one end Of the box, while ethylene
gas is forced into the other, under
equal pressure and in equal volumes.
A few minutes later the steam valve
above is opened and steam forced in
under the same pressure. AS the
gasses unite, the pressure falls, so that
the supply of each must be kept con-
slant. At the end Of half an hour the
supply OF gas is shut off, the outlet
pipe is opened and one of the cham
bers is found to be filled with syrup,
containing 25 per cent of sugar. Tie
syrup is drawn off for refining. and as
soon as the apparatus is cool it is
ready FOR fresh charge. The
ethylene gas can be obtained by roast
ing rosin or grease, but M. Pellegrni's
patent covers other hydrocarbons,
such as petroleum products. The ex-
PLANTATION is that the three gases are
condensed in the pores Of the pumice
stone and there unite: but M. Maui
meme, Who has made some expert
ments, declares this to be doubtful,
and in Cosmos expresses doubt as to
the success OF the process.
This points to wonderful possible
ity of the future.
"Synthetical chemistry "has al
ready produced, from their chemical
elements. those rare products of vege-
tation, ,-quinine and cocoaine. 1t has
also from coal-tar products saccho,1,,-
one hundred times sWeeter than Ordi-
nary sugar-that is one pound of it
would make one hundred pounds of
sugar. And now comes the curious
discovery given in the foregoing ex-
tract. There is no reason why flour
may not yet be made by combining
lime. silex, PHOSPHORUS, ETC., without
any vegetative processes.
What, you exclaim, is science going
to wipe out the sugar-raiser and the
wheat-grower; and get its sugar from
kerosene, and its -four by grinding up
the mountains, and everything else in
the same way. What is to become Of
man? He will starvc.
Not at all He will be in the midst
Of abundance: and if he controls gov
eminent he can turn all the great
powers Of nature to his own advan-
tagc.
Let US look ahead hundred years.
There you see a lot of factories,
owned by the whole people, turning
out sugar, bread, meat, medicines. at
merely nominal cost: while great
steam or electric engines work the ma
chinery that manufactures tremen-
dous quantities Of clothing, boots,
hats, ETC., made out of materials
created. by synthetica] chemistry,
mainly il may be, out Of dead horses
and the north wind.
But what will the people do:
What they ought to be doing now
enjoying themselves. Two or three
hours day of abor will then suffice for
all the needs of subsista nee; and the
rest of the time they will give up to
science. literatur art, amusements:
the happiest and most cultured peo-
pie that have ever dwelt on the face
of the earth.
And how they will roar with
laughter as their lecturers and play
writer's depict our present conditions!
One man stealing the product of the
toll of million men,-and the million
men cheerfully submitting to it; while
the multitude work their entire lives
away for the mere privilege of living
and nothing else. l can imagine
play in one their grand theaters pre-
sentin picture of one Of our "sweat-
Shops" while the women Cry and the
men swear with indignation at the
horrible injustice and stupidity Of
their ancestors. /. d.
A Terrible Condition.
A woman who washes for living
told the writer, that during the last
month, that she, her daughter, her